Correspondence: Heb. 8:2; State of the Departed; John 9:6-7; 2 Cor. 12:16

From: Young Christian: Volume 19, 1929

John 9:6‑7 • 2 min. read • grade level: 5

Question: What is the true tabernacle mentioned in Hebrews 8:2²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:2)? Is it Christ, or is it the church? J. E.

Answer: The true tabernacle for us now is the holiest of all, the place where we meet God. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Our worship is spiritual and heavenly. It is the contrast between Judaism and Christianity. Our hearts worship and adore God by the Holy Spirit in His very presence, without ordinances or ceremonies.

Question: Is there any scripture that tells the state of the departed saints before they get their bodies? M. E. J.

Answer: All we know about the saints who have died, is in the following verses: “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (garden of delights). (Luke 23:43⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)).

“Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8⁸We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)).

“To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” (Phil. 1:21, 23²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)).

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” (Rev. 14:13¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)).

We must be content with what Scripture says. God leads our hearts on to the resurrection, when clothed upon with our bodies glorified. We shall be perfected in His glory.

“He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied,” (Isa. 53:11¹¹He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)); and, “We shall be satisfied, when we awake with His likeness.” (Psa. 17:15¹⁵As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)).

Question: What does the clay and the spittle, and the Pool of Siloam in John 9:6, 7⁶When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, ⁷And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:6‑7) mean? P. T.

Answer: In John’s Gospel we have the mystery of the person of Christ as the Son of God from all eternity. He is the Word that was in the beginning with God. He Himself had no beginning. This is a mystery, for we cannot know God’s being, but we can believe it.

John 1:14¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) is His history begun on earth. There we get the incarnation—Man and God in one person.

In Luke 1:35³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35), that holy thing born of the woman is His holy humanity. He is a man, yet God, manifest in flesh, sent of the father into this world (1 Tim. 3:16¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16); John 10:36³⁶Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (John 10:36)).

This is what the spittle made into clay presents, and the Pool of Siloam, which means, “sent,” presents the thought of faith in Jesus the Son of God, the Sent One of the Father. This opened the eyes of the man born blind.

Question: Did Paul use guile to catch people? (2 Cor. 12:16¹⁶But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. (2 Corinthians 12:16)). O.

Answer: Paul in that verse is casting it back on them that he did not use guile, as verses 17, 18 show. 2 Corinthians 4:2²But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2) emphatically says he did not use any such means.

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