Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 22, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 25.

1522.—The Pouring out of the Plagues. Rev. 16:12.

We understand from Rev. 16:12 that Turkey will come to his end under the sixth plague. Dan. 11:45 and 12:1 teach us that after Turkey comes to his end Christ leaves the sanctuary in heaven, and “stands up” to reign. How is it, then, that, since the plagues are not to be poured out until after Turkey comes to his end, we are taught that he will come to his end under the sixth plague? Please harmonize the teaching or set me straight. D. L. P.

Our querist confuses the processes with events. The drying up of the River Euphrates of Rev. 16:12 doubtless refers to the final destruction of the Turkish power. It is the last of a process which has been of long continuance, and opens the way for the battle of Armageddon. If Dan. 11:45 refers to the same event, the coming to the end of the king of the north must be under the sixth plague, but the beginning, the planting of the palace of his tabernacle, may have been some time prior, before the plague began. “At that time” of Dan. 12:1 may have reference to the first event of verse 45. But are you sure the king of the north refers to Turkey? May it not refer to Rome, the power which established the vision, and which wrought so proudly? Dan. 11:36-39, compare with 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.

1523.—Esteeming Days. Rom. 14:5.

Will you please explain through your “Question Corner” Rom. 14:5, 6. There are those who argue that this text permits a person to observe any day in the week he chooses for the Sabbath, or that he is at liberty to observe no day as the Sabbath; or, just as he happens to believe. P. C.

Rom. 14:5, 6 in the American Revised Version reads as follows: “One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” The negative regarding the day, omitted from the Revised Version, does not belong to the text.

1. Let him who is troubled over Rom. 14:5, 6, study and appropriate all of the wonderful epistle till he gets to the fourteenth chapter, and that chapter will not trouble him. He will find himself eating and drinking to God’s glory, and gladly observing God’s law.

2. The fourteenth chapter enforces this great truth: “Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.” Verse 13.

3. The chapter is a lesson to Christians in the same church regarding Christians. There is no question at stake concerning doing the righteous will of God; for there can be no kingdom of God without “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Verse 17. But doing acceptable righteousness is the putting away of all sin, and by the Spirit fulfilling the righteousness of the law. Rom. 6:12-16; 8:4. Therefore all God’s children would keep His Sabbath without question.

4. But there were other feast days and fast days which some had known in the past not so easy to cast off, and they might still wish to keep them; judge them not. There may be those who think it no harm to eat flesh; judge them not. “Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall [despite your judgment] be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.” See Rom. 14:3, 4.

5. Be assured in your own mind regarding duty between yourself and God; for before His judgment seat you must stand. That is true of every duty. It is no profit if you do it because man commanded.

6. Do not make others stumble. If some are stumbling over your flesh-eating, for Christ’s sake and the sake of the weak one’s soul, heed verses 19-21. And do it all in faith, the faith which is founded in the Word of God.

1524.—Who Judges? John 5:22.

Please explain John 5:22, where it says that “the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” If Christ is our judge, who is our mediator? G. S. S.

There are different phases to a judgment work. There is the examination of cases, the pronouncing of the sentence, the execution of the sentence. In the closing of Christ’s work as priest the Father is judge. Dan. 7:9, 10. But, in the execution of the judgment, the work is committed to Christ. John 5:22. In the adjudication of the cases of the wicked Christ associates His people with Himself, 1 Cor. 6:2, 3.

1525.—The Laodicean Church. Rev. 3:14-21.

Please tell us what constitutes the Laodicean Church? L. D. W.

The part of God’s church which accepts the great threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12 since 1844, especially that church in its lukewarm and backslidden condition. When it comes out of that condition it will come into the condition of brotherly love, or Philadelphia. See the pamphlet, “The Seven Churches and the Seven Seals,” published at this office. Price ten cents.

1526.—Sunday-Keeping and the Mark of the Beast.

Is Sunday-keeping the “mark of the beast” in Rev. 14:9, 11? and can a person have the Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30) without keeping the Sabbath? W. A.

No; mere Sunday-keeping is not the mark of the beast. Thousands of good people have kept and are keeping Sunday supposing that they are obeying God and keeping His Sabbath. Having hearts submitted to God’s will, they have His Spirit. When the light of His law and the true object of Christ’s sacrifice is seen, they joyfully embrace the Sabbath of the Lord, and enjoy more of His Spirit. Sunday-keeping becomes the mark of the beast only when in direct opposition to God’s Word men embrace it, knowing it to be an institution of the beast power. The seal of God’s law is the Sabbath. The sealer, the moulder, fixer, stamper, of character, is the Spirit of God; and the last generation will witness a people upon whose character the Spirit of God has impressed every precept of His law, including the long down-trodden Sabbath.

1527.—“The Eye of a Needle.” Matt. 19:24.

G. M. A.—What Jesus teaches by the use of the proverb is an impossibility. It is as impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle as for a man loving, and laden with, riches to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now, whether that refers to a literal sewing needle, or to a small gate in a city wall, as we have been informed by credible travelers, who have seen such—the lesson is the same. The only way the loaded camel could get through “the needle’s eye,” or small gate, was to be relieved of his burden and shuffle through on his knees.