Correspondence

From: Things New and Old: Volume 33

Matthew 24‑25 • 10 min. read • grade level: 9

8. D. R, Carriglong. We think it is a mistake to refer 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) to the marriage of Christ and the church: it is any wedding. None are taught to be like men waiting for the Lord when he returns from His wedding. It is not prophecy, but an Eastern wedding (in which men waited and watched for their master—a thing our Lord’s hearers no doubt had often witnessed) is used simply as an illustration. Matt. 25 is quite different. There it is our Lord Himself that the virgins wait for. “ They that were ready went in with him to the marriage.” (Ver. 10.)

9. J. H. Beek. (a) We do not think that John 5:25²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25) refers to the resurrection; but to the dead in sins being quickened into life. It does not appear probable that the resurrection would be brought in between verses 24 and 26, which both speak of Christ having and giving life to dead sinners. Then verse 27 says that our Lord had also (as something else) authority for judgment given to Him, and then He speaks of the resurrection: some raised unto life, and some unto judgment. Notice that verse 24 speaks of death unto life, which well agrees with the dead (in sins) hearing and living, in verse 25.

(b) We do not see any difficulty in believing that there will be saints on earth after the church is caught up to be with the Lord: not Old Testament saints, they have long since fallen asleep, and they will have part, we believe, in the resurrection named in 1 Thess. 4:16¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16). When Enoch prophesied that the Lord would come with ten thousands of His saints (Jude 14¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14)) did not this include Old Testament saints? As to there being saints on earth after the church is caught up, does not Rev. 7:9-17⁹After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ¹⁰And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ¹¹And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, ¹²Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. ¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. ¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:9‑17) point to such saints? and there will be others that will be on the earth during the millennium. We do not think that Dan. 12:2²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2) speaks of resurrection, but of the nation being raised up, as in Isa. 26:17-19¹⁷Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O Lord. ¹⁸We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. ¹⁹Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:17‑19) and Eze. 37:1-14¹The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, ²And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. ³And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. ⁴Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. ⁵Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: ⁶And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. ⁷So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. ⁸And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. ⁹Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. ¹⁰So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. ¹¹Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. ¹²Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, ¹⁴And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:1‑14).

(c) By examination of the various passages that speak of the coming of the Lord, it appears evident that at times (as in Matt. 24) reference is made to His return generally, without being restricted to the moment when He will come for His saints. So also “the day of the Lord” (though emphatically a day of judgment) is sometimes spoken of in reference to the saints, because it will be also a day of manifestation. Thus in 1 Cor. 5:5⁵To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:5) discipline is exercised “for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” see also 2 Tim. 4:8⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8). We therefore do not think that Phil. 1:6⁶Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6) teaches that there will be progress in sanctification after the saints are with the Lord. We are already “meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12)), though while here there is growth. When a saint dies he goes at once to be with the Lord, and we cannot conceive of progress in sanctification after that. 1 Thess. 5:23²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) speaks of our being preserved blameless now while here until (or at) the coming of the Lord. So 2 Pet. 3:14¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:14). 1 Cor. 3:12-15¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15) refers to ministerial labor: every man’s work will be tried by fire, and only that which is true will bear the fire? and will stand. Bad workmen may suffer loss but be themselves saved through the fire. No doubt we shall wait for the full glory which God has in store for us until we have our glorified bodies.

10. “T. F. C.” Liverpool, (a) Isa. 53:11, 12¹¹He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. ¹²Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:11‑12) represents Christ’s entering into the fruits of His work, when He will be satisfied. Jehovah will divide Him a portion with the great, and our Lord Himself will divide the spoil with the strong. This carries out the figure of a great warrior entering into his triumph, when he divides the honors showered upon him with his soldiers. We are made “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)), and are to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13¹³Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13).) See John 17:22²²And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22).

(b) The term £ kingdom of heaven é occurring only in the Gospel by Matthew seems clearly to refer it to Israel. They were looking for an earthly kingdom, but their eyes were directed to heaven. Their Messiah being rejected, He returned to heaven, and for the reception of blessing on earth their eyes must be turned heavenward. This is confirmed by finding that some of the parables, which represent the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, are referred to the kingdom of God in the other Gospels. In their present aspect the kingdom and the house of God may have similar applications, but the thought of a ‘kingdom’ is very different from that of a ‘house.’ The former supposes a ruler, with subjects owning his government; but a house implies more the internal organization. Paul wrote to Timothy that he might know how to behave himself in the house of God. (1 Tim. 3:15¹⁵But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).) This house is said to be “the church of the living God.” whereas the ‘kingdom’ is never said to be the church.

(c) We are not aware of any symbolical teaching in the five pillars to the door of the tabernacle. They divided the end of the tabernacle into four entrances, thus affording, when liberty of access was given and the inner veil was rent, an abundant entrance. Christ is the door.

(d) In the “lace of blue,” Exod. 39:21²¹And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:21), ‘blue’ is the heavenly color, and is often named in connection with the tabernacle. The breastplate was fastened by chains of gold (divine righteousness), and the lace of blue (heavenly purpose and relationship). Thus are we bound to our exalted Lord, though we are on earth.

(e) Moses was Jehovah’s representative when he consecrated Aaron for the priesthood. (Exod. 29:24²⁴And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. (Exodus 29:24).

(f) After Aaron and the people had sinned by making the golden calf, Moses became the mediator between Jehovah and the people, and as such must go up alone when he went up the mount the second time. There he was so near to God that his face shone when he came clown.

(g) The tabernacle referred to in Exod. 33:7, 8, 9⁷And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. ⁸And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. ⁹And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. (Exodus 33:7‑9), was not the tabernacle, and should be here translated ‘tent:’ it was perhaps the tent of Moses, though used as the tent of meeting before the tabernacle was finished. It will be seen that further instruction for making the tabernacle is given after chapter 33. It was not set up and anointed until chapter 40.

(h) To see why imperfect animals might be accepted for a free-will offering in Lev. 22:23²³Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. (Leviticus 22:23), it should be noticed that in verse 21 anything in beeves or sheep for a free-will offering “unto the Lord” must be perfect to be accepted; but in verse 23 the words “unto the Lord” are omitted. To meet God’s claim, only such an offering as could be a type of Christ could be accepted; but He graciously accepts the devotions of our feeble and imperfect service as to free-will offerings. The offerings for a vow would have to be sacrificed to Jehovah, and must therefore be perfect.

(i) We can see no intimation in scripture as to whether the linen curtains for the court of the tabernacle were hung inside or outside the pillars. If we are typified by the pillars, the linen would probably be outside to typify the righteousness of the saints, who should so live before men that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven.

(j) The “brotherly covenant” of Amos 1:9⁹Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: (Amos 1:9) does not refer to relationship, but simply to friendship. See 1 Kings 9:11-14¹¹(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. ¹²And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. ¹³And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. ¹⁴And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold. (1 Kings 9:11‑14), in which Hiram, king of Tire, called Solomon his “brother.” The covenant is in 1 Kings 5:12¹²And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together. (1 Kings 5:12).

(k) “The day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12¹²Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)) is not “the day,” as some special time, but more like “when God visits,” and this may be in grace, as in Luke 1:68, 78; 7:16; 19:44⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (Luke 1:68)
⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (Luke 1:78)
¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. (Luke 7:16)
⁴⁴And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:44); Acts 15:14¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14). When any are broken down under the power of God’s grace, they have to confess that God had acted in those Christians in their acceptance of Jesus Christ, whom they formerly condemned.

(l) In Hos. 6:2²After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2) it must be noticed that it speaks of Israel being “revived” after two days; and being “raised up” and “living” in the third day. It calls to mind Ezekiel’s vision of the resurrection of the dry bones of the whole house of Israel, and a nation being born in one day. “Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” (Isa. 66:8⁸Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (Isaiah 66:8).) After two days they will be revived; and in the third they will be raised up, and shall live in God’s sight. What more marvelous display of the power of God, in not only raising up the whole house of Israel into a nation, but the speedy way in which it will be accomplished in a yet future day.

(m) We see nothing typical in the seventh day in Eze. 45:20²⁰And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house. (Ezekiel 45:20). On the first day of the first month the sanctuary was to be cleansed: on the seventh day an offering was graciously provided for the erring and for him that is simple; so all would be ready for the passover on the fourteenth day.

(n) In Zech. 10:4⁴Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. (Zechariah 10:4) out of Judah came forth the corner stone (the Lord Jesus Christ); out of Judah the “peg” (in allusion to a strong peg which was built in the wall of houses in the East, on which their property was hung; see Isa. 22:23-25²³And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. ²⁴And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. ²⁵In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 22:23‑25), “a nail [or peg] in a sure place”), that which gave safety and security.

(o) Mal. 2:14-16¹⁴Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. ¹⁵And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. ¹⁶For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. (Malachi 2:14‑16) charges home upon the people the lightness with which they divorced their wives, the wives they had chosen in their youth. Did not God make them one? God’s Spirit did not lead otherwise. His ordinance was that they should be and remain one, and then He could bless their seed. It was in connection with marriage (when the sons of God took wives of the children of men) that we read, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” (Gen. 6:1-3¹And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, ²That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. ³And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:1‑3).)

(p) Matt. 25:28²⁸Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (Matthew 25:28) signifies that if a person does not use the gift God has given him, he loses it; whereas to one that uses his gifts, God gives more; in the same way that a master discharges a faithless servant, and trusts more and more to a faithful one. Rewards in the kingdom will be for service done. May we each be greeted by our Lord with a “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

(q) 1 Tim. 1:18¹⁸This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (1 Timothy 1:18). It was pointed out to Paul and others in a prophetic way that Timothy was a fit person for the ministry. Notice also that in chapter 4:14 the gift given to Timothy was also “by prophecy,” a special gift for this devoted servant. At a time when the scriptures were not complete, and even forged epistles were written (see 2 Thess. 2:2²That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thessalonians 2:2)), it was needful that those should be acknowledged who had a “form of sound words” which they had personally received from the apostle.

(r) We doubt not that Assyria will be brought into blessing in the millennium: it had been used by God to carry away and keep captive His people Israel. Their kings had acted for God in punishing His people; in the same way God says, “Nebuchadnezzar, my servant” (Jer. 25:9⁹Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. (Jeremiah 25:9), &c.) Egypt, which sheltered our Lord when Herod sought His life, will also be brought into blessing. “The Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation.... the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt, my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” (Isa. 19:21-25²¹And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. ²²And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. ²³In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. ²⁴In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: ²⁵Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:21‑25).)

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