Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 35.

Question Corner

By Editor

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.

853. The Great Battle—against Whom?

How is it that in the great battle of the last days, when all nations are at war with one another, all are said to be fighting against God? B.

God counts that done against Himself that is done against His children. In the last days the world will be brought to decide between the Word of God and the traditions of men. Those who reject the message which the Lord sends, will turn against His messengers, even as the Jews who rejected Christ turned against Him, even as King Ahab and his wife Jezebel turned against Elijah. See Rev. 12:17; 13:16, 17; 15:2; 17:14; Dan. 7:21, and other passages, which show that the people of God will be persecuted by the powers of earth. But God’s people put their trust in Him, and the Lord’s weapons will be the fruit of the sinner’s own doings, the pouring out of the seven last plagues. See Revelation 16; Job 38:22, 23; Joel 3:2; Jer. 25:31–33; Isa. 66:15, 16. The powers of earth are united only in one thing, the destruction of God’s people. They afterward war among themselves; and the presence of the Lord consumes them all.

854. The Office of the Law. Gal. 3:19.

WILL you kindly explain Gal. 3:19: “It [the law] was added because of transgressions, till the Seed [Christ] should come to whom the promise was made”? As I understand it, it is to Christ’s coming, in His second appearing, that the promise refers, but how does this affect the law? W. J. V.

Our querist is right in his understanding of the time when the promise applies. The promise will be fulfilled to Christ when He comes again. See Eze. 21:25–27. “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added [Deut. 5:22] because of transgressions.” Let the parallel text, in Rom. 5:20, explain: “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.” “That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” Rom. 7:13. The law was spoken, added in written form, that the blinded conscience of sinful man might see more clearly how sinful is sin. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” It points out sin in the sinner, shows him to be without hope and doomed to death, in order to lead him to Christ, that he “might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24. But when Christ comes, character will forever be decided. This office of the law, to convict of sin, will be no more; but that law will be written on the hearts of God’s people to all eternity.

855. R. W. P. Cain’s Wife was one of the daughters of Adam and Eve. See Gen. 5:4. Some of these may have been born long before Seth, who is named because through him came the righteous posterity of Adam.