951. Lucifer first fell from heaven when he was first cast out. 2 Peter 2:4. He was cast down again when conquered by Jesus. Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:9. But the full application of Isa. 14:12-20 evidently takes in his whole career till he is utterly destroyed.
952. (J. C. B.) All die.—While 1 Cor. 15:22 states that "as in Adam all die," and 1 Cor. 15:51, 52 declares that all shall not sleep, there is no contradiction. All are mortal, subject to death through Adam. The man who is translated does not live forever of himself. Of himself, a descendant of Adam, he would die. He lives as truly by the grace and power of Christ alone as does the man raised from the dead. Moreover, the man who is translated to immortality dies with Christ. He gives up his life to God.
953. (Elbe.) 2 Thess. 1:9.—The text reads, "Who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of His might." R.V. But the glory of God's might will in that day fill heaven and earth; and the only way that a person can be banished from His presence and glory is to be destroyed, brought "to naught with the manifestation of His coming." 2 Thess. 2:8, R.V.
954. (A Reader.) The Holy Spirit.—Yes; the church ought to be baptized with the Holy Ghost to-day. God is waiting to pour out the latter rain in abundance upon His people. When that time comes, when God's people seek His Spirit and power for service, to do His will in His way, not as they will, then power will be given, and Mark 16:17, 18 will be plenarily fulfilled.
955. (G. L. Z.) "Sabbath days."—The "sabbath days" of Col. 2:14 were the yearly or annual sabbaths, shadows pointing forward to Christ, the substance. See following verses. But it is true in all things that God has not made man judge.
956. Lost Time.—No days have slipped out of the week in any of the changes of the calendar. Those changes had no reference to the day of the week, but to the day of the month. Russia has been out with the world for three hundred years in the matter of the calendar, but her week is the same. Who ever heard of a whole neighborhood losing track of the days of the week? And then to think of towns, counties, countries, the world! No; the day of the week comes to us in unbroken succession from Eden.
957. (J. E. G.) John 20:23.—Jesus entrusted to His apostles and ministers for all time the treasure of His Word—which is Spirit and life. That Word lays down the conditions of the forgiveness and acceptance of God. The ministers of Christ were to proclaim that Word. Accepted, it is forgiveness; rejected, and man retains his sin. So Jeremiah was set over the nations to destroy and to establish. Jer. 1:10. Only by the ministration of the Word of God in the Spirit of Christ do the servants of Christ absolve from sin.