Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1897

“Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.”

No. 462. Marital Obligations—Payment of Debt.

If a woman's husband refuses to acknowledge her as wife, is she still obliged to fulfil her vows to him of love and obedience? Is the husband to the wife in the same conditions? Is a man obliged to pay a loan on a farm after the mortgage has taken the farm for the loan, and sold it for less than its value?

READER OF “SIGNS.”

It is almost impossible to reply to such questions as these; there are generally too many conditions involved. In general: (1) If all that can be done has been done to effect a reconciliation between husband and wife, and he still refuses to live with her, or acknowledge her as his wife, she certainly is released, in the nature of the case, from obedience to him, altho she is not free to marry or love another unless her husband violates his marriage vow by consorting with others. Fornication or adultery on the part of either husband or wife leaves the innocent party free to marry again, according to the Scriptures, and of course a legal separation is also necessary. See Matt. 5:32; 19:9; I Cor. 7:2, 10–16. (2) We do not know what the law is in your state. Presumably the farm was worth the amount of the mortgage, the security for the loan; but if it was not, the mortgage should be justly dealt with. It is right to do right always. Let the Christian put himself in the other man's place, and in the sight of God and his own conscience do to and by that man just as he would that that man should do by him if circumstances were reversed. Follow the Golden Rule. Do as Christ would have done.

No. 463. A Special Resurrection.

In Dan. 12:2 we read, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,” etc. Are not all the righteous, or those worthy of eternal life, raised at that time? And I supposed those mentioned in last clause were not raised until the thousand years were expired. Please explain.

S. G. H.

The text does not say all will rise, but “many,” “some” to life, “some” to shame. It evidently refers to a special resurrection, which will take place just before our Lord comes. Some of the preeminently righteous and some of the preeminently wicked will be raised to pass through the last plagues, and witness Christ in his coming. So it is said that when he comes all living upon the earth shall see him, and they also which pierced him. Rev. 1:7. For fuller explanation see comments on the text in “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.”

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