Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 27. (7/15/1913)

Signs of the Times

Jul 15, 1913

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 15, 1913

Question Corner

“IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE.”

This Inquirer's Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer these questions does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

4124 — The Birthright

Please explain 1 Chron. 5:1. What is the birthright given to Ephraim, and when was this blessing taken from him? In connection with this, Ps. 78:60, 68; Jer. 7:15. D.

The birthright consisted of three things anciently: the double portion of the inheritance, the rulership, and the priesthood. Normally, these all went to the eldest son. If there were any reason, however, why this was not proper, another was chosen. To Reuben belonged the birthright among Jacob's sons. 1 Chron. 5:1. He lost the birthright and the birthright was divided among three others. The rulership went to Judah. He prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the Prince. 1 Chron. 5:2. The double portion went to Joseph; that is, his two sons were adopted as sons of Jacob, giving him two portions in the inheritance instead of one. And the priesthood went to Levi. Of Joseph's two sons, according to Jacob's prophecy, the latter should serve the younger. Gen. 48:19, 20. Consequently the two sons of Joseph were united in Ephraim. After the death of Solomon the kingdom was divided between Judah and the ten tribes, and these ten tribes were ranged under the tribe of Ephraim, the youngest son of Joseph. Therefore Ephraim is spoken of as having the birthright, or that part of it. For this division see 2 Chron. 10:16-19. God cast off Ephraim when the ten tribes utterly turned away from God. See 2 Kings 17:20-26. The union of all God's children will come again when they are united in the Lord Jesus Christ. The old tribes will not be restored according to the flesh. All Israel that will be saved will be spiritual Israel, those who have faith in Jesus. This is clearly shown in Romans 9, and the apostle proves this by quoting from the Old Testament, especially the books of Hosea and Isaiah. The eleventh chapter makes this perhaps clearer still, in which the Lord shows that the ancient tribes according to the flesh were broken off as unfruitful branches, on account of unbelief, and yet the stock of the branch remains, and in each stock of these ancient tribes the children of faith are grafted in through Christ, so that in God's numbering the tribes remain, tho not visible here. Compare Rev. 22:14; 21:12. All the prophecies which will be fulfilled in the last days will be fulfilled according to the conditions of the last days, that is, in Christ Jesus. See Eph. 3:3-6. And the true Israel, of course, in the very close of time, will be a Sabbath-keeping people. See Rev. 14:12.

4125 — The Rod and the Staff

Kindly explain the words, “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me,” in Psalm 23:4. What does the rod mean? and what does the staff mean? A. P.

The “Companion Bible” has this comforting little note on the “rod” and the “staff.” It tells us that they are equivalent to the club and the crook, the only two things carried by the shepherd, the former for defense, the latter for help: the club for the sheep's enemies, and the crook for the sheep's defense. The crook, we are told, was often used to guide the straying sheep into the path. These implements are really the tokens of God's sovereignty. When we know that His rod is used for our protection, is designed to drive away our enemies, surely we can take comfort from it; and if we ourselves are rebellious, then we may need the strokes of His rod, but even then there is comfort in that, for “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” But the special thought here is that just as the shepherd who loves his flock uses the rod and the staff for the keeping and care and protection of that flock, so God's power, thus represented, is a comfort to His children. No, the staff is not used as something for the sheep to lean upon, for the psalmist here represents himself as one of the flock. Its use was by the shepherd in defending and guiding the sheep. The “valley of the shadow of death” is not death. There is peril there, without question. The psalmist does not indicate that there will not be cause for fear, but the child of God will not fear. The shadow can not hurt, the shadow can not kill, the shadow can not destroy. The fear might, but trusting in the great Jehovah, even the fear is taken away, tho the shadow of death hangs black and evil.

It takes a lifetime of experience with God to understand the 23d Psalm. “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want,”—He has all that we need to supply us. Not always do we lie down in green pastures, not always are we beside the still waters,—there are rough paths over which we are called to travel; there are turbulent waters, perhaps, that we must pass through. He will go with us in all these, and as we need, He will bring us to the pastures of plenty and the waters of rest. The weak soul will He restore, and the feet that are inclined to wander He will guide; and so we may fear no evil. But drink in of His richness, and let our cup run over for the benefit of others who are longing for blessing.

4126 — Meaning of the Lion and the Leopard

Russia is called the bear. Can you tell what other two kingdoms are called the lion and the leopard? I would like to know what three kingdoms will engage in war before Rome shall arise. T.

The mere calling of Russia the bear has nothing to do with the prophecy which speaks of the bear kingdom. We have the four great world monarchies delineated in Daniel 2 under the metals of gold and silver and brass and iron. We have the same four kingdoms represented in Daniel 7 as the lion, the bear, the leopard, and the great composite beast. Of course England is sometimes called the lion kingdom, but this lion of Daniel 7 refers to Babylon. See Jer. 4:7, 13. The bear represents the power which followed Babylon, Medo-Persia; the leopard, Grecia, the power which followed Medo-Persia, and the four heads the four divisions into which the Grecian kingdom was divided. We know that these are right representations also from Daniel 8, a prophecy given when Babylon had passed away, practically, in which Medo-Persia, represented by the bear in Daniel 7, is represented in Daniel 8 by a ram; and the Grecian kingdom, represented by the leopard in Daniel 7, is represented by a he-goat in Daniel 8; and we are expressly told that the ram represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia, and the rough goat the king of Grecia, and the four divisions of the heads of the leopard are indicated in Daniel 8 by the four horns. The prophecy gives no prediction of three powers which were to arise and have war before Rome comes upon the stage of action. Rome has been the one great central power of earth ever since she lorded it over the Grecian Empire and became dominant in 168 B. C. France, England, Germany, Italy, etc., are divisions of the ancient Roman Empire.

4127 — The Ephah

Please explain Zech. 5:5-11. A. A.

The ephah was a standard measure among the Jews, a measure of capacity. The talent was a standard of weight. A woman is a symbol of a church,—a pure woman of a true church (2 Cor. 11:2), a corrupt woman of a corrupt church (see Ezekiel 23). This was a corrupt woman, because we are told, “This is wickedness.” She was sitting in the midst of the ephah, showing that corruption would come in through her among the people of God. What this woman is, is indicated in verse 11: she was transported by the angel to the land of Shinar, and set in her own place; but Shinar is Chaldea, the center of which was Babylon. This is simply another representation of Babylon and her corruptions as set forth much more fully in Revelation 18.

4128 — Cain's Wife. Gen. 4:16, 17

When Cain went to the land of Nod, it is said he married a woman. Would it be possible he married his sister? Z.

Poor Cain's wife! She never knew how famous she would become, or how many inquiries would be made regarding her. We don't even know her name, how she looked, how tall she was, whether she was beautiful or ugly, industrious or lazy. We only know this, that the seed of Cain was perpetuated through her. The expression “Nod” means wandering. It was the land of wandering, and therefore says Cain, “I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [better, a fugitive and a wanderer] in the earth.” So in the 12th verse the Lord said, “A fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.” See American Revised Version. And so when he went out from the presence of Jehovah, or from Eden, he went out into a land of wandering. He had no settled abode, or home. We do not know how long this was after his birth. It might have been two or three hundred years or more, and by that time men and women had multiplied on the face of the earth. Therefore Cain either married his sister or one of Seth's children, before he began his wandering, perhaps. It is not inferred even that he found his wife in a different land.

4129 — A Tenth

What does it mean where it says to give one tenth of everything? Does one first pay hired help and expenses of running a farm, and then give one tenth? Please explain. S. I. C.

One deducts the necessary expenses of running the farm, aside from his own labor, pays his hired help, takes out his seed grain. If he is paying interest on the farm he takes out the interest on the mortgage, or the debt. But he does not take out his own labor or his own expenses. These come out of the income after it is tithed. If there are any other questions, we will answer them.

4130 — Age of Isaac

How old was Isaac when his father offered him as a burnt offering? S. I. C.

According to the best light that we have on the subject, he was about twenty years of age. Dimbleby's “Historical Bible” makes his age twenty-three. It is safe to say that he was from twenty to twenty-five years of age.

Our Bible Band

Schedule for the Week Ending July 19, 1913

| Sunday | July 13 | Ecclesiastes | 1, 2, 3 | | Monday | " 14 | " | 4, 5, 6 | | Tuesday | " 15 | " | 7, 8, 9 | | Wednesday | " 16 | " | 10, 11, 12 | | Thursday | " 17 | Jeremiah | 1, 2 | | Friday | " 18 | " | 3, 4 | | Sabbath | " 19 | " | 5, 6 |

Our readings for this week include the whole of the Ecclesiastes and the first six chapters of Jeremiah. As we read Isaiah in our last year's reading, we omit that in this schedule. Ecclesiastes was evidently written by Solomon himself in his last days, after his sad experience in endeavoring to find pleasure in the world of luxury and power and feasting and wine and women. We have already learned how his many wives turned away his heart; but Ecclesiastes seems to indicate that there was a hearty repentance of this, that he learned by actual experience that all the wisdom that he had, and all the glory and wealth and popularity that he possessed, would not bring rest of soul. He had to confess at last that all was vanity and vexation of spirit. He comes, however, to one blessed conclusion, “Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Jeremiah means according to one rendering, “Jehovah rejecteth;” other meanings, “whom Jehovah appoints,” and “whom Jehovah exalts.” The first would be Judah's fate; the last Jeremiah's appointment. He began his prophesying in the thirteenth year of Josiah, B.C. 626, and covered the time following till the exile to Babylon. He was of priestly descent, and the first chapter shows that he began his prophetic career at an early age. He never became popular; his message was not a popular message. He was constantly pleading with Judah to repent, and constantly warning them that the result of rejecting his message would be the captivity in Babylon. He was accused of being unpatriotic and treacherous, but in all his trials he was true to his God. We have set forth in this book very vividly the true Christian principle of God first and humanity second, in contrast to the false patriotism that was imbibed by the Jews.

“I Counsel Thee to Buy of Me Gold Tried in the Fire”

By Emma Hildreth Adams

By Emma Hildreth Adams

THESE grave words, these words of urgency, of warning, of might, are part of a momentous message sent through John the apostle to one of the distinguished “seven churches of Asia,” in anno Domini 96.

They were sent by One whom John saw in a scene divinely portrayed, a scene displaying wonderful power, intense in its actuality. They were sent by One like unto the Son of Man, with face “like the sun shining in its strength;” by One holding in His right hand seven STARS shining in a crystalline sky, but with dark clouds threatening on the horizon.

Further, John beheld the Author of the weighty message walking amid seven golden candlesticks — symbolizing the seven churches — the lights in some of which were waning alarmingly through deeds and doctrines adverse to His perfect life and salutary teachings.

Like vigorous, daring weeds, these doctrines had pushed their way stoutly amid the wholesome growths, fostered in the churches by love of truth, by self-denial, and practise of great patience, and had thrust them aside until they “were ready to die;” until to “watch,” “repent,” and “hold fast” formed the single raft which could possibly convey the imperiled believers into the abounding haven of life.

To a special one of these seven churches, in the province of Asia, churches highly favored by the mighty, effective preaching of Paul, Barnabas, and Silas, was the apostle charged to deliver the thrilling counsel of our subject. The admonition was uttered to the church in greatest peril spiritually, to the one in which He, “who was dead . . . but is alive forevermore,” felt keenest interest, but for which He had no word of commendation.

Reader, notice a part of Christ’s keen, stirring, burning address to the church in Laodicea:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” Rev. 3:15-18.

In the affairs of men to-day, and with most men, gold, or that which represents gold, is the supreme object of desire, the greatest incentive to toil, the most powerful stimulus to self-denial, and in myriads of cases is a mighty spur to a life of crime, opening the way to loss of liberty, to loss of life — to death, sad, repellent, and cruel.

Surely, then, literal coin of gold was not the eminent need of the lukewarm, perishing body of Christians in Laodicea.

Yet, evidently, in the mind of Him who said: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” it represented, in their case, the most necessary, most important of all possible possessions. It stood for the single thing which could withhold them from fatal plunge over the precipice they were approaching.

What then was this supreme need, this distinct want of the erring, imperiled, ease-loving Laodiceans? What was Christ’s thought, Christ’s intent, when He urged them to buy of Him gold refined in fire?

Clearly, it was a fervent, fundamental change of heart, of purpose. It was a speedy entrance upon a higher, truer, more upright order of LIFE. It was the attainment of the vital principle, the potent agency which would arrest quickly, absolutely, the process of decay then at work so vigorously, so alarmingly, among them.

Briefly, in fact, it was LIFE that the Lord would have those chilled Laodiceans buy of Him. That was a commodity they could obtain from no other source. “In Him was life.” John 1:4. He had said, during His life in Judea: “I am the bread of life.” “If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever.” “Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood [by faith] hath eternal life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”

The gold, then, which He, who walked amid the seven golden candlesticks, counseled those wintry church-members to “buy” of Him, was life. But, with what could human beings drifting to death, buy life of its mighty Author? What could they give Him in exchange for life? What had they that He in the least desired?

The wisest, the most appropriate, the only exchange indeed, which the Laodiceans could make for the life-gold offered them, was to surrender themselves, body, soul, and life-long services, to Him who sent to the seven churches those mighty, wonderful messages.

Doubtless the Laodiceans regarded themselves as “rich and increased in goods,” whereas, in fact, they were miserable, poor, blind, naked. The only return they could possibly make for the priceless wealth the Saviour offered them, was their misery, poverty, blindness, lack of clothing. These were the only commodities in which they dealt. Of the article of righteousness they were destitute.

Fortunately, these things were the very merchandise the Possessor of gold craved. They would meet His desire completely. Hear some of His peerless assertions, His comforting promises:

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, . . . I the Lord will hear them.” “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” “I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; . . . I will make darkness light before them.” “Thou shalt know that I am the Lord, . . . when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done.”

But, the gold — the life — the Laodiceans were to attain in exchange for their wretchedness, penury, lack of eyesight, need of dress, was gold refined in most ardent fire; gold that had borne completest test in the personal experience of its omnipotent Possessor — the experience of heartless accusation, of frigid persecution, of utter rejection, even by those He came to save, and finally of DEATH, most painful, merciless, unmerited, wholly voluntary.

But every Laodicean who purchased this exalted, greatly to be desired gold-life could receive it only on condition that he walk in the footsteps of the crucified One. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”

Having become a part of the body of Christ — their Head — they must “fill up that which is behind” (lacking) of the afflictions of Christ. Whosoever “will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” “Whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him. Yea, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

So, in us also, is the gold of life refined in intense, purifying fire.

The Sabbath Unchanged

By H. C. Balsbaugh

By H. C. Balsbaugh

Its Sanctity and Identity Preserved Forever

“REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8. Here God exhorts believers to remember the Sabbath day. He called it definitely the seventh day and a rest day, and blessed and sanctified it (Gen. 2:2, 3), which indicates its holy character above the other days. The other six days were “working days.” Eze. 46:1.

The exhortation to remember the day is assurance that God would preserve its identity. Also the fact that all of the Ten Commandments were written in tables of stone is assurance of their enduring character. Stone, and writing in stone symbolize perpetuity. The pyramids of Egypt and very ancient monuments and tablets with their inscriptions, are well known illustrations. Besides perpetuity, the great importance of all the Ten Commandments is established by the record that God Himself wrote them. Deut. 5:22; Ex. 32:16.

“The Sabbath Was Made for Man,” Mark 2:27

By this saying Christ shows plainly that from the very beginning the Sabbath was made for the benefit of man, and that it continues changeless as long as there is a man. Of its purpose and identity up to the time of Christ’s resurrection there is no doubt, for the women did not at once anoint His body, but rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Luke 23:56. The commandment is found in Ex. 20:8-11.

From the resurrection until Christ will come again the “sure word of prophecy” keeps track of the Sabbath day. The prophecy of Rev. 14:12 says, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God.” These are the people of God who live just at the time of Christ’s second coming, or in the last generation. See verses 13 to 18 and Matt. 24:34, 30.

The commandments of God are the Ten Commandments. Thus in keeping the commandments of God truly, we must keep the Sabbath commandment, which says the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week.

Not only does the Sabbath and its identity continue throughout all time, but it will be known and kept in eternity. Isa. 66:22, 23. The whole Bible is in perfect harmony with these several proofs on the Sabbath. It is a chain of proofs that makes evident that nothing would ever occur to change or lose the identity of the Sabbath day.

Sunday

The identity of Sunday as being the first day of the week is sometimes questioned. Ancient and modern history, and all nations, designate Sunday as the first day of the week; likewise all encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and calendars; likewise ministers of the gospel all over the world. Ministers do not contend that Sunday is not the first day of the week, but that it is now the sabbath, or Lord’s day, because Christ’s resurrection was on the first day of the week. There is no ground for the belief that Monday is the first day of the week.

The Spirit and Sum of the Matter

The Sabbath is now a subject of much controversy. A spirit of controversy mostly hides the truth of this matter from us. As another plain help to know the truth about the Sabbath, consider Christ’s words in Matt. 5:17, 18. They were spoken in simplicity and in the spirit of love. In the great variety of His teaching in the discourse called the “Sermon on the Mount,” He strictly honored the law (the Ten Commandments) and magnified it, as prophesied in Isa. 42:21. Further on in the sermon He identifies it as the law of Ten Commandments (Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28), and shows its hitherto unknown depths and perfection. He declared this law perfect by saying that “one jot or one tittle [the least part] shall in no wise pass from the law.” By these words the Sabbath commandment being a part of this law, stands unchanged forever.

If there was no other scripture in the whole Bible except Matt. 5:17, 18, to show that the Sabbath could not be changed and that its identity would not be lost, this plain, exact statement is enough to convince us of the truth. It is a declaration that the providence of God is ever upon the Sabbath to preserve its sanctity and identity.

Pride and Ambition in God’s Work

By Ellen G. White

This is a dangerous age for any man who has talents which can be of value in the work of God; for Satan is constantly plying his temptations upon such a person, ever trying to fill him with pride and ambition; and when God would use him, it is too often the case that he becomes independent and self-sufficient, and feels capable of standing alone.— E. G. W.

Continue reading: THE WITNESS OF GOD