Question: Are all who live on earth during the thousand years of the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, born again? T. H.
Answer: In reading the prophetical scriptures it seems a mistake to think that all are saved, for it is a reign of judgment, the last part of man’s trial.
In Isaiah 11 the land is settled with the Jews who were saved out of the tribulation. The land is full of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea; in Jehovah’s holy mountain nothing can hurt or destroy (Verses 1.9; Zech. 13:9).
In Verse 11, He sets His hand to gather the rest of the Jews, and (Verse 12) He sets up an ensign for the nations, and gathers the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of the Jews. When the twelve tribes are gathered in the Land, the new covenant is made (Jer. 31:31-34, and Heb. 8:8-12).
“And so all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26) that is, Israel as a whole (not a remnant, nor every individual).
In Psalm 101; Isaiah 32:1, we find a continual everyday session of judgment. In Isaiah 11:13, Israel is at peace with themselves, and in verse 14 they begin to subdue their enemies, – they go to war in the Lord’s battles, for it is earthly judgment (see Isa. 41:10-16; Jer. 51:20; Mic. 4:13; 5:7, 8; Psa. 149). King David subdues, and Solomon reigns, as types of this time, and Melchisedec greets them on their return with bread and wine (Gen. 14:18).
Though Satan is bound, man’s heart is the same, so judgment of sin and death comes in (Isa. 65:20; Zech. 14:12, 16-19); and when Satan is loosed, an immense multitude come up in rebellion against God (Rev. 20:1-3, 7-9).
The full answer to the finished work of Christ is seen in the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (John 1:29; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:23; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1.4), but all through the reign of Christ we can trace sin, and judgment following it. Psalm 18:44 (margin) tells us the heathen, when Christ reigns as their Head, yield feigned obedience.
Question: Please explain 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3. L. A. W.
Answer: These verses are part of a rebuke against the worldly behavior of the Corinthian saints, who seem to have been going to law courts against some of themselves. This was shameful for Christians. Those who are destined to reign with Christ, and thus share in governing the world and angels in millennial days, should know now rather to suffer wrong than do such a thing. The following verses will show some instances that we will reign with Christ (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:29, 30; 2 Tim. 2:12; Eph. 1:18; Rev. 2:26, 27; 3:21; 21:12. Read 1 Cor. 6:1 to 8).
Question: What should the believer’s attitude be in regard to Christmas? Does Romans 13:7 apply to it as a custom? D. C.
Answer: Romans 13:1.7 and 1 Peter 2:13, 14 are secular ordinances and laws which we are to observe as citizens or inhabitants of the country.
Galatians 4:10, 11; Colossians 2:16, 20-22 are religious ordinances which have no claim on the Christian as being dead with Christ and risen with Christ, and so is free from the law and all religious ordinances. We have only the Lord’s supper which we observe in remembrance of our Lord in His death.
We do not find in Scripture the day or the month in which Christ our Lord was born. No registry was ever heard of that had His name in it. Even the year can only be calculated from a decree of the Roman Emperor (see Luke 2:1, 2). We cannot therefore keep His birthday.
December 25 has no real claim to be it. That is a heathen feast day to their Idols when the Emperor Constantine favored the Christians. He had part of his army baptized though still unconverted. Their feast days were called church days, and the great feast day was called Christmas. It is therefore a mixture of Romanism and Paganism. Some Christians reverence the day as Christ’s birthday, but with most, it seems a day of feasting and worldly pleasure. Merchants like it because of their increase of business, and the gifts increase their income. The poor too come in for a share at that time, but helping the poor should be whenever we find out their need. It is too bad to keep their gifts from them to celebrate a worldly feast. Christmas has therefore no claim on the obedient Christian (Rom. 12:2).