Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)

Ms 28, 1904

Unwise Speculations

March 11, 1904 [typed]

Portions of this manuscript are published in 1SM 172-174. +^Note

We need a far deeper understanding of the character of God as revealed in His Word. We should study the Scriptures daily, that we may be able to teach others in the simplicity of Christ. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 1

A study of the work of Christ reveals the true science of soul-saving. Much is lost when men catch at ideas of which they have but little understanding and in their human wisdom teach strange doctrines. Those who possess sanctified wisdom will teach sanctifying truths. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 2

“Then came unto Him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked Him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.” [Mark 12:18-23.] 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 3

The doctrines held by the Pharisees and the Sadducees differed widely. The Sadducees were skeptical and atheistical in their belief. They sought to magnify sophistries and speculative ideas of their own production. They denied the doctrine of the resurrection and rejected the idea of future rewards and punishments. They came to Christ with what they thought would be a perplexing question. Their purpose was to entangle Him in His words and to confuse other minds. And by heaping ridicule upon this portion of the law, they thought to bring into contempt all the Mosaic institutions. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 4

Christ’s reply showed that His questioners were building upon a false foundation. He charged them with ignorance of the true teachings of the Word of God. A right understanding of the Scriptures is the fountain from which flows all pure, heavenly knowledge. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 5

“Ye do err,” He said, “not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living; ye do therefore greatly err.” [Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:25-27.] 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 6

Had the Sadducees understood the Scriptures, they would have known that the marriage relation, as instituted in Eden, will not exist in Paradise. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 7

There are men today who express their belief that there will be marriages and births in the new earth, but those who believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a part of the “sure word of prophecy.” [2 Peter 1:19.] The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the question of marriages and births in the new earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 8

Preach the WORD

I would say to those who hold views contrary to this plain declaration of Christ, Upon such matters silence is eloquence. It is presumption to indulge in suppositions and theories regarding matters that God has not made known to us in His Word. We need not enter into speculation regarding our future state. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 9

To my ministering brethren I would say, “Preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season.” [2 Timothy 4:2.] Do not bring to the foundation wood, and hay, and stubble—your own surmisings and speculations, which can benefit no one. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 10

Christ withheld no truths essential to our salvation. Those things that are revealed are for us and our children, but we are not to allow our imagination to frame doctrines concerning things not revealed. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 11

The Lord has made every provision for our happiness in the future life, but He has made no revelations regarding these plans, and we are not to speculate concerning them. Neither are we to measure the conditions of the future life by the conditions of this life. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 12

Matters of vital importance have been plainly revealed in the Word of God. These subjects are worthy of our deepest thought. But we are not to search into matters on which God has been silent. Some have put forth the speculation that the redeemed will not have gray hair. Other foolish suppositions have been put forward, as though these were matters of importance. May God help His people to think rationally. When questions arise upon which we are uncertain, we should ask, “What saith the Scripture?” [Romans 4:3.] 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 13

Let those who wish for something new seek for that newness of life resulting from the new birth. Let them purify their souls by obeying the truth, and act in harmony with the instruction Christ gave to the lawyer who asked what he must do in order to inherit eternal life: 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 14

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” “This do, and thou shalt live.” [Luke 10:27, 28.] All who will conform their lives to the plain requirements of God’s Word will inherit eternal life. 19LtMs, Ms 28, 1904, par. 15