Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 19, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 41.

A Word to Our Questioners.—It is easy to ask questions, sometimes from mere curiosity, sometimes to get an answer to meet an opponent, sometimes to trap the editor if possible, sometimes to get somebody else to bear our responsibility in deciding a question,—in other words, to be conscience for the questioner,—sometimes because we really desire to know what the Lord says, what is truth. It is easy to ask a few questions which would take as many columns to answer. This is done thoughtlessly, we are sure. For instance, some will ask for an explanation of the last eight chapters of Ezekiel, the last three chapters of Zechariah, and three or four other questions in the same breath. Sometimes there is only one point in a scripture that is not clear, but that is not indicated. Now the Question Corner is limited to direct questions which can be briefly answered, to which simple explanations can be given which take but a few words. These answers must be such as we believe will be of interest to other readers and profitable to many. When an answer is much better given in a tract, pamphlet, or book, we may refer the reader wholly to that. Some of these questions we may prefer to answer by mail, and therefore please enclose stamp. There are times when other work crowds letter writing into the background; we hope our correspondents will be patient and wait.

1575.—Does God Compel?

Does God use a compelling power as in the case of Moses (Ex. 4:11, 12), of Jonah, and in Paul's case? J. C.

We do not know what particular things are referred to in the cases of Jonah and Paul; is it the way God sent them? If so, they could have refused, even as Moses might have refused. They were all pledged servants of God; and God placed before them strongly their duty; yet every one could have refused. It is expressly said of Moses that he chose affliction with the people of God. God will do all in His power consistent with our nature and free will and His love to induce us to choose the right way, but the choice must be ours.

1576.—God's Throne.

In last Sabbath's lesson the question occurs, “Will God's throne be there?” Rev. 21:3. We would like to know if this is the Father or Son. F. O. O.

The context would indicate that it is the throne of the Father. “Behold,” says the heavenly voice; a new thing is to be seen,—“the tabernacle [dwelling-place] of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, . . . and God Himself shall be with them.” “And the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein.” Rev. 22:3. How supremely fitting it is that the place where the Son of God suffered and died should be the most exalted in all the universe. Where sin's curse lay the heaviest, there God's grace will restore it, a fitting place for His throne. The time of Rev. 21:3 is after the millennium; 1 Cor. 15:24 is before the thousand years.

1577.—Let the Dead Bury Their Dead.

Who are the dead spoken of in Matt. 8:22? M. H.

The first dead are those spiritually dead to the great work Christ was doing. The latter dead are the physically dead. Leave those who were dead to Christ's work to do the necessary things, but let those alive to Christ's work attend to that.

1578.—Hide a Multitude of Sins. James 5:20.

“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20. Do the hidden sins here mean that of the sinner or of the person that converts the sinner? M. H.

It is the sinner who is converted. The one who under God does this work is assumed to have had his sins forgiven. Only Christ can truly hide the sins; no work that man can do will accomplish this. The converting of the sinner brings him to the great Cleanser.