Sermons and Biblical Studies

St. Peter gives us the key to this question in his declaration, "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years" (`2 Pet. 3:8`). Father Adam began to die as soon as he was cut off from the privileges of the garden of Eden; for while he was living therein he had the Divine … Continue reading “God said to Adam, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” How can you harmonize this with the record that “all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died?”– `Gen. 2:17`; `Gen 5:5`.”

The word "nature" in its true sense, as applied to creatures, or beings, signifies the kind of organism and sphere of existence in which they live and move and have their being. Thus when human nature is referred to, it signifies the conditions of existence relating to the human race. The angelic nature is in … Continue reading “What is meant by Divine nature, etc.? What is the meaning of the word nature in these connections?”

In the Scriptures we find that there are two kinds of death mentioned; the Adamic condition of death, and the "Second Death." The first could not properly be termed annihilation, as the Lord has arranged that all who have died because of Adam's sin (the whole world of mankind) are to be released from this … Continue reading “Is there any difference between death and annihilation?”

Death is the cessation of life; the cutting off of the great privilege or boon of living. It signifies annihilation so far as the being or intelligence is concerned. Death, as it now reigns in the world, and to which the entire human family is subjected, is, however, not annihilation, simply because our Creator has … Continue reading “What is death?”

When we think of the vast numbers of vicious, depraved characters, hardened criminals, convicts, etc., who at the solicitation of clergymen and religious devotees have "made their peace with God" at the last moment before being ushered into eternity by electrocution or by dying a natural death, we wonder that intelligent people would for an … Continue reading “If a man has lived a sinful life, committed murder and robbed the widows and orphans, etc., and then at the last moment, with his dying breath, confesses his sins and accepts Christ as his Savior, will he not go immediately to Heaven and be with the Lord in glory?”

There are three kinds of death mentioned in the Scriptures–the Adamic death; the sacrificial death, as death of Christ; and the "second death." The Adamic condition of death, passed upon all the human race because of Adam's disobedience. The world of mankind may be regarded as a convict race under sentence of death– "As by … Continue reading “Who are the dead who die in the Lord, and how can a dead person die? – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence forth.” `Rev. 14:13`.”

he promise which the Lord made to Josiah, as stated in `2 Kings 22:20`, was because of the splendid work of reformation which the king had inaugurated and was prosecuting against the false and idolatrous religious systems that had become established in the land, during the preceding reigns of the kings of Judah. While it … Continue reading “In `2 Kings 22:20th` verse we read “Behold, therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, aud thou shall be gathered into thy grave in peace.” Then in `2 Kings 23:29-30`, we are told that Josiah was killed at Megiddo. Please explain and harmonize.”

We find this scripture to be in harmony with the remainder of the Bible and as particularly expressed in the ninth chapter of this same book of Ecclesiastes– "for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest." When an individual dies- -falls as a tree in death–so … Continue reading “Kindly explain the last part of the `third verse of Ecc., the eleventh chapter`: “In the place where the tree falleth there it shall be.””

We appreciate your sorrow and anxiety. Many mothers have been comforted by the Lord's word found in `Jer. 31:15`. "Thus saith the Lord, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children, because they were not." (They were dead, unconscious, "The dead know not anything."–`Ecc. 9:5`.) These children of … Continue reading “I have just lost a dear little girl who never was baptized. I am about mad with grief and sorrow. Some people tell me that she is lost to all eternity and may possibly now be writhing in eternal torture. I have called in our minister and he only shakes his head in doubt. I have also talked with ministers of other denominations and can get no consolation.”

The name is found in `Rev. 16:16`, and means literally "The Mountain of Destruction." It is supposed to have reference to the place where the Lord caused fearful destruction of the enemies of Israel before the armies of Gideon, and of Jehoshaphat. On both of these occasions, the slaughter of the allied armies of the … Continue reading “What is the meaning of the word “Armageddon”? Also, what is signified by “the battle of Armageddon”? These are expressions that I see are appearing quite frequently in the daily press these balmy political days, and my curiosity is aroused considerably.”