The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-25
EvERYBODY'S Bible BOX.

d
which the pastor and the church board
| are continually devising schemes such
| as grab-bag SociableS, ice cream feSti-
walls, oyster supperS, ETC., to raise mon
ey. Also, collections are taken up quite
often, and the congregation is fire.
quently dunned for money for this
that and the other. I believe in sup
porting the church, and do give quite
literally, but this continually being
touched" for money is distressing to
say the least. Does the Bible coun-
tenance this sort of thing? Did the
Lord and His Apostles set an example
along these lines of professional beg
ging? Please enlighten. (Distressed.)
AnSWer-The Lord and the Apostles
said very little about money for the
support of themselves or for the cause
they advocated. The enemies of Chris
tianity have never been able to accuse
the Lord Jesus or the Apostles of seek
ing for money or wealth. The Lord
had not where to lay His head He
was a poor Man. The Apostle Paul
1abOred n his own hands to provide
for himself and others. There would
be far less reproach upon the cause
of Christ if the ministers and members
of the clergy followed the example of
the Master and His Apostles, saying
less about money, and living simpler
and humber lives. See Luke K, Z; 1
Corinthians tx. 9-15; xvi, 1, 2.
Q.-Does Hebrews xii, 1, mean that
the spirits of our departed friends are
with us and watching over u.s. or only
those mentioned in chapter XII? CA.
E. P.0
Answer-This should not be under
stood to refer to the spirits of our
dead friends or of those mentioned in
chapter XII. The popular theory that
our departed friends are not really
dead, but alive and active around us,
is not sustained by the Scriptures.
The Bible testimony is clear that THE
dead praise not the Lord (Ecclesiastes
TX, s; Psalm CIV, 1917, 1.-The dead know
not anything Psalm cxlvi. 4: Eccle-
siastes tx 81, etc. The only hope of
life beyond the grave is in a resurrec-
ton, and the Apostle reasons in I.
Corinthians XIV, that if there is no res
direction, there is no future life The
first word in chapter xii. Wherefore"
links what follows with that which
precedes it. Actions speak louder than
words, and SO it is by the record and
remembrance of what the Ancients
endured for God and truth, that we
are encouraged and stimulated to faith
and patient endurance The Apostle
exhorts us, in view of such a noble
testimony or witness of faith in God,
to lay aside anything and everything
that would hinder us in the Heavenly
race, and by faith and patience make
the promises our own. Only those who
are faithful fulI of faith) unto death,
shall receive the crown of life
On Revelation xvi, -. We read
that the. waters of the Euphrates Cur
key) shall be dried up. to prepare the
way of the kings from the sun-rising
Who are the kings from the sun-rising?
q. w. CO
Answer--The book of Revelation is
symbolic, but do not, however, un-
derstand that the Euphrates refers to
Turkey. On the contrary, We are told
in Chap. xvii, Is, that the waters on
which the harlot. Babylon, rests. or is
supported, ARE peoples and multitudes.
and nations and tongues We under
stand that the mother of harlots and
her daughters, represent the unfaithful
church; and Just as literal Babylon fell
into the hands of the kings of the east
(Medes and Persians) through the turn
ing away of the waters of the literal
EuphrateS outside that city. so it will
be in the time of trial with mystic
Babylon. when the symbolic Euphrates
will be diverted from the old channel
the sympathy and support of the people
in general will be withdrawn, and Great
Babylon will fall to- rise no more. The
kings of the east, or S you say, from
the sun-rising," which we are inclined
to think is more expressive. will be the
Lord of Glory. the Sun of Righteous-
ness, and those with Him, His glorified
saints. Then the kingdoms of this
world will become the kingdom of our
Lord, and His Christ, and He shall
reign for ever and ever
Q.-Is the Bible wholly or partly in
spired, or is it not inspired at all?
VeritaS.)
Answer.-We would say that the
Bible is wholly inspired. e., that God
has particularly given His oversight to
it's utterances, and particularly guided
the minds and tongues of those "holy
men of DID, who were moved by the
Holy Spirit We should also remember !