To Correspondents by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1875

To Correspondents.

By Uriah Smith

S. N. MEAD: In answer to your question how Zech. 14 is to be explained, in view of Paul's testimony in Gal. 4:25, 30, we reply, May not the testimony of Zechariah have reference to the New Jerusalem?

D. HUGUNIN: For an exposition of Isa. 65:20, see REVIEW, Vol. 43, No. 1.

What is meant by the expression, “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” Matt. 3:2? also “the gospel of the kingdom,” Matt. 4:23?—A. M. M.

Ans. We think these expressions may refer to the new development in the plan of salvation about to be made, and the light and truth to be proclaimed among men, as the result of Christ's advent to this earth, and the work he was soon to accomplish in giving himself to die upon the cross.

Was there any moral principle underlying the command prohibiting Adam from eating of the tree of knowledge, &c.? Gen. 2:17. If so, what?—A. M. M.

Ans. Yes: the moral principle underlying the commandments not to have other gods or to covet or to steal; for all three of these commandments were broken by partaking of the forbidden fruit.

J. W. PARKS: Commentators are generally silent, or very brief, on Deut. 14:21. And perhaps no explanation is necessary. If there were among the Hebrews such poor depraved Gentiles that they would eat that which died of itself, they might as well eat it, whatever the consequences. In regard to those texts which speak of seeing God, you will see upon careful examination that it was his face only that could not be seen, and that no man has seen it.

MRS. H. E. P.: We suppose that Satan will be bound by having his sphere of action circumscribed, and subjects all removed from his power. The saints are all taken to Heaven, the wicked are all in their graves, and he is confined to this earth, when thrown back into original chaos. See Rev. 20; Jer. 4:23.—Paul in 1 Cor. 11:29, evidently refers to disorders in the Corinthian church, by which the Lord's supper was turned into an occasion of riotous and aristocratic feasting.

Was Christ immortal before he came to this earth to die? J. H.

We think most assuredly he was. The difficulty we suppose in the mind of the querist is how he then could die. This is a part of that “mystery of godliness,” incomprehensible to finite minds, that Christ could lay this aside, take “on him the seed of Abraham,” and so humble himself even to the death of the cross.

G. W. R.: We do not understand that the period of the sealing is determined by the period of the sixth church, nor that any part of the time of that church was the period of the sealing. The sealing time is that covered by the sealing message, which bears upon its front God's seal, or Sabbath. U. S.