Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 15.

1221.—Seven Women and One Man.

Please explain briefly the meaning of Isa. 4:1. Does it apply to polygamy? S. B. T.

The text is: “In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (1) The text is thought by some to have reference to a time of war when so many men are slain that women are led to make the plea given. (2) To us the language is figurative or symbolical of religious conditions in the last days. Thus the passage reads: “In that day shall seven women take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” A woman is the symbol of a church. Seven is the symbol of completeness, fulness. It would here denote the whole of a professed church. The one Man is Christ Jesus. These churches make a profession. They wish to be called Christian, to be considered as the spouse of Christ, and that is all. They say, “We will eat our own bread [instead of the food God provides, the Bread of Life], we will wear our own apparel [instead of the robe of righteousness furnished by Christ Jesus].” How true it is to-day. How many wish to feed upon the unwholesome viands of their own provision; dress in the mixed garments of their own worldly wearing, depending solely upon profession. Yet there is a true church: “In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely, for them that are the escaped of Israel.” Verse 2.

1222. Predestination.

Does not Rom. 8:29, 30 mean that God predestinates? S. B. T.

They do teach predestination, a most precious doctrine indeed, when rightly understood. See Bible Students’ Library, No. 67, entitled, “Bible Election,” price 2 cents.

1223.—Interlinear Bible—King Saffonas. S. B. T.

We know of no Interlinear Bible as a whole. There are several Interlinear New Testaments, in which the Greek is literally translated by English interlined, the best of which we know is that of Hinds and Noble, 4, 5, 13, 14, Cooper Institute, New York City. The same firm have begun an Interlinear Old Testament, with a most beautiful Hebrew Text. The book of Genesis is published. We know of no king by the name of Saffonas.

1224.—Tables of Stone.

Why did the Lord require Moses to hew the second tables instead of preparing them Himself, as He did the first tables? J. S. M.

We do not know unless it was because Moses broke them. He evidently learned valuable lessons in preparing them. So man must yield his own heart to God that the divine finger may engrave thereon the holy law. There are valuable lessons in all those revelations of God in Exodus 32 to 34 inclusive.

1225.—This Generation.

Please explain Matt. 24:34. L. T. P. and G. T.

The generation which should see the signs of the Lord’s coming in the light of the prophecy, the generation to whom would be given the last message, which would help to give it to the world, this generation should not pass till Christ came. The length of this generation we do not know. It is the generation now upon the earth, and the time is short. God’s people by earnestness and zeal may hasten His coming.