Ques. Who do the four and twenty elders represent? (Rev. 4.)
Ans. All the glorified saints from the beginning down to the coming of the Lord for His saints (1 Cor. 15:23).
As the saints are seen on earth in the second and third chapters, the rapture of the saints must needs be between the third and fourth chapters for them to be seen in the fourth chapter in heaven.
Ques. Are the people described in Phil. 3:18, 19 real Christians, or only nominal professors?
C. W.
Ans. The description would lead us to conclude that their Christianity was not real. Their end is destruction. We have the word of the Lord that no true believer can ever be lost. John 5:24 and 10:27-29 assure us that they are eternally secure. Then, all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; John 14:16, 17).
But we must regard the warning. The Philippians were not to follow the example of these mere professors. They were to follow the apostle's example, as a man led by the Holy Spirit. Verses 17 and 20, 21 show that he was a heavenly man in his calling and character. He wrote, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (1:21).
There might be no outward evil seen in those in verses 18, 19, but their character was opposed to the cross of Christ, and they were living for themselves, and their end was destruction,-they are earthly minded.
We may be sure, since such a warning is given to the saints at Philippi, that there was danger in following such, even if they were outwardly in communion at the Lord's Table.
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. 10:12.
We must keep a good conscience before God, and confess our sins, and judge our ways, to walk in communion with the Lord; and this is our safety for this life (1 Tim. 1:5,19, 20).
In 2 Peter 1:9, we have a slothful Christian who has even forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
In 2 Tim. 4:10, Demas, a companion of Paul's, went back into the world.
In 2 Tim., 2:25, 26, some are mentioned who may be restored, or may not. "The Lord knoweth them that are His." 2 Tim. 2:19. We are to have fellowship with those who depart from iniquity.
“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1.
“He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord" Acts 11:23.
Ques. What took place when the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and lighted upon Jesus? Matt. 3:16. Was He from that time indwelt by the Spirit of God, sealed by the Spirit, and anointed by the Spirit for public service for God?
Ans. Yes, He was sealed (John 6:27), and anointed (Acts 10:38) at the same time. All His ministry was in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4:1; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14, 18).
Besides He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). He was the Son of God with the Father "from the days of eternity" (Mic. 5:2).
But we are now speaking of Him as the Son of God in flesh, "That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called Son of God." Luke 1:3,5. A man on earth come down from heaven to do the Father's will. He needed no redemption, He was Himself the Redeemer. He was sealed with the Holy Spirit, and declared to be the Father's beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. And in Acts 2:33, He receives the Spirit, the promise of the Father (John 14:16), and thus shed forth what was seen and heard at Pentecost when the disciples were all baptized into one body. "The same is He that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." John 1:33. Matt. 3:13 adds, "and with fire," that is, when He will act as judge.
Adam, the first man, was tested in the garden of Eden with everything about him that was good; then he fell, and was driven out of the garden. He became head of a fallen race.
Jesus, the second Man, the obedient one, was tested in the wilderness, with hunger and the wild beasts, but He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan (Matt. 4:1). He was led in the wilderness by the Spirit (Luke 4:1, see N. T.), and He returned in the power of the Spirit (Verse 14).
In this perfect obedience, He gave Himself up to be a sacrifice for sin, to die on the cross, was buried and rose again, and is now seated on high. He became Head of the redeemed race of heavenly ones, for every true believer now is a member of His body.
Now that we have believed the gospel of our salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance. And He has given us the conscience knowledge of our place and portion as children (Rom. 8:15), and as sons (Gal. 4:6). The Holy Spirit is the power of our new life (Rom. 8:2, 9, 10). He is in us, the anointed (2 Cor. 1:21, 22), our power to discern the truth and for service (1 John 2:20, 27). He abides always with us (John 14:16). Till the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). He will again dwell in us quickening our mortal bodies on account of His Spirit that dwells in us (Rom. 8:11). And He will dwell in us when risen, for we are fashioned after Christ. Acts 1:2 tells us that Jesus had the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him when He was risen from the dead.
“Jesus the risen man acts and speaks by the Holy Ghost after His resurrection as before it. Precious token of our position, as reminding us that we shall have the Holy Ghost after our resurrection, and that being no longer engaged in restraining and mortifying the flesh, His divine energy in us will be entirely consecrated to eternal joy and worship, and to the service committed to us by God." (Synopsis on Acts 1:2. J. N. D.).