The Lord may not punish them im mediately but, in His own time and way, He will. In Revelation a stem pronouncement is given to any who take away from the Book (Rev. 22:19). Q . San Bernardino, California — “What is the day of visitation spoken of in I Peter 2:12?” A. This is the day of God’s judgment when His wrath is poured out upon a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, world. Be cause our behavior is to be exemplory, sinners will be forced to admit what we have said and done was right and honest. They will be forced to admit that in the day of judgment so that they will not have any opportunity whatsoever of escaping God’s right eousness. They will be condemned by the very uprightness of our own char acter. Q . Albuquerque, New Mexico — “Who are the builders spoken of in I Peter 2:7?” A. The passage is a quotation from that wonderful Messianic Psalm 118: 22. The workmen are the religious leaders of thé nation who are supposed to be expert in building up the people in the word of God. The Messiah was disallowed and disregarded. No wonder He said, “Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” Q . Sunnyvale, California — “Do you think that we may be asked to have our numbers, used in the postal system or telephone directories, stamped on our forehead?” A. The listener is perhaps referring to Revelation 13:18. This is during the time of the tribulation. The number 666 will be stamped upon either the foreheads or upon the backs of the hands of individuals throughout this time. This does not refer to postal or telephone numbers, however, we are getting so many numbers it might be a good idea to write them in indeli ble ink upon the backs of our hands. This might be more convenient. It is 24
Q . Spokane, Washington — “Isn’t there •a contradiction between James 1:13 and 14 and James 1:2? This has always bothered me.” A. In James 1:2 it refers to trials or testings, while the later verses deal with a solicitation to evil. In the first Scripture, the Apostle is saying, “When you fall into difficulties of this life do not let it sadden your Christian testi mony. Know that God is testing your faith so that it may come forth more brilliant than ever before. This last reference, however, reminds us that the Lord never teases man and tries to seduce him into sin. God never entices a man in this way. Q . Bakersfield, California — “/ heard that the Garden of Eden was the kingdom of God. I’ve always understood that the Garden was just man’s first home. Which do you think is correct?” A. The Garden was, of course, man’s first home. It was as near heavenly conditions as an earthly area could possibly be. It was not the kingdom of God. There may be a tendency for the individual to spiritualize this location which was an actual physical place. Q . Walla Walla, Washington — “When Dorcas died did her soul go to heaven? If so, why didn’t she know what heav en was like when her life was returned to her?” A. No one knows how much Dorcas knew or didn’t know when she came back. Scripture doesn’t tell us. It would be mere supposition if we guessed. When Dorcas died her soul did go to heaven. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. No doubt she was not free to state anything, as was the case with Paul. Q , Sacramento, California — “When some one takes the New Testament out of the Bible, does the Lord punish him for it?” A. This is a strange question. We have heard of people taking the Old Testa ment out of the 'Bible but not the New.
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