DEATH AND THE LAW by C. P. Whitford

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 12, 1869

DEATH AND THE LAW.

By C. P. Whitford

From the Scriptures we learn two important facts: 1. That all must die, on account of Adam's transgression. 2. That all are to be made alive through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection. But says the objector, “Sin is the transgression of the law,” and the wages of sin is death,” or, “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” If, as our objector would have it, the law holds us in death, and thus the wicked dead are never to have a resurrection from the grave, how can we avoid the conclusion that our actions in life, whether good or evil, have no bearing upon, or relation to, our existence hereafter? Our objector says the law holds us in the embrace of death, and we cannot escape from its dominion. The Saviour informs us that “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 v, 28, 29. The objector admits the resurrection of those that “have done good;” but denies the resurrection of that class who “have done evil.” I think he cannot deny but that their first death is on account of Adam's transgression; and if such conclusion be legitimate and true, it necessarily follows that man is not a responsible, accountable being for his own actions, because the law holds him there, not for any evil on his part, but rather on account of the transgression of Adam. We think this view of the subject is incorrect, and conflicts with the plain declaration of the Scriptures where it expressly says “that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts xxiv, 15. “For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead.” 1 Cor. xv, 21. As death passed upon all on account of Adam's transgression, so life is given to all through the virtue of Christ's resurrection. How plain, simple, straightforward, and easy to be understood, is truth; while on the other hand, error is complicated, intricate and tortuous, leading us into confusion and folly; bewildering the intellect, and blinding the mind, so that we become unable readily to see and appreciate that which is true and good.

We would now call attention to the words of Jesus spoken to Martha. Hear them: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” John xi, 25. “For 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.” 1 Thess. iv, 16. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until.” Rev. xx, 5. We would stop here for a moment to inquire who constitute the “rest of the dead” spoken of in this text of Scripture. Is it possible that a part of the righteous dead are to be raised at the commencement of the thousand years, and the remainder at its expiration? Where is there evidence that such are the facts in the case? Would it not be a much surer, and more logical, conclusion to believe the apostle Paul, who says that there will be a resurrection both of the just and unjust, and that on such as come up in the first resurrection the second death shall have no power, “but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.” At the expiration of the thousand years John says he “saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” In Rev. xx, 4, we read thus: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Here we have the testimony of John that all who had not received the mark of the beast, and those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, are with Christ one thousand years prior to the resurrection of those who had the mark of the beast, &c. These lived not again until the thousand years were finished. That class that were with Christ came up in the first resurrection, and on such, we learn, the second death shall have no power. If they have lived with Christ a thousand years, of course they have received their reward, and consequently no necessity of a judgment for them. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished,” and this is the company that John saw before God, that were judged out of those things that were written in the books. “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works.” Rev. xx, 13. “This is the second death.” Rev. xx, 14. Here we find the ungodly dying the second death, not on account of Adam's transgression, but they have forfeited their right to eternal life on account of their own transgression of the law of God. The great truth is now experienced by them, that “The wages of sin is death.” Once they die on account of Adam's transgression. Again they live by virtue of Christ's death and resurrection. Then they die the second death on account of their own transgressions; while on the other hand the righteous receive the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

C. P. WHITFORD.