TO CORRESPONDENTS by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1879

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

By Editor

23.—ZECHARIAH 4: 2, 14.

Of what is the candlestick in verse 2 a type? Who are meant by the two anointed ones in verse 14? N. F. H.

ANS. We think the golden candlestick, like the candlestick in the sanctuary, is a symbol of the Spirit of God. For in the explanation, verse 6, the angel said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.” Again in verse 10, he speaks of “those seven,” the seven lamps, as “the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth.” See Rev. 5: 6. Verses 11–14 of this chapter seem to be referred to in Rev. 11: 3, 4, and to point out the two witnesses, the word of God in the two dispensations. Their connection with the candlestick would indicate that that word was inspired by the Spirit of God.

24.—GREATER WORKS THAN CHRIST’S.

John 14: 12 reads: “Greater works than these shall ye do, because I go to my Father.” In what respects were the works to be performed by the disciples greater than those which were performed by Christ? W. D. MCL.

ANS. Some think this promise was verified in the experience of some, at least, of the apostles: Thus, 1. In Christ’s case, his simple shadow healed diseases. Acts 5: 15. 2. A person was healed by touching the hem of Christ’s garment which he had upon his person; but handkerchiefs and aprons which were carried away from the person of Paul and applied to the sick, healed them. Acts 19: 12; and these are even called “special miracles.” Verse 11. 3. Ananias and Sapphira were both struck dead, by just the word of Peter. Acts 5: 5, 9, 10. 4. By the word of Paul, Elymas the sorcerer was struck blind. Acts 13: 11. 5. Christ preached in Judea only, and only in the language of that country; but the apostles preached in all languages, and in all the countries of the then known world. 6. Christ told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high. This was the promise he was to send when he went to the Father. And it was because he went to the Father that they were to do greater works than he had done. Hence when the Holy Spirit which he had promised, fell on them on the day of Pentecost, the result was that three thousand souls were converted in a single day. If we had nothing else, we could point to the more extended preaching of the gospel by the apostles, and the manifold greater number of converts, as a very satisfactory fulfillment of the promise.

25.—ACHAN’S PUNISHMENT.

Why were the family of Achan destroyed for his sin? How were they responsible for his crime? See Josh. 7. ID.

ANS. We do not think the members of his family were responsible, nor that they were destroyed with him. The text, verse 25, reads: “And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.” The first clause using the singular pronoun him would seem to indicate that he alone was stoned. Why then is the plural, them, subsequently used, and to what does it refer, or how much does it include? In enumerating the things that pertained to him, verse 24 mentions of living things besides his sons and daughters, oxen, asses, and sheep. It would be just and proper to destroy all that pertained to Achan as his possessions, but not his family unless they were associated with him in his transgression, as it seems they were not; and may not the word them therefore refer to these, oxen, sheep, etc., and not include his sons and daughters? The Vulgate renders the passage, “All Israel stoned him; and all that he had was consumed with fire.” The Syriac says, “They stoned him with stones and burned what pertained to him with fire.” Dr. Clarke says: “Instead of burnt THEM, אותם otham, two of De Rossi’s MSS. read אתו otho, HIM; which rendering, if genuine, would make the different members of the verse agree better. It is possible that Achan, his oxen, asses, sheep, tent, and all his household goods, were destroyed, but his sons and daughters left uninjured. But it may be asked, Why are they brought out into the valley with the rest? Why, that they might see and fear, and be forever deterred by their father’s punishment from imitating his example.”

26.—DAVID’S SIN IN NUMBERING ISRAEL.

The same difficulty appears in the record of 1 Chron. 21. How were the people of Israel to blame for the sin of David in numbering them? ID.

ANS. The first verse of the chapter says that Satan stood up against Israel. The destruction of Israel was the object at which he aimed; and we may be sure that Israel was in some way involved in the guilt which brought down the judgments of God upon them. Indeed, they may have been the very instrument in the hands of Satan to “provoke” David to number them; as we are not told how it was done. The sin of numbering the people, in which the people as well as David were probably concerned, consisted, doubtless, in the fact that it sprung from pride, or the desire for conquest without the divine counsel or command. And nothing could more effectually cure this spirit than some judgment by which they would see that the hand of God could speedily reduce their numbers to nothing. David’s choice between war, famine or pestilence, shows a very generous disposition on his part. If he should flee before his enemies, he need not be exposed personally to danger. If he had chosen famine, he had enough to keep him and his through it all. But he chose the pestilence, in which he would be equally exposed with the humblest of his subjects.

M. BRACE: The article sent for review, Great and Noted Events of the Sixth and Seventh Seals, by D. Senger, published in The Brethren at Work, does not seem to us worthy of a review. It is a series of assertions, without proof, of the most unnatural, improbable, inconsistent and anti-scriptural propositions, that could well be put together.