There are two
spheres mentioned in Gen. 1:1, and they are the subject of the rest of the Word
of God. Although both are mentioned at the first, we soon discover that the earth is the main subject till we get to the epistle to the Ephesians.
Both spheres were in the overthrow which must have come about with the rebellion of the greatest and wisest creature ever created
(Eze. 28:12-19). Peter speaks of this overthrow as being by water (2 Pet. 3:5,6). And we note that when redemption is completed, as far as the earth is concerned, there will be no more sea (Re 21:1).
[More]
Before. Israel were urged to turn again in order that God might send the Christ unto them, even Jesus.
Ye men of Israel ...turn again... that He may send the Christ Who bath been appointed for you, even Jesus (AC 3:12-21).
After. Israel's hope of the Lord's return was deferred, for Paul declared, in the words of Isaiah, that they were too blind to fulfil the required condition of turning again.
After that Paul had spoken one word ...Go thou unto this People,
and say...their eyes have they closed; lest haply they should ...turn again, and
I should heal them (Ac 28:25-27). Before. The. word of salvation was sent to Israel with a warning concerning what might come if they failed to give heed.
Children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you that feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent...Beware
therefore, test that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets
(Ac 13:26,40). After. The salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles in consequence of Israel's failure to give heed.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it (Ac 28:28).
[More]
THE SUPREME PENALTY
By Oscar Baker
Many of you do not have access to any libraries of much size. You might be interested in what some of the earlier writers believed. Such a study will show the beginnings and spread of apostacy and
the creeping in of heathen philosophies into the churches.
In THE DURATION AND NATURE OF
FUTURE PUNISHMENT by Henry Constable (1868), we find a little table of the early writers and their views on this subject. The death date of each is given.
Barnabas (90), Clement of Rome (100),
Hermas (104), Ignatius, Martyr (107), Polycarp, Martyr (147), Justin, Martyr
(164), and Theophilus, of Antioch (183), all
held to the Scriptural view that the supreme penalty
for all who did not have life was eternal death.
SAUL'S CONVERSIONBy Oscar baker Ac 9:1-9
Saul of Tarsus (a city in Asia), was a Jew. He also was a
fundamentalist of the time, a Pharisee.
He was zealous
for Moses and the prophets. He believed his Bible. No one was better qualified
than he for Israel's
hope which was resurrection and the coming of the Messiah.
Since he was blameless as concerning the law, and
believed all that Moses and the prophets did
say, he firmly
believed in the coming King and His kingdom over all the earth. Yet there are
some,
who in spite of the
record, say that Saul was lost, unsaved, an unbeliever.
[MORE]
THE
OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN By Oscar Baker
Ro 8:1-15
Romans is Paul's last epistle before the end of Acts period. It is kingdom
truth. Note chapter 7 in relation to the Therefore. In this
passage pneuma, spirit, is used 17 times, but never of the Giver or Person.
HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE By
Oscar baker
Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8
Thou bast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou
hast received gifts for men; yea for the rebellious also, that THE LORD
God might dwell among them (Ps 68:18).
Many of the Psalms are prophetic, and this is one of them.
There is nothing here to indicate that Eph 4:8 is in mind. That is a later
application. But the ascension of the Lord was one event. So both refer to
that. And both refer to the fact that there may be warfare connected with that
ascension. The key may be found in Dan. 10:13 where the angel explains to Daniel
that he had been delayed in his mission
21 days by the prince of Persia. So here is an angelic prince that is against
the prophecies of Daniel.
Satan is the prince of
the powers of the air, therefore this is one of Satan's agents. Some day Satan
and his hosts will be thrown out of the air
or heavens (firmament of Gen. 1:6) and will not get to go back ever again.
