Baptist, who had the power of Elijah. You see, John the Baptist had an Elijah-like ministry. Had the people received him, which they didn’t, he would have per formed the exact ministry of Eli jah. The Lord knew all the time, in His infinite omniscience, that they would not receive Him as the Messiah. Q. San Jose, Calif. — “What do you teach about Christian’s smok ing, dancing, drinking liquor, and committing adultery?" A. We are against all these sins and repeatedly speak out against them. It is true that a Christian is free to conduct himself in the manner he sees fit before the Lord. We believe that these things do not honor the Lord and the last one is spoken against specifically in the seventh commandment. Q. Worley, Ida. — “What does the Bible say about Christians being cremated? I know some people say it doesn’t really matter.” A. There is nothing specific given in Scripture c on c e r n i ng this. There is really not any difference since the Lord can bring back out of the ashes the resurrection of believers’ bodies. Cremation has been associated with pagan cus toms. To some it does not seem to give proper respect or dignity to God’s creation. The Jews al ways buried their dead and we have inherited this tradition. Q. Shatter, Calif. — “Can you help me on II Thessalonians 2:3? Is the falling away here the Rapture of the church, or is it an increase in Christian’s losing their first love of the Lord?" A. This is the first time we have heard anyone suggest that this might have anything to do with the
the parents or any other saved members of the household. Q. Tempe, Ariz. — “Is it right to say, 7 received Christ as my Sav iour?’ Why do people say as? He is our Saviour, not a representor tion.” A. There is no real problem here. See John 1:12 for the word “as” is just a simple statement, of what has taken place. In the marriage ceremony a man says, “I take thee as my wife.” He’s not taking a representation but actually the woman herself. Q. Phoenix, Ariz. — “Can you give me help on Matthew 17:11-12?" A. Malachi 4:5 reads, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Elijah was the one who reinstated Israel in the time of deep apos tasy. In Israel he was very much like our Abraham Lincoln even as we consider Moses as a sort of George Washington of the nation. To this day in Jewish circles, in the celebration of their Passover feast, they have a time when they all rise and lift a goblet in honor of Elijah. This prophecy says that before the Messiah comes, he is going to have a forerunner. John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah when He came the first time. Elijah is going to be a forerunner of the Messiah when He comes the second time. Our Lord Jesus Christ will come visi bly after the Tribulation. Christ was telling His disciples that the Son of Man must die and be raised from the dead. They reminded Him that they hadn’t even seen Elijah. The Lord replied, “I say unto you, that Elias is come already.” In others words, as to his spirit, Luke indicates that he came (Luke 1: 17) in the person of John the
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