Part 11 (1/2)
St. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, says: ”_If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable._”
No wonder that he came to such conclusion, when he knew that kings, rulers, and the populace were overwhelmingly against the few disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that persecutions, bonds, imprisonment, and even violent death were in store for many of them.
But hear him again:
”Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
”Now I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of G.o.d. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Death shall be swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to G.o.d, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That there will be a resurrection of our spiritual bodies, is plainly taught in the Old and in the New Testament scriptures. We have already shown this conclusively in our opening chapter on ”The Immortality of the Soul, and a future State of Existence.” But had doubts remained in the minds of any, we think St. Paul--as quoted above--removes them, and sets the matter at rest.
St. John, the revelator, tells us that while in the spirit, the scene of the judgment was brought before his vision. He says:
”And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d, and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Now we understand that this general judgment will be at the close of the time allotted to this world. Whether that period is far remote or near at hand, no one knoweth save G.o.d himself; ”no, not even the angels of heaven.” But as to that time, it matters not, so far as salvation and a condition of happiness to the righteous is concerned, nor to the wicked, as regards future punishment. Revelations and the Word of G.o.d establish the fact that as soon as the soul, or spirit leaves the body, it enters upon its future and final condition, whether of happiness or misery, ”Lazarus died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and in h.e.l.l he lifted up his eyes, being in torment.” The Saviour, while suspended upon the cross, manifested His pardoning and saving power to the thief, forgave his sins, accepted him, and said: ”To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”
Under the circ.u.mstances--the extreme sufferings and agonies the Saviour was enduring at the time--some have cavilled at this exhibition of grace and pardoning mercy to the dying thief. Let it be remembered, His mission was to save sinners. And that it is written, ”Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Here is a plain exhibition of the possibility, and plan of salvation to _all_. This thief had sinned; and had also violated the laws of his country, and in rebuking his fellow culprit in crime--who had reviled the Saviour--he acknowledged his own guilt by saying, ”this man suffereth innocently; yet we are guilty, and justly deserve our punishment.” Indeed, he seemed to be the _first_ to comprehend Christ's kingdom, and the plan of salvation through faith in Him. By faith, he grasped the hope, then springing from the Cross whereon the Saviour hung, and penitently cried unto the Redeemer of the world, ”Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” See this flash of light in the midst of spiritual darkness, dismay, and surrounding gloom--even the light of immortality and eternal life! All the followers had forsaken the dying Redeemer, and those who had been his acknowledged disciples were fleeing in dismay, and even Peter denied his Lord and Master with an oath. The hope of the world's deliverance; through the Messiah, seemed lost. Yet here was one--even a poor dying thief--whose faith penetrated the veil, and _he_ saw that Christ's kingdom was not of this world. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise made to all who believe in Him; with a heart unto righteousness, was vouchsafed to him. We look upon this as the strongest exhibition of faith the world had ever yet known. And we think the evidence conclusive, that as soon as the soul leaves the body--this tenement of clay--it enters at once upon its future condition of happiness, or of misery.
Of the certainty of the final resurrection of our bodies--changed and transformed into spiritual bodies--and of a general judgment, the Scripture revelations are plain and conclusive. May we not therefore, for a few moments, contemplate the eventful, and, to some, the pleasant, yet to others the startling scene?
That the bodies of some who lived on this earth have already undergone this great, and to us mysterious change of ”corruption putting on incorruption,” and ”mortal putting on immortality,” we cannot doubt.
This seems manifest in the case of Elijah, and so also, as seems evident, with Moses. And it will be remembered that these two appeared in their heavenly vestments; bright and s.h.i.+ning, and stood with the Saviour when he was transfigured on the Mount. So also at the time of the crucifixion of the Son of G.o.d. When, at the last moment of his expiring agony he cried to his Father, with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost; the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent, and the graves were opened, ”and many bodies of the Saints that slept arose.”
And to make this--seeming mystery--more clear to those He had commissioned to preach His everlasting gospel--the power of which should be the resurrection from the dead--the Saviour himself, after His body had risen from the grave, appeared unto them--His disciples--and thus gave them a _visible manifestation_ of this wondrous truth, and re-commissioned them to go forth into all the world and proclaim _his own resurrection_, and that by repentance and faith all might come to a _resurrection of life_.
_THE RESURRECTION._
Therefore, behold, the time cometh when ”all that are in their graves, shall hear His voice”--even the voice of G.o.d--and the angel shall sound the trumpet, and its tones of melody and the voice of love will move earth and seas, from centre to circ.u.mference, and awake into immortal life the decayed bodies and mouldering dust of His sleeping children. ”For the dead in Christ shall rise first,” and ”blessed are they who have part in the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power.” ”They shall have a right to the tree of life.”
See the myriads of sepulchres and graves opening, and saints rising in the light of the ”glory of G.o.d,” and millions of the sheeted dead--who have slept beneath the bosom of ”deep blue seas;” in the depths of oceans, or were swept away by floods and flowing rivers--rising and riding in triumph upon the swelling, bright-crested waves which sparkle in the resplendent glory-light of heaven.
”See these all arrayed in white, Brighter than the noon-day sun.”
These come forth at their Creator's call, and now at His bidding, the happy reunion of the long separated partners--souls and bodies--takes place, and the vast realm resounds with shouts of triumph and songs of praise. While the ”_Morning Stars_” who sang the _pean_ of Creation, and the angelic host--who celebrated in the hill-country of Judea, the advent of the Saviour on earth to ransom fallen man--join in melody and again swell the loud anthem, ”GLORY TO G.o.d IN THE HIGHEST!” Then shall be repeated the saying which was written, ”O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” ”Thanks be to G.o.d who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And, ascending again with their resurrected glorified bodies, the voice of the archangel Gabriel--who sounded their resurrection trumpet--will be heard from the portal of heaven, throughout the vast domain. BEHOLD THEY COME!
We would fain close this chapter with these delightful reflections, and leave the minds of all free from fearful apprehensions, and happy in the contemplation of a future resurrection to the enjoyment of a blissful immortality and eternal life. But the Laws of G.o.d are stern and inflexible in their requirements; His judgments sure; His revelations plain, and all are in duty bound to contemplate them.
We have told you that at His _call_ ”the righteous shall come forth to a resurrection of life.” And now we have to record the fact that--at His _command_--”the wicked shall come forth to a resurrection of d.a.m.nation.” To contemplate or depict the scene startles the mind, and baffles and beggars the human intellect.
We fancy a death-like silence prevails throughout the earth and seas, and the vast domain of Heaven. Songs of triumph, and shouts of joy, of both saints and angels, have ceased for one hour of eternity. The Judge ascends His throne, from which to issue His command. The four and twenty Elders remove their glittering crowns of gold, and bow before Him. Moses and Elijah, and all the prophets, apostles, and martyrs are there. There the redeemed of the Lord--whom no man can number--are a.s.sembled with legions of angels. All bow before the Lord, and ”there is silence in Heaven.” Hark! the command was given! The voice of the final judgment-trumpet; in thunder tones, waxes louder and louder! and seems to shake heaven itself, with its surrounding universe of worlds. It is the trumpet-voice of the ”WRATH OF G.o.d”