Dr. Louis T. Tolbot
is that the earth had been inhabited before Adam’s day. We must bear in mind, however, that the pre-Adamic race, if there was one—was not a race of human beings. In all probability they were an angelic host led by Satan before his fall, while he was yet called Lucifer. There are indications in Scripture that Satan once had the same dominion over this earth as was given to Adam, which dominion Adam lost through his fall. This would account for Satan’s interfer ence with the world and with the human race. The description of the Eden in which Lucifer was placed as recorded in Ezekiel 28:13, may refer to the earth before the chaotic period of Genesis 1:2. But we do not know that it was entirely separate and different from the Eden into which Adam was placed. The many fossils that are discov ered today, which would indicate life upon this earth millions of years ago, may be the relics of the pre-Adamic davs to which the Scriptures here and there allude. Jeremiah 4:23-26, for example, says in part: “ I beheld the earth, and lo. it was without form, and void; and the heavens and they had no light . . . and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled . . .” (cp. Isa. 24:1; 45:18). The words no man upon the earth would indicate that this may be a description of a condition before the advent of man. Pray Without Ceasing How can one “ pray without ceas - ing?” We pray without ceasing when we are ever in the heart-attitude of yield- edness to God, to know and to do His will, and His only. To such a person prayer is instantly on the lips in every emergency, every need for help and guidance from the Lord. We are to be ever watchful for the an swer, and quick to praise God when He answers. Dr. Luke (18:1) says, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
the kingdom, as it is recorded in the 11th verse that He “ spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Can Evil Spirits Trouble Christians? What is the meaning of First Sam uel 16:14 — But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him? Does this mean that an evil spirit will trouble us as Christians if we fail to do God’s w ill? In order to understand this chap ter one must study the Old Testament in order to understand how the Holy Spirit operated in that age. We have many instances of His coming upon men whom God wished to use to accomplish His purpose, but they did not necessarily allow the Holy Spirit to possess their hearts and lives. God by the Holy Spirit allowed them His power until He was through with them. Saul’s very tragic departure from the Lord shows that he never did really know Him. After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He [the Holy Spirit] abides with the believer forever according to John 14:16. No evil spirit can trouble a Christian ex cept in the way of bringing tempta tion, but we have a means of resist ing and conquering Satan and all of his emissaries: “ Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Before the Garden of Eden Was there a race of beings upon the earth before we read of the Gar den of Eden and Adam and Eve in Genesis 1? There are a few passages in the Scriptures that would lead us to be lieve that there was a race of beings on the earth before Adam was cre ated. In this chapter you mention following the record of the creation of man, we read the words of God to Adam and Eve: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth . . .” The word replenish here is the same that was given to Noah after the flood, and the inference
Great White Throne Judgment Are Christians to be judged at the great white throne for their forgiven sins? No; not only are Christians not to be judged for forgiven sins (and that means all their sins), but it is im possible to bring a charge against them before God (Rom. 8:33, 34). The notion that all humanity will be brought into judgment before the great white throne is simply a theo logical invention, without a syllable of Scriptural support. The saved have been raised from the dead a thousand years before the judgment of the great white throne and have been reigning with Christ (cp. Rev. 20:5, 6). It is only “the dead” who come into that judgment. The works of the Christian must, however, pass the scrutiny of the Lord at His coming (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:5; Rev. 22:12). Blindness and Israel How could Israel accept Christ if blindness was sent upon them (2 Cor. 3:14)? Blindness was not sent upon them until Israel had finally rejected the light, which, persistently rejected, al ways produces blindness. Both are from God, the one in mercy, the other in judgment. The laws of na ture explain the laws of God. So it was with Pharaoh. We, as free agents may harden our hearts against God— He simply seals our choice. What a tremendous responsibility is wrapped up in the marvelous endowment of a free moral agency. We choose— God seals. Difference in Parables What is the difference between the parable of the pounds and the parable of the talents in Luke 19:11-27 and Matt. 25:14-30? There is a difference in these par ables although there are points of similarity also. The emphatic lesson in the parable of the talents seems to be that the Lord’s return will be a test of professed service while in the parable of the pounds the great point emphasized is the postponement of
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