p. 5 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Nov 21, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 45.

Question Corner

By Editor

1932.—The Power Manifest by Christ.

In a recent lesson I note these words: “Christ gave abundant evidence in His creative power while in the world by healing the lame,” etc. Is this true?

Rather it would have been better to express it in this way, Christ gave abundant evidence of the creative power of God by the miracles which He wrought. “I can of Mine own self do nothing,” are Christ’s words. He tells us again that it was not He that did the works, but the Father which was in Him. All the miracles wrought by Christ were the miracles wrought by His living connection with the Father, just as the miracles wrought by His servants are miracles of God through them. The same power that was manifest through Him, His children must possess or they will never overcome.

1933.—The Beast of Rev. 13:11.

What is the beast spoken of in Rev. 13:11 as “another beast,” which had two horns like a lamb and spake as a dragon?

Read the present article on the Papacy and Prophecy if you wish to get an understanding of the meaning of the beast of Revelation 13. The papers of November 21 and 28 deal especially with the subject of the two-horned beast. As to the rivers and fountains of waters and the blood referred to in the sixteenth chapter, we see no reason to regard it otherwise than as literal. Just as the plagues of Egypt were literal, we believe the plagues of Revelation 16 will be literal. Rivers and fountains of waters are in districts away from the sea. We do not see how any connection could be made between them and any of the modern delusions.

1934.—The 144,000.

Will only 144,000 be saved? Are not this number referred to in Rev. 14:1-5 and Rev. 15:1-3 identical?

It seems very clear indeed that the two companies are identical. Those who get the victory over the beast and his image are those who pass through the very last conflict, as indicated by the warning in Rev. 14:9-11. On the other hand those who are mentioned in Revelation 14 having the Father’s name in their foreheads are those who are saved out from among men, they are translated without seeing death. They are identical with the ones sealed in Revelation 7. Those are not the only ones who will be saved, because the Scriptures in many places speak of the great company which no man can number which come from all the centuries of the past; “The sea gave up its dead,” and from the graves of all the past come forth those who sleep in Christ Jesus. The 144,000 will be those living and who see Christ come. There are those who believe that like the eight saved in the ark, all that are saved when Christ comes will be included in that number; all others will either have rejected God’s last message and so have rejected salvation, or will have fallen asleep in Christ to come up in the resurrection. Others believe that the Scriptures has followed a common way of reckoning. Israel of old were reckoned by the males over and under certain ages, but with these were included all others of Israel. So when Jesus was upon earth, twice we are told of the number who sat down to eat when He miraculously furnished food, but in both cases it is said there were so many thousand men besides women and children. The 144,000 may therefore be a representative company of those who will be saved when Christ comes, or they may be the actual number who have withstood all the onslaughts of Satan and been faithful to the end. The real important thing for us to know is not so to just the exact number which will then be saved, but whether we shall have a part in the saved number. That does not depend on number, but on character, and character depends on our relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.

1935.—What of Those Who Die in Childhood?

Referring to a question some time ago in regard to marriage in the new earth, it is said that all then would be grown people. Will you please explain what becomes of those who die in childhood here in this earth?

The people of God will not inherit the new earth until after the thousand years of Revelation 20. They will take possession of the capital city, New Jerusalem, when Christ comes, but that will not come down upon the earth until after the close of the thousand years. When Christ comes, all the redeemed will be taken to heaven with Him. John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-17. During that thousand years, all who died while in infancy will have grown up, so that when God’s people take possession of the new earth they will be adults. Sometimes we are at loss to know in regard to children because the Bible says very little upon that point. It is not the object of the Scriptures to answer our questions of mere curiosity. It deals with those who are responsible. The duties of parents in respect to their children are clearly stated. The destiny of children is touched upon very lightly. The Scriptures do not come home to them, because they are irresponsible beings; and we may know that God will deal just right with them.

1936.—Communion and Feet-Washing.

Why do not Seventh-day Adventists practise communion and feet washing?

They do, in harmony with the Scriptures in John 13, Matthew 26, and elsewhere. Of course there are sometimes churches which are small and members are scattered, where it is difficult for them to get together as it is with other churches. Sometimes the regular officers of the church move away, and for a period these vacancies are not properly filled, but every thoroughly organized church certainly ought to celebrate these ordinances. So far as we know, however, all properly organized churches celebrate the ordinances regularly once a quarter. There is no stated time, however, when the ordinances should be celebrated. There are some who contend that it should be once a year, because the ancient Passover was held annually. Others argue weekly, because Acts 20:7 records an instance in which supposedly the Lord’s Supper was held on Sunday, or our Saturday night. Another expression seems to show that it was for a brief period celebrated daily. Acts 2:46. But God has given no instruction regarding this,—“As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” 1 Cor. 11:26.

1937.—Where Is India?

Where is India, for which you are raising mission funds?

India is the southern central part of great Asia, south of the Himalaya Mountains. It has more than 1,825,000 square miles, and a population of 300,000,000, most of whom know not the Gospel. And India needs it, needs it, no other country on earth needs it more.