Gemeral Sam wrote:
>
> On Mar 24, 9:17 am, "The Light of Isa" <linruesch...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > The First Great Deception
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> > With the earliest history of man, Satan began his efforts to deceive
our
> > race. He who had incited rebellion in heaven desired to bring the
> > inhabitants of the earth to unite with him in his warfare against the
> > government of God. Adam and Eve had been perfectly happy in obedience
to the
> > law of God, and this fact was a constant testimony against the claim
which
> > Satan had urged in heaven, that God's law was oppressive and opposed
to the
> > good of His creatures. And furthermore, Satan's envy was excited as he
> > looked upon the beautiful home prepared for the sinless pair. He
determined
> > to cause their fall, that, having separated them from God and brought
them
> > under his own power, he might gain possession of the earth and here
> > establish his kingdom in opposition to the Most High.
> >
> > Had Satan revealed himself in his real character, he would have been
> > repulsed at once, for Adam and Eve had been warned against this
dangerous
> > foe; but he worked in the dark, concealing his purpose, that he might
more
> > effectually accomplish his object. Employing as his medium the
serpent, then
> > a creature of fascinating appearance, he addressed himself to Eve:
"Hath God
> > said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1. Had
Eve
> > refrained from entering into argument with the tempter, she would have
been
> > safe; but she ventured to parley with him and fell a victim to his
> >
> > 532
> >
> > wiles. It is thus that many are still overcome. They doubt and argue
> > concerning the requirements of God; and instead of obeying the divine
> > commands, they accept human theories, which but disguise the devices
of
> > Satan.
> >
> > "The woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees
of
> > the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
> > garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch
it,
> > lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die:
> > for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be
> > opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Verses 2-5.
He
> > declared that they would become like God, possessing greater wisdom
than
> > before and being capable of a higher state of existence. Eve yielded
to
> > temptation; and through her influence, Adam was led into sin. They
accepted
> > the words of the serpent, that God did not mean what He said; they
> > distrusted their Creator and imagined that He was restricting their
liberty
> > and that they might obtain great wisdom and exaltation by
transgressing His
> > law.
> >
> > But what did Adam, after his sin, find to be the meaning of the words,
"In
> > the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die"? Did he find
them to
> > mean, as Satan had led him to believe, that he was to be ushered into
a more
> > exalted state of existence? Then indeed there was great good to be
gained by
> > transgression, and Satan was proved to be a benefactor of the race.
But Adam
> > did not find this to be the meaning of the divine sentence. God
declared
> > that as a penalty for his sin, man should return to the ground whence
he was
> > taken: "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Verse 19. The
words
> > of Satan, "Your eyes shall be opened," proved to be true in this sense
only:
> > After Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, their eyes were opened to
discern
> > their folly; they did know evil, and they tasted the bitter fruit of
> > transgression.
> >
> > In the midst of Eden grew the tree of life, whose fruit had the power
of
> > perpetuating life. Had Adam remained
> >
> > 533
> >
> > obedient to God, he would have continued to enjoy free access to this
tree
> > and would have lived forever. But when he sinned he was cut off from
> > partaking of the tree of life, and he became subject to death. The
divine
> > sentence, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," points to
the
> > utter extinction of life.
> >
> > Immortality, promised to man on condition of obedience, had been
forfeited
> > by transgression. Adam could not transmit to his posterity that which
he did
> > not possess; and there could have been no hope for the fallen race had
not
> > God, by the sacrifice of His Son, brought immortality within their
reach.
> > While "death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned," Christ
"hath
> > brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Romans
5:12; 2
> > Timothy 1:10. And only through Christ can immortality be obtained.
Said
> > Jesus: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he
that
> > believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. Every man may
come
> > into possession of this priceless blessing if he will comply with the
> > conditions. All "who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for
glory and
> > honor and immortality," will receive "eternal life." Romans 2:7.
> >
> > The only one who promised Adam life in disobedience was the great
deceiver.
> > And the declaration of the serpent to Eve in Eden--"Ye shall not
surely
> > die"--was the first sermon ever preached upon the immortality of the
soul.
> > Yet this declaration, resting solely upon the authority of Satan, is
echoed
> > from the pulpits of Christendom and is received by the majority of
mankind
> > as readily as it was received by our first parents. The divine
sentence,
> > "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20), is made to
mean: The
> > soul that sinneth, it shall not die, but live eternally. We cannot but
> > wonder at the strange infatuation which renders men so credulous
concerning
> > the words of Satan and so unbelieving in regard to the words of God.
> >
> > Had man after his fall been allowed free access to the tree
> >
> > 534
> >
> > of life, he would have lived forever, and thus sin would have been
> > immortalized. But cherubim and a flaming sword kept "the way of the
tree of
> > life" (Genesis 3:24), and not one of the family of Adam has been
permitted
> > to pass that barrier and partake of the life-giving fruit. Therefore
there
> > is not an immortal sinner.
> >
> > But after the Fall, Satan bade his angels make a special effort to
inculcate
> > the belief in man's natural immortality; and having induced the people
to
> > receive this error, they were to lead them on to conclude that the
sinner
> > would live in eternal misery. Now the prince of darkness, working
through
> > his agents, represents God as a revengeful tyrant, declaring that He
plunges
> > into hell all those who do not please Him, and causes them ever to
feel His
> > wrath; and that while they suffer unutterable anguish and writhe in
the
> > eternal flames, their Creator looks down upon them with satisfaction.
> >
> > Thus the archfiend clothes with his own attributes the Creator and
> > Benefactor of mankind. Cruelty is satanic. God is love; and all that
He
> > created was pure, holy, and lovely, until sin was brought in by the
first
> > great rebel. Satan himself is the enemy who tempts man to sin, and
then
> > destroys him if he can; and when he has made sure of his victim, then
he
> > exults in the ruin he has wrought. If permitted, he would sweep the
entire
> > race into his net. Were it not for the interposition of divine power,
not
> > one son or daughter of Adam would escape.
> >
> > Satan is seeking to overcome men today, as he overcame our first
parents, by
> > shaking their confidence in their Creator and leading them to doubt
the
> > wisdom of His government and the justice of His laws. Satan and his
> > emissaries represent God as even worse than themselves, in order to
justify
> > their own malignity and rebellion. The great deceiver endeavors to
shift his
> > own horrible cruelty of character upon our heavenly Father, that he
may
> > cause himself to appear as one greatly wronged by his expulsion from
heaven
> > because he would not submit to so unjust a governor. He presents
before
> >
> > 535
> >
> > the world the liberty which they may enjoy under his mild sway, in
contrast
> > with the bondage imposed by the stern decrees of Jehovah. Thus he
succeeds
> > in luring souls away from their allegiance to God.
> >
> > How repugnant to every emotion of love and mercy, and even to our
sense of
> > justice, is the doctrine that the wicked dead are tormented with fire
and
> > brimstone in an eternally burning hell; that for the sins of a brief
earthly
> > life they are to suffer torture as long as God shall live. Yet this
doctrine
> > has been widely taught and is still embodied in many of the creeds of
> > Christendom. Said a learned doctor of divinity: "The sight of hell
torments
> > will exalt the happiness of the saints forever. When they see others
who are
> > of the same nature and born under the same circumstances, plunged in
such
> > misery, and they so distinguished, it will make them sensible of how
happy
> > they are." Another used these words: "While the decree of reprobation
is
> > eternally executing on the vessels of wrath, the smoke of their
torment will
> > be eternally ascending in view of the vessels of mercy, who, instead
of
> > taking the part of these miserable objects, will say, Amen, Alleluia!
praise
> > ye the Lord!"
> >
> > Where, in the pages of God's word, is such teaching to be found? Will
the
> > redeemed in heaven be lost to all emotions of pity and compassion, and
even
> > to feelings of common humanity? Are these to be exchanged for the
> > indifference of the stoic or the cruelty of the savage? No, no; such
is not
> > the teaching of the Book of God. Those who present the views expressed
in
> > the quotations given above may be learned and even honest men, but
they are
> > deluded by the sophistry of Satan. He leads them to misconstrue strong
> > expressions of Scripture, giving to the language the coloring of
bitterness
> > and malignity which pertains to himself, but not to our Creator. "As I
live,
> > saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but
that
> > the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil
ways;
> > for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11.
> >
> > 536
> >
> > What would be gained to God should we admit that He delights in
witnessing
> > unceasing tortures; that He is regaled with the groans and shrieks and
> > imprecations of the suffering creatures whom He holds in the flames of
hell?
> > Can these horrid sounds be music in the ear of Infinite Love? It is
urged
> > that the infliction of endless misery upon the wicked would show God's
> > hatred of sin as an evil which is ruinous to the peace and order of
the
> > universe. Oh, dreadful blasphemy! As if God's hatred of sin is the
reason
> > why it is perpetuated. For, according to the teachings of these
theologians,
> > continued torture without hope of mercy maddens its wretched victims,
and as
> > they pour out their rage in curses and blasphemy, they are forever
> > augmenting their load of guilt. God's glory is not enhanced by thus
> > perpetuating continually increasing sin through ceaseless ages.
> >
> > It is beyond the power of the human mind to estimate the evil which
has been
> > wrought by the heresy of eternal torment. The religion of the Bible,
full of
> > love and goodness, and abounding in compassion, is darkened by
superstition
> > and clothed with terror. When we consider in what false colors Satan
has
> > painted the character of God, can we wonder that our merciful Creator
is
> > feared, dreaded, and even hated? The appalling views of God which have
> > spread over the world from the teachings of the pulpit have made
thousands,
> > yes, millions, of skeptics and infidels.
> >
> > The theory of eternal torment is one of the false doctrines that
constitute
> > the wine of the abomination of Babylon, of which she makes all nations
> > drink. Revelation 14:8; 17:2. That ministers of Christ should have
accepted
> > this heresy and proclaimed it from the sacred desk is indeed a
mystery. They
> > received it from Rome, as they received the false sabbath. True, it
has been
> > taught by great and good men; but the light on this subject had not
come to
> > them as it has come to us. They were responsible only for the light
which
> > shone in their time; we are accountable for that which shines in our
day. If
> > we turn from the testimony of God's word, and accept
> >
> > 537
> >
> > false doctrines because our fathers taught them, we fall under the
> > condemnation pronounced upon Babylon; we are drinking of the wine of
her
> > abomination.
> >
> > A large class to whom the doctrine of eternal torment is revolting are
> > driven to the opposite error. They see that the Scriptures represent
God as
> > a being of love and compassion, and they cannot believe that He will
consign
> > His creatures to the fires of an eternally burning hell. But holding
that
> > the soul is naturally immortal, they see no alternative but to
conclude that
> > all mankind will finally be saved. Many regard the threatenings of the
Bible
> > as designed merely to frighten men into obedience, and not to be
literally
> > fulfilled. Thus the sinner can live in selfish pleasure, disregarding
the
> > requirements of God, and yet expect to be finally received into His
favor.
> > Such a doctrine, presuming upon God's mercy, but ignoring His justice,
> > pleases the carnal heart and emboldens the wicked in their iniquity.
> >
> > To show how believers in universal salvation wrest the Scriptures to
sustain
> > their soul-destroying dogmas, it is needful only to cite their own
> > utterances. At the funeral of an irreligious young man, who had been
killed
> > instantly by an accident, a Universalist minister selected as his text
the
> > Scripture statement concerning David: "He was comforted concerning
Amnon,
> > seeing he was dead." 2 Samuel 13:39.
> >
> > "I am frequently asked," said the speaker, "what will be the fate of
those
> > who leave the world in sin, die, perhaps, in a state of inebriation,
die
> > with the scarlet stains of crime unwashed from their robes, or die as
this
> > young man died, having never made a profession or enjoyed an
experience of
> > religion. We are content with the Scriptures; their answer shall solve
the
> > awful problem. Amnon was exceedingly sinful; he was unrepentant, he
was made
> > drunk, and while drunk was killed. David was a prophet of God; he must
have
> > known whether it would be ill or well for Amnon in the world to come.
What
> > were the expressions of his heart?
> >
> > 538
> >
> > `The soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was
> > comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.' Verse 39.
> >
> > "And what is the inference to be deduced from this language? Is it not
that
> > endless suffering formed no part of his religious belief? So we
conceive;
> > and here we discover a triumphant argument in support of the more
pleasing,
> > more enlightened, more benevolent hypothesis of ultimate universal
purity
> > and peace. He was comforted, seeing his son was dead. And why so?
Because by
> > the eye of prophecy he could look forward into the glorious future and
see
> > that son far removed from all temptations, released from the bondage
and
> > purified from the corruptions of sin, and after being made
sufficiently holy
> > and enlightened, admitted to the assembly of ascended and rejoicing
spirits.
> > His only comfort was that, in being removed from the present state of
sin
> > and suffering, his beloved son had gone where the loftiest breathings
of the
> > Holy Spirit would be shed upon his darkened soul, where his mind would
be
> > unfolded to the wisdom of heaven and the sweet raptures of immortal
love,
> > and thus prepared with a sanctified nature to enjoy the rest and
society of
> > the heavenly inheritance.
> >
> > "In these thoughts we would be understood to believe that the
salvation of
> > heaven depends upon nothing which we can do in this life; neither upon
a
> > present change of heart, nor upon present belief, or a present
profession of
> > religion."
> >
> > Thus does the professed minister of Christ reiterate the falsehood
uttered
> > by the serpent in Eden: "Ye shall not surely die." "In the day ye eat
> > thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods." He
> > declares that the vilest of sinners--the murderer, the thief, and the
> > adulterer--will after death be prepared to enter into immortal bliss.
> >
> > And from what does this perverter of the Scriptures draw his
conclusions?
> > From a single sentence expressing David's submission to the
dispensation of
> > Providence. His
> >
> > 539
> >
> > soul "longed to go forth unto Absalom; for he was comforted concerning
> > Amnon, seeing he was dead." The poignancy of his grief having been
softened
> > by time, his thoughts turned from the dead to the living son,
self-banished
> > through fear of the just punishment of his crime. And this is the
evidence
> > that the incestuous, drunken Amnon was at death immediately
transported to
> > the abodes of bliss, there to be purified and prepared for the
companionship
> > of sinless angels! A pleasing fable indeed, well suited to gratify the
> > carnal heart! This is Satan's own doctrine, and it does his work
> > effectually. Should we be surprised that, with such instruction,
wickedness
> > abounds?
> >
> > The course pursued by this one false teacher illustrates that of many
> > others. A few words of Scripture are separated from the context, which
would
> > in many cases show their meaning to be exactly opposite to the
> > interpretation put upon them; and such disjointed passages are
perverted and
> > used in proof of doctrines that have no foundation in the word of God.
The
> > testimony cited as evidence that the drunken Amnon is in heaven is a
mere
> > inference directly contradicted by the plain and positive statement of
the
> > Scriptures that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1
Corinthians
> > 6:10. It is thus that doubters, unbelievers, and skeptics turn the
truth
> > into a lie. And multitudes have been deceived by their sophistry and
rocked
> > to sleep in the cradle of carnal security.
> >
> > If it were true that the souls of all men passed directly to heaven at
the
> > hour of dissolution, then we might well covet death rather than life.
Many
> > have been led by this belief to put an end to their existence. When
> > overwhelmed with trouble, perplexity, and disappointment, it seems an
easy
> > thing to break the brittle thread of life and soar away into the bliss
of
> > the eternal world.
> >
> > God has given in His word decisive evidence that He will punish the
> > transgressors of His law. Those who flatter
> >
> > 540
> >
> > themselves that He is too merciful to execute justice upon the sinner,
have
> > only to look to the cross of Calvary. The death of the spotless Son of
God
> > testifies that "the wages of sin is death," that every violation of
God's
> > law must receive its just retribution. Christ the sinless became sin
for
> > man. He bore the guilt of transgression, and the hiding of His
Father's
> > face, until His heart was broken and His life crushed out. All this
> > sacrifice was made that sinners might be redeemed. In no other way
could man
> > be freed from the penalty of sin. And every soul that refuses to
become a
> > partaker of the atonement provided at such a cost must bear in his own
> > person the guilt and punishment of transgression.
> >
> > Let us consider what the Bible teaches further concerning the ungodly
and
> > unrepentant, whom the Universalist places in heaven as holy, happy
angels.
> >
> > "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of
life
> > freely." Revelation 21:6. This promise is only to those that thirst.
None
> > but those who feel their need of the water of life, and seek it at the
loss
> > of all things else, will be supplied. "He that overcometh shall
inherit all
> > things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." Verse 7. Here,
also,
> > conditions are specified. In order to inherit all things, we must
resist and
> > overcome sin.
> >
> > The Lord declares by the prophet Isaiah: "Say ye to the righteous,
that it
> > shall be well with him." "Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with
him: for
> > the reward of his hands shall be given him." Isaiah 3:10, 11. "Though
a
> > sinner do evil an hundred times," says the wise man, "and his days be
> > prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear
God,
> > which fear before Him: but it shall not be well with the wicked."
> > Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13. And Paul testifies that the sinner is
treasuring up
> > unto himself "wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous
> > judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds;"
> > "tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil."
Romans
> > 2:5, 6,9.
> >
> > 541
> >
> > "No fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater,
> > hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." Ephesians 5:5,
> > A.R.V. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall
> > see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14. "Blessed are they that do His
commandments,
> > that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through
the
> > gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
whoremongers,
> > and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
> > Revelation 22:14, 15.
> >
> > God has given to men a declaration of His character and of His method
of
> > dealing with sin. "The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering
and
> > abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
> > iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear
the
> > guilty." Exodus 34:6, 7. "All the wicked will He destroy." "The
> > transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall
be
> > cut off." Psalms 145:20; 37:38. The power and authority of the divine
> > government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the
> > manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent
with the
> > character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.
> >
> > God does not force the will or judgment of any. He takes no pleasure
in a
> > slavish obedience. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall
love Him
> > because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him because they
have
> > an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence.
And all
> > who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because
they are
> > drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.
> >
> > The principles of kindness, mercy, and love, taught and exemplified by
our
> > Saviour, are a transcript of the will and character of God. Christ
declared
> > that He taught nothing except that which He had received from His
Father.
> > The principles of the divine government are in perfect harmony with
the
> > Saviour's precept, "Love your enemies." God
> >
> > 542
> >
> > executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe, and
even for
> > the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited. He would make
them
> > happy if He could do so in accordance with the laws of His government
and
> > the justice of His character. He surrounds them with the tokens of His
love,
> > He grants them a knowledge of His law, and follows them with the
offers of
> > His mercy; but they despise His love, make void His law, and reject
His
> > mercy. While constantly receiving His gifts, they dishonor the Giver;
they
> > hate God because they know that He abhors their sins. The Lord bears
long
> > with their perversity; but the decisive hour will come at last, when
their
> > destiny is to be decided. Will He then chain these rebels to His side?
Will
> > He force them to do His will?
> >
> > Those who have chosen Satan as their leader and have been controlled
by his
> > power are not prepared to enter the presence of God. Pride, deception,
> > licentiousness, cruelty, have become fixed in their characters. Can
they
> > enter heaven to dwell forever with those whom they despised and hated
on
> > earth? Truth will never be agreeable to a liar; meekness will not
satisfy
> > self-esteem and pride; purity is not acceptable to the corrupt;
> > disinterested love does not appear attractive to the selfish. What
source of
> > enjoyment could heaven offer to those who are wholly absorbed in
earthly and
> > selfish interests?
> >
> > Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be
suddenly
> > transported to heaven and witness the high, the holy state of
perfection
> > that ever exists there,-- every soul filled with love, every
countenance
> > beaming with joy, enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in
honor of
> > God and the Lamb, and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the
redeemed
> > from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne,--could those whose
hearts
> > are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the
> > heavenly throng and join their songs of praise? Could they endure the
glory
> > of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation
> >
> > 543
> >
> > were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but
they have
> > never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the
language
> > of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has
> > unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be
torture
> > to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long
to flee
> > from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might
be
> > hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of
the
> > wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is
> > voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.
> >
> > Like the waters of the Flood the fires of the great day declare God's
> > verdict that the wicked are incurable. They have no disposition to
submit to
> > divine authority. Their will has been exercised in revolt; and when
life is
> > ended, it is too late to turn the current of their thoughts in the
opposite
> > direction, too late to turn from transgression to obedience, from
hatred to
> > love.
> >
> > In sparing the life of Cain the murderer, God gave the world an
example of
> > what would be the result of permitting the sinner to live to continue
a
> > course of unbridled iniquity. Through the influence of Cain's teaching
and
> > example, multitudes of his descendants were led into sin, until "the
> > wickedness of man was great in the earth" and "every imagination of
the
> > thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." "The earth also was
> > corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." Genesis
6:5,
> > 11.
> >
> > In mercy to the world, God blotted out its wicked inhabitants in
Noah's
> > time. In mercy He destroyed the corrupt dwellers in Sodom. Through the
> > deceptive power of Satan the workers of iniquity obtain sympathy and
> > admiration, and are thus constantly leading others to rebellion. It
was so
> > in Cain's and in Noah's day, and in the time of Abraham and Lot; it is
so in
> > our time. It is in mercy to the universe that God will finally destroy
the
> > rejecters of His grace.
> >
> > 544
> >
> > "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through
> > Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. While life is the inheritance of
the
> > righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. Moses declared to
Israel: "I
> > have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil."
> > 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 death--a 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 Reformers--Tindal,
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. There is not a
doctrine
> > in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a
doctrine in
> > the present system of preaching which is treated with more
> > neglect!"--Commentary, remarks on I Corinthians 15, paragraph 3.
> >
> > This has continued until the glorious truth of the resurrection has
been
> > almost wholly obscured and lost sight of by the Christian world. Thus
a
> > leading religious writer, commenting on the words of Paul in I
Thessalonians
> > 4:13-18, says: "For all practical purposes of comfort the doctrine of
the
> > blessed immortality of the righteous takes the place for us of any
doubtful
> > doctrine of the Lord's second coming. At our death the Lord comes for
us.
> > That is what we are to wait and watch for. The dead are already passed
into
> > glory. They do not wait for the trump for their judgment and
blessedness."
> >
> > 548
> >
> > But when about to leave His disciples, Jesus did not tell them that
they
> > would soon come to Him. "I go to prepare a place for you," He said.
"And if
> > I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto
> > Myself." John 14:2, 3. And Paul tells us, further, that "the Lord
Himself
> > shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
Archangel, and
> > with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then
we
> > which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clou
> > ds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord." And
> > he adds: "Comfort one another with these words." I Thessalonians
4:16-18.
> > How wide the contrast between these words of comfort and those of the
> > Universalist minister previously quoted! The latter consoled the
bereaved
> > friends with the assurance that, however sinful the dead might have
been,
> > when he breathed out his life here he was to be received among the
angels.
> > Paul points his brethren to the future coming of the Lord, when the
fetters
> > of the tomb shall be broken, and the "dead in Christ" shall be raised
to
> > eternal life.
> >
> > Before any can enter the mansions of the blessed, their cases must be
> > investigated, and their characters and their deeds must pass in review
> > before God. All are to be judged according to the things written in
the
> > books and to be rewarded as their works have been. This judgment does
not
> > take place at death. Mark the words of Paul: "He hath appointed a day,
in
> > the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He
hath
> > ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He
hath
> > raised Him from the dead." Acts 17:31. Here the apostle plainly stated
that
> > a specified time, then future, had been fixed upon for the judgment of
the
> > world.
> >
> > Jude refers to the same period: "The angels which kept not their first
> > estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting
> > chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." And, again,
he
> > quotes the words of Enoch: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands
of
> > His
> >
> > 549
> >
> > saints, to execute judgment upon all." Jude 6, 14, 15. John declares
that he
> > "saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened:
> > . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the
> > books." Revelation 20:12.
> >
> > But if the dead are already enjoying the bliss of heaven or writhing
in the
> > flames of hell, what need of a future judgment? The teachings of God's
word
> > on these important points are neither obscure nor contradictory; they
may be
> > understood by common minds. But what candid mind can see either wisdom
or
> > justice in the current theory? Will the righteous, after the
investigation
> > of their cases at the judgment, receive the commendation, "Well done,
thou
> > good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,"
when
> > they have been dwelling in His presence, perhaps for long ages? Are
the
> > wicked summoned from the place of torment to receive sentence from the
Judge
> > of all the earth: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire"?
> > Matthew 25:21, 41. Oh, solemn mockery! shameful impeachment of the
wisdom
> > and justice of God!
> >
> > The theory of the immortality of the soul was one of those false
doctrines
> > that Rome, borrowing from paganism, incorporated into the religion of
> > Christendom. Martin Luther classed it with the "monstrous fables that
form
> > part of the Roman dunghill of decretals."--E. Petavel, The Problem of
> > Immortality, page 255. Commenting on the words of Solomon in
Ecclesiastes,
> > that the dead know not anything, the Reformer says: "Another place
proving
> > that the dead have no . . . feeling. There is, saith he, no duty, no
> > science, no knowledge, no wisdom there. Solomon judgeth that the dead
are
> > asleep, and feel nothing at all. For the dead lie there, accounting
neither
> > days nor years, but when they are awaked, they shall seem to have
slept
> > scarce one minute."-- Martin Luther, Exposition of Solomon's Booke
Called
> > Ecclesiastes, page 152.
> >
> > Nowhere in the Sacred Scriptures is found the statement
> >
> > 550
> >
> > that the righteous go to their reward or the wicked to their
punishment at
> > death. The patriarchs and prophets have left no such assurance. Christ
and
> > His apostles have given no hint of it. The Bible clearly teaches that
the
> > dead do not go immediately to heaven. They are represented as sleeping
until
> > the resurrection. I Thessalonians 4:14; Job 14:10-12. In the very day
when
> > the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl broken (Ecclesiastes
12:6),
> > man's thoughts perish. They that go down to the grave are in silence.
They
> > know no more of anything that is done under the sun. Job 14:21.
Blessed rest
> > for the weary righteous! Time, be it long or short, is but a moment to
them.
> > They sleep; they are awakened by the trump of God to a glorious
immortality.
> > "For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible. .
> > . . So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal
> > shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that
> > is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." I Corinthians 15:52-54.
As
> > they are called forth from their deep slumber they begin to think just
where
> > they ceased. The last sensation was the pang of death; the last
thought,
> > that they were falling beneath the power of the grave. When they arise
from
> > the tomb, their first glad thought will be echoed in the triumphal
shout: "O
> > death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Verse 55.
>
> THE LAST LITTLE DECEPTION - "DRUIDSCHOOL" - IRISH MY ARSE !!
> Druidic - NO WAY.
New Druid, Brainwashing BS maybe!
Like Bother Billy and Friends.
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