Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 18, 1896

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

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

No. 353. Devouring Fire.

PLEASE explain the meaning of the devouring fire and the everlasting burning of Isa. 33:14. O. C. E.

These expressions evidently refer to the burning, molten earth, the lake of fire, kindled by God’s presence. See 2 Peter 3:7, 10; Rev. 20:9, 10; Mal. 4:1; Rev. 18:8; Isa. 30:33; 2 Thess. 2:8. These teach that this earth will be melted with the fervent heat; that the works marred by sin, and all who have identified themselves with sin, will be destroyed by fire; and that by God’s power this earth will be renewed, upon which “there shall be no more curse.” 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1-5; 22:3. The everlasting burning means utter destruction, even as eternal fire burned up Sodom and Gomorrah. Compare Jude 7 with 2 Peter 2:6. But the city of God, in the midst of this fire, or the people of God, within the city, will no more be affected by it than were the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. Our God is a devouring fire to sin and incorrigible sinners, but a Saviour to his people.

No. 354. Creation of the World.

Do the Scriptures anywhere teach, either directly or indirectly or by necessary inference, that the world was created in six days? H. L. H.

To the writer’s mind, no. How long a period may be covered by the first two verses of the first chapter of Genesis we do not know. The six days of the chapter and of the fourth commandment and other passages, was the time in which God brought the cosmos, or arrangement, of that which he saw to be “very good,” out of the previously existing chaos of verse 2. “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth,” made them into the form and beauty which existed when the sixth day was complete. On the seventh day he rested and was refreshed, delighting in his work for man. But some of earth’s mightiest changes can be easily accounted for by the flood.

No. 355. Praying for Faith. “Seven Women,” “One Man.”

(1) Ought a man to pray for his faith to be increased? If so, harmonize with 2 Tim. 1:9. Did he not give us sufficient faith if we will obey? (2) Please explain, “In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isa. 4:1. H. D. H.

1. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17. The more we take of God’s word, the more faith will we have. Is it not right, then, to pray with the apostles, “Increase our faith,” or with the grief-stricken father, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” God does not give us faith because we obey; for all true obedience is the obedience of faith. Faith is that which God has given to every man, and which every man may exercise. It is simply taking God at his word, and it is certainly proper to ask for a disposition and heart to do this more and more. 2 Tim. 1:9 is not against this. God gives us all things in Christ, in his Spirit, in his word. Faith appropriates them.

2. To our mind the women spoken of in Isa. 4:1 are symbols of the fallen churches which profess Christ’s name, but clothe themselves with their own filthy garments instead of Christ’s righteousness, and eat their own bread of tradition instead of the word of God.

No. 356. “Ought” and “Ought.”

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14. “We ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16. Does the word “ought” have the same meaning in both cases? J. F. P.

Both words come from the same Greek word, and mean the same thing. We ought—are under obligation—to wash one another’s feet, as Christ enjoined. We are also under obligation to lay down our lives for the brethren, if called upon so to do. In fact, the true Christian, he who gives his life to Christ and his cause, gives it also to all who are Christ’s. If, then, to save the lives of our fellow-men, life is necessary, lay it down. Thousands have done this in the past, and have died in various ways; thousands have done it and have died; thousands have done it—all true Christians do—and have lived, glorifying God by winning souls.

No. 357. The First-day Sabbath.

In a tract entitled “The Christian Sabbath,” by A. R. Reams, the writer says that in all instances where the term “first day of the week” is used in the New Testament, it should read (if properly translated), “the first-day sabbath,” stating that the same word that is translated “sabbath” is in these instances rendered “week” or “of the week.” By explaining this in the query column or otherwise, you will greatly oblige. J. J. H.

There are eight instances where “the first day of the week” occurs in the New Testament, and that the expression is a correct rendering of the original is attested by the Revised Version, and many other translations made by Sunday observers, but who felt that no honest rendering could be made to support a first-day sabbath. For the critical reasons see Bible Students’ Library, No. 142, entitled, “Is Sunday Called the Sabbath in the New Testament?” by U. Smith.

No. 358. The Comforter.

PLEASE explain John 16:7. What is the “Comforter”? and how was it “expedient” for Jesus to go away that the Comforter might come? TRUTH SEEKER.

The Comforter is the “Spirit of truth,” the “Holy Ghost.” See John 14:17, 26. Christ was the manifestation of God to the world. As long as he was here, no one could take his place. The disciples would not receive the invisible presence as long as Christ’s visible presence was manifest. This was illustrated in Christ’s work. The dearest disciples of Christ believed that his bodily presence was necessary in order to work miracles. “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” John 11:21, 32. The Roman believed that Christ’s word had power to work, or heal or restore, tho he were far away. Concerning that faith Jesus said, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matt. 8:10. It was therefore expedient that Jesus should go away, that his disciples might know and realize his omnipresent, Spirit, life, and power. The larger faith could only be developed by the unseen Monitor. They must believe in Christ’s spiritual presence and power, even tho they could not see him.

No. 359. “All These Things.”

Does not “all these things,” spoken of in Matt. 24:33, include the “distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear,” etc., spoken of in Luke 21:25? And does not “this generation” of Matt. 24:34 mean those who see the present distress of nations and the following signs?

Undoubtedly “all these things” includes all the signs spoken of by our Lord as signs of his coming in his discourse at that time. See SIGNS No. 20, page 4, question No. 339, where it is stated that “these signs—all these things—are set forth in Matt. 24:12-14, 24-26, 29; Mark 13:22-25; Luke 21:25, 26.” This includes the things referred to above. The generation includes those who see these things in the light of the prophecy, those who know God’s last message, and give it to the world.