p. 5 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 16, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 33.

Question Corner

By Editor

At what time do the events recorded in Matt. 25:31, 34 take place? If at Jesus' second coming when only the righteous are resurrected, how can any separation take place? L. E. D.

The passage in question takes in the whole day of judgment, including the 1,000 years, the examination of records, etc. These are not detailed, because the object of the instruction is summed up in two points: Christ's future reign, and the certainty of rewards and punishments. The examination begins with the finishing of the mystery of God in 1844. The figure of the shepherd can not be made to apply in all things; it illustrates the decided separation and the final distribution only, not locality or time or manner. When the examination shall have taken place then the King shall say to the righteous, etc. And when the examination of the wicked shall have taken place, then will He pronounce sentence on the wicked.

1703.—"In the Flesh." Job 14: 22.

Job 14:22: "But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn." If the dead are unconscious, how could this be? MRS. S.

The verse has reference to man in this life while he is in the flesh. After he dies he knows nothing, as set forth in verses 20, 21. But while he is here he is subject to pain and sorrow.

1704.—Donations from the World.

Is it scriptural for Christians to solicit money from worldly people for the Lord's work, and do Seventh-day Adventists as a rule do so? A SUBSCRIBER.

Yes; on proper occasions for proper purposes. For instance, when holding meetings in halls or tents, people in general are often asked to help pay expenses. Sometimes they are solicited to help in charitable work, as the poor of a neighborhood, etc. There is, however, among Seventh-day Adventists no direct solicitation for the support of their ministry and work. But if a man is generously disposed to help, do not forbid it. That opening of the heart may be the means of Christ's entrance.

1705.—Where is the Inspiration?

Which is inspired, the original Greek of the New Testament? or the English translation? or both? A.

The original words, of course; the words by which prophet and apostle spoke. It was not the person who was inspired; it was the God-breathed Word. "All Scripture is [literally] God-breathed." 2 Tim. 3:16. "The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, and His word was upon my tongue." 2 Sam. 23:2. "Which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David." Acts 1:16. "Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth." 1 Cor. 2:13. God moved upon each of the holy writers to use the best language of which he was capable to express the thoughts of God. Those words are inspired; translations are nearly always men's best attempts to place in our language the meaning of the original, and the more we have of honest, learned translations the better.

1706.—Who Said It?

A friend asked me what this,—"The world shall stand a thousand years and not another,"—meant. I could not tell him, and I did not, nor did he know the chapter it was in. Where can I find it? What does it mean? S. V. S.

No wonder your friend could not tell where such a passage could be found. There is nothing of the kind in the Bible, nor do we believe anywhere else. Your friend has mixed together the term a "thousand years," occurring only eight times in the Bible (2 Peter 3:8; Rev. 20:2-7) with an expression in Job 19:27. Of course it means nothing. "The earth abideth forever." "The world [the form, the arrangement] passeth away."