A. Archaeology shows what a great city Ur was in the time of the pa triarch. In spite of this, Gpd had something far better for His servant. Two things characterized Abraham: a tent, showing that he was a pilgrim, and an altar, showing that he was a worshipper of the Lord. This city ulti mately is none other than the one spoken of in Revelation as the New Jerusalem. This comes down from God out of heaven. It is the meeting place between the saints of heaven and the saints of earth. If we, with our earth ly bodies, can take jet planes and travel to the ends of the earth, cer tainly in our resurrection bodies we need not be confined to any one area. The New Jerusalem, therefore, will be a place of communication, fellow ship, and blessed worship of the Re deemer by those living in the millen nial Jerusalem and those of us who will be the heavenly people. Q . Camarillo, Calif. — “Is there any good Scriptural term we can use to refer to the true church which is Christ’s bride? I mean one which has not already been ‘grabbed’ as the ‘tag’ for some denomination.” A. This is a very real situation in that most terms, defining born-again believers, have been taken and ap plied to various group, including many insidious cults. This is one rea son for us to have a good working knowledge of Scripture so that we might carefully define the various terms we use in our Christian vocabu laries as “redeemed ones.” Q . Lot Angeles, Calif. — “What is the original history of Lent? Is it paga/n or Biblical? Where is the Scriptural basis? Does this come from fasting?" A. Those who hold to this view base their thinking of Lent on those 40 days before the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. There does not seem to be any pagan derivation of the prac tice. It is that which when once started became more and more litur gical. There is no single Bible pas
sage which this specific period could rest upon. Those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in truth should view the death and resurrection of the Saviour as central facts in redemptive history. A specific period of self denial or fast ing involves legalism. Our hearts should be tender toward the meaning of these great truths of Scripture throughout every day of our lives. Q . Sanger, Calif. — “Who are the 1H thousand of Revelation 11:1 Are they the only ones going to heaven?” A. Read these verses in their proper context and the answer is very evi dent. Study Revelation 7:1-17 very carefully. From verse three on we find who are the 144,000 specifically. Verse nine shows the saved multitude which will result from their dedicated efforts in ministry. These events take place around the world during the Tribula tion period. The Church already will have been caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Q . Coo* Bay, Ore.— “What are the dif ferent chapters in the New Testa ment where it says that the Church of God is the true Church.” A. We find this term used in Acts 20:28. It is a Scriptural designation for all those who by faith have re ceived the Lord Jesus Christ as per sonal Saviour. It is not the name of a denomination. The Bride of Christ is another familiar term (II Cor. 11:2). There is also the name, the House hold of Faith (Gal. 6:10). The entire book of Ephesians is devoted to the doctrine of the Church. Q . San Diego, Calif.— “Does it matter which day we keep as the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Is the keeping of Sunday ‘the mark of the beast’? Does it mean that those who follow such a practice unll not go to heav en?” A. The answer to the last two ques tions, based upon the Word of God, is a definite “no!” It is a perversion of 18
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