Question: What does “captivity captive” mean? (Eph. 4:8). L. C. G.
Answer: It means that the Lord, by His mighty work of atonement, has met every claim of God’s throne, and was victorious over every enemy (Col. 1:13), annulling him that held us captive, and delivering us from our captivity to sin and death and Satan’s power in which we were held as children of men.
Question: What do the symbols mean used in Revelation 1:13-16? C. V.
Answer: The seven candlesticks made of gold, represent the seven churches mentioned in verse 11.
The Son of Man is the Lord as Judge—to Him all judgment is committed (John 5:22, 27; Acts 17:31). “Clothed with a garment down to the foot,” is priestly discrimination (Lev. 13:2, etc.; also Luke 17:14).
“Girt about the breast with a golden girdle,” —His affections can only flow out in divine righteousness: the breast, the place of affection; the gold, divine righteousness.
“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow,” this is the Ancient of Days, “the Great I Am” (Dan. 7:13, 22).
“His eyes were as a flame of fire,” from which nothing can be hid, searching out and uncovering all sin and iniquity.
“His feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace,” —His ability to judge everything according to divine righteousness.
“His voice as the sound of many waters,” —irresistible power and majesty.
“He had in His right hand seven stars,” —the authority belongs to Him. The stars are subordinate authority.
“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,” —He judges by the Word of God.
“His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength,” —supreme power and authority.
Question: Would you kindly explain Matthew 16:28 very clearly and definitely for me? H. J. K.
Answer: Please read carefully Matthew 16:27, 28; 17:1-9; Mark 8:38; 9:1-8; Luke 9:26-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18. Ask the Lord to help you to understand them.
When the Lord Jesus began His ministry, He proved Himself to be “Emmanuel,” “God with us,” by His words and His works, yet the leaders of Israel rejected Him, because He came in lowly guise. “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isa. 53). In Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth He began to show unto His disciples,” his sufferings, death and resurrection. Peter opposed Him, not understanding why. The Lord shows them how solemn and important it was to own Him—it meant eternal salvation or eternal loss.
From that time He speaks of Himself as Son of Man. This title is higher and greater than King of Israel. He is both in the future. Psalm 2, is Christ the King of Israel. Psalm 8, He is Son of Man, (compare John 1:49 with verse 51). He is the Lord of heaven and earth (1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 2:8), and all things are out under His feet as Son of Man, and He will come in the glory of His Father with His angels to reward every man according to His works.
The coming of the Lord for His saints is before that, for they also come with Him.
Then in Matthew 16:28, the Lord said that some of them standing there, would not taste of death, till they saw the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. This was to confirm their faith, as we see in 2 Peter 1:16-19, and in their minds made the word of prophecy more sure, for no one could say to Peter, James, or John that Jesus was not the King of Israel and Son of Man. They could say, We saw Him, and heard the voice on the holy mount. We were eye-witnesses of His majesty.
This, the transfiguration of Christ, is a beautiful sample of the Kingdom come in power. In Moses we see the dead saints raised; in Elias we see the living saints caught up, and all glorified together. These are the heavenly part of the Kingdom, and in Peter, James, and John, we have the saints on earth—the earthly part of the Kingdom, and the glory of the person of Christ lights up the whole Kingdom. And when Peter wants the Kingdom to continue, and puts Moses and Elias as equal with Christ, the voice out of the bright cloud said:
“This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him,” then the disciples fell on their faces and were sore afraid, till Jesus touched them, and said, “Arise, be not afraid,” then they lifted up their eyes and saw no man, save Jesus only.
In Luke 9, Moses and Elias talked with the Lord about His death which was to take place at Jerusalem, and here He charged His disciples to tell no man, till the Son of Man was risen from the dead.
The Lord could not set up His Kingdom in sin. He must die to make atonement for sin. He will set up His Kingdom on earth, as is foretold in the prophets, but now He is gathering together His heavenly bride who will be in the Father’s house with Him on high, and share the Kingdom. When He reigns, we, the Church, will reign with Him. (Rom. 8:17).
Question: Would like to know something about God in Scripture? Are three persons distinct from each other spoken of? T. E.
Answer: Yes, God is revealed to us in the Scriptures called the Holy Bible, and nowhere else. It becomes us to approach this subject with deepest reverence. We can only give you a little help in a few remarks to lead you to read your Bible with earnest prayer to God to teach you by His Holy Spirit who dwells in every one who has rested on the finished work of Christ, His Son.
In Genesis 11 God created. “Let us” (verse 26) is the counsel of the Godhead in creating man. Lord God is His covenant name with mankind (Chapter 2:3).
Abraham knew Him as the Almighty God (Ex. 6:2, 3), and He is revealed to Israel as “I AM THAT I AM” (chap. 3:14) the ever existing One, Jehovah, the God of Israel.
In the New Testament we get as far as a finite being can understand the Infinite (see 1 Tim. 6:15, 16)—God revealed to Christians (who have received eyes to see divine things) as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14) three persons with one mind and purpose in everything; acting in Creation and redemption. The Father’s will is carried out by the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit.
As you examine the Scriptures you will find that the personal pronoun is used of each, and that each possesses a will—here are examples: “Lo, I come to do Thy Will,” —there it is the Father’s will (Heb. 10:7). “Not My will but Thine be done,” —there it is the Son’s will (Luke 22:42). “The selfsame Spirit; dividing to every man severally as He will,” —there it is the will of the Holy Spirit. The Father loves, the Son loves, the Holy Spirit loves (John 15:9, 10; Rom. 15:30).
Then in the Lord Jesus Christ, the whole Godhead dwells bodily. All are seen in Him (John 1:14, 18; 14:9, 10, 11; Col. 1:19 and 2:9). May the Lord guide you in your meditations, on this all-important subject.