WHY I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
By G. W. A.
I HAVE seen and read the first three numbers of a very neatly-printed and ably-conducted serial, called “The Bible Repository,” the prime object of which seems to be to make men believe that the wicked will never have a resurrection. But I must frankly tell you, reader, that I cannot give the least credence to this view, and this is my reason: Of the vast throng of the ungodly who have gone down into the nether world, many, with their latest breath, died uttering the vilest imprecations against God and religion, thus pleasing that great enemy of God, the Devil, whose faithful servants they were. Now if these same incorrigible persons be not revived, will not they and their master, the Devil, so far triumph over God? Their latest breath was spent in reviling the Lord God of Israel, in defiance of his command which says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” In thus asserting their freedom contrary to the authority of God, they triumph, and eternally, too, if never resurrected. To be sure, God destroyed them, but he did that only in consequence of his greater power; they were still really unconquered enemies, and all the heavenly host will be eternal, living witnesses of the fact. To illustrate: A disobedient son has incurred the displeasure of his good father again and again; the father finally endeavors to coerce him into subjection by administering the usual punishment. This merely enrages the rebellious youth, and with flashing eye and maddened brain he cries out, “I am whipped, but not conquered!” Now who has the victory? Is it that poor father, or the wicked son? All know it is not the father. That parent, by his superior physical strength, succeeded in administering punishment to his son, but he did not conquer that rebellious spirit, he merely controlled his body. And every one would pity a father who could do no more. To my mind, the great triumph of God (for God will triumph at last,) will consist in having the wicked condemned out of their own mouths—in having them say, “Amon!” when the court of Heaven adjudges them to the lake of fire, which is the second death. This doctrine, I understand, is asserted in Matt. xxiii, 39, when with terrible anguish, in the great day, the unbelieving Jews, as they realize the dreadful fact that they have killed the Prince of life, will cry out, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!” I think that Jude 15 teaches this same sentiment also, where the Lord at the execution of the judgment is represented as coming “to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed.” Mark the language, “convince.” But how will the antediluvians and the world of the ungodly who have lived between creation and the last day, be convinced unless they have a resurrection? But as it is not the writer’s object to present the teachings of the Scripture on this important subject, the above brief allusions must suffice. And though the main reason here adduced against the non-resurrection theory, is a metaphysical one, we nevertheless regard it as one which cannot be invalidated. Viewing this subject, then, in the light that we do, those of opposite faith must not regard us as uncharitable when we say that we regard the teachings of the Repository, on this point, merely as some of the tares which are calculated to choke the growth of heavenly truth. G. W. A.