Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 14, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 33.

1163. Where Reign? Rev. 20: 4, 6.

“Reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20: 4, 6. Where will this reign be, in heaven or on earth? If on earth, will probation continue? A READER.

When Christ comes, the Lord’s people will be taken to heaven (1 Thess. 4: 15-17; John 14: 1-3); the wicked not destroyed by the plagues, will die in the presence of Christ’s glory (Rev. 19: 21; 2 Thess. 2: 8); leaving the earth utterly desolated (Zeph. 1: 14-18; Isa. 24: 1-3; Jer. 4: 23-27). The period of time it is desolate Isaiah calls many days (24: 22), but John calls it 1,000 years (Rev. 20: 4, 6). During this the Seventh Millennium since man was given the earth as his home, the earth will lie desolate till the land enjoys its Sabbaths, even as in the archetype, when Palestine lay desolate for seventy years. 2 Chron. 36: 21; Jer. 25: 9-12. “The Great Day of the Lord” (Bible Student’s Library, No. 65, price 3 cents), will give a complete exposition of the whole subject.

1164. Right Thigh or Right Shoulder.

Why does the Revised Version say the “right thigh” instead of the “right shoulder” in Lev. 7: 32, 33, 34, for instance?

The word rendered “shoulder” in our Common Version comes from a root word meaning, according to Strong, to “run after.” The Hebrew word is defined as the lower leg, as a runner. It is translated shoulder, hip, thigh, leg. See Isa. 47: 2. The Jewish version, Boothroyd, and Spurrell render “shoulder;” Young renders “leg;” the Polychrome Bible “thigh.”

1165. Horses.—Winter and Summer.

Where in the Bible does it say horses shall be done away with? And where does it say we can not tell winter from summer only by the leaves on the trees? B. W.

Nowhere. See Zech. 14: 20; Rev. 19: 11. The wrong idea may have arisen from such texts as Jer. 50: 37; Ex. 15: 1. To the second question also, Nowhere. Did the wrong idea obtain from Matt. 24: 32?

1166. Offerer of the Peace-offering.

Did the offerer of the peace-offering eat of the priests’ portion, namely, the wave-breast and heave-offering, or of the other parts of the animal? Mrs. B. D.

He ate of what was left after making his offering to the priest. Lev. 7: 14, 15.

1167. The Command to Restore and Build Jerusalem.

When did the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem (Dan. 9: 25) go forth? Was it not given by Cyrus? W.

The command or decree was of the Lord. Isa. 44: 28; Ezra 6: 14. Cyrus took the initial step in the matter, decreeing that the temple should be built. Ezra 1: 1-4. This decree was renewed by Darius. Ezra 6: 1-12. It was completed and greatly amplified by Artaxerxes Longimanus, under whose decree the whole civil policy and administration of the government of Jerusalem was restored, even to the imposition of tax, toll, tribute or custom, and the appointment of judges, and the punishment of evil-doers, even unto death. Ezra 7: 11-26. This decree was issued in the seventh year of Artaxerxes (verse 7), which was B.C. 457. The three decrees made up the commandment of the God of heaven, which could not be said to have gone forth till the city was included.