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！
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。 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
clouds； 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