Ans. The day of rewards will most likely follow the rapture of the saints, and probably will precede the public appearing to which the apostle alludes at the dose of the verse (Rev. 19:88And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:8): "Righteousnesses of saints"). Scripture warrants no such thought that the rewards given for faithful service are otherwise than eternal in their character.
Ans. It was given to the disciples before the descent of the Holy Ghost. It will be again most appropriately used by the Jewish remnant after the Church is gone. It does not fully express a Christian's position, nor is it in the Name of Christ. (John 16:23, 2423And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23‑24).) It is, however, perfect for those for whom it was intended, and to us also may serve as a pattern in many ways.
Ans. Certainly; only do not let us confound the earthly shadow in all these things with the spiritual substance. The Book of Revelation, like the Old Testament, is full of symbols. In the Old Testament we see a literal altar, in the New Testament (Heb. 13), a spiritual one, which is Christ; in the Old Testament literal priests, in the New Testament spiritual priests (1 Peter 2); in the Old Testament, literal sacrifices, in the New Testament (Heb. 13) spiritual; and in the Old Testament literal incense, in the New Testament, spiritual that is, the fragrance of the Name of Christ.
Ques. Is a woman's hair a sufficient head covering for her while praying or prophesying? M. E. J.
Ans. No; if so, there were no use of the exhortation in 1 Cor. 11. The woman's long hair is only cited to show that even nature makes a differentiation in favor of having long hair. But this "long hair" is a woman's glory; therefore let her cover her own glory when she comes into God's presence in prayer or ministry. To contend that a woman's hair is the covering the Spirit of God is insisting upon in the passage, is to reduce the whole to nonsense, as though the Word of God would give half a chapter to insist that a woman should have what she already has, and that if she has it not, she should have it not!
Ans. The apostle is not speaking of Jesus in His saving work, but of God in His gracious Providence. God is the gracious Preserver of all, but especially of those who believe.