Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jun 6, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 22.

Question Corner

By Editor

1825.—No Marriage. Matt. 22:30.

Please explain Matt. 22:30. Will people live in families in heaven or have husbands and wives? See Isa. 34:15, last clause.

Jesus says, "They neither marry nor are given in marriage." It seems to us that settles it. The "mate" referred to in Isa. 34:15 pertains to the wild beasts and birds which inhabit the desolated land. Verses 11-13. There will be tribes and families in the new earth, but on just what plan, we do not know; but we do know that it will be all right in every way, the very best for God's children.

1826.—The Seed. 1 Cor. 15:35-38.

Please say how you understand 1 Cor. 15:35-38. What is the seed? Where does it stay till it receives the body?

The seed is the seed which men sow, mentioned by Paul to illustrate the great fact of the resurrection. The one thought that illustration is designed to enforce is this, that the righteous will be given the body of the righteous. That similitude, like other figures, should not be pressed out of its design. There is, however, one seed which the child of God must have, and that is, the incorruptible seed of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23), centering in Christ Jesus the Seed (Gal. 3:16), the righteousness of the life of God. When man dies, his "life is hid with Christ in God," and when Christ appears, then shall all His children be manifest with Him. Col. 3:1-4.

1827.—Did Paul Know.

Did the apostle Paul think it possible for a man to go to the third heaven?

You must not misapprehend the apostle's words. He was caught up to the "third heaven;" of that there is no question. "In the body" and "out of the body" do not refer to death; but to vision or actual sight. Was it in vision that the third heaven was made to appear before him? or did Paul actually go there in body? Paul did not know. It was so vivid and real he did not know whether God took him up to the third heaven bodily, or whether he saw it in vision. Let us leave it with God. In the body would be seeing it with his actual, physical eyes. Out of the body would be seeing it in his mind by the power of God.

1828.—Seeing God. Gen. 18:1.

How was it that the Lord appeared and talked to Abraham, when the Bible says that no man could see God and live? See also Ex. 33:20; 1 John 4:12; Gen. 32:30; Ex. 24:9-12.

What Moses wanted to see was God's undimmed glory, to see God as He is. Ex. 33:18. No man could bear the sight of God's glory. When the Lord has appeared to man, His glory has been veiled. He appeared to Abraham in the form of a man. He also appeared to men as an angel. But never has He been seen by mortal man in His ineffable glory. 1 Tim. 6:16. Never will that glory be revealed till Christ shall come. Matt. 16:27. Men saw God in Jesus Christ. John 14:9. But they did not see God in His glory as Moses desired to see Him.

1829.—For Man's Need.

Do the Scriptures forbid taking the life of anything for food?

We know of no such prohibition. On the other hand, we know that our Lord fed the people upon food which was once living creatures. He divided among the multitude the bread and the fish. Is not all the earth given for the welfare and blessing of man?

1830.—"Let the Dead Bury Their Dead." Matt. 8:22.

Please explain Matt. 8:22.

It simply means that those who were dead to the great things of God may do many of these common things of life; the children of God should give themselves to His call.