Correspondence.

F.B. and K.C. —What constitutes an “assembly meeting”? An assembly meeting in the strict sense of the term seems to be on such occasion as the “whole church” comes “together in one place” (1 Cor. 14:2323If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:23). Compare Acts 15:2222Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: (Acts 15:22)), with liberty allowed for the action of the Spirit as set forth in 1 Corinthians 14. It is evident that all the saints may assemble to receive ministry of the word, or at the preaching of the gospel, or by special invitation as in Acts 14:2727And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27). But in these cases the meeting would have the character of general fellowship in the spiritual things ministered by the Lord’s servants, rather than that of the corporate action of the assembly as above. See also 1 Cor. verses 3-5 for the case of discipline.
K. M. J. —Is breaking of bread at the Lord’s Table (1 Cor. 11) the same as feasting on the fatted calf at the Father’s Table (Luke 15)? Not so; Luke 15 portrays the unspeakable joy the believer finds in Christ, the slain Lamb, as made known in the gospel, and at all times; while 1 Corinthians 11 is limited to those seasons when he eats bread and drinks wine in remembrance of the Lord in His death.
A.E. —Kindly explain the last part of Matthew 5:2222But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22). The law dealt with man’s acts of open wickedness, but the Lord here judges the thoughts and motives of the heart. He classes together murder and hatred of one’s brother (so 1 John 3:1515Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)). And whosoever by the scornful Word, “Fool” (in its worst sense), indicated the utter degree of contempt and abhorrence he had for his brother, was guilty of such feelings as would, if unforgiven, be judged by God and punished in the Gehenna of fire.
E. C. R. — (1) Does Luke 12:3636And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:36) apply to the appearing or to the coming of the Lord? The coming of the Lord is applied to His return for His saints (1 Thess. 4:1515For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)) and also to His public return with His saints (1 Thess. 3:1313To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)). But the “appearing” refers only to the latter stage of His coming when we shall appear with Him (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)). In Luke 12:3636And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:36) we have a general exhortation which suits His coming for the heavenly saints, and possibly for the Jewish remnant after. Girded loins and burning lamps become both. “From the wedding” is general and does not refer to Revelation 19. The Lord uses the figure in allusion to the custom of watching through the night on such occasions; as John the Baptist did in another way in John 3:2929He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29). (2) Is Matthew 13:40-4340As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:40‑43) final judgment? “The furnace of fire” and “wailing and gnashing of teeth” in verse 42, as compared with Matthew 8:1212But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12) and 22:13, would indicate that it is. Compare Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46). It is before Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). (3) Is it executed before the millennium? Yes; the Son of Man’s kingdom is introduced by these judgments at the end of this age. (4) In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-107And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑10) distinct from Revelation 19:19-2119And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:19‑21)? Which takes place first? Are both prior to Matthew 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)? 2 Thessalonians 1:7-107And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑10) is general and speaks of the vengeance the Lord is to execute when revealed from heaven in flaming tire; Revelation 19:19-2119And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:19‑21) of two distinct dealings, one on the apostate chiefs, civil and religious, who are consigned to the lake of fire, the other on their armies or followers, who are slain. Both scenes are before the judicial process in the close of Matthew 25.
M. S. —What does the “water” refer to in 1 John 5:66This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:6)? The water and the blood have a doctrinal reference to the historical fact recorded in John 19:3434But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34). They point to a double aspect of the results of Christ’s coming. The water alludes to purification from sins, and the blood to expiation for sins. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:1111And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11). Both cleansing and propitiation were necessary parts of Christ’s work.