Question by A. and W.
Answer: (a.) Psalm 2 is Christ as Son of God and King of Israel. (compare John 1:49). Psalm 8 is Christ’s wider glory as Son of Man, Lord of all creation. (compare John 1:51).
(b.) Life and light come to the soul simultaneously. (John 3:3).
(c.) The name “Lord God” is God’s name in relationship with man.
(d.) It is at the Cross of Christ that God is fully revealed as “light” and “love.”
(e.) 1 Corinthians 9:14 refers to the material support of those who give their lives to preaching the gospel.
(f.) Godly repentance is the judgment of sin wrought in the soul of the sinner or the offending saint. Confession to God or men flows from it, if it is genuine. (2 Cor. 7:10). Judas Iscariots repentance was remorse, and worked death. (2 Cor. 7:10).
John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12 and many other passages tell us not to think it strange if we are persecuted. John 15:8, 19, 20 tells the reason; the world cannot understand the motives of a Christian.
(1 John 3:1).
Question by J. J.
Answer: In Revelation 1:19. “The things that are” is the period of the church’s history on earth.
“The things that shall be hereafter,” or “after these things” is the future, commencing with the 4th chapter. We are still on earth, and no prophecy is to be fulfilled till we are with the Lord in heaven. The wars and pestilences, famines, and earthquakes that take place now are not foretold in Scripture. We are simply told to wait for the Son from heaven. The church is being gathered now. The bright and morning Star may soon be ours. Till then no prophecy can be fulfilled, not even the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:8). do we look for.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not shaken in mind, or be troubled,” (2 Thess. 2:1, 2). This is the first thing to happen, and how soon we may see Him who loved us and gave Himself for us!