Question: Should there ever be prayer when there is not faith for the answer?
Answer: Decidedly, though such prayer is not of the highest order. Still Philippians 4:66Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6) is clear; “in everything” that is, I am entitled to carry straight to God whatever burdens my heart. The point in Philippians is not the prayer being answered, which may or may not be the case, but the relief of a burdened heart in casting its care on God.
Question: What is the purpose of the book of Jonah?
Answer: The book of Jonah is, at once, historical, prophetic, and typical. We have the history of the prophet’s actings, a prophecy of the overthrow of Nineveh, and a type of the death of Christ. It is a most precious compendium of the very finest moral principles.
Question: Will the Old Testament saints be raised when the Lord comes? Are they part of the bride, or what is to be their portion?
Answer: No doubt the Old Testament saints will be raised from among the dead at the coming of the Lord— “they that are Christ’s at His coming.” A multitude of the servants of God are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb; and they are blessed, but still distinct from the bride. They rejoice because she hath made herself ready (Rev. 19:5-95And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:5‑9)). The promises to the one are connected with the land, the earth (Gen. 12:3; 13:14-173And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
14And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14‑17)). The predestined glory of the church is heavenly in Christ (Eph. 114Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:14‑17); Col. 114In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:14‑17)).
Question: Is it right for a Christian to marry an unsaved person?
Answer: We believe it to be a fatal step for anyone to marry an unconverted person, and a melancholy proof that the heart has departed from the Lord, and that the conscience has slipped from beneath the light and authority of God’s Word. It is amazing how the devil succeeds in casting dust into people’s eyes, in this matter.
He leads them to believe that they will be made a blessing to the unconverted partner—a lamentable delusion! How can we possibly expect blessing upon a flagrant act of disobedience? How can I, by going wrong, hope to set another right?
But it not unfrequently happens that a person, when bent on taking an unconverted partner, deceives himself into the belief that the one in question is converted. He affects to be satisfied with evidences of conversion which, under other circumstances, would utterly fail to command his confidence. The will is at work. He is determined to have his own way, and then, when too late, he discovers his solemn mistake.