A Misunderstanding by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 46.

A Misunderstanding

By Editor

No. 435. A Misunderstanding.

A CORRESPONDENT writes us from Pueblo, Cal., with reference to the article entitled “The Sabbath and the Sunday, No. 6,” in the SIGNS of October 22. Our friend enters into an argument to prove that the Sabbath, the seventh day (Saturday), as he expresses it, is still obligatory; that it is still the Sabbath of the Lord. And to all this we agree, and the article taught nothing else. The expression, “the Sabbath was crushed out,” did not apply to the Sabbath as a part of God’s truth, but the keeping of the Sabbath by the Church of Rome. When Israel of old departed from the Lord they forsook his Sabbath and persecuted those who kept it. When the professed Christian church departed from the Lord, she did the same,—forsook the Sabbath, elevated the Sunday in its stead, and persecuted Sabbath-keepers. And yet God had outside of the Roman Church faithful souls who kept the Sabbath all through the centuries. And this is what the article was designed to teach.

No. 436. Isa. 65 : 20, 23 Again.

PLEASE explain Isa. 65 : 20, 23. Does verse 20 apply to the new earth? If so, how can it be harmonized with Rev. 21:4? Will there be children born in the new earth? C. J. M.

Isa. 65 : 17-25 refers in general terms to the new earth state, with reference to the judgments which usher them in. “There will be no more thence an infant of days,” and the reason is given; the execution of the final judgment at the end of the thousand years has settled it. The last part of verse 20 probably refers to this time, in which all the wicked, young and old, will be destroyed. See Rev. 20 : 12-15, 9. Verse 23 is a contrast to this life. Here the bringing forth of children to sin and die are among the saddest of all earth’s miseries. In the new earth this will not be known.

No. 437. God’s Great Northern Army.

WHO are those referred to in Joel 2 : 4, 9, etc? E. A. B.

They evidently refer to the myriads of swarms of destructive insects which will in increasing measure in the last days sweep over the face of the earth, devouring everything in their path. The various grasshopper devastations in the prairie states are illustrations of this. In its fulness the prophecy may take in all the various destructive agencies of the last days.

No. 438. Who Are Israel?

DOES Hosea 3 : 5 indicate a turning of the Jews to God at this time? If not, when fulfilled? E. A. B.

The casting off of the ten tribes as a nation is recorded in 2 Kings 17. But this did not cast them off as individuals; for many from some if not all of the tribes became connected with the worship of God at Jerusalem. See 2 Chron. 11 : 16; 30 : 1, 5-11, 18, 21; 34 : 9; 35 : 18; also Ezra 1 : 5; 2 : 70; 6 : 17. But there were doubtless many more of the so-called “lost tribes” who accepted the Lord through the preaching of the word by the apostles. The true Israel, however, who will eventually be gathered and saved, the only Israel which will be saved, is the Israel of God by faith. See Rom. 9 : 6-8, 24, and onward, where the apostle quotes from Hosea and Isaiah to prove that the Israel who will be saved is the Israel by faith, the prevailer with God. Then will Israel truly return, and Christ, the Son of David, will be King.