Q' Can you harmonize 1 Cor. 1:26-29, which states that not many are called, with Rev. 22:17, which says that whosoever will may come?
Answer' The former refers to the Gospel Age, when God is visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name a Bride for the Lamb (Acts 15:14). This is a "high calling" (Philip. 3:14), by a narrow way which only few find (Matt. 7:14). The latter text will not be applicable until the next age. When the Bride Class is complete the Messianic reign will begin in order to give "the residue of men" (Acts 15:17), Adam and all his descendants, an opportunity to drink of the water of life; this opportunity being purchased for all when Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time when those who sleep in death [HGL708] are awakened by his power. The calling involves so much that few are ready to accept the invitation. It is a calling to joint-heirship with Jesus, but to share his glory each of the called ones must walk in the same narrow way of sacrifice that he trod, each must lay aside his own pleasure and seek to please the Father only.
Q' Since the entire human race originated from Adam, how can we account for the different colors? When Columbus discovered America, he found it inhabited with Indians. Can you give some light as to when and how they came?
Answer' There are two reasons for not answering your questions; you have not given your name and address, and the questions are not strictly Scriptural. However, many people seem to think these difficulties sufficient grounds for disbelief in the Bible. We trust our reply may be of assistance if you are one of these. Climate, food and environment have much to do with personal appearance. In a number of instances, persons who have resided for a time in foreign lands, mingling with the people and eating their foods, have returned later to their native land looking like the races with which they have associated. If so much is accomplished in a few years, there can be little doubt as to the results of such isolation as the races experienced up until the invention of the present modes of travel. Some have guessed as to the ancestry of the American Indians, but we do not know of any good that has been accomplished by their guesses.
Q-(a) Did Jesus have more power as a perfect man than Adam would have had, had he not sinned? (b) Did Jesus possess more power after his consecration? (c) Were all the miracles which our Lord performed, AFTER his consecration?
Answer-(a) It appears that Jesus did have more power than any perfect man would have, for he states "the works that I do I do not of myself but the Father that dwelleth in me, he does the works" (John 14:10). Special powers were needed and given to him of God that he might accomplish the work given him to do as man's Redeemer. He had as his purpose in the First Advent not only the giving of his life for the life of the world, but also the witnessing which would begin the drawing out from among mankind a special class to be associated with him when the work of raising up the world would commence. By exercising miraculous powers he awakened the faith of those who were called of the Father to joint-heirship with him. (b) All these added powers came after Jesus' consecration. (c) There is extant a book which purports to be an account of Jesus' life and miracles before his consecration. It does not give any evidence of being authentic. We do not think any miracles were performed by Jesus before his consecration.
Q - "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one" (1 John 5:7). Please explain the Holy Ghost and how they are one.
Answer' This, the only text in the Bible which states that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one, is now known to be spurious. For this reason it is omitted from modern translations. When the King James translation was made only a few manuscripts of the Bible were available. Since that time several hundred have been discovered and some of these are quite ancient ones. The passage which you quote is lacking in all of the older manuscripts. In fact none earlier than the fifth century contains it, nor is it referred to by any theological writers before that time even when they were discussing the subject of the Trinity. As there is no other verse in the Bible to support the Trinitarian doctrine, it is quite evident that they would not have failed to use this verse had it been in the Bible at that time. As it would be unrighteous for us to add to the Word of God, it is our evident duty to refuse to make use of passages which others have added, no difference how long ago they were added or how generally they are accepted. It would seem very incongruous to think that it was necessary for anybody to bear a witness in heaven, for surely the angels of heaven, none of them need to be witnessed to regarding the heavenly Father whom they have known from the day of their creation.
Q' What would be your thought regarding the four winds being let loose (Rev. 7:1)? How would it affect the Lord's truly consecrated people? Will they be loosed before the Church passes beyond the veil?
Answer' This text seems to be an allusion to God's purpose that the revolution and anarchy to come at the close of the present Age should be held back until the full number predestinated to make up the Bride of Christ shall have been selected. Apparently there will be some who might have been of this elect class, but who fail of attaining their positions because they wait until the breaking of this trouble before turning from worldly alliances to full loyalty to God (Matt. 24:20, 21). Whether the faithful sacrificers will be here or not during that period of anarchy is of little consequence to them for they have the definite assurance that no harm can come nigh their dwelling place. They need not fear "for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" (Psa. 91:6). We do not know of any Scripture that could be taken as a positive indication that the Church will or will not be in the flesh during a portion of this time of revolution. The troubles experienced by the Church will be for their benefit, for "through much tribulation shall ye enter into the Kingdom of God."
Q' Is it not true that a Christian should expect business prosperity as a result of his high Christian standards?
Answer' Our Lord did say, "Seek ye first (as of primary importance) the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (food, raiment, etc. ,) shall be added unto you;" but note that the Lord does not say his followers shall have as much or more of these temporal things than others. He declared at another time, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of." The implication is that to those who have put their matters entirely in the Lord's hands by a full consecration of all they possess, their every talent, their every opportunity, and who are thus seeking to please God and obtain the kingdom inheritance hich he has promised to those he will give earthly good things according to his wisdom, those things which would bring the disciples the highest measure of blessing as new creatures; those that would prepare them and assist them best to attain a share in the kingdom. Whatever of earthly good things would be a hindrance to their chief aim and desire in life this class would not intentionally choose. Hence it is [HGL709] for them to be glad the matter is entirely out of their hands and entirely in the Lord's hands. This class may even rejoice in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh experience, patience, hope, and will ultimately make them not ashamed, because it will be God's method of chastening and polishing them for a share in the Kingdom.
Q' The command was given Moses that the Amalekites were to be destroyed. Why were they permitted to live almost 400 years (Exo. 17:14; 1Sa 15:3)?
Answer' As to why so long a delay, we may merely conjecture, basing our surmises upon the Lord's dealings with nations. For instance, when the Lord told Abraham that his posterity would come ultimately into the land of Canaan and receive it as their possession from the Lord, the declaration is made, "In the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" (Gen. 15:16.) The intimation is that, although the Lord foreknew when and how the iniquity of the Amorites would increase, he allowed them to have the full benefit of time to demonstrate actually the downwardness of their course. This same thought is set before us by the Apostle in his opening chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, in which he specifically declares that the degradation of the world is due neither to the direct acts of the Almighty nor to his failure to safeguard his creatures. Adam, the only one of our race directly created, was perfect, upright, the image of his Creator, and his sin was a willful one; for the Apostle says, "Adam was not deceived" (1 Tim. 2:14.) Likewise the Lord has not inflicted punishment upon our race for their degeneration; but as the Apostle explained, "When they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their reasoning and their foolish hearts were darkened. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (Rom. 1:21-28). This seems to be the course which the Lord has pursued with the entire human family except the one nation of Israel, with which he undertook to deal specially under the Law Covenant, to use them as a typical people, to prepare them for Messiah's coming, when they would furnish the nucleus of the Restitution Class. Certain great catastrophes of the past are explained to us in the Scriptures along these lines inflicted with a view to preventing the race from going into further degradation on the principle enunciated, "Thus far shalt thou go but no further."