Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 13, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 41.

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

868. Luke 19:27.

WILL you please explain Luke 19, especially verse 27?

R. D.

The parable of the pounds (verses 11 to 27) covers the time of the Christian era. Christ is the nobleman who went away. His church occupies till He comes again. He now sits as priest on His Father’s throne. Heb. 8:1; Ps. 110:1. He receives His own kingdom at the time of the judgment, when His priesthood is over. Dan. 7:9-14; Rev. 11:15-18. At His return the judgment takes place; and then, and not till then, are His enemies destroyed. The Gospel mission is to save, not condemn. The judgment will be the Lord’s and will not take place till the last day. See John 12:47, 48; Luke 9:51-56; 2 Tim. 4:1; Matt. 25:31-46. There is no reason in Luke 19:27 for religious prosecution or persecution.

869. The Offense and the Gift.

WILL you offer some thoughts on Rom. 5:15, 16? It reads: “But not as the offense, so also is the free gift; for if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification.”

The object of the argument is stated in verses 20, 21. It is the abounding grace of God triumphing over the sin. Through the offense (or sin) of Adam many are dead; but much more by the gift of Jesus Christ grace hath abounded to many. It exceeds the sin and its results, bringing life and justification instead of death. The great truth is the life of God in Jesus Christ triumphing over sin and death.

870. How Long Did Christ Lie in the Grave?

How do you harmonize the Scripture expression, “Three days and three nights,” with the actual time He did lie in the grave?

J. E. A.

In the first place, it is nowhere said in the Bible that Christ should lie in the grave three days and three nights. The only text used for this proof is Matt. 12:40, whence it is assumed that “the heart of the earth” means the grave. But this is assumption. Why does it not mean the powers of earth, or the ruler of earth, which at that time was Rome? Jesus, in speaking of His passion, began “to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Matt. 16:21. Why may not the time begin from His deliverance into their power? It was then He said, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53. It was then that “the prince of this world” came with his last effort. John 12:31; 14:30. In the second place, parts of days are counted in the Scripture as whole days. And so the three days and three nights of Jonah’s sojourn in the great sea monster were doubtless a part of each of two days and the whole of another. That this is the case, note the words of the disciples to Jesus on the afternoon of that Sunday on which Jesus rose from the dead: “To-day is the third day since these things were done.”