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TO CORRESPONDENTS

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 2, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 9.

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TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Wm. Covert: The expression “baptized for the dead,” 1 Cor. 15:29, we understand to mean baptized in hope of the resurrection of the dead. The word translated “for” is huper, which signifies primarily, “as to, respecting, concerning.” Paul is arguing for the resurrection of the dead. It all depends on the resurrection of Christ. By baptism we show our faith in the resurrection of Christ, and so in the resurrection of all his people at last. But if the dead rise not, if there is no such thing, then why be baptized in reference to this faith, and thus expose ourselves to persecution, by thus showing ourselves to be Christians. A work on Baptism is much needed.
C. K. Drury: The scene described in Isa. 66:24, pertains only to that time when the process of renewing the earth and clearing it of all things that offend is going forward. When this is completed, there will be nothing remaining in sight, sound, or feeling, for God’s saints to abhor. John 20:19, is explained by the fact that two evenings were reckoned to the day, one commencing at about 3 P. M., the other at sunset. The time between these two points was called “between the two evenings.” See Ex. 12:6, margin. Thus the day commenced with an evening, and closed with an evening.
A communication from “earnest-seekers after truth” contains the following queries:—
“1. If there is no sorrow nor pain in Heaven, Rev. 21:4, how are the leaves of the tree to be for the healing of the nations? Rev. 22:2.”
Ans. The leaves are for the service of the nations. So the original word signifies. And this “service” is not necessarily relieving pain or healing disease.
“2. Where can I find proof that the Saviour was born the 25th of December?”
Ans. Nowhere.
“3. In what month was the Saviour crucified?”
Ans. In the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, Nisan, corresponding to a portion of our March and April. The 15th of Nisan, on which our Lord was crucified, fell, according to Samuel J. Andrews in his “Life of our Lord,” p. 485, on the 7th of April.
“4. What is the difference between the ungodly and the sinner in 1 Pet. 4:18?”
Ans. There appears to be the same distinction that Paul recognizes in 2 Thess. 1:8, when he speaks of those who “know not God,” and those who “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ;” the one class being those who sin without light, as the heathen, and the other, those who sin against light, as sinners who live in Christian lands.
What became of those saints who came out of their graves after the resurrection of Christ? Matt. 27:52, 53. R. M. Lampard.
Ans. While Christ remained here on earth, they went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. And when Christ ascended, we conclude they ascended with him; for Paul says that he led up a multitude of captives when he ascended up on high. Eph. 4:8, margin. These, with Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, must be exceptions to the rule of a coming general Judgment.
Does “one like unto the Son of man,” Rev. 14:14, mean Jesus, or one like, yet not, him? J. D. Larkee.
Ans. We understand that the representation of verse 14, is a symbol of Christ, just as the angels of the previous verses are symbols of religious teachers here upon the earth. It means Christ coming in glory.
ANSWERED BY LETTER. A. Wike, C. K. Drury, L. W. Crandall, Chas. M. French, J. E. Morin, Edward Chadderdon, J. B. Beames, H. Wren. U. S.