Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 8, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 10.

Question Corner

By Editor

FROM time to time under this head, we will answer pertinent questions, the answers to which we believe will be generally helpful to our readers. Some questions we can not answer here. They are of special interest only to the person who asks them. We will not answer what seems to be mere quibbles or cavils. We do not propose, for instance, to explain, more than once a year, where Cain got his wife. In all cases we must have the name of the questioner. We may wish to write them. To the questions we sign only the initials, or another term, if preferred by the questioner. But we have neither time nor space to bother with unsigned letters or questions. One more thought: "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid."

1628.—On the Latter Rain.

(1) Will each one receive the latter rain, as soon as he is prepared to receive it, independent of the other members of His church? or would he have to wait until the rest were prepared, and all receive it together, as the apostles did? (2) Is not this power given to keep us sinless after Christ leaves the sanctuary? If so, will it not be given just preceding this event?

The last outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the earth is typified by "the latter rain" of Palestine. Just as that latter rain ripened the grain for the harvest, so will God's Spirit ripen and prepare the world for its great harvest at the second coming of Christ. Each one, as he is prepared for it, will receive of it. God gives His Spirit as we need it, and have the consecration and faith to receive it. There may be no miraculous manifestations, but there will be the greatest of all miracles, a humble, holy life. When God's church can see the transcendant importance of righteous life and living, then He will permit His miracle-working power to be manifest among them. But He can not, as long as they become exalted over such manifestations.

2. This power—the power of the Holy Spirit—is always given to keep men from sin. As God's people sense their need more and more amid the perils of the last days, more and more will they cry out for His Spirit, and the Spirit will be bestowed. Zech. 10:1. At last the sifting time will be over, and God's people will be ready for the plenitude of His Spirit. The change will be by gradual increase, from grace to grace, from glory to glory.

1629.—Remitting Sins. John 20: 21-23.

Please explain John 20: 21-23.

The text reads as follows:

"Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you; as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit; whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

This is the power which Christ gave and gives to His qualified ministers. Their mission was to teach the Gospel, preach the Word. That message declared what sin was. It told the conditions on which sin would be forgiven and retained. It said to the sinner, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. And the messenger of God has the right to declare to the one who truly confesses, that his sins are forgiven; and also to say to him who will not so confess, that his sins remain with him. So Jeremiah was set "over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." Jer. 1:10. But he did all this by the word of the Lord which he proclaimed. See verse 9; chapter 18:7-10; 27:1-11. The true preaching of God's Word will accomplish the same to-day.