4, Correspondence.

Waiting. — Does “them also which sleep in Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:1414For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)) refer to the souls of darted saints brought with Him to join their resurrection bodies, or to their coming “with all his saints” on the day of His appearing? The apostle had already alluded in general terms to the Lord’s coming with all His saints (1 Thess. 3:1313To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)). He then particularly assures the saints that those who had fallen asleep would form a part of the company “with Him” when He comes (1 Thess. 4:1414For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14); vs. 10). But how could this be? By a special “word of the Lord,” or revelation (1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17)), the apostle explains that it will be effected by raising dead saints and catching up the living, concluding, his explanation with the words, “So shall we ever be with the Lord,” It is true that in the separate state the spirits of believers are with Christ (Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43); Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59); 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); Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)); but here the complete man (body, soul, and spirit) is viewed. Hence it is only after resurrection or transformation, that we shall be “with the Lord” in the sense of this section. In fact, the bringing with Jesus is shown to depend upon His death and resurrection. Else why does the apostle say, “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also,” etc, Is it not that he has before him the resurrection of the dead in Christ (Rom. 8:1111But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)) in order that they may be brought with Him? It cannot be denied that the class of sleeping saints is specially referred to in verse 13. And it is also certain that it is only as to their bodies that these saints sleep; as to their souls they are in conscious bliss (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)). Therefore the apostle asserts, in effect, that those who have been put to sleep as to their bodies, will, in the day of His appearing, be brought with Him in their glorified bodies (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)), The event named here (1 Thess. 4.) is “our gathering together unto him” (2 Thess. 2:11Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1)), the raised and the changed going up together to meet the Lord in the air. The very term “meeting” forbids the thought that the coming of vs. 14 is prior to the resurrection, which it must be if the saints are said to come in their disembodied state.
W.G.T.B—Ought I to join and subscribe to an association of my fellow-officials to obtain redress of grievances as to salary, etc.? Is it right to receive any benefits that may accrue, and yet not subscribe? A Christian in the execution of his duty to his employer must of necessity come in contact with the world (1 Cor. 5:1010Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (1 Corinthians 5:10)); but this seems a question of voluntary association to extort benefits by means of agitation from those in authority, and is therefore contrary to the spirit of the word which forbids such alliance (Rom. 13:1-71Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1‑7); 2 Cor. 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18); 1 Pet. 2:1818Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (1 Peter 2:18)). You may have difficulty in convincing others that the subscription is not the point at issue, but an opportunity for doing so may occur if you are watchful. After all, from whom does promotion come? See Psalms 75:6, 76For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Psalm 75:6‑7).
W.H.B.— Will the faithful Jewish remnant be all born after the rapture of the church? If so, they will be children preaching the gospel of the kingdom. They will be “born again” after the church is gone, but they will not necessarily be a new generation. God will work again among His ancient people, and many of the sons of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God. By them, the “brethren” (Matt. 25,), the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations (Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14); Rev. 14:6, 76And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6‑7)). A vast number from the Gentile peoples will accept this gospel (Rev, 7:9; Matt. 25:33-4633And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:33‑46)) and enter into millennial blessedness under the rule of Messiah (Rev. 21:2424And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:24)). Kindly say if this does not meet your difficulty.
K.M.— Explain “Swept and garnished” (Luke 11:2525And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. (Luke 11:25)). By whom was this done? The Lord in this illustration depicts the state of the Jews in relation to idolatry, which is a direct cheat of the devil (1 Cor. 10:19, 2019What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:19‑20)). The unclean spirit is the spirit of idolatry which had taken possession of the nation and was the cause of their captivity (2 Chr. 36:14-1814Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 17Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. 18And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. (2 Chronicles 36:14‑18)). From their return from Babylon in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah until the days of the Lord, they were in the state described as “empty, swept, and garnished” (Matt. 12:4444Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (Matthew 12:44)), that is, they had abandoned idolatry. But in the last state of that wicked generation, in the days of antichrist, when the abomination (O.T. word for idol) of desolation is set up in the holy place, the power of Satan over the Jews will be sevenfold greater than before (Rev. 13:13-1813And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:13‑18)). The “swept and garnished” state therefore was the platter clean only outside—outward propriety but inward depravity.
Reception. — In the case of simple souls we think the practice is as you suggest. Though, for obvious reasons, more care is necessary in receiving from suspected quarters.
Christians and Sacred Cantatas. — In all questions of a practical nature especially, we hope our young friends will not fail to seek personal guidance from the Lord, and what is more important still, never to act till they are sure they have His guidance. We can only point out principles founded on the word of God, which they must seek wisdom to apply to the particular case. (1) It is surely an exceedingly solemn matter for a Christian to seek to entertain a worldly audience by singing “sacred” subjects. How can one who loves the Lord bear to think of His name, and even His sufferings, taken upon unholy lips and for unholy ears? We must not cast our pearls before swine. (2) To use the proceeds of the concert for charitable purposes appears to us no justification whatever. How does it appear in the eyes of the Lord, that His servants make persons pay to hear them sing about Him? Judas was not justified because he pressed to think more about the bag for the poor than about the Lord (John 12:4-84Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. (John 12:4‑8)). (3) To purchase a ticket and become one of the audience amounts to tacit approval of the proceedings. We read the Lord was the “song of the drunkards” (Psa. 69:1212They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. (Psalm 69:12)); would we willingly have listened to them? While we do not compare “sacred cantatas” altogether to such songs, is it not a frequent occurrence that the performers know not Him of Whom they sing? (4) Surely reverence for the Lord would keep a believer out of the audience as well as out of the choir. (5) In our opinion “sacred concerts” are the more dangerous as they assume an air of sanctity they do not possess, which is likely, nevertheless, to entrap the unwary. The Christian has his songs, the world has its songs; it is always most serious to attempt in any way to mix the two.
A.R.— What was the Urim and the Thummim (Ex. 28:3030And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:30))? It means “lights and perfections,” and was inseparable from the breastplate which bore the names of the tribes. It appears to signify that the people were thus always graciously represented before God according to His light and perfection in spite of their failure.