Question: Are John 1:14; Philippians 2:7, and Hebrews 2:14 the same? J. T. G.
Answer: In John 1:14, the Word became flesh. It is His history on earth begun.
In Philippians 2:7, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.
In Hebrews 2:14, He took part in flesh and blood, but not the same kind of flesh and blood. It was holy, spotless humanity, in order to have men as His brethren through redemption. The Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—act in perfect unison always.
Question: When a believer dies, does he go to the judgment seat of Christ at once, or do we all appear together after we are raised from the dead, or caught up? R. R.
Answer: There is nothing said of a believer going to the judgment seat while his body is in the grave. He is absent from the body, and present with the Lord.
If you look at such verses as 1 Corinthians 1:8; 3:13; 4:5; Philippians 1:6, 10; 2:1.6; 2 Timothy 1:18, and others you may think of, you will see that all point to a future day when the Lord will have His joy full in His people’s blessing; and so will Paul, and others like him, (1 Thess. 2:19, 20; 3:13, and others).
But 1 Corinthians 4:5 states that then when the Lord has come, He will uncover the very counsels of hearts; and then shall every man have his praise of God. So we conclude that such verses indicate that it is after the Lord has gathered us all home to Himself, that we shall all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ.
Question: Please explain the seeming discrepancy in Luke 24:39; John 20:17 and 26.
Answer: God who wrote His Book, using many human instruments, also gave us the Spirit, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God (1 Cor. 2:12). May we be ready to take in what He communicates.
Matthew’s Gospel presents Christ as King.
Mark as Servant Son.
Luke as Son of Man.
John as Son of God.
Each gives a different view, while all are equally true.
Luke 24:39 confirms the reality that He was a real man risen from the dead.
John 20:17 to 23, is the unfolding of our present relationship to Christ and to the Father.
John 20:24, 29 is the future, Thomas picturing the unbelieving Jews as a nation who will not believe till they see Christ coming in glory. Then they will say, “My Lord and my God” (Zech. 12:10 and 13:9), but in the tribulation there will be Jews who, though they have not seen, yet they will believe, and these will have a more blessed place (John 20:29).
In the third appearing, we find pictured, in a mysterious way, the full millennial gathering (John 21:6, 11).