cant “ signs of the times,” all of which point to the return of Christ to the earth to reign. When He does come, then Ezekiel 37 will be literally ful filled, and Israel cleansed and saved spiritually will be restored to her own covenant rights and established in her own land. BACKSLIDER Q. What if a person has been truly converted, but goes back to the world, and never seems to repent of his back slidden state? W ill he be eternally saved? A . Let me answer your question in three statements: 1. Many so-called backsliders have never “ slid forward” ; that is, they were never regenerated. They are mere professors, not possessors of sal vation. A real Christian will be chas tised, will confess his sin, and live for Christ, however falteringly it may be. 2. Christians we call “ backsliders” are “ carnal” Christians who live “ in the flesh.” They will be losers at the judgment seat of Christ, in so far as their rewards for service are con cerned. (See I Cor. 3:1-4; 11-16.) 3. A real Christian may become a backslider, but he can never become an apostate. An apostate is one who denies the faith, the Bible, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Saviour. AFTER THE MILLENNIUM Q. What w ill become of the Jewish nation after the millennium? Where will they dwell? A . They will be in the new earth. Read carefully Isa. 66:22, “ For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain be fore me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.” National distinction among saved Gentile nations will pass, but Israel will remain the memorial nation for ever.
ANGER WITHOUT SIN Q. Please explain Eph. 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” A . There is such a thing as righteous indignation; and this is what the in spired writer had in mind. When we see an injustice done or a sin com mitted against God and man, it would be a sin not to be angry. The Lord Jesus was righteously indignant when the money changers made His “ Fa ther’s house a den of thieves.” But when we are angry because of per sonal wrongs, we sin and dishonor God. These we should accept as oppor tunities of showing to the world that Christ is real, and that He enables us to live joyously and victoriously over personal injustice. Dr. Talbot will be special speaker at the Biota Family Conference at The Firs Bible and Missionary Con ference in Washington, August 22- 28. For reservations write: The Firs, 4605 Cable St., Bellingham, Wash. However, we must guard against all malice and hatred and display of temper, which is anger. These surely are not becoming in a Christian; nor do they cause his testimony to count for Christ. VISION OF DRY BONES Q. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 37, which tells of the vision of the valley of dry bones? A. Verses 11-14 of this chapter ex plain the vision which God gave to Ezekiel. The whole passage speaks of the national resurrection of Israel. They have long been buried, as a na tion, in the many countries of the world, but now we see the restoration of this ancient people in their own land. The establishment of the nation of Israel in Palestine during the past few years is one of the most signifi
QUESTION FROM CATHOLIC Q. I have before me a very kind letter from a Roman Catholic reader who asks the following question: Does not the angel’s s t a t e m e n t t o M a r y , “ Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28), justify us in exalting the mother of our Lord? A . In saying, “ Blessed art thou among women,” the angel said no more than had been said of many other women in the Bible. It is written in Judges 5:24 concerning “ Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite” that she should be “ blessed above women,” whereas it is said of Mary, “ blessed art thou among women.” There is, therefore, more reason for exalting Jael than Mary, according to the meaning of the term. The same word “ blessed” is used 41 times in the New Testament, and often in the Old Testament. For ex ample, we read: “ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psa. 32:1). “ Blessed is he that considereth the poor” (Psa. 41:1). Dozens of similar verses might be quoted. The word “blessed” simply means “ happy.” Mary was “ happy” in being chosen as the mother of her Saviour; and she naturally rejoiced in the thought that all generations would call her happy. Mary herself denied the doctrine of the immaculate conception when she said in Luke 1:47, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” The name “ Saviour” implies sin, as seen in the angel’s words to Joseph: “ Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1 : 21 ). Again, Mary exults in the mercy of God: “ His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). From the context it is evident that she includes herself among the recipients of this mercy. Mercy implies sin. Where there is no sin, there is no need of mercy. Mary was a good woman, but she did not claim to be sinless.
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