CARELESS READING by B. E. Fisk

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

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 44.

CARELESS READING.

By B. E. Fisk

BY B. E. FISK.

MANY erroneous views of scripture teaching are held as the result of carelessness in reading texts or from failure to notice the connection in which they are used.

When once a theory is accepted, whether right or wrong, it is so natural to read through spectacles of that color, that the real truth of the word remains hidden for generations.

The writer once listened to a funeral discourse based on Rev. 14:13: "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth," etc.

While the sermon contained many points of merit, the ideas advanced were more comforting than scriptural. The command given to John to write was used as if spelled right, and made to qualify the word blessed so that the dead who die in the Lord are more than ordinarily blessed. They are right blessed.

From the context it was clear that John was carried in vision down to a period in the world's history when a persecuting power would arise. This power is symbolized in chapter 13 under the figure of a beast which was to require all who live upon the earth to worship his image under penalty of death.

In Rev. 14:9, 10, is found a warning against such worship under pain of God's wrath. This clearly shows that the beast power is opposed to God. At that time true believers are placed in a dilemma equal to that imposed by Nebuchadnezzar upon the Hebrews in Babylon. See Daniel 3. In view of these trials the Spirit commanded the prophet to write, "Blessed [or happy] are the dead which die in the Lord." Their works are accepted; their names are registered in the book of life; and they have escaped the fiery trial which the remnant are called to pass through. But all this seemed to be unnoticed.

Another example of careless reading is illustrated by a religious paper which declared that its editor had been "translated" "and went to live with God last night."

No doubt it was intended to announce the death of the editor. But let us notice the two instances of translation spoken of in the scriptures and see if death and translation are synonymous terms.

In Heb. 11:5 we read, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him."

The expression "was not found" must mean that no lifeless body was found to be buried.

Should any question this conclusion, please notice the experience of Elijah as recorded in the second chapter of Second Kings. From verses 11 and 12 we learn that he was taken up bodily, and Elisha saw him go. Also from verse 17 we learn that fifty men searched for the absent prophet three days "and found him not."

God saw in these men a fitness for companionship with the holy angels; and, as a grand triumph over the power of death, He took them alive to His heavenly home.

And let us notice that the Bible speaks of no other way of going to live with God, save going alive. We can not go while dead. "The dead know not anything." Eccl. 9:5.

But when the last great trumpet shall sound, the sleeping saints will arise from their dusty beds, and, with new life, will go to the Father's house. In 1 Thess. 4:16 we read of the resurrection of the righteous dead. Then in verse 17 Paul refers to those who shall be translated, "caught up," as Enoch and Elijah were, together with those who have been dead but are now alive, all to meet the Lord at the same time in the air.

This is quite different from the idea that one by one at the call of death the righteous are translated.

And may we not suppose that such careless reading is the cause of many errors in doctrine and practise among those who claim the Bible as authority? A preacher of no mean ability, who boasted of having read the Bible through forty-three times by course, once asked this question: "If the Lord wanted us to keep the seventh day, why did He not say so?"

Now, as every Bible reader must know, Ex. 20:10 expressly states that the Sabbath which is to be kept holy is the seventh day. It is therefore evident that this person had read the Fourth Commandment forty-three times in a very careless manner.

Instances might be given touching nearly every fundamental Bible doctrine.

These are not referred to in a spirit of criticism, of controversy, but to call attention to a common error among believers. Why will we treat that which we profess to believe of greatest importance in such a trifling manner?

We would not do this in case of legal documents relating to worldly possessions. Every line would be studied and every word weighed in order to know just what rights and privileges were conveyed by them.

Our heavenly Father has outlined for us the great plan by which He is to bring His children back to the possession of the "first dominion." His directions are very minute as to where the heirs of the promise are to be found and what they are to be doing. It will not do to guess at these things or to say because some man has raised this or that standard we will go by that. It is the blessed privilege of all who read to gain such knowledge that they will not be found wanting when Christ makes up His jewels.

Richburg, N. Y.