Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 2, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 22.

“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”

784. Soul and Spirit.

(1) Please explain Matt. 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.” (2) Define soul and spirit. (3) Explain 1 Kings 17:21, 22 and Acts 20:10. C. D. M.

1. The life rests with God. Man may kill the body, may destroy the present life, but he can not take away the life to come. Only God can do this. This does not imply that the soul is a conscious entity when the body is dead; it means that men can not destroy man’s hope of existence. See Luke 12:4.

2. It is impossible to give a definition of soul and spirit which will everywhere apply. It depends on the use of these terms. See 777. They are used with a wide latitude of meaning, sometimes meaning life, sometimes a whole person, etc.

3. In 1 Kings 17:21, 22 Elijah prays that the soul, or breath of life (verse 17), of the child may be restored, and it was afterward done. In Acts 20:10 we are told that Paul first embraced the boy, praying, doubtless, as he did it, and the Lord answered his prayer, and restored the life. Paul’s statement does not imply that the boy’s life was in him all the time, but was then in him, when he (Paul) made the statement.

785. Acts 22:9 with Acts 9:7.

Please explain the above scriptures with reference to the voice. M.

Acts 9:7 says that while the men with Saul saw no one, they heard the voice, or sound. See margin of R.V. Acts 22:9 simply means that they heard not the voice in the sense of understanding it. See John 12:28, 29.

786. Heb. 12:23. “Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect.”

The expression does not refer to disembodied spirits of the dead, but to men cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Ye are not come in Christ to the mount that might not be touched, nor to blackness, or darkness, and condemnation, but to all the new-covenant blessings, among which is the cleansing power of God in making perfect men. Read Heb. 12:18-24; 8:6-12; 2 Cor. 3:1-6.

787. Tribulation and Trouble.

Will you please explain Matt. 24:21 and Dan. 12:1? It is said that the former has been fulfilled, and Dan. 12:1 not. J. M. C.

The tribulation, the threshing of the grain, the pressing of the grapes, comes upon God’s people. The time of trouble of Dan. 12:1 comes upon the wicked. Tribulation need not necessarily be trouble; for “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed.” The trouble of Dan. 12:1 is indicated in Zeph. 1:14-18, and other scriptures.

788. Matt. 5:19. “Shall Be Least.”

Does Matt. 5:19 mean that those who teach that the commandments may be broken with impunity will be saved, but have a lower place than others in the kingdom? J. E. G.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” “The Living Oracles,” Campbell’s translation, rendered, “in no esteem in the reign of heaven.” Our translation does not say that he shall get into the kingdom at all. It can scarcely be conceivable that those would be admitted to the kingdom of God who taught that His law might be broken with impunity. On Matt. 5:19 Dr. Albert Barnes well says: “We learn, hence: (1) That all the law of God is binding upon Christians; (2) that all the commands of God should be preached in their proper place, by Christian ministers; (3) that they who pretend that there are any laws of God so small that they need not obey them, are unworthy of His kingdom; and (4) that true purity has respect to all the commands of God, and keeps them.” How much men may do ignorantly, and not be condemned, we know not.

789. Mark 9:1. “Not Taste of Death.”

Please explain: “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9:1. G. R.

Our Lord is here speaking of His transfiguration, which immediately followed, and which was a miniature representation and type of His second coming. Compare Mark 9:2-9 with 2 Peter 1:16-18. See also Matt. 16:28; 17:1-9. Jesus glorified on the mount represented His second coming. Moses represented those who will be raised from the dead; and Elijah, those who will be translated without seeing death. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

790. Will Christ Be Seen When He Comes?

Will not Christ at His second coming appear in a spirit form, seeing that He now is a spirit? and will the natural man then be able to see Him?

Jesus Christ is a spiritual being; but He is no less a real being. He is not a phantom. How will He come?—“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” See Acts 1:9-11. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” Rev. 1:7. “And then shall they [men of the world] see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” See Luke 21:25-27.