p. 7 | Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 16, 1898

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

Question Corner

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

798. Acts 16:31. The One Condition.

WILL you please explain Acts 16:31? Was there any promise here to any of the jailer’s household, only as they complied with the conditions imposed upon the jailer himself, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”? C. M. E.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6. See John 3:16; 6:28, 29; 20:31. His household believed even as did the jailer.

799. What Is Abolished? Eph. 2:15.

In Eph. 2:15 we read, “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” What does it mean?

What did Christ abolish?—“The enmity.” What is the enmity?—“Because the carnal mind [mind of the flesh] is enmity against God.” What flesh did Jesus have?—Our flesh. He was the Seed of the woman, partaker of flesh and blood, of the seed of David, sinful flesh. See Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2:14; Rom. 1:3; 8:3. He therefore had naturally the enmity in the flesh. What did this enmity prove to be?—A wall of partition between God and man. What did Jesus do?—“Abolish the enmity.” What did this bring about?—“Peace,” a union of two, making one. In whom was this union perfected?—“In Himself.” How may we, the children of flesh, become one with God? “I [Jesus] in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:23. “Christ liveth in me.” Gal. 2:20. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Eph. 3:17. When men are so reconciled to God, there is union among the men, whether Jew or Gentile. See 1 Cor. 12:12, 13.

800. Acts 19:5.

WAS this the baptism of water or of the Holy Ghost?

The baptism of water, the regular baptism of the commission. Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38. The special manifestation of the Spirit came afterward. See following verse.

801. Acts 16:4.

WHAT were “the decrees” “delivered” to them “for to keep”?

The decrees, or sentences of the council, mentioned in Acts 15:23–29, giving instruction over various questions raised by Judaizing teachers regarding heathen practises.

802. Rev. 1:20. The Seven Stars.

DO THE SEVEN STARS represent the ministering servants of the seven churches?

Yes; for God’s angels, together with every true Christian, are ministering servants of the church. The stronger application would doubtless come to the leaders of the churches, as having greater responsibility.

803.—The trying of professed apostles, as mentioned in Rev. 2:2, means no more than this, that the true people of God in the Ephesus state of the church held to the Word of God, and were able by the Spirit to discern the false apostles. There is no reference to anything like judicial trials. The test is Isa. 8:20.

804. “Where Is Paradise? G.”—The Paradise of Scripture—and the Christian knows no other—is named in the Bible but three times, namely, Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7. The last text identifies Paradise with the Garden of Eden, or Garden of God, and also shows that in its midst is the tree of life. By referring to Rev. 22:1, 2 we learn that the tree of life is hard by the throne of God. Paradise is, therefore, in the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2, 4), where God reigns on His throne. It was once on this earth. Genesis 2. It will be again when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, as set forth in the last two chapters of Revelation. Paradise, therefore, so far from being the abode of the dead, is most emphatically the abode of the living only.

805.—In reply to “X” on civil governments, their right to exist, and how maintained, see articles in SIGNS of May 26, page 6, “A War of Prayers;” also May 19, page 6, “Is It Right to Go to War?” also May 5, page 8, “Piety and Patriotism,” and “Christianity and War,” and previous numbers.

806. Zech. 14:3. What Battle?

WHAT battle? Please briefly explain the whole chapter. S. Mc.

The great battle of God, when Satan was cast out of heaven. The space of this department is too limited for an explanation of the entire chapter. Suffice this for this time. The day of the Lord begins before and reaches beyond the 1,000 years of Revelation 20. In the beginning of that day will be the great battle of the nations spoken of in Jer. 25:32, 33; Rev. 16:13, 14, and elsewhere. The wicked will be utterly destroyed. In the close of that great day the Lord shall descend; when His feet touch Mt. Olivet, it shall part and become a great plain, fitted by the touch of Christ’s presence for the site of the holy city. Upon this great plain Jerusalem descends. The wicked raised in the second resurrection, led by Satan, surround the city to capture it, when they are destroyed. Read Revelation, chapters 20 and 21. Events are not always recorded strictly in chronological order.