Correspondence: Rev. 15; Acts 2:3; Rom. 10:6-7; Matt. 16:16-18, 12:16, & 3 more

From: Young Christian: Volume 18, 1928

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Question: When does the execution of the seven last plagues take place? (Rev. 15). B.

Answer: At the last part of the tribulation period. It is the great tribulation when men are deceived by the Satanic trinity (verses 13, 14).

Question: What do we learn from the cloven tongues of fire that sat upon each of the disciples when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost? (Acts 2:3³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)). Is that the baptism of fire spoken of in Matthew 3:11¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)? V.

Answer: The baptism of the Holy Ghost was at Pentecost; the baptism of fire is when the Lord returns with His saints to judge the world, beginning with the unbelieving Jews: then He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

In Matthew 3:16¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16), the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove lighting on Him, and the Father’s voice says, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” “Him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27²⁷Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27). The Holy Spirit came upon Him in this form, because of the lowly character He took, “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed, shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench.” Matthew 12:19, 20¹⁹He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. ²⁰A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. (Matthew 12:19‑20). Here all is different. He has finished the work given Him to do, and rejected and crucified on earth, risen and glorified in heaven, and received of the Father the Holy Spirit to send down to earth as His witness (John 15:26, 27²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26‑27)).

The tongues of fire, divided into more than two (the word means “several”), gives us the thought of the power of God in testimony in the Word which was like consuming fire, judging all that comes before it – brings blessing to the believers, and judgment to the unbelievers.

The Lord at Babel (Gen. 11:6⁶And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Genesis 11:6).9) confounded the language to scatter the people. He was not their center. When the gospel began, He sent it so that every one could hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. This message, if received, gathers those who receive it into one with Christ as their Head and Center. Babel was to shut God out. The gospel brings God in, and brings us to God.

Question: What does Romans 10:6, 7⁶But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) ⁷Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (Romans 10:6‑7) mean? W. W. H.

Answer: This chapter begins by showing the foolishness of those who labor to produce a righteousness of their own, who do not therefore submit themselves to the righteousness of God, for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Then it shows how the gospel has come right to us, to our hearts; no laboring, no efforts, only resting on God’s precious Word. This is the way Deuteronomy 30:12, 13, 14¹²It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? ¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? ¹⁴But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (Deuteronomy 30:12‑14) is used here. The Word was nigh them, in their mouth, and in their hearts. How blessed and precious the good news of God is!

Question: Please explain Matthew 16:16-18¹⁶And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16‑18). C.

Answer: It was on Peter confessing that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, that the Lord expresses His intention to build His church (assembly) on that foundation (see 1 Cor. 3:11¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)).

“Peter” means “a stone”, and it was upon Christ (this rock) that the assembly was to be built. Peter as a stone, was built upon it with the rest of the living stones (1 Peter 2:5⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)). “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it”, means that the power of death cannot destroy the assembly. Individuals die, and are “absent from the body and present with the Lord”; the assembly never dies. The Lord will come and take it up to meet Him in the air to be forever with Him.

“I will build” shows His intention. It was still future. At Pentecost it began. The Lord in glory received the Holy Spirit to send Him down to dwell in all believers (Acts 2:33³³Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33); 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:12, 13¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13)). This is the first time the assembly is mentioned in Scripture.

Question: What is meant by blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Matthew 12:16¹⁶And charged them that they should not make him known: (Matthew 12:16)? Is this the unpardonable sin?

Answer: Read carefully Matthew 12:22-32²²Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. ²³And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. ²⁵And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: ²⁶And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. ²⁸But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. ²⁹Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. ³⁰He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. ³¹Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. ³²And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:22‑32); Mark 3:22-30²²And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. ²³And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. ²⁷No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. ²⁸Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: ²⁹But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: ³⁰Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3:22‑30), and you will see the diabolical perversity of those who said that “Christ had an unclean spirit.” This was saying that the Lord was possessed by the prince of devils, and that it was by his power that Jesus was working those gracious miracles. This could not be passed over by God, so that those who spoke thus were in danger of eternal judgment. “Neither in this world” (Matt. 12:32³²And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:32)), was the age of law. “Neither in the world to come”, is the Millennial age.

In the church period we preach the gospel to every creature, and we know that Jesus has said, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” We do not know those who are beyond the pardoning grace of God. God knows each soul.

“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them, which believe not, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:3‑4).

Question: Is not the treasure in Matthew 13:44⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44) Israel? Is the church hid in the field, or was it hid in God? Does Psalm 135:4⁴For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Psalm 135:4) point on the treasure in Matthew 13:44⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44)? A. S.

Answers: “The kingdom of heaven” in its mysterious form, (that is, when the King is absent, only called so in Matthew’s Gospel), applies to this present time. It does not apply to Israel in the past, nor in the future – that is, after the church is caught up.

Israel was to be a peculiar treasure, if they had obeyed Jehovah (Ex. 19:5⁵Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5)); and they will be it in the reign of Christ, the center for His earthly glory (Psa. 135:4⁴For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Psalm 135:4)). It will be the Kingdom in power then. Israel was never hid in the field. They were well known, not hidden.

In Matthew 13:44⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44) the Man found it, and hid it, then sold all that He had, and bought the field for the treasure that was in it. The field is the purchased thing there. In verses 45, 46 we find the great object of His delight, the pearl of great price (Eph. 5:25-27²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25‑27)). This is what was hid in God, and was only revealed (Eph. 3:9⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)) after Paul was converted.

It is important to notice that all the parables of the kingdom of heaven apply to the church period.

Question: Please explain Romans 6:3-5³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:3‑5); and Colossians 2:12¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12). P. R. T.

Answer: The question, “Shall we go on in sin that grace may abound?” is answered, “God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein.”

The teaching is, that we are now brought into a new place through the death of Christ, where He suffered for sin, and we by faith in Him, have part with Him in that death. Can we go on with what we have died to? Then our baptism is unto the death of Christ. His death is now an end to our old place as men in the flesh. Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. His is the pattern of the life we now are to live before God. Our faith lays hold of this blessed truth that we are now before God in Him. We are planted together in the likeness of His death, of which baptism is the symbol, and we shall be also of His resurrection. The believer is always viewed in Romans as being on earth, alive in Christ and justified, but not said to be risen with Christ. Our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin, and we are to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 2:12¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12). In verse 11, the circumcision made without hands is the death of Christ in which the body of the flesh is put off. In verse 12, we are buried with Him: baptism as a symbol, expresses this. We see also that we are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead, thus we have now put off the old man, and have put on the new, which new life is the life of Christ in us, though we are still on the earth. As dead, buried and risen with Christ, we are freed from ordinances, and are now to hold the Head from which all our springs flow.

All that Thou hast, Thou hast for me.

All my fresh springs are hid in Thee.

In Thee I live; while I confess

I nothing am, yet all possess.

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