Letters    

 ON THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Dear D. W.                                                                                                   January 27, 1988

      ...Regarding the finished work of Christ: you contend there is no need for Jesus to return to earth because He finished all work the Father sent Him to do. Your error is serious: Jesus is still in the business of effecting salvation, still serving as the Advocate of His people, still the blood sacrifice for His people, still interceding for them with the Father, etc. What is finished is the purchase of salvation. The necessity of Jesus returning to earth is to fulfill prophecy and the promises such as those found in Zechariah 14:4, and Acts 1:11). ...

TO ONE WHO BELIEVES CHRIST RETURNED IN 70 A.D.

Dear D. W.                                                                                                        May 12, 1987

       ...You maintain that Christ returned "in power" in 70 A.D.. In Zechariah 14:4, we read, "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south." D., when did this happen? If you know anyone who has visited the region, ask them if the mount of Olives has such a cleavage. It is clearly a prophecy yet unfulfilled.

      In the New Testament, in Revelation 16:3, we read, "And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea." D., when did this happen? Check the annals of history, and you will find nothing of the kind as happened ...yet.

      In Revelation 16:12, we read, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." D., has the river Euphrates dried up? History records no such event. It is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled.

      D., look at the world news, and tell me again that you believe Christ Jesus, Son of God, and Prince of Peace has returned to earth!

ON CHRIST, THE ONLY SAVIOUR OF MEN

Dear C. B.                                                                                                           July 20, 1987

        ...We must all lay this body down, and when we do, it will be imperative that we have an intercessor, one to deliver us from the power of death. "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). In His infinite mercy and marvellous grace, God has provided only one Saviour, His only begotten Son; "So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).

ON THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS

Dear A. N.                                                                                                   February 11, 1989

        ...Your thoughts concerning the giving of the Holy Spirit are a common dilemma. While there are some things we must be dogmatic about, I am more careful about such things as this. I will give you my thoughts.

        C. I. Scofield made a great deal about the giving of the Holy Spirit declaring that in the old Testament, the Spirit of God "rested upon" believers whereas in the new Testament, He "dwells within." However, there appears some glaring Biblical proof that his position was pure fabrication. For instance, the words of Pharoah concerning Joseph, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" (Gen. 41:38).

      In Exodus 31:3, in speaking to Moses of Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, God says, "And I have filled him with the spirit of God ...." And, in Isaiah 63:11, the prophet asks, "Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his Holy Spirit within him?"

     Luke tells us that while Mary was yet carrying the incarnate Deity, that "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost" (Luke 1:41); and, when her husband named his son, "John," that he "was filled with the Holy Ghost" (vs. 67).

     Once again, Peter speaks of the prophets of old who "enquired and searched diligently," who prophesied of the grace that should come unto us, "searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify ..." (I Peter 1:10,11).

     It would seem clear, then, that the Spirit of God indwelt believers of old. I think this is also the meaning of Judges 16:20, where Samson "knew not that the Lord was departed from him."

     I believe your answer is found in John 7:38,39: "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."

     I am persuaded this means the Holy Spirit was not as yet "poured out"; that is, an effusion was what was promised. Although in John 20, the Lord breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, yet, the evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God was so much more evidenced in Acts 2.

     I hope this will help. We are having a glorious time here as we have been preaching on the priesthood of the Son of God. Must close.

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