gether, let no man put asunder.’ Looking at many of our marriages today, surely they could not have been joined together by God. So does this verse apply to them? I t is my opinion that there are very few mar riages which God has joined togeth er that fall by the wayside. Am I wrong in thinking this?” A. Sometimes verses are misused. While it is no doubt evident that there are many marriages which God has not ordained, yet divorce is never God’s desire. He allowed it only for one reason — adultery — because of the hardness of men’s hearts. What a catastrophe it would be if people just decided that they felt God didn’t join them so they no longer had an obligation to remain married. Real ize that God is sovereign. He has di rected certain marriages, whereas others He merely permits. Just be cause a marriage has not been ap pointed by God doesn’t mean that it should be severed. Look at the unhap piness between Jacob and Leah, and yet out of that union came Judah, from whom, humanly speaking came our Lord Jesus Christ. One is just as much married — even if out of the will of God — as if God had or dained the union. Marriage is a legal bond. Q. Portland, Ore. “Can you tell me which book in the Old Testament was written first? Someone suggested that it was Job.” A. This is probably the correct view. Dr. C. I. Scofield in his notes, said that it was probably the oldest of the Bible books, and was certainly written before the giving of the law. Of course, no one but God knows how or when Job was written. Remember, all Scripture is given by inspiration of the Lord. Q. Tacoma, Wash. — “Various inter pretations are given to the expres
sion, ‘Day of the Lord.’ Would you tell me whether this refers to the Rapture or to the time when Christ returns to earth to judge the na tions? The expression is used both in the Old and. New Testament." A. Yes, it is very prominent in Joel’s prophecy, as well as that of Zephaniah. There are two m ain phases of the Day of the Lord which is more than a 24-hour period. There is the judgmental phase, known as the Tribulation, and also the judicial phase when our Lord Jesus reigns visibly upon the earth. I t does not refer to the Rapture. This is referred to as “The Day of Christ” (Phil. 1:6). The Rapture is not found as such in the Old Testament, except by way of typology. It relates to the Church and is elaborated on in such passages as I Corinthians 15:50-58 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The day of Christ is always at hand. Q. Tucson, Arii. — "Whose name is mentioned most in the New Testa ment after Christ? I would be in terested in finding out.” A. While we have not actually count ed them, we would assume the Apos tle Paul more than any other in dividual in the New Testament. Sa tan, with his various names, would also appear frequently. Q. Culver City, Calif. — “ What’s the meaning of Matthew 16:13-11 as well as Matthew 17:10-13? I have been told that this could mean re incarnation of the soul. Is this what is being referred to?" A. This was the time when our Lord Jesus was experiencing more and more opposition to His ministry. He asked His disciples what their con viction was concerning the identity of the Messiah. “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” He asked. The answer given concerning the prophets may be the reason why someone might think that they felt 25
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