QUES. 14.-Please explain the meaning of the Rider on the white horse, Rev. 6:2. Does he go forth as an antichrist or as a warrior? Is he a real man or only a symbol?

ANS.-He goes forth "conquering and to conquer," so evidently he is not an antichrist, but a warrior. The bow also would speak of this. He thus stands for the victorious spread of power in the latter days. The horse is symbolic of power and rule, but the rider is something more than a symbol. Being the first to come forth, he seems to be the ruler of the revived Roman Empire. Later on we see this ruler as "the beast"(ch. 13:1), revived in satanic power after he had received the deadly wound.

It is of solemn interest to note that this Rider comes forth at the call of the first living creature-the Lion. Christ as King is represented as the lion, and if He is rejected by man, there is nothing left but this warrior ruler. The Jews declared " we have no king but Caesar," and in this last of the Caesars we see the heading up of that apostasy of the world from its rightful Ruler.

QUES. 15.-Please explain the expression " sons of God," Gen. 6:2. To my mind it seems undoubtedly to point to the children of Seth. Yet I believe some hold and speak of the words in Jude 6, 7, as pointing to another view.

ANS.-We have no doubt the first is the correct view. "Sons of God," it is true, is used of angels (Job 1:6; 38:7). But as in all Scripture, the connection must be examined. In Genesis there is no mention of angelic beings in connection with these times, on the other hand there is a distinction between the descendants of Seth and those of Cain. Let this be seen, and all is clear, while the other thought is not only incongruous, but contrary to the entire teaching of the word of God. The passage in Jude gives no support to the view mentioned. It treats of an entirely different subject-the fall of the angels, which occurred doubtless before the creation of man. There is no connection between vers. 6, 7 which is sought to be given.

QUES. 16.-Is there a difference in character between the judgment-seat of Christ and the great white Throne?

ANS.-Of course it is understood that there is the widest difference between these two judgments as to time and persons involved, as well as what comes into judgment. The judgment-seat of Christ takes place at the beginning, we might say, of the millennium, and that of the great white Throne at its close. Only the saved are at the former, and only the lost at the latter; while works are reviewed at the former and persons judged at the latter.

But as to the character of the judgment, of the holiness which is its basis, there is no difference. The light in which the saints' works will be manifested is just as intense as that which will search out "the hidden things of darkness "in the unsaved. Does not this explain the apostle's expression, "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:11)? He would entreat sinners, in view of that judgment before them, to be reconciled to God, for he knew the solemn reality of that judgment which would search out all the life of the saints.