Christians are in the habit of looking at “the law” as a great enemy. Why? Because it does not countenance the least sin. It says, “walk before me and be thou perfect.” Is that not right – could a perfect God recognize or make a law in any way imperfect? Surely not. The reason men count the law their enemy is that all have sinned, and ever since the disobedience of Adam they have been in the condition known as “sinful flesh.” Prior to sin’s entrance, the law was…
Our question from our last post was: How does the death of Christ show, or commend, God’s love? It will not do to say it shows it because it shows it. That would be about equal to saying, God hates sin because he hates it, which is no reason at all. God hates sin because he loves his creatures; sin being their destroyer. If the death of Christ shows God’s love to us, there must be something accomplished by that death…
“But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8 That “God is love” and unchangeable we believe to be prime facts of the gospel; and that man alone is alienated and needs reconciliation. The death of Christ was not for the purpose of purchasing God’s love: it is above price; nor for the purpose of appeasing – quieting, pacifying, or cooling down – God’s wrath, as though he were excited…
Verse 16 “And he causes all, the little and great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the bondmen, that they should give themselves a mark on the right hand or in their forehead;” that is to say, the Image causes all who would be its followers and worshipers to commit themselves either by a public profession (mark in forehead), or by giving able support with their might, power and means (mark in right hand). A mark is…
Verse 14 “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by the signs which it was given him to do in the presence of the beast.” Those who dwell on the earth (not “the earth” itself – i.e. the people who acknowledge and obey these two beasts) it probably refers to independent Christians not allied to worldly organizations. These were deceived by the pretentious claims of divine right and appointment etc. They claim as the Papal church did and does that, they are…
We return once again to a correspondence between two brethren truth seekers; they are addressed as Brothers A and B for convenience. (This is a good review of Chapter 13). B. I am here again Brother A., anxious as ever to enjoy whatever light may be due the church; I know that you believe the word of God to be a lamp, whose oil is the spirit, which sheds its light upon the path of the just as fast as…
Continued from our previous post. V. He has ALL power, physical and spiritual. As often expressed, Power over the body as well as the soul. Many believing the latter are too apt to exclude the former. As a Healer he confirms his word and establishes his authority. “Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the age.” Matt 28:20. “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven…and they went forth and…
A BIBLE READING. Lord, signifies master, ruler, governor. Lordship, signifies Dominion, power, authority. These definitions are related to each other and to the subject. Husband, is also a definition of Lord. The Anglo-Saxon word, Hlaford, from which our English word Lord is derived signifies Bread-keeper, and is applied to one who has the general care over, and control of a family. The title of Lord thus applied to Jesus Christ is expressive of a glorious fullness of power and love….
B. But does it not seem a forced construction to suppose Michael to symbolize the “Man of Sin?” Is not this the same Michael referred to in Daniel 12? If it is a symbol in one case, is it not in the other? A. No; the account in Daniel 12 is a literal statement. The resurrection and other matters there mentioned are literal, but not so Rev 12. The woman, dragon, tail, stars, horns, etc., are all symbols, and it would…
In our last post Brother B. was pondering the latter half of the Apostles statement found in 2 Thess 2 1-4, -“Who sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Asked, How could Papacy fulfill this? The temple at Jerusalem had been destroyed hundreds of years before Papacy’s rule. A. The temple of God is the dwelling or abode of God. Once He dwelt in the Jewish temple, but at the death of Jesus the vail of the…