Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 18, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 11.

“IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE.”

This Inquirers’ Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

4018 — Could Not Go Out and Come In

How could Moses say (Deut. 31:2) that he, on account of his age, could not go out and come in, when Deut. 34:7 says that “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated”? A. H.

In Boothroyd’s translation of the Bible, he transposes verses 14, 15, and 23 of chapter 31 to the beginning of the chapter. They certainly belong there, in the order of time. God had just said to Moses, “Behold, thy days approach that thou must die;” and then Moses went and told these things to Israel. “And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I shall not longer be able to go out and come in,”—the rendering of the Bible Commentary,—not that he was not able physically, but on account of what God had said to him,—“I shall not longer be able to go out and come in, for the Lord hath said unto me.” There may be also a reference to the thought that now that he had reached that age, the probabilities would be that even tho he were then well, he would not be able to divide the land for them, nor meet all the difficulties which a leader would have to meet, on the other side of the Jordan. All this might be true, and still his eye not be dim, nor his natural force abated.

4019 — What Kind of Fear?

What kind of fear is meant in 1 John 4:18? Is it fear of death, or fear of any kind of destruction that might befall one in life, such as that of cyclones, earthquakes, etc.? M. M. M.

In a modified and accommodated way, these kinds of fear may be included in it, but we do not believe that it is this to which the apostle has reference. Read the 17th verse in connection with it: “Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.” The fear is the fear of meeting God. Physically, some of the purest and strongest Christians would be fearful of cyclones and earthquakes,—they are constitutionally so. But there is one thing far above and beyond all the vicissitudes which this world can bring. Sometime all the children of the world will stand before God. Those who have yielded themselves and their life to Him will be willing to meet Him then, and they will be willing to meet Him because they love Him. Great as His majesty is, little and unworthy as they are, they will feel, after all, that the safest place in all the universe is in His presence. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” God is their Rock and their Fortress; and having this love of Him, and this love having cast out the fear, all these other things will of necessity find much smaller place in life than they otherwise would, because if earthquake or cyclone come, we are safe, after all, in His keeping.

4020 — Platting the Hair

What fashion of hair does “platting the hair” refer to, spoken of in 1 Peter 3:3, and “braiding the hair,” in 1 Tim. 2:9? M. M. M.

Evidently both refer to the same thing, plaiting and braiding. The prohibitions and injunctions of Scripture regarding dress are to avoid extreme fashions, and induce God’s children to dress with becoming modesty and simplicity. It was common in ancient times for them to build up great braids of hair five or six stories high, as some writers have expressed it,—great pyramids of braids two or three feet above the head of the wearer. Sometimes horns were formed of these braids, and sometimes they took other forms. It was against these things that the apostle speaks. We do not understand that it has reference to a simple braiding of the hair, or plaiting of the hair, in order to keep it in proper shape. But we do not believe that all the various changing, foolish fashions, and fashions that make the wearer himself, or herself, appear to be what they are not—really taking away from the dignified, sweet simplicity that a Christian ought to have—are countenanced by these scriptures. The only true rule that we can give in respect to such things is that which the apostle has given (1 Cor. 10:31): “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” If Christians would dress with that in view, they would honor God, and find themselves honored and respected in the honor which they give to the heavenly Father.

4021 — How Long the Torment?

How long will the torment last, spoken of in Rev. 20:10? The language there seems to imply long continuance. M. M. M.

Read the tract No. 111, Bible Students’ Library, “Tormented Forever and Ever,” for a full explanation of this text. It is shown in that tract that the word “torment” in its literal meaning does not imply constant anguish and pain. Its original and fundamental meaning is that of testing. Man through the deception of Satan has claimed an immortality that no material agency can destroy; that to him belongs everlasting existence, whether good or evil. But God has told us in His Word that every man’s work shall be tested: “For the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work, of what sort it is.” See 1 Cor. 3:13. The same thought is expressed in Isa. 33:14,—“Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” But this devouring fire and these everlasting burnings will be kindled by the presence of the glory of the great God. “For a Tophet is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” Isa. 30:33. And so we read in Heb. 12:29: “For our God is a consuming fire;” and in Ex. 24:17: “And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel;” and the only reason why the whole nation was not consumed at this time was that God in His mercy veiled that glory by the thick clouds. There will come a time, however, when He will be revealed in all His glory, with no dimming clouds between, and the very earth will be kindled by His presence; and then will come the testing of the wicked. The glorious great white throne will appear. In that glory the righteous shall live, just as they lived in the fiery furnace with the angel (Daniel 3); but before that glory the very earth shall be turned into a lake of fire, and in that the wicked who have trusted in the lies of Satan will perish. See Rev. 20:11-15. How long they will linger in that glory we do not know; we do know that they shall be burned up root and branch. Mal. 4:1-3.

Every inflammable thing of which men can think is used to represent the destruction of the wicked. They are like tow, they are like dried flax, they are like chaff, like dead, dry branches, they are like the fat of lambs,—all of which consume away into smoke. And so “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever” and is gone. Their continuance in that punishment will depend, no doubt, upon the relative deserts before God.

4022 — Use of Swine’s Products

I believe lard to be just as abominable as pork, and Isa. 66:17 seems to mean that swine eaters will be burned. If that is what it means, who then can be saved? for lard is so universally used in the preparation of food, that I do not see how any one can avoid it entirely, because every one of us must at times partake of food prepared by pork eaters. A. K.

The swine is an unclean animal, in the very nature of the case, and all the products that come from him are also unclean and unfit for food. But Isa. 66:17 seems to have reference to a class that give themselves over to idolatry, who live for eating and drinking. It does not refer to those who are endeavoring to eat and drink to the glory of God, to those who may eat what is set before them, “asking no questions for conscience’ sake,” but who at the same time are endeavoring to eat and drink for strength, so as better to fit themselves for the work which God has for them to do. We would not gather, from the passage referred to, that all swine eaters will be burned. God takes His children just where they are. He does not demand of them impossibilities. And there are many fair souls, white by the blood of Jesus, who do these things that are not for the best, but they are living according to the best light they have. God asks no more of any. The only rule we can lay down is that given by the apostle Paul: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

4023 — The Darkness

What think you will be the probable cause of the darkness mentioned in Jer. 4:23? When will it occur?

It would seem, clearly, that it occurs after our Lord comes, when the earth is changed back again to its waste and void condition during the thousand years. See tract on “The Day of the Lord.” See also Isaiah 24, when the earth is broken down and laid waste. The very sun itself shall be darkened, so there will not be the bright, clear light of the sun during that thousand years; but it will be dim and troubled. This, it will be seen by reading verse 26, begins when the Lord comes, for the earth is broken down at His presence. All human life would be destroyed. But God will not make a full end, for the same heavens and earth will again be restored.

4024 — Origin of Stone-Coal

Is it true that stone-coal was once vegetation? and how did it get covered so deeply? W. H. N.

That stone-coal was once vegetation is indicated in the coal itself, in the structure of the coal. Great trees were carbonized. In all probability it was deposited at the time of the Deluge. When the great and mighty currents of the Deluge swept over the earth, whole forests were carried away in drift. These were deposited in valleys; and in the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep, earthquakes which probably took place at that time covered them deeply in the earth, and they were transformed into coal. It is a longer story than this note, but this states it in brief.

4025 — Age of Kingdoms

Do you know on what ground it is claimed that the Chinese and Egyptian kingdoms were in existence prior to creation, according to the chronology given in the King James Version? A. K.

Simply on the ground of their own chronology. They claim a much longer period of existence. Their figures seem to show this; but Oriental records are greatly given to exaggeration. That they are not safe is indicated by the fact that scholars differ greatly regarding them.