Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 1, 1905

Question Corner

By Editor

1606.—A Seeming Contradiction. 1 Cor. 3:14, 15.

Please explain 1 Cor. 3:15. There is a seeming contradiction between verses 14 and 15.

Note that the subject under consideration is not personal character, but spiritual work for the Master. Paul told the brethren that they were God's husbandry (or literally, "tilled land"), God's building. He and his fellow apostles were fellow workers in God's field, on God's building. Some may, as Paul, be wise master builders, building on a good foundation, and have for their showing gold, silver, precious stones. Others unwisely may fail in the good foundation, in the workmanship on materials so that in the last day their converts fail; their work proves to be wood, hay, stubble. Both classes of ministers labor conscientiously, tho evidently not with equal zeal and wisdom. The work of one is saved as well as himself; the work of the other is burned, and he barely escapes. The work of preachers through all the past demonstrates the apostle's word.

1607.—Between Death and the Resurrection.

Will you kindly state whether or not Adventists believe that the personal identity of the soul continues after death, or is disintegrated, annihilated, at death. If the former, what is its state during the interval? In other words, kindly state plainly and succinctly your exact belief upon the subject, with scriptural references or otherwise, and oblige,

While we are sure that the answer will disappoint our querist, we can give no other. We know no place where Adventists, Seventh-day or otherwise, have ever formulated any precise, succinct, or exact belief regarding the condition of man between death and the resurrection. They have preferred to let it rest on the Bible statements without attempting to formulate the Scriptures into a creed. Hence different persons, if called upon so to do, would define in a different way. But all are agreed in accepting the literal statement that "in death there is no remembrance of Thee [God];" that when death occurs, man's "breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish;" and other statements similar. The condition between death and the resurrection is a dreamless sleep, from which only Christ, the Life-giver, can awaken the sleeper. As to just how God preserves identity, whether by the absolutely accurate life record of the individual which is indelibly stamped upon the resurrection body, or some other way, we may not know, nor need we concern ourselves about it. We know that man dies; that "the dead know not anything;" that Christ will bring them back from the power of death and the grave at His coming. The Bible make Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead necessities in God's plan, contrary to the teaching of much of modern theology.

1608.—The Gathering of His Elect. Matt. 24:31.

"And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Mark, in speaking of the same event (13:27), says, "from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven" (American Standard Revision). Now, if He gathers them from heaven, as said in Matthew, or from earth and heaven, as said in Mark, does this not mean a uniting of soul and body? Does Matthew, in his mention of "heaven" seven times, refer to the planetary heavens, or both planetary and atmospheric? If both, please point out where he means the one and the other.

The word "heaven" throughout the entire New Testament comes from the same word in the Greek, ouranos. Strong defines it, "the sky, by extension heaven (as the abode of God)." It is rendered "air, heaven, sky." Sometimes it means the heaven where God's throne is; sometimes it means the region where the stars are; sometimes the atmospheric heavens. The "four winds of heaven" simply mean direction and nothing more; for when God's people are gathered they will come from every direction, from all parts of the earth, but through the air or atmospheric heaven, above the earth. See Dan. 7:2, "The four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea." Rev. 7:1. The context and kindred terms elsewhere will almost invariably settle the meaning of a word. God's children who are sleeping are gathered from the grave when Christ comes.

1609.—The Sin "Winked at."

What is the sin God winked at?

We do not read anywhere in His Book that He winked at any sin. The Scripture is, "The times of this ignorance God winked at." Acts 17:30. This means as given in the R. V., "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked." In other words, He in mercy did not destroy the sinner.