Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1903

1307 F. A. A.—To learn about companies of Sabbath-keepers in Missouri, Arkansas, or Alberta, write to the following gentlemen for the fields named respectively: J. M. Rees, 14 West Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo.; A. E. Field, Springdale, Ark.; J. W. Boynton, Ponoka, Alberta, N. W. Territory.

1308.—The Unclean Spirit. Luke 11:24-26.

The scripture reads as follows:—

“The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished [“empty,” also, Matt. 12:44]. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.”

(1) The text implies demoniac possession, or the control of human beings by the demons, or angels of Satan. These demons, or evil angels or spirits, cut off by voluntary sin from God from whom they once received directly the current of life, are doomed to obtain it by secondary means through originally lower creatures. Many of them possess humanity. Many, doubtless, possess lower animals. (2) The spirit is cast out. God in mercy expels him to save the man, that the man may be free. The man asks for cleansing, and God cleanses, cleanses that the man may serve him. The house is left empty, swept, garnished. (3) The unclean spirit is cast out, that the spirit of God may come in. The man is released from the bondage of Satan, that he may freely serve God. But this must be voluntary also. The man refuses, thinks to do nothing and yet go free. The evil spirit goes forth seeking rest and nourishment but finds none, and he returns to his house,—the man who was cleansed,—and, finding the house empty, enters and again takes possession. He controls the man, and to make possession sure lets in others. Surely the last state of that man is worse than the first.

If Jesus Christ has cleansed us from one sin, set us free from one evil habit, it is that the good may take

its place; and if we refuse to use the strength to do the good that Christ would put in the place of evil, sooner or later the evil will return leading a troop of others worse than the original, and we will be doomed to a worse bondage than ever before. We can not remain neutral; it will avail naught to say, “We will do naught against Christ.” The Master declares: “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.” Luke 11:23. And then follows the above scripture. Surely the lesson is important. It is Christ or Satan.

1309.—Chinese and the Sabbath.

Which day of the week do the Chinese observe as the Sabbath?

The pagan Chinese observe no day as the Sabbath. There seems to be fairly good evidence that they once observed the seventh day. Of course Christian Chinese observe the day they have been taught to observe by their teachers. Some observe the first day, some the seventh. Many of the Tai Pings, so much maligned, were seventh-day observers.

1310.—Marriage and Divorce.

Would a Seventh-day Adventist minister marry a divorced man and woman whose wife and husband were living? If so, would they not be living in adultery according to Matt. 5:32? C. S. H.

(1) We do not know; we hope not unless the case was scripturally clear. (2) It would depend on the basis and ground of former divorces. Were the divorces mere separation with no Bible grounds? What is meant by divorced man and woman? Were these parties divorced because they violated the marriage vows, or because the former husband and wife did? It is impossible to answer categorically. There are, however, what everybody knows, too many loose, unconsidered, unscriptural marriages among professed Christians; and no Christian minister should perform the marriage ceremony.