To Correspondents by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 15, 1860

To Correspondents.

By Editor

G. P. W. of Me.: The two passages you mention are knotty points of which we have never seen, and could not probably give, a satisfactory explanation. We send you the Seven Trumpets, which will give you light so far as Rev. viii, & ix are concerned. Price 10c.

J. A. W. of N. Y.: The mistake in chronology of upwards 100 years which Dr. Cummings claims that the best chronologers have discovered, seems to have reference to the computation of time before the Christian era. Thus, it is the commonly received opinion that the Christian era commenced in the year of the world 4004; but Dr. C. claims in the note you sent, clipped from the N. Y. Sun, that it commenced in the year of the world 4138. On this calculation it will take only 1862 years of the Christian era, to complete 6000 years; or, reckoning as he does, from the birth of Christ, 5 years before, the 6000 years will be complete in 1867. Usher's chronology, which commences the Christian era in the year of the world 4004, allows only about 300 years for the judges, whereas it is stated in Acts xiii, to be 450.

M. C. B. of Vt.: The weight of evidence seems to cluster around the year 508, as the time when the daily (desolation) gave place to the abomination of desolation [Dan. xii, 11]; and where, consequently, the 1290 years commence. Here the abomination of desolation, or the Papacy, was set up; that is, Paganism gave way before it, and the way was prepared for its full establishment. But it was not till after this, that the saints' times and laws were given into its hands, and its supremacy commenced. This was in the year 538, which marks the commencement of the 1260 years, during which this beast or desolation should continue. The 1290 and 1260 years ended together in 1798; and we have now no better light than that the 1335 years commenced with the former period, and extended 45 years this side of its close.

F. T. W. of C. E. For an answer to your first query we refer you to Bro. White. As to the second, we know of no better way than to let the word of God and your own conscience decide.

REQUESTED—that you will give me through the Review, one plain text of scripture which calls the Jewish day of atonement "the day of judgment" to Israel; or, some Bible expression equivalent. E. C. S.

ANSWER.—We see not what possible need there can be of any such text as above called for, and therefore do not feel particularly concerned as to whether it can be found or not. We know that the service of the Jewish priesthood on the ancient day of atonement meets its antitype in the ministration of our Lord in heaven. We know that our Lord's service is not repeated year by year as was that of the earthly priests, but is accomplished once for all; and that the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the making of the atonement, is the last work which he accomplishes for his people. We know that this antitypical work is called a work of judgment; for it is evident from the very nature of the case that judgment must take place, or that it must be entirely decided who are and who are not the children of God, and subjects of translation, before ever Jesus makes his appearance in the clouds of heaven. When he comes the dead in Christ shall be raised, and they only [1 Thess. iv, 16; Rev. xx, 4]; but how is it to be known who are such unless an investigative judgment has preceded their summons from the regions of the dead? So in regard to those who are to be translated. This work of previous decision we believe is brought to view by Peter when he says [chap. iv, 5, 6], "Who shall give account to him who is ready to judge the quick and dead; for for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;" that is, judged just as though they were alive in the flesh; from which we learn that some will be judged while dead, or that a judgment will take place before the saints are raised. How can they be judged in this condition? Ans. An investigative judgment can be held over their cases, and decision passed upon them, from the records kept in the archives of heaven of the lives of men, or from the "things written in the book." Rev. xx, 12. Such a judgment alone can here be meant. Peter further says in verse 17: "For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" There is another kind of judgment, namely, the executive to be fulfilled in part when Christ comes [2 Tim. iv, 1; 2 Thess. i, 8, 9], and in full at the end of the 1000 years of Rev. xx. See said chapter, verses 9-15. Whether or not, therefore, we can find the expression, "day of judgment," applied to the ancient day of atonement, in no wise affects the momentous truths which claim our attention at the present time.