The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-18
EVERYBODY'S BIBLE BOX.

Q.-Kindly explain the last part of
| the third verse of Ecclesiastes, the
| eleventh chapter: In the place where
| the tree falIeth, there it shall be-"
| Answer.-We find this Scripture to be
| in harmony with all the remainder of
| the Bible and as particularly expressed
| in the ninth chapter of this same book
| of Ecclesiastes-''For there is no work
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom.
| in the grave, whittier thou goest."
| When an individual dies-falls as
| tree in death-so shall he remain in the
| same condition in which he went into
| the death state, even as the tree of the
| forest remains at rest According to
i the ideas of some good well-meaning
| people, when a man dies there is
something that escapes and goes wing
| ing its flight around through space,
| and, according to this theory, this in
| tangible essence that is liberated from
| the body, is the real individuality, and
/ thus the person is more alive than ever
| and perfectly conscious. With this
view in mind, and referring to the
Scripture quoted in the question, we
would be forced to understand that
when tree falls it does not actually
die. but something passes from it and
1t is very much alive somewhere
Q.-Is hell condition of eternal re-
morse and heaven a condition of eter-
nal happiness?
Anglo-Saxon term and signifed the
concealed or hidden state. When ap-
piled to those who had died il meant
that these were hidden or concealed in
the grave. In the original word there
is not the slightest thought of torment
or sorrow or remorse. This is also true
of the Hebrew word sheol and the
Greek word hades, the former occur
ring in the Old Testament and the lat
ter in the New Testament. The term
hell, used in tranSlating these words
from the old manuscripts into the Eng
lish. really signifies the state of the
dead, a condition of r-st unconscious
ness. The Bible says-"The dead know
not anything The word heaven in,
the original manuscripts signified an
elevation, lofty place, the sky, or, by
implication, the abode of the Deity,
who ''dwells in the high and lofty
place" In the teachings of Christ and
the Apostles, the Christians (the ear
nest, devoted footstep followers of the
Lord jesus are assured of heavenly
rewards on the Divine, spiritual plane
of existence in the presence of God,
and in this state will enjoy eternal con-
ditions of glory, honor and immortal
ity." He'll death, destruction) is the
condition reserved for the incorrigibly
wicked, while heaven Qife. immortal
ity) is the condition reserved for the
righteous and obedient.
Q.-Does all hope of salvation end
with this present life?
Answer.-No. All hope of salvation
is beyond this present life. Surely the !
world has no salvation now; and as for |
the church, she has in this life merely |
the hope of salvation; the salvation it |
self will be attained in the future life |
by share in the First Resurrection of !
the blessed and holy (Revelati ton 20:6). !
Thus the apostle says, I'VE 1.-THE |
Oh h
S:2D- Again, Every man that hath |
this hope in him purif1eth himself, even |
as He is pure" q John 3:3). And again |
Hope to the end for the grace that is |
to be brought unto you at the reveIa- |
ton of Jesus Christ" q Peter 1:13). |
dead (Acts $3.50 So, then there is /
no salvation in the present life. but |
merely the hope of salvation, even for |
the church God has provision in the |
future for the world. The church gets |
her trial in this age and her reward |
early in the morning of the Messianic |
age. The world will get it's trial during !
the Messiah's reign and its reward, or |
salvation, if faithful, at the close of |
that reign.
Q.-I find in Matthew and Luke what |
purport to be the geneaIogies of Christ
Matthew gives His ancestry back to |
Abraham; Luke goes back to Adam
Between Christ and David Matthew !
gives 81 generations, and Luke gives |
AZ; and none of the names in these two |
lists are the same. Will you please ex-
plain this seeming discrepancy?
Answer.-Our Lord Jesus Christ be-
came related to the human family by |
taking our nature through His mother, |
Mary Mary's genealogy, as traced by
Luke, leads back to David through his
son Nathan duke 3:31.) (Joseph is
here styled 'tthe son of Heli.' that is,
the son of Eli. Mary's father, by mar
riage, or legally; or as We would say
son-in-law of Eli. BY birth, Joseph
was the son of Jacob. as stated in
Matthew 1:16), while Joseph's geneal-
ogy, as given by Matthew. traces also
back to David through his son Solo
mon. (Matthew 1850 Joseph having
accepted Mary his wife, and adopted
Jesus, her son. as though He We're his
own son, this adoption would entftIe
Jesus to reckon Joseph's genealogy;
but such tracing back to the family
of David was not necessary. because
His mother came also of David by an
other line. Thus the seeming discrep-
any is due to the fact that Luke gave
Mary's genealogy while Matthew gives
the genealogy of Joseph. The differ
ence in the number of generations from
David to Christ need not be considered
as remarkable. 1t would be remark
able had they been the same.
Q.-Where is the principle of JUS
tice manifested in the Divine state
ment made in Exodus 20:5, which de-
clares that the iniQuity of the fathers
should be visited upon the children
unto the third and fourth genera
ton?
Answers it considered an unwise
in the natural order of
things for a stream of clear water that |
has been temporarily muddled and be-
fouled, to clear itself after having run
+oiv On /