QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
with Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland and Dr. Charles L. Feinberg
Q. National City, California — "In Reve lation chapter seven, it says that 12.000 will he saved from each tribe of Israel. Why isn’t Dan mentioned, and why is Manasseh put in his place?” A. F irst of all, the statement is not that 12,000 will be saved from each tribe of Israel for we believe that there will be more saved than that. The Scripture does tell us, however, that there will be this number sealed for preservation from the awful ac tivity, persecution and harrassment of the beast and the antichrist. Joseph received the double portion originally belonging to Reuben who had defiled the sanctity of his own home. We be lieve Dan is left out because it is in dicated to be the first tribe which went into idolatry (see Judges 18). Dan introduced idolatry on a tribal proportion in Israel. The 12 are men tioned to give us a concept of God’s wonderful grace working throughout the length and breadth of all of the children of Israel. God cofild have had 144.000 sealed from just one tribe, but He wanted to show that all of th6m will be invblVed in this wonder ful last time testimony to the world. Let us not think that Dan is out for good. In Ezekiel 48 we find the dis tribution of the land among the 12 tribes which is during the millennium. Here Dan is given his rightful place. Q. Salem, Oregon — “Jesus said, 'All power is given unto me.’ In another place, however, the Lord said that He would deliver up to the Father all
His power. I can’t understand this. Will Christ rule here on earth all through eternity while God lives in heaven with the angels?” A. There are at least two questions here. In Matthew 28:18 we read the words of our Saviour, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” The other reference perhaps can be understood in the light of I Corin thians 15:28 where we read that, “When all things shall be subdued un to him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” There are two main words in the New Testament both of which have been translated “power” in the Eng lish. From one we get our word “dyna mite.” It has to do with strength. The other, however, is that which means “authority” or “right.” This word is found in Matthew 28:18 dealing with authority. This has to do with His earthly reign here. Remember, our Lord is both God and man as He speaks here. As God He is co-equal with the Father. As man, however, He is subject to the Father. With our finite minds, truly it is utterly beyond human comprehension to understand completely the wonderful truths of the Trinity. The subjection Jesus Christ had here on the earth has to do with His humanity. Yet, remember His words, “I and my Father are one.” As to the second question, remem ber that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Conditions upon the new earth will be entirely diflferent than they are now. As redeemed by 28
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