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Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 7.

WHAT IS WISDOM?

Signs of the Times

Feb 15, 1910

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 15, 1910

WHAT IS WISDOM?

"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Prov. 8:11.

WHAT IS WISDOM?

Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and Death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, And He knoweth the place thereof. For He looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; And He weigheth the waters by measure. When He made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder; Then did He see it, and declare it; He prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.
"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30.

3037.— Old and New Testament Churches

By Editor

Will you please distinguish between the Old and New Testament churches? In talking with A he says they had no churches in the Old Testament. T. R. P.
One of the unfortunate things in connection with our Common Version is translating “the assembly of the Lord” in the Old Testament “congregation,” and in the New Testament “church.” “Congregation” or “assembly” would have been better all the way through, and it would have given us clearer understanding of its meaning. But we do have one scripture in the New Testament which shows us that that congregation in the wilderness, the people whom the Lord led out of Egypt, are definitely called a church, “the church in the wilderness.” Acts 7:38. Of course they were not divided into congregations, because they all met as one congregation from time to time. But when the apostles turned to the Gentiles, they of course raised up many companies entirely separate; and wherever the company was raised up, it was the church in that place. It is God’s great church yet in its branches all the way through. Our Lord Jesus before His death, before the Day of Pentecost, before there was any preaching among the Gentiles, speaks of “the church,” the assembly, the congregation of the Lord, in Matt. 18:17.
The only distinction is that the church of the Old Testament times largely consisted of Jews, with one great central place of worship. Ceremonies of that church looked forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since the crucifixion, the great church of God has been scattered in different companies all over the world. They offer no more sacrifices, because Christ offered one sacrifice forever. They commemorate His sacrifice, however, and look forward to His second coming, in the present ordinances of the church.

The Man of Sin

By Editor

3039.— E. E. D.— The Man of Sin.— The view that the man of sin is some particular individual, some great world-influencing character in the last days, is not a new view. The suggestion has arisen from those who do not see what Paul declares in 2 Thessalonians 2 fulfilled in the Papacy. It is contrary to the genius of the whole Scripture, it seems to us, to interpret it as an individual. Of course there will be an individual behind it all, and that will be Satan, the one with whom sin originated; and when the time fully comes, he himself will appear as an angel of light. He will have agents; but he will use no one human agent to deceive and delude the whole world. There have been noted characters in the past whom the Lord uses as types. Cain is the type of the sinners who lived after him—many in number. Jezebel, the idolatrous wife of Ahab, becomes a type, in this dispensation, of a great apostate church. Ahab himself becomes the type of weakly, worldly powers which yield to the seductions of an apostate church. Elijah, the true messenger of God to the one small nation, becomes a type of a class of men who will like Elijah give God’s truth to the world. So the man of sin represents a system controlled and held and molded by men, the head of that system itself being man, and not God.
Replying further to our correspondent, we would say that there are even those in various churches who see some of the light from God’s Word concerning the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. One of the great means which Satan has used to nullify all such preaching, is to pervert it. He has led men to attach to the wonderful doctrine the return of the Jews, a great personal antichrist, that is called the “second rapture,” and other deceptions which find no root or ground in God’s Word, in order that the very ones who are agitated over His coming may put far off the evil day. The only true way for the Christian to do, is to hold to the Word and to the interpretation of the prophecies found in Daniel. Holding to these, he will have no difficulty in deciding what is the man of sin.

Please Be Definite

By Editor

Please Be Definite.—For instance, a question comes to us asking us to be so kind as to explain the meaning of the latter part of “the 28th verse of Hebrews.” But the question is not definite enough so that we may know what chapter is referred to. There are five chapters in Hebrews which have 28 verses or more: chapter 7, chapter 9, chapter 10, chapter 11, chapter 12. If our correspondent will tell us what chapter is referred to we will be glad to answer the question if we can.

3036.— Falling from Grace

By Editor

Will you kindly explain how it is possible for a regenerated soul to fall from grace? Have we instances of it in the Bible?
It is perfectly possible for one to fall from grace if he so chooses. It is wholly a matter of choice. We can choose to do God’s will, or we can reject it; and after we have wrought His will, we can turn from it if we so desire. See Eze. 18:21-24. That it is possible to fall from grace, is shown by the warnings and exhortations which the Lord has multiplied to His children. Take for instance the following:
“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13.
“I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you.” 1 Cor. 15:1, 2.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.” 1 Cor. 9:27.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13, 14.
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Heb. 3:14.
And there are many other passages exhorting to perseverance. We have a noted instance of a regenerated heart turning from the service of God in the case of King Saul. The prophecy of Samuel to him was, “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” 1 Sam. 10:6. And verse 9 relates its fulfilment: “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.” But we know what the record is. Saul allowed self-exaltation to come in; and he went from bad to worse until at last he turned from God utterly, and died because of his sin in consulting witches. The great thought continually held before us in the Scripture is perseverance, living to-day, choosing now for God.

The Fall of Babylon and Third Angel's Message

By Editor

3038.— L. D. M.— Regarding the fall of Babylon and the preaching of the third angel’s message, read the articles in the SIGNS from January 1 to February 16, especially the Bible readings. Note that it was God's object to heal Babylon, but Babylon would not be healed. Note also that that ancient city of confusion is used as a symbol of the confusion in the last days. If a sick person rejects the only remedy that will heal, there is but one result to follow, and that is death. If a spiritual invalid rejects the only Gospel message which will bring salvation to his soul, but one thing can follow, and that is spiritual death, and spiritual death is a fall. So Babylon has rejected, or turned away from, the one great healing message of God; has substituted for that, science falsely so-called, hope in erring tradition, and various human remedies instead of the great Gospel remedy. When the church turns away from God and the only means that God has of healing her divisions and her spiritual diseases, she must fall; and falling, she will seek the support of what the church has always found civil power to be — a broken reed; and that brings in the beast and his mark, against which God solemnly warns. That is what we have now, dear brother; that is why God is warning this world against it. Please read these articles.

The Groaning Creation

By Editor

3040.— H. J. P.— This earth is a member of God’s great multiple universe. His universe is normally one, even as God is one; and God’s great power and life and wisdom sustain and maintain all the various bodies within it. But sin has entered that universe, and it seems to have entered through this earth, a diseased member, and probably the most diseased member in the entire universe; and yet, as the human body is affected when one of its members is ill, so all God’s creation has been affected through the trouble which has come to this world; therefore we read in Romans 8: “For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it. . . . For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” But there is coming a time when the travailing and the pain will be over. For that the children of God are waiting. “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God, . . . in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.”

Jews and Paul

By Editor

3041.— J. H. B.— Jews and Paul.— No, the Jews were not Romans, they were an entirely different race of people. The Jews sprang from Shem, Noah's oldest son; the Romans from Japheth, another son of Noah. The Jews, however, were under the Romans. Under the Romans some of them possessed Roman citizenship, as did Paul. He was born in the free city of Tarsus; and as a citizen of that city he possessed Roman citizenship, just as an Englishman, or a Frenchman, or a German might become a citizen of this country. Paul lived at the time the other apostles did. Of course, he was converted to Christianity after the other apostles were. They were with Christ for three and one half years before Paul learned Christ. After that they were associated more or less together.
For history of Thanksgiving, we refer our inquirer to any general encyclopedia under the head of "Thanksgiving."
In reply to a further question, we do not carry history of Neander. We can obtain it second-hand probably at a reasonable price, but do not carry it.

The Melchizedek Priesthood

By Editor

3042.— Mrs. W. W. W.— This department is too limited to give a full explanation of the first three verses of Hebrews 7. The Melchizedek priesthood was an order to which our Lord belonged, and to which the Melchizedek of Genesis 14 belongs. The meaning of Melchizedek is “King of Righteousness;” melchi, “king;” zedek, “righteousness.” The only true peace is the peace which comes through righteousness; and he was therefore King of Salem, which is King of Peace. Upon this we will have more to say hereafter in articles which may be written.

Flee Whoredom

3043.— J. G. B.— 1 Cor. 6:18.— The rendering of the Syriac is, “Flee whoredom, for every [other] sin which a man committeth is external to his body, but he that committeth whoredom sinneth against his own body.” Most sins come to us by some agency from without. This sin is not a participation of things which come from without, but it is that which is wrought within; and none is more corrupting.

After Eight Days

By Editor

3044.— Inquirer.— After Eight Days.— We will have to have more definite information regarding the passage supposed to be in 2 Chronicles which throws light upon John 20:26. Really the passage in John 20:26 is quite clear as it is.
2. Regarding explanation of 1 Tim. 4:1-4 we refer our inquirer to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES of July 29, 1908, which gives a quite full explanation of the text.

The Aims of Romanism

By Mrs. E. G. White

By Mrs. E. G. White
ROMANISM is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. Its defenders declare that the church has been maligned, and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement.
It is true that there are real Christians in the Roman Catholic communion. Thousands in that church are serving God according to the best light they have. They are not allowed access to God's Word, and therefore do not discern the truth. They have never seen the contrast between a living heart-service, and a round of mere forms and ceremonies.
God looks with pitying tenderness upon these souls, educated as they are in a faith that is delusive and unsatisfying. He will cause rays of light to penetrate the dense darkness that surrounds them. He will reveal to them the truth as it is in Jesus, and many will yet take their position with His people.

The System Out of Harmony

But Romanism as a system is no more in harmony with the Gospel of Christ now than at any former period in her history. The Protestant churches are in great darkness, or they would discern the signs of the times. The Roman church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to reestablish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.
Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see, and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism, and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.
Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression; and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion, forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. But it will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for the success of the Papacy. The false science of the nineteenth century, which undermines faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the Papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages.
General View of Geneva, Switzerland, where Some of the Great Battles of the Reformation Were Fought
General View of Geneva, Switzerland, where Some of the Great Battles of the Reformation Were Fought

The Trend of Protestantism

In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the state, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for popery to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World. And that which gives significance to this movement, is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance,—a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as the sign of her authority.
If the reader would understand the agencies to be employed in the soon-coming contest, he has but to trace the record of the means which Rome employed for the same object in ages past. If he would know how papists and Protestants united will deal with those who reject their dogmas, let him see the spirit which Rome has always manifested toward the Sabbath and its defenders.
Royal edicts, general councils, and church ordinances sustained by secular power, were the steps by which Sunday, the pagan festival, attained its position of honor in the Christian world. The first public measure enforcing Sunday observance was the law enacted by Constantine. This edict required townspeople to rest on "the venerable day of the sun," but permitted countrymen to continue their agricultural pursuits. Tho virtually a heathen statute, it was enforced by the emperor after his nominal acceptance of Christianity.
But notwithstanding all the efforts to establish Sunday sacredness, papists themselves publicly confessed the divine authority of the Sabbath, and the human origin of the institution by which it had been supplanted.
The records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the true Sabbath and its defenders, and the means which she employs to honor the institution of her creating.
The Word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as papists and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of Sunday.

Declared by Prophecy

The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause "the earth and them which dwell therein" to worship the Papacy—there symbolized by the beast "like unto a leopard." The beast with two horns is also to say "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;" and furthermore, it is to command all, "both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive "the mark of the beast." The United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy.
In homage to the Papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion, is still far from being destroyed.
And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power: “I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” The infliction of the deadly wound points to the abolition of the Papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, “his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Paul states plainly that the man of sin will continue until the second advent of Christ.
Marvelous in her shrewdness and cunning is the Romish church. She can read what is to be. She bides her time, seeing that the Protestant churches are paying her homage in their acceptance of the false sabbath, and that they are preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come to the help of Protestants in this work, it is not difficult to conjecture. Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those who are disobedient to the church?

They Do Not See the End

Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent on the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to reestablish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let history testify of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people.
God’s Word has given warning of the impending danger. Let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage-ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the Word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.

Encroachments on Freedom

By K. C. Russell

By K. C. Russell

A Dangerous Belief—A Growing Danger

THERE is a dangerous sentiment taking possession of the minds of the great mass of the people at the present time, to the effect that there is no danger of the repetition of the history prior to the Reformation; and the person who ventures to question such a view of the situation is at once regarded as pessimistic.
I maintain that the true optimist is not the man who is crying peace and safety in the face of inevitable danger and peril; but he is a true optimist who warns against the present dangers, and shows the people the true condition, and the glorious outcome to those who heed the warning. The Papacy has quietly and surely been gaining great influence and prestige in this country. Many professed Protestants have become charmed by her influence, and think that she is being won over to the principles against which they originally protested in the sixteenth century. This presentation of the matter is not surprising to the student of Bible prophecy, for the Word of God has faithfully outlined the progressive steps and the final outcome so that all who will may know.
In the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, the Lord has clearly portrayed the whole career of the last great apostasy from the pure principles which came to us as the result of the Reformation.

An Image to the Papacy

In Rev. 13:14 we are told that the two-horned beast is to make an image to the beast; and all who are familiar with the Papacy will readily appreciate that this would involve the formation of a union of church and state by the power represented by the two-horned beast, which symbol can be unmistakably demonstrated to apply to the United States of America. Should there be any lingering doubt in the mind of any as to whether this symbol refers to this Government, it can be easily proved, when it is considered that this is the only nation that could make an image to the beast (the Papacy), for no nation at the time of its rise existed which did not possess a union of church and state. It will therefore be readily seen from this that this Government is the only one that could make an image to the beast. This union of church and state, or image, has been in process of development for many years. It has been seen in the action of various religious organizations seeking to bring about so-called needed reforms. The National Reform Association, which is composed of leading ministers of all denominations, with various religious organizations as its allies, has been working strenuously to place all the "Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our Government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land." Repeated attempts have been made, from time to time, to have Congress enact a national Sunday law. Their work was given great prestige by the Supreme Court decision of Feb. 2, 1892, in which it was declared by Justice Brewer that "this is a Christian nation." This decision has been repeatedly referred to by those who are the chief promoters of Sunday laws as a document which embraces all they have desired.
It was argued by Congress concerning the question of the closing of the World's Fair on Sunday in 1892, that one of the chief reasons for this action was the fact that this was a Christian nation, and hence, the Sabbath being a Christian institution, it was proper to enforce it.
Justice Harlan, of the Supreme Court, at Winona Lake, Ind., May 20, 1905, indicated very plainly that the Supreme Court of the United States would stand for Sunday legislation. Forty-five states out of the forty-six in the Union have Sunday laws.

Catholics and Protestants

Sunday legislation is the one great question upon which Protestants and Roman Catholics are united in bringing pressure to bear upon state legislators and congressmen. It is only natural for the Roman Catholic Church to do so, for she claims Sunday as the badge or mark of her authority (See "Catholic Christian Instructed," page 200):
"Ques.—What reason have you for keeping the Sunday preferable to the ancient Sabbath, which was Saturday? Ans.—We have for it the authority of the Catholic Church and apostolic tradition.
"Ques.—Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept? Ans.—Had she not such power she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority."
Again, in "Plain Talk About the Protestantism of To-day," we read:
"The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the church."
It will also be interesting to note in this connection a few statements from Protestants on this point:
"This day [Sunday] is not apart for divine worship and preparation for another life. It is a test of all religion."—Dr. W. W. Everett, in Elgin Sunday Convention.
"The sabbath [Sunday] is the corner-stone of Christ's kingdom. Let us recognize each recurring sabbath [Sunday] as a sign of God's covenant. By this sign the world largely judges the depth of our Christian character, and by this sign God judges us."—Mrs. J. C. Bateham, "Sabbath Leaflet" No. 35.

The Mark

From this it will be easily understood what the mark of the beast (the Sunday institution enforced by law) is, against the reception of which the most terrible judgments of the Bible are pronounced, which are as follows:
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:9-11.It will be interesting to observe that Protestants, in exalting Sunday, the false sabbath, and enforcing the same by civil enactments, are striking at the very foundations of Protestantism and all that the Reformation stood for. The two great cardinal and fundamental points against which the celebrated Protest of 1529 was aimed, are: first, adopting tradition in the place of the pure Word of God, the Bible; and, secondly, against civil authority interfering with the free exercise of one's religious rights. Their seeking the power of the state to uphold a religious institution like Sunday, is a subversion of the principles of Protestantism.

What It Means

In order that the reader may see that this is not a fanciful presentation of the situation, and to show that persecution will be the ultimate outcome of all this controversy in departing from the true principles of Protestantism, I will herewith append an item of modern history.
Since 1878, among Seventh-day Adventists, under Sunday laws, in not less than seventeen different states and territories of the Union, there has been an aggregate of about 150 arrests. The total fines and costs of the cases amount to about $2,500; the number of days served in prison, about 1,500; in chain-gangs, 445. As the result of these hardships endured, and confinements, the death of two men was hastened, and several have not recovered from the effect of bad food and ill-treatment.
Many other things in state and nation indicate a departure from the principles which came to us as the result of the Reformation.
A great mass of evidence open to all, which might be produced, ought to convince the most incredulous that the principles of the Reformation have been wofully subverted. May the Lord hasten the time when every true Protestant will arouse himself to the alarming situation, and hasten to give the warning against the beast, the image, and the reception of his mark.
"VICTORY OVER THE BEAST, and OVER HIS IMAGE, and OVER HIS MARK, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee: for Thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15: 2-4.
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