Ques. What works were finished from the foundation of the world? (Heb. 4:3.) What is the rest which remains to the people of God? (Verse 9.)
Ans. God had wrought in creation and then rested from His works when He had finished them, but man did not enter into it. Neither did Joshua nor David give God's people rest; so that the rest of God is still future, and believers will enter into it. We are to take care not to appear like coming short of it. It is laboring now as Christians; it will be resting when God's rest comes.
All taint of sin shall be removed,
All evil done away;
And we shall dwell with God's Beloved,
Through God's eternal day.
Ques. Did the wicked who were drowned at the flood, go into everlasting punishment in Sheol, or did they have another chance when Christ preached to the spirits in prison? (1 Peter 3:19.)
Ans. All the wicked that died before, at, or after the flood, will be raised to stand before the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15). This is the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:29.)
When an unsaved man dies, his soul is in prison, awaiting the judgment (2 Peter 2:4, 9); he is also in torment. See Luke 16:23, where the rich man's soul is "in torment", while men give his body a funeral. It is everlasting punishment; justice cannot be defeated when Christ is the judge. The wrath of God abideth on the sinner. (John 3:36.)
There is no preaching or offer of salvation to a man after death. There was no preaching in the prison. The Spirit of Christ preached through Noah to the people who lived at his time, then they were drowned, and their souls are in prison for their disobedience to the preaching.
When Christ died, His spirit went to the Father.
“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." Luke 23:46.
His body was put in the grave. Then He arose, and after forty days He ascended up on high. He is now the Man at God's right hand. It is a man-spirit, soul and body-that ascended. He had been in death, but could not be holden of it. That was “the lower parts of the earth." When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive. Satan is vanquished, and we are set free, sharing His triumphs now over sin, death and Satan's power. This is our blessing now, as brought to Himself to share His place before and with His God and Father.
Ques. What does, "He loved them unto the end" mean? (John 13:1.)
Ans. Christ's love is eternal, it cannot cease, nor change. It is proved by what He did on the cross (Eph. 5:25).
In the present by what He is doing (Eph. 5:26). In the future by what He will do (Eph. 5:27).
In the glory we will still feast and delight our souls in His love. So here on the journey until it end, we can count on Him to care for and provide all we need, spiritually and temporally. There is no end to His love. "The end" here, must therefore mean, all the way through (see also Heb. 7:25).
Of Him and His love will we sing,
His praises our tongues will employ,
Till heavenly anthems we bring
In yonder bright regions of joy.
Ques. Who are the many that "run to and fro"? What knowledge is increased? (Dan. 12:4.)
Ans. It is the last days of Israel's history under the times of the Gentiles. Another translation puts for "run to and fro," "shall diligently investigate." The Psalms, Prophets, Gospels and Revelation will be well investigated, and guidance given to both converted Jews and Gentiles then, where the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached. It is not yet. Daniel's book is still sealed.
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