1. “C. Η.,” Broadbridge Heath.—The persons who shall not inherit the kingdom of God, described in 1 Cor. 6:9, 10, are evidently such as continue unrepentant rejecters of the gospel. “And such were some of you,” &c. Now the man in chapter 5 did not remain unrepentant. He evidently had judged his sin. (2 Cor. 2) And he ought therefore no longer to be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him,” &c. Such is the heart of our Father towards a fallen saint.
The “kingdom of heaven,” as used in Matthew, refers chiefly to the kingdom whilst the King is in heaven. “Kingdom of God” is the more universal aspect of all being brought into subjection to God. “Defiling the temple of God,” as is said in 1 Cor. 3:16, 17, is a deceiver or heretic seeking to destroy the church, the temple of God, by false doctrine. He himself will be destroyed. Pro. 5:22, 23 describes the terrible end of an impenitent sinner.
“If a man turn from his wickedness and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.” This is still true in the moral government of God. The opposite also is true. (See 1 John 5:16, 17.) This is the death of the body. (1 Cor. 11:30.) Your questions present serious matters for reflection. “Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.”
2. “A. T.,” Larkhall—The information you require as to Jewish and Roman time, you will find in a small book, “Dates and Chronology of Scripture”—(G. Morrish, London.)
Will you read 1 John 3:20? Is it not evident if your heart condemn you, as to this worldly, wasteful habit of smoking, that you should lay it aside, looking off to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith? (Heb. 12:1, 2.)
3. “W. C,” Leamside. The day of the Lord may be said to commence, in its terrible character, when the abomination of desolation is set up in the holy place. Then shall be the great tribulation. (Matt. 24:15.) This will culminate in the personal coming of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:1-12), and go on through the whole reign of Christ in the millennium.
The mystery in Col. 1:26 is the mystery of the church, the body of Christ, which had been kept hid from ages. The mystery of Col. 2:2 is not the same, but the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ—the mystery of the glorious Godhead revealed. The mystery of God, in Rev. 10:7, is the mystery of the times of the Gentiles, or the parenthesis of the present unmeasured period in which we are now found. Prophetic time shall be no longer delayed.
The gospel preached by the apostles (Mark 16:15) was the glad tidings of salvation to every creature during this period, though their commission did not go so far as Paul’s—the gospel of the glory. The gospel of the kingdom is the glad tidings of the coining reign of Christ on earth.
“We see not yet all things put under him.” (Heb. 2:8.) At present He is cut off, and has nothing as Messiah. He does not take the book of judgments and inheritance until the redeemed are with Him. (Rev. 5) All who compose the full complement of the first resurrection live and reign with Christ a thousand years. May our hearts be kept patiently waiting for Him. (Rev. 20:4, 5)