Dr. Louis T. Tolbot
Lot's Wife Whom does Lot’s w ife typify in Luke 1732? The context of this verse shows that she is a type of those who start to flee from judgment, but turn back and are overcome by it. This is ex actly what Lot’s wife did as you will see by reading Genesis 19:26. Lot himself was a justified believer as shown in Second Peter 2:7, 8, and therefore his life was saved when Sodom was destroyed, but his wife had turned back to the world after following her husband but a short distance. Her heart was really in Sod om all the time, and therefore the judgment overcame her. Christians in the Armed Forces Is it a man’s Christian duty to serve in the armed forces? Turn with me to Romans, the 13th chapter and let us read together: “ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment (R.V.: i.e. ‘in the sense of judgment by the magistrates’ ). For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.” When Paul wrote these words un der the guidance of the Holy Spirit saying that the civil ruler is “ the minister of God,” and that he “ bear eth not the sword in vain,” he plainly stated that “ the powers that be are responsible to God for the faithful execution of their duties. Of course the inspired writer did not mean that the civil ruler is a “minister of God” in a spiritual sense in the preaching of the gospel; but rather, that he is a minister of governmental power put into his hand by God, before whom
he shall be called to give an account of his trust. People on the Earth Does Jeremiah 4:23-27 mean that there were people on the earth before it was destroyed in Genesis 1:2? Some claim there were only angels on the earth, and that the judgment fell on the angels only. Surely someone had to be on the earth or there would have been no cause for judgment. Verse 25 speaks of no man. Verse 23 of this chapter in Jeremiah declares “ the earth was without form and void” which is identical with Genesis 1:2, and js evidently a descrip tion of the earth’s condition resulting from a pre-Adamic judgment which overthrew the primal order, whatever that order may have been. The judg ment occurs between the first and second verses of Genesis 1. It is true that in the verse you cite the word man is mentioned, but it also says no man. The footnote in the Scofield Bible is enlightening in this respect for this is what he says: “ Jer. 4:23-26, Isa. 24:1 and 45:18 clearly indicate that the earth had undergone a cata clysmic change as a result of divine judgment. The face of the earth ev erywhere bears the marks of such a catastrophe. There are not wanting intimations which connect it with a previous testing and fall of angels. See Ezek. 28:12-15 and Isa. 14:9-14 which certainly go beyond the kings of Tyre and Babylon.” Total Eradication of Sin Some teach the total eradication of sin. What is your opinion of this theory? Not until we are changed into the image of Christ will sin be eradi cated. The Scriptures do not teach that ever in this life will there be total eradication of sin. We can never get to the place where temptation is wholly from without, and not from within. Read what Paul says in Rom ans 7:18; “ For I know that zn me dwelleth no good thing.” All the Animals in the Ark How could Noah get all the ani mals into the ark? The dimensions of the ark as re
corded in Genesis were 300 cubits long and 50 cubits wide by 30 cubits high. Thus we see the ark could have been a very large affair; being built square its only business was to float. It has been estimated that it could have held the contents of 1000 loaded freight cars of today. The Bible distinctly states it was to be 3 stories high. Again we are to understand that the animals to be included were limited to a male and a female of each kind with extra ones to sacrifice. While there is an unbelievably large number of varieties of animals, the actual families of animals are not too many. For instance— only two dogs would be required. Those who have made a deep study of the ques tion report that there seemed to be no difficulty in accommodating all the animals, as well as providing suf ficient food to feed them. The fish could stay in the waters. But we miss the point if we do not see be yond the size of the ark, and the number of the animals, to the great er question: Did God know what He was doing? Is the God who in the beginning created the animals, able to give the proper specifications for building a craft to preserve alive the land-animals through a flood of wa ters? If your God is sufficient in wis dom to do this, then there is no problem at all. Patience What is the meaning of Luke 21:- 19, “ In your patience possess y e your souls” ? The Lord is speaking here of the tribulation that is to precede His return to the earth, and is giving instruction to the Jewish remnant in negard to life and conduct in that day. Among other things He exhorts them to faithful, patient continuance in His Word, which will give rest to their souls, even in such an hour as that. It is a lesson many of God’s people need to learn in this dispen sation of the grace of God.
Readers are invited to subm it questions which will be answered in future issues. Address questions to Dr. Talbot's Question Box, 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 17, Calif.— ED.
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T H E K IN G 'S BU SINESS
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