3, Correspondence.

DAN.— What are the keys (Matt. 16:1919And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)), and when given to Peter? The use of keys is to open doors. At Pentecost Peter unlocked the door of faith in an ascended Messiah and invited the Jews to enter. Later on, at Joppa, he did the same for Gentiles (Acts 9). The keys are connected with binding and loosing (Matt. 16:1919And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)), a privilege promised to the others as well (Matt. 18:1818Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)), and given to them by the Lord after His resurrection (John 20:2323Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:23)), but only exercised on the descent of the Spirit (Acts 2:4141Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)). Notice the Lord holds the keys of death and of hades (Rev. 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18)). What are the things new and old (Matt. 13:5252Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. (Matthew 13:52))? The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ was an old truth, being the theme of Old Testament prophecy; but the peculiar form it now takes during the absence of Christ on high was entirely a new truth. The new things included the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:1111He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)), which the Lord unfolded in this succession of parables. What is the force of “hath ascended” in John 3? The ascension of the Son is viewed anticipatively here, hence the use of the perfect tense. With the Eternal Son there is no past or future; and He is so viewed in this Gospel. Compare John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4). See also answer to M.E. in B.M.M., vol. 2, p. 24; in connection with which a valued correspondent remarks that this ascension was in virtue of the “intrinsic power” of the Lord’s person, whereas Enoch and Elijah were “taken up.” What is the difference between living water and water of life (John 4:10, 1110Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:10‑11); Rev. 21:66And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6))? also the living bread and the bread of life (John 6:35, 48, 5135And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
48I am that bread of life. (John 6:48)
51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51))? We should suppose “living water” refers to the Holy Spirit, and “water of life” to the everlasting life, especially in its satisfying character. In John 4:14,14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14) we have a well (fountain) of water as in Revelation 21:6,6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6) indicating the source of the water of life. It is beautiful to see this gospel promise immediately following the solemn revelation concerning the end of all things (Rev. 21:1-51And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1‑5)).
The bread of life appears to be that which gives life, while the living bread is the living Christ in contrast with the manna. The manna was dead, and so were those who had eaten of it; but Christ is the Life (living bread) and He Who gives life (bread of life).
E.— Do the twenty-four elders (Rev. 4:44And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4)) represent the Old and New Testament saints? As has often been pointed out, the number twenty-four indicates a complete company. Compare the twenty-four courses of priesthood (1 Chron. 24:7-187Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, 16The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 17The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul, 18The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. (1 Chronicles 24:7‑18)). Until the Lord comes, the company of the redeemed must consist of two classes, viz., those who are asleep and those who are alive, and therefore it has no complete representation either on earth or in heaven. At His coming the dead in Christ (including Old Testament saints) are raised, and the living changed; consequently they are here seen as a whole in heaven. And under this figure (elders) they appear throughout the book until the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19). Are they wearing the royal crowns, which all believers will have? Yes; they are seen as priestly kings, seated on thrones (Rev. 4), and as kingly priests (Rev. 5). They execute priestly office (Rev. 5:88And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)), but have not yet begun to reign over the earth (Rev. 5:1010And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)). Still they sit on thrones and wear golden crowns. Are we risen to all Christ rose to as man, or all He rose to as Christ (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1))? Is not this a distinction without a difference? But we are not sure we understand the question. Will our correspondent write again?
A.J.K.— Does Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29,19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:19‑20)
28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:28‑29) apply to the believer in our day? Yes. Total abstinence from uncleanness and from the eating of blood, whether in the body or out of the body, is binding upon all, both Gentiles and Jews. Compare (Gen. 9:1-71And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. (Genesis 9:1‑7)).
E.C.— Is baptism necessary before breaking of bread? In scripture baptism follows immediately upon repentance and faith. It is the sign of the confession of Christ before the world, even as breaking of bread is the sign of the communion of the members of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 10:16, 1716The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16‑17)). Consider Acts 2:38-42; 8:36; 16:3338Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:38‑42)
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (Acts 8:36)
33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:33).
B.— May sisters pray in a prayer meeting for Sunday School Teachers? To what do 1 Corinthians 11:5-16; 14:34, 355But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:5‑16)
34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34‑35) refer? Observe that assembly matters are taken up in verse 17 (1 Cor. 11); so that the case of women praying referred to previously would be in private, not in public, meetings (Acts 12:12; 21:8, 912And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12)
8And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:8‑9)). Elsewhere it is expressly stated that they are to be silent in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:34, 3534Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34‑35); 1 Tim. 2:8-128I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:8‑12)). Even in private (1 Cor. 11) they are not to step beyond their place, not praying or prophesying uncovered. We recommend the querist to prayerfully study the above-named texts in which important principles of action are laid down bearing on this question. Much depends on the character of the meeting.