Bible Readings for the Home Circle—1914 - A New You Ministry

BIBLE READINGS
20. Whence will come the fire that will destroy them
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed {522
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the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down
from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Verse 9.
NOTE.— This is called God’s “strange act” and His “strange work,”—
the work of destruction. Isa. 28:21. But by this means God will once
and forever cleanse the universe of sin and all its sad results. Death
itself will then be at an end—cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:14.
21. To what will this fire reduce the wicked
“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the
soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Mal. 4:3.
NOTE.— The wicked are to be utterly destroyed—consumed away
into smoke, brought to ashes. Having inseparably allied themselves
with sin, they have forfeited the right to life and an immortal existence,
and chosen the way of death and destruction. By their choice
they have proved themselves worthless. For this reason they are
compared to chaff, briers, thorns, etc. Their destruction will consequently
be no real loss. They will themselves have lost their opportunity
to obtain eternal life; but by the way in which they used their
probationary time they proved themselves un-worthy of it. Their
destruction will, in fact, be an act of love and mercy on the part of
God; for to perpetuate their lives would only be to perpetuate sin,
sorrow, suffering, and misery. Terrible, therefore, as this judgment
will be, there will, in consequence of it, be nothing of value lost,—
nothing lost worth saving. The experiment of sin will be over, and
God’s original plan of peopling the earth with a race of holy, happy
beings will be carried out. 2 Peter 3:13.
22. What is this final destruction of the wicked called
“This is the second death.” Rev. 20:14.
23. After the burning day, what will appear
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13.
24. Where will the righteous then be found
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father.” Matt. 13:43.
25. What promise of the Saviour will then be fulfilled
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. See
also Ps. 37:11, 29; Isa. 65:17–25; Dan. 7:18.
26. What universal song of praise will then be sung
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I
FATE OF THE TRANSGRESSOR
saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13.
THE MINISTRATION OF GOOD ANGELS
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1. OF what family does Paul speak in Ephesians
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:14,
15.
2. By what name are the members of this family called
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
before the Lord.” Job 1:6. “Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John
3:1.
3. By what name are those composing the family in heaven commonly
known to us
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne.” Rev. 5:11.
4. Did angels exist before the death of any of the human family
“So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of
Eden cherubim.” Gen. 3:24. Cherub: “A creature of a sacred and celestial
nature.” Gesenius.
5. Who witnessed the laying of the foundations of the earth
“Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened or who {524
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laid the corner-stone thereof; when the morning stars sang together, and
all the sons of God shouted for joy” Job 38:6, 7.
6. How many of these beings did John see around the throne
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne; . . . and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands.” Rev. 5:11.
7. What does Paul say of their number
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.” Heb.
12:22. See also Dan. 7:10.
8. Are angels of a higher order of beings than man
“Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels.” Ps. 8:5.
NOTES.— There are different orders of angels: “Cherubim” (Gen. 3:24);