p. 4 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 48.

Question Corner

By Editor

1950.—What Kind of Spirit Is Referred to?

What is a spirit if spirits “have not flesh and bones.” Are they bodiless beings? How can they enter swine if they have a body? or is that verse to be taken literally? May it not mean that the demons just controlled the swine?

It is difficult to explain things spiritual by things grossly material. We are not to suppose that sentient beings can not exist unless they are formed as we are, any more than we should argue that birds can not fly because we can not. Because spiritual beings—angels, good and evil—have not flesh and bones as we have, is no evidence that they are not as real beings as we are. The work they do, and have done, shows distinctly their reality and individuality. “There is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” When man yields to an evil spirit, that spirit seems to take complete possession of the man. If he does not yield, the spirit can only trouble him outwardly.

1951.—“Harvest Homes” in Churches.

Is it right for Christians to hold harvest homes in churches, to bring into the church pumpkins, vegetables, fruits, etc.? What does John 2:16 mean?

John 2:16 shows how God regarded the making of His house a house of merchandise, a place of selfish trade and barter, of buying and selling. If this is what a “harvest home” service does, it is wrong. If any service makes common, or profane, the house of God, it is wrong. But if it was a thanksgiving service of the fruits of the earth to God, and these were present for that purpose, we do not see any harm in a proper use of God’s gifts.

1952.—The Allegory of Galatians 4.

Galatians 4, speaking of the two covenants, says, “Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and . . . is in bondage with her children.” It uses the present and not the past tense. Does this mean to teach that children of the bond woman and children of the free woman existed then and also exist now, and that as then the children of the bond woman persecute the children of the free woman now? Did the two covenants exist then and do they exist now?

It is impossible to fully reply to such a large question in this department; however, we offer these suggestions: First, that the old covenant, as a covenant, was made between God and Israel. Yet its principles have been always true. The real core of it is salvation by works, that is what “Hagar” stood for. Abraham would fulfil God’s promise by a scheme and plan and effort of his own, but it failed, and she, the bond woman, simply brought forth a bond child. The Jews, holding to that principle, and holding to it more than ever in the days of Christ, were well represented by Hagar, in bondage to sin. Secondly, God saves by grace, for “by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that [saving] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” So Isaac was born of the power of God.

Now those principles have existed all the way through, before it was drawn out in an actual written covenant with Israel. They exist to-day just the same in principle, when men try by their own works to save themselves, when men set up their creeds instead of God’s living Word, and when they try to enforce their creeds upon others. Ishmael was born of the bond woman contrary to God’s plan, and yet there was the effort on his part, and to some extent Abraham’s, to force him into the position of the heir, and force the younger son Isaac out. To this, of course, Sarah objected, and God honored her position. It was true in Paul’s day that “we are as Isaac are the children of promise,” that is, if we are children of the Lord Jesus Christ; for “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” And more and more manifest it will be in the last days that he that is born after the flesh will persecute him that is born after the Spirit, because the one will hold to the traditions inaugurated and maintained by the flesh, while the other will hold to the living Word of God.

1953.—The War in Heaven.

Is the war in heaven, referred to in Revelation 12, and the casting out of the angels the same as that referred to in Jude 6?

We do not think so. Jude 6 does not speak of casting out, but the “angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.” That refers to their sinning in the very beginning. This evidently is referred to in Revelation 12:4—“his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,” the angels; but verse 7 of Revelation 12 refers to a subsequent time, the culmination of the great conflict between Christ, or Michael, and Satan. That culmination came when our Lord was raised from the dead triumphant forever over death and hell. Then came the second casting down, “and their place was found no more in heaven.” These are the same angels, of course, that were cast down in the beginning. The nature of that conflict it is impossible for us to say. It was a spiritual conflict between spiritual beings, and we, in our gross materiality, can have no conception as to the weapons and forces employed. Many have been studying for years and years how birds lighter than the same bulk of water can sink in water and remain so for hours, and how they can rise to great heights and maintain a long flight for days even; but they have not yet solved the problem. When we can not understand physical forces, how can we explain spiritual. Some things will have to be left until we get to the other side, in God’s advanced school.