Immortal Flesh by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 26, 1870

Immortal Flesh.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

OBJECTIONS have been raised against the hymn “Sweet hour of prayer,” because of the words, “In my immortal flesh I’ll rise;” because, say the objectors, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,” and it is wrong, therefore, to apply the term “flesh” to man in his immortal state.

As has been before stated in the REVIEW, “flesh and blood” is a phrase expressive of a mortal state, but the word flesh, when used alone, does not indicate a mortal state, but is used in the Scriptures applying alike to mortal and immortal. An examination of a few texts will prove this.

In Eze. 10, in the description of the cherubim, verse 12 says: “And their whole body,” margin in Heb. “flesh.” This ascribes flesh to the cherubim. This Hebrew word is the same that is translated flesh in such texts as Job 34:15. “All flesh shall perish together.” Ps. 16:9. “My flesh also shall rest in hope.” 38:2 “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger.” And it is also used of beasts, as in Lev. 8:31. “Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” These are but a few of the instances of its use.

That the same word applies to man in his immortal state may be learned from Job 19:26. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” This refers to the resurrection, and of course to an immortal condition. Also from Isa. 66, where the new heavens and new earth are introduced, and then it is said, verse 13, “From one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.”

We know as little of the attributes of “flesh” as we do of the essential elements of “immortality.” And we are always liable to err in our reasonings when we try to reason independent of the word of God concerning matters which are purely subjects of revelation.

J. H. WAGGONER.