Q . Albuquerque, N.M. — “What does it mean to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son’ as we read in Romans 8:29?” A. This refers to our spiritual na ture. No one knows what the Son looked like in the flesh. No man can arbitrarily change his physical ap pearance. Christ walked in the way of perfect peace, and submission to the will of His Father. In addition, we see in His life perfect humility, and love. These are just some of the characteristics which we should seek to imitate. This is the manner in which we are to be “conformed” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Q . Tucson, Arix. — “Was Anna, the prophetess, 8k years old when she saw the infant Jesus, or had she lived 8k years after the death of her husband?” A. This is found in Luke 2:36. The Bible says that she lived with her husband seven years from her vir ginity. Consider her physical ma turity at 12 or 13 years of age. Peo ple married at an early age in the Near East and Orient. This would have made her 19 or 20 when in God’s providence her husband was taken. Adding 84 to 19 or 20, and we discover that she was more than 100 years of age. Q . San Luis Obispo, Calif. — “Can you please tell me what the mark of the beast will be? Some people say that it has to do with all of the numbers which are being used in our modem society.” A. The mark of the beast is spoken of in Revelation 13. That number is clearly given as 666. Some people during the days of the NRA en deavored to tie that to being the mark of the beast. We do not be lieve that the numbers used in our modern society have necessarily any thing to do with the mark of the beast. This is a sign or a symbol
which will appear during the tribu lation period after the Antichrist gains world-wide control. How the mark will be manifested, no one knows. It is the number of man, not God’s number, which is seven. Q . Everett, Wash. — “Is there a dif ference between ‘the fullness of the Gentiles,’ and ‘the times of the Gen tiles’ (Rom. 11:25 and Luke 21: 2k)?” A. The passage in Luke refers to “the times” and Romans touches on the other. Some people do equate these as the same; however, more discernment needs to be given. In Luke, the reference is to a political category in human history. “Times of the Gentiles” indicates the period from Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century B.C. until the return of our Lord Jesus. We are now in the Church age. Jerusalem is still under the sovereignty of the nations. The context here reveals that there are a great number of Israelites who are unbelieving and have not received this blessing of God. The reason is that they did not seek it by faith but by works. There was a remnant, however, which was faithful to the Lord. Even so, at this present time, there is a “remnant” according to the election of grace. God will keep His covenants with Israel. Those promises He will make valid. Every one will be fulfilled. When the full number of believers in this age, the full complement is finished, the church age will be closed. This would include believing Jews. Following this time, as it is written, “a Deliv erer shall come forth from Zion.” The fullness, or the filling up of the number, is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, known as “the Bride of Christ.” When a man's temper gets the best of him, it'll always reveal the worst of him. 25 * * *
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