with Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland and Dr. Charles L. Feinberg
is another age. This is what is called interpreting a passage dispensation- ally. The entire question our listener presents is vital and foundational. We are glad to be able to speak positively on the subject. Q . Roseburg, Ore. — “In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus it seems to indicate that the lost can see the saved in eternity. Will you please com ment on this?” A. A parable is an extended picture. We do not believe, however, that this portion is a parable but rather an actual incident. This passage, how ever, is not speaking of eternity. The word translated “hell” is actually “hades.” There is a definite distinc tion to be made between the two. Be fore the death and resurrection of our Lord, hades was the place for both saved and unsaved in two different areas or sections. One was the abode of the wicked dead, while the other compartment was known as paradise or Abraham’s bosom. When Christ as cended, however, He “led captivity captive” or emptied paradise taking those redeemed souls with Him to glory. Now, “absent from the body” for the believer is to be present with the Lord. At the Great White Throne of God, judgment will be meted out to the unsaved, hades thereby emptied and these lost consigned eternally to hell. So, the conditions which existed in this account cannot occur today. 22
Q , Steilaeoom, Wash. — “Our pastor said that he did not think the Bible could be taken literally. What do you say?” A. We at Biola believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God, “inspired from cover to cover.” The very words of the Bible, in the original auto graphs, were given by the Holy Spirit as He moved upon holy men of old. This does not mean that individuals who wrote the Bible were mere auto matons. Their own personalities are clearly evident in what they wrote. In addition, we can take the Bible lit erally, so far as its interpretation is concerned. When a statement of fact is made in thé Word of God, it is to be taken literally. This does not rule out figures of speech. In the Psalms we read that “the trees of the forest clap their hands.” This, is poetic and reveals that all nature will rejoice in the work of God. Even when you have a figure of speech, however, it too says something to us revealing a positive truth. We believe in the grammatical and historical interpretation of the Bible. Every passage is taken as according to the proper use of grammar. It means precisely what the original states. We do not add to it nor do we take away from it. In the histori cal aspect, we give things their prop er order. As example, we do not say what happened to Adam and Eve is what is happening to us today. This
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