Correspondence: 1 Tim. 6:16; Infants Raptured; Col. 1:20; Gospel to Every Creature

From: Young Christian: Volume 31, 1941

Correspondence: 1TI 6:16; Infants Raptured; COL 1:20; Gospel to Every Creature

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

Question: In eternity will God the Father be invisible to the saved? (1 Tim. 6:16¹⁶Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16)).

Answer: We believe that 1 Timothy 6:16¹⁶Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16) shows that God in His essential Deity will never be visible to the creature. Whatever manifestation He may be pleased to give us that shall answer to His relationship to us as our Father we must leave with Him.

Question: Will infants and children of irresponsible age be taken at the Lord’s coming?

Answer: In our judgment, No. The whole bearing of Scripture supports the theory that God acts consistently with that truth, “Thou and thy house” (see Gen. 7:1¹And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1)). We see no reason why God should invade the home of the unsaved to take from it their little children. If they pass through the tribulation one of two fates will be theirs: they will be slain and thus inherit glory; or they will, on reaching the age of responsibility, have the opportunity of accepting the Kingdom gospel and entering Millennial blessing. But we do well to remember that in questions of this nature we must speak guardedly and without dogmatism.

Question: What do “things in heaven” refer to? (Col. 1:20²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)).

Answer: As the result of the advent of sin into creation even the heavens have become defiled. (See Job 15:15¹⁵Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. (Job 15:15)). The work of Christ on the cross has laid the foundation for the removal of all this defilement.

Question: How was the gospel preached to every creature under heaven?

Answer: “Creature” here would better be rendered, “creation.” See J. N. D.’s translation, “been proclaimed in the whole creation.” That is, it is not to each individual as such but of everything comprehended in the expression “creation”. There is perhaps reference to the contrast between the narrow confines of Judaism, and the large inclusiveness of the gospel of the grace of God and the glory of Christ.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.