Ans. All the saints who live upon the earth during the thousand years of Christ's reign are earthly people, and are therefore those who are characteristically suited for the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Note also, that all the saints who have died from Adam to the end of the earth's history, live and reign with Christ (1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23); Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)), as well as all who are saved during the Church period,-that is, from Pentecost to, the coming of the Lord. All these are heavenly, and therefore will inhabit the new heavens where righteousness dwells.
Christ and the Church will be the center of it all (Eph. 3:2121Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21); Rev. 21:2-42And 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. (Revelation 21:2‑4)).
Ques. Was Christ Jesus the first man that entered heaven? Did not Enoch and Elijah go there?
Y. B.
Ans. God, in His grace, did take Enoch and Elijah to heaven-trophies of what He could do with sinful mortal men, but it was on account of what God was going to do in the work of atonement (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)), that they, or any of us, could be there. Jesus could speak of His being there as the rejected Son of Man (Matt. 26:6464Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:64); Mark 14:6262And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:62); Luke 22:6868And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. (Luke 22:68); John 1:5151And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)); and referring to the mystery of His person, said (John 3:1313And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)), "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.”
“When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high" Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3). He passed through all the heavens (Heb. 4:1414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)) (N. T.); He sat down (having finished the work) on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:1212But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12), Psa. 68:1818Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18); Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)). He has entered in as our forerunner (Heb. 6:2020Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6:20)).
Ques. Are children of the heathen who die in infancy, lost? R.
Ans. Matt. 18:1111For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11) speaking of children who have not come to years of responsibility, says, "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost." In that verse we see that, though lost as born of sinful parents, the death of Christ who died for all has purchased salvation for them, and for all irresponsible children of men. Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10) speaking of sinners who have sinned, says, "The Son of Man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost." These had gone astray in sin.
Ans. In Christianity we have no days to keep as they did under the law, is the answer to these scriptures.
In the Word of God the days have no names,-as Sunday, Monday, etc. We have numbers instead. The seventh day was given to Israel as the Sabbath, the sign or seal of the covenant (Ex. 31:13-1713Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 14Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:13‑17)).
It was never given to Gentiles to observe, except those who settled among the Israelites in the land of Canaan.
When Christianity began, it gave us the first day of the week, because the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on that day; the Holy Spirit came to dwell on that day; the first gospel sermon was preached that day, and as time went on, the Christians came together to break bread on that day (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)), and the apostle John, while alone in the Isle of Patmos, gave to it, by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, its name when he wrote, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.”
We have no rules or commandments from the Lord how to observe it. That is left to those who truly love Him, to give Him the first place. The statutes of the country in which we live have made it a holiday, and what better could Christians do than to use it for the One who has loved them and given Himself for them?
Rom. 14:11Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. (Romans 14:1).8 leaves every one free to please the Lord as he knows best, and does not put us under law to observe days. It is a great thing for us to please the Lord, and devote our hearts and time to how best to glorify Him.
Ans. The ministry spoken of from third to sixth chapter is the ministry of the gospel of the glory of Christ. It is the ministry of God's righteousness (chap. 3:9), in contrast with law, and excels in glory; but to the unbelieving Jews, this glory was hid, or veiled, the god of this world had blinded their eyes to the beauty of the glad tidings. Its radiance was lost on them. He was the image of God. God was seen in Him, but its light did not enter their hearts, it did not shine forth for them,-that is what we see in verse 4.
But in verse 6, God hath shined in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The knowledge of God seen in Christ is to shine forth in us. It is the same glory of God seen in Christ, not received by the unbelieving in verse 4; received into believing hearts, that it may shine forth again in verse 6.
Ans. Yes. As a nation, now, God has written upon them, "not My people." Those who own Jesus Christ as Lord, are called, "The Israel of God" (Gal. 6:1616And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)). "An holy. nation" (1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)), the people of God who have obtained mercy (verse 10). They are the remnant that have first, or pre-trusted in Christ in the present time (Eph. 1:1212That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12)). In the future all Israel, that is, Israel as a whole, will be saved (not every individual) (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)).