p. 5 | Questions and Answers by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 3, 1878

Questions and Answers.

By John Norton Loughborough

1. "Please give an explanation of the first four verses of 1 Tim. 4, and also of Matt. 10 : 28. CHAS. ALLEN."

(1.) The first text reads, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

I suppose the text has received at least a partial fulfillment already in modern Spiritualism. They follow the teachings of spirits. They attempt to disannul the Bible marriage regulation and substitute therefor an association of sexes to continue only at the will of contracting parties. Then again in "developing mediums," as they call it, the spirits have actually forbidden the use of such food as the Bible says in so many words was made for man's use. One of our brethren in Napa, Cal., who was once a spirit medium, was by the spirits forbidden to use fruits and many other things that God's word says were made for man's food. Let it be borne in mind that the word "meat" in the Bible is used in the sense of food. The expression in verse 4, "For every creature of God is good," should be qualified by the expressions in verses 3 and 5 "commanding to abstain from meats (food) which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving" (see Gen. 1:29) and "it is sanctified by the word of the Lord and prayer." He created herbs for man's food and by his word he "sanctified," set apart, the kinds of food which were good for man's use. So the sense of the text would be that "every creature" which God created to be received with thanksgiving, and which he has pointed out by his word, is to be received with thanksgiving, while the text shows that in the development of the class of spirit followers, among other things, they will directly forbid the use of some of the very foods which God created to be received.

(2.) The second text, Matt. 10 : 28, reads : "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." If we compare this with the parallel passage in Luke 12 : 4, 5, we read, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear : Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him." In this text we see that the present and future life are contrasted. The word "soul" is used in the sense of life, and in Matt. 10 : 28 refers to the future immortal life which may be received by those who obey the Lord. We would paraphrase the text on this wise. Do not be afraid of them who may take away your present life but cannot touch the future, but fear him who can cut short your present life, and after that, in the resurrection state, can, and will, unless we obey him, deprive us of eternal life.

For a more full explanation of this text we refer you to a work entitled "Nature and Destiny of Man," for sale at the SIGNS OF THE TIMES Office.

2. "Please answer the following questions based on 1 Tim. 4 : 1-5 : (1.) The "latter times," are they past, present or future? (2.) Is it wrong to eat meat at all? (3.) Is pork included in the word "meats," and how is this part of holy writ to be reconciled with common sense which teaches that it is injurious to eat pork? A SUBSCRIBER FOR THE SIGNS."

(1.) The "latter times" as used by Paul we understand refers to the last part of the gospel dispensation, commencing at the point where there should be a special work of consulting spirits and covering a space to the very last day of the dispensation. So we may say, as far as the designation of this text is concerned, we have been in the latter times since the development of modern Spiritualism commenced, are in it now, and will be in the last days until the very last day of the dispensation comes.

(2.) We would not take the position that it is wrong to eat any kind of flesh meat. God's words to the Israelites designated what animals might be eaten and what not, because one class was clean and another class was unclean. Mankind should discard the use of fatty meats, and in this time when the animal creation is becoming more and more diseased every year those are safest who steadily bring themselves to a diet composed almost entirely from the products of the vegetable world. In other words adopting a fruit, grain and vegetable diet.

(3.) To the third question we answer emphatically, No! pork is not included in the word "meats" which God commanded to be received with thanksgiving, for God never commanded any man to receive it, but commanded them on the contrary to not eat of it nor touch it. So this part of holy writ is in exact harmony "with common sense." J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.