Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 20, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 20.

Question Corner

By Editor

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

NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to “explain” a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid,” also, those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.

No. 568. 1 Peter 4:18. Righteousness and Salvation.

KINDLY explain 1 Peter 4:18: “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” J. C. D.

The previous verse, referring to the last days, declares that “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God,” etc. “We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10), and there shall all be judged “according to their works” (Rev. 20:12). Judged by their works, at the very best, the righteous of themselves could only say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10), while, on the other hand, they have made many mistakes. Thus judged they would scarcely be saved; but by living faith the righteousness of Jesus Christ covers their mistakes, and by the mercy of God, which “rejoiceth against judgment,” they are saved with his great salvation. But where shall the sinner stand, whose works have not been wrought for God, and who rejects the arm held out to save him?—He must perish. The text is an admonition to the righteous to be diligent and faithful, and to the wicked to turn to God.

No. 569. Rev. 22:2.

PLEASE explain Rev. 22:2. D. R. B.

Read verses 1 and 2, punctuating as follows: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the midst of the street of it [‘thereof,’ R. V.]. And on either side of the river was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” We know no reason to “spiritualize” the above statement. It will be in that new earth a literal tree, growing on either side of the street, overarching the river, which flows through the midst of the street. Its life-giving fruit is of twelve kinds, and its leaves will be for the service or healing of the nations, restoring later generations to man's pristine stature, strength, and glory.

No. 570. Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

WHAT is true in Gen. 2:9? Was only the tree of life in the midst of the garden? or were both the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil there? F. M. H.

All is true in Gen 2:9. Both trees were in the middle or central place of the garden. This is shown by Gen. 2:9, 17 and 3:3. The Lord evidently pointed out which tree was meant, because both Adam and Eve knew when they ate of it. In that perfect day everything, doubtless, as it came from the hand of God, expressed in its appearance its character.

No. 571. A Question of Tithe.

DOES the tithing system require the farmer to pay tithe on the grain fed to his farm horses, and on the money invested in tools with which to raise his crop? Of course I understand that if a man keeps a team for his own pleasure, he should tithe the grain fed to it, but in regard to those used solely to tend the crop, it is not so clear. Is it not an expense of production, to be deducted before he reckons his tithe? C. E. M.

The general law of tithing is expressed in Lev. 27:30-33 and other passages. It is not a hard and fast rule with respect to burdensome details, but the expression of a principle in which is recognized God's ownership of all. We show that we recognize that by returning to him the tithe, and he who truly does this will endeavor to use the remaining nine-tenths, over which the Lord has made him steward, to God's glory. On general principles we would reply as to the horses, No. For instance: A man rents a farm for $400. The cost of feed for his team in the cultivation of his farm is $100; seed grain, $200; of labor, besides his own, $100. His profits are $1,200. From this he deducts the above items of expense, a total of $800, leaving a profit of $400. Upon this the farmer pays a tithe of $40, leaving $360 upon which to support himself. But we hardly agree with our correspondent that the farmer pays the larger tithe proportionately. The faithful mechanic or day laborer who rents his home or room, pays proportionately the larger tithe; for he tithes everything. As he receives his $10 a week, he deducts $1.00 tithe. Out of the $9.00 remaining he pays his house rent, buys his fuel, provision, all that he has, and many times makes offerings for the poor and for missions. How many farmers estimate the rent of their houses, and pay tithes on the amount? The question in its details is one between the individual and God, in which, in matters of differences, it is always well to give the Lord the benefit of the doubt. Let our correspondent and others look to the Lord. He will enable them to decide aright.

No. 572. Spirit, Soul, and Body.

PLEASE explain the meaning of “spirit, soul, and body,” in 1 Thess. 5:23. W. S. G.

Spirit is the higher life, embracing the spiritual faculties; soul, the intellect, will, and lower emotions; body, the material flesh. The whole expression, “spirit, soul, and body,” is a comprehensive expression embracing the whole man. God desires to sanctify and preserve blameless the spiritual, mental, and physical faculties of man.

No. 573. Beast and False Prophet.

WHEN were the beast and false prophet, of Rev. 19:20, cast into the lake of fire and brimstone? G. W. L.

Before the millennium. The “beast” and “false prophet” are symbols of systems which will be destroyed by the glory of Christ's presence when he comes. At that time “a fire will devour before him,” and the earth shall be set on fire at his presence. See 2 Thess. 2:8; Ps. 50:3; 97:3; Isa. 30:33. The last text shows that when the unvailed presence of God shall be revealed to the sin-cursed earth, the earth will be set on fire, tho not universally so. But all the works of man will be broken down and consumed, and thus all earthly systems, prominent and predominating among which are the “beast” and “false prophet,” will be destroyed. They live and seemingly prosper till the great day of the Lord breaks upon the world, but are then taken by the calamities and snares of their own wickedness, and perish in the fires kindled by God's presence. Rev. 19:20. At the end of the thousand years the whole earth will be converted into a vast lake of fire, which will consume all of sin, and all who have identified themselves with sin, and will be cast into the lake of fire where and as “the beast and false prophet are [were cast],” at the beginning of the thousand years. See “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” on Rev. 20:10. Before the millennium these systems and their devotees perish as a consequence; but after the millennium they meet the full fruition of their evil deeds as individuals.

No. 574. Life and Lives.

IN Gen. 2:7 is the word “life” in the Hebrew in the plural, that is, “lives”? J. F. M.

It is “lives” in the original Hebrew, an idiom of the language, as it is “lives” in the original of the “tree of life” (Gen. 2:9), and “breath of life” (Gen. 7:22), where it is applied to beasts. So “blood” is in the plural in the original Hebrew in Isa. 1:15; 33:15. There is absolutely nothing in the plural form which shows men to be immortal.

No. 575. Isa. 52:15; Eze. 36:25. Sprinkling.

DO Isa. 52:15 and Eze. 36:25 refer to baptism? EARNEST SEEKER.

Not at all. Baptism is a whelming, an immersion, a burial; but sprinkling is not. These scriptures refer to the ancient manner of purification. See Lev. 14:4-7. The sprinkling was an authoritative declaring the person or thing sprinkled to be clean. So Christ will cleanse all who believe him.