Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 25, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 45.

WE can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

422—A Thousand Years as One Day

I understand that a thousand years is as a day with the Lord. Please give an explanation. MRS. K.

There is no text in the Scripture that seems to be any plainer than 2 Peter 3:8, which says, “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” By reading the first part of the chapter, it will be seen that the apostle is talking about the promises of the second coming of Christ. He tells us, in the third and fourth verses, that there will come in the last days scoffers who are walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” These scoffers are “walking after their own lusts.” The desire to gratify the lusts of the flesh can never harmonize with the purity and strength of holiness that is called for in the life of one who believes in the soon coming of Christ; and so to get rid of the conviction that comes through the great evidence of fulfilled and fulfilling prophecy, these lustful scoffers derisively make light of the promises of His coming. The last of those promises were made by the Lord nearly two thousand years ago, and the scoffer of to-day actually says that those promises are so ancient that they can not be made to apply in this time. To this the child of faith, of experience and knowledge in the things of God, replies confidently, in the words of the apostle, that “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness.” 2 Peter 3:9. Note that the word “promise” is in the singular, and must refer to the “promise of His coming,” spoken of in verse 4. And even though that promise was made thousands of years ago, it is just as good as though it were made to-day. Time does not invalidate God’s promises. So far as His promises are concerned, the lapse of a thousand years has no more effect than the lapse of a single day.

The individual who actually desires in his heart to know God’s truth, can never make such nonsense out of a study of 2 Peter 3:8 as is shown in the oft-repeated statement that with the Lord a day is a thousand years, and a thousand years a day. Note the significance of the little word “as” which appears in the text. The scripture is talking about the enduring stability of God’s promises, and upon that subject the lapse of time counts nothing. Any one who will stop to think, must see that a twenty-four-hour day is necessarily the same in duration to every being, however great or small, in all the universe.

423—The Walls of the New Jerusalem

What is the occasion for the walls of the New Jerusalem, as described in Rev. 21:12? The wall surrounding the old Jerusalem was to protect its inhabitants. In the earth made new there will be no enemies. Then why the wall? H. L. B.

Read the description of these walls carefully, as presented in the chapter referred to. It is true that they will not be needed for protection, but the description shows that they will be a creation of dazzling splendors that will radiate their beauties to the satisfaction and joy of every soul that will be permitted to dwell in that glad realm. The throne of God and of the Lamb is in the New Jerusalem. Rev. 22:3. There, also, is the river of life, and the tree of life. Verses 1, 2. Then it would seem that the New Jerusalem, according to these scriptures, is to be not merely the capital of the new earth, but the capital of the great universe of God. The throne of God is to be there; and it is only fitting that the place of His throne should be embellished with every precious thing for the shining forth of beauty and glory.

424—“By Faith” and “Through Faith”

What is the difference between “by faith” and “through faith,” in Rom. 3:30? J. K.

The text reads: “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” On this verse Dr. Adam Clarke makes the following comment:

“It is fanciful to suppose that the apostle has one meaning when he says, by faith; and a different meaning when he says, through faith. Both the prepositions are to be understood in precisely the same sense; only the addition [in the original] of the article tes, in the last case extends, and more pointedly ascertains, the meaning. It is one and the same God who shall justify the believing Jews by faith, and the believing Gentiles by that same faith.”

We think that Dr. Clarke’s comment is right to the point, and very clear. It is the same faith exactly which justifies both the Jew and the Gentile, for this saving faith and the plan of salvation all come from the same divine Father.