按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Deuteronomy 30：15。 The death referred to in these scriptures is not that
pronounced upon Adam； for all mankind suffer the penalty of his
transgression。 It is 〃the second death〃 that is placed in contrast with
everlasting life。
In consequence of Adam's sin； death passed upon the whole human race。 All
alike go down into the grave。 And through the provisions of the plan of
salvation； all are to be brought forth from their graves。 〃There shall be a
resurrection of the dead； both of the just and unjust；〃 〃for as in Adam all
die； even so in Christ shall all be made alive。〃 Acts 24：15； I Corinthians
15：22。 But a distinction is made between the two classes that are brought
forth。 〃All that are in the graves shall hear His voice； and shall come
forth； they that have done good； unto the resurrection of life； and they
that have done evil； unto the resurrection of damnation。〃 John 5：28； 29。
They who have been 〃accounted worthy〃 of the resurrection of life are
〃blessed and holy。〃 〃On such the second death hath no power。〃 Revelation
20：6。 But those who have not； through repentance and faith； secured pardon；
must receive the penalty of transgression〃the wages of sin。〃 They suffer
punishment varying in duration and intensity； 〃according to their works；〃
but finally ending in the second death。 Since it is impossible for God；
consistently with His justice and mercy； to save the sinner in his sins； He
deprives him of the existence which his transgressions have forfeited and of
which he has proved himself unworthy。 Says an inspired writer： 〃Yet a little
while； and the wicked shall not be： yea； thou shalt diligently consider his
place； and it shall not be。〃 And another declares： 〃They shall be as though
545
they had not been。〃 Psalm 37：10； Obadiah 16。 Covered with infamy； they sink
into hopeless； eternal oblivion。
Thus will be made an end of sin； with all the woe and ruin which have
resulted from it。 Says the psalmist： 〃Thou hast destroyed the wicked； Thou
hast put out their name forever and ever。 O thou enemy； destructions are
come to a perpetual end。〃 Psalm 9：5； 6。 John； in the Revelation； looking
forward to the eternal state； hears a universal anthem of praise undisturbed
by one note of discord。 Every creature in heaven and earth was heard
ascribing glory to God。 Revelation 5：13。 There will then be no lost souls to
blaspheme God as they writhe in never…ending torment； no wretched beings in
hell will mingle their shrieks with the songs of the saved。
Upon the fundamental error of natural immortality rests the doctrine of
consciousness in deatha doctrine； like eternal torment； opposed to the
teachings of the Scriptures；to the dictates of reason； and to our feelings
of humanity。 According to the popular belief； the redeemed in heaven are
acquainted with all that takes place on the earth and especially with the
lives of the friends whom they have left behind。 But how could it be a
source of happiness to the dead to know the troubles of the living； to
witness the sins committed by their own loved ones； and to see them enduring
all the sorrows； disappointments； and anguish of life？ How much of heaven's
bliss would be enjoyed by those who were hovering over their friends on
earth？ And how utterly revolting is the belief that as soon as the breath
leaves the body the soul of the impenitent is consigned to the flames of
hell！ To what depths of anguish must those be plunged who see their friends
passing to the grave unprepared； to enter upon an eternity of woe and sin！
Many have been driven to insanity by this harrowing thought。
What say the Scriptures concerning these things？ David declares that man is
not conscious in death。 〃His breath goeth forth； he returneth to his earth；
in that very day his
546
thoughts perish。〃 Psalm 146：4。 Solomon bears the same testimony： 〃The living
know that they shall die： but the dead know not anything。〃 〃Their love； and
their hatred； and their envy； is now perished； neither have they any more a
portion forever in anything that is done under the sun。〃 〃There is no work；
nor device； nor knowledge； nor wisdom； in the grave； whither thou goest。〃
Ecclesiastes 9：5； 6； 10。
When； in answer to his prayer； Hezekiah's life was prolonged fifteen years；
the grateful king rendered to God a tribute of praise for His great mercy。
In this song he tells the reason why he thus rejoices： 〃The grave cannot
praise Thee； death cannot celebrate Thee： they that go down into the pit
cannot hope for Thy truth。 The living； the living； he shall praise Thee； as
I do this day。〃 Isaiah 38：18； 19。 Popular theology represents the righteous
dead as in heaven； entered into bliss and praising God with an immortal
tongue； but Hezekiah could see no such glorious prospect in death。 With his
words agrees the testimony of the psalmist： 〃In death there is no
remembrance of Thee： in the grave who shall give Thee thanks？〃 〃The dead
praise not the Lord； neither any that go down into silence。〃 Psalms 6：5；
115：17。
Peter on the Day of Pentecost declared that the patriarch David 〃is both
dead and buried； and his sepulcher is with us unto this day。〃 〃For David is
not ascended into the heavens。〃 Acts 2：29； 34。 The fact that David remains
in the grave until the resurrection proves that the righteous do not go to
heaven at death。 It is only through the resurrection； and by virtue of the
fact that Christ has risen； that David can at last sit at the right hand of
God。
And said Paul： 〃If the dead rise not； then is not Christ raised： and if
Christ be not raised； your faith is vain； ye are yet in your sins。 Then they
also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished。〃 I Corinthians
15：16…18。 If for four thousand years the righteous had gone directly to
heaven at death； how could Paul have said that if there is no resurrection；
547
〃they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished〃？ No resurrection
would be necessary。
The martyr Tyndale； referring to the state of the dead； declared： 〃I confess
openly； that I am not persuaded that they be already in the full glory that
Christ is in； or the elect angels of God are in。 Neither is it any article
of my faith； for if it were so； I see not but then the preaching of the
resurrection of the flesh were a thing in vain。〃William Tyndale； Preface
to New Testament （ed。 1534）。 Reprinted in British ReformersTindal； Frith；
Barnes； page 349。
It is an undeniable fact that the hope of immortal blessedness at death has
led to a widespread neglect of the Bible doctrine of the resurrection。 This
tendency was remarked by Dr。 Adam Clarke； who said： 〃The doctrine of the
resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the
primitive Christians than it is now！ How is this？ The apostles were
continually insisting on it； and exciting the followers of God to diligence；
obedience； and cheerfulness through it。 And their successors in the present
day seldom mention it！ So apostles preached； and so primitive Christians
believed； so we preach； and so our hearers believe