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HAS ABEL PERISHED?

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 16.

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HAS ABEL PERISHED?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

POPULAR theology tells us that Abel, the first martyr has been in Heaven for about 6,000 years, as his soul went there at the time Cain slew his body. The Psalmist says, “In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” He has been among the angels in the beautiful city of God, singing praises to the Lord, and enjoying the blessings of Paradise. That is what theology tells us. In arguing upon the resurrection, Paul once said thus: “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.” And again, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die.” Here Paul manifestly stakes all upon the resurrection. If the dead should not rise, he has had all his toil in vain, and they which have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. Now what I have to ask is, How can this be true of Abel, if he has actually been in Heaven for the last 6,000 years? He has lived in joy and pleasure for 6,000 years without a resurrection. Suppose the resurrection should not take place for 6,000 years more, he would still live during that time. Suppose it should not for a hundred thousand years, he would live during that time without a resurrection; but suppose still farther that the resurrection should never occur, would not Abel live eternally? Certainly, according to this theory. Then how could it be true that those that have fallen asleep in Christ have perished if there be no resurrection? Abel could live without a resurrection. But on the other hand if Abel actually died 6,000 years ago, and “fell asleep,” then he is sleeping in the dust now. If the resurrection should not occur for 6,000 years longer, he would still continue to sleep. If it should never occur, he would never awake from that sleep. Hence death would be an eternal sleep, and Abel would have forever perished.
D. M. CANRIGHT.