THE RESURRECTION THE PROMISED DOOR OF HOPE
By W. A. Gosmer
If Men Do Not Rise from the Dead, They Are Perished—Why a Resurrection, if Men Go Either to Heaven or to Hell When They Die? This is the fourth of Professor Gosmer’s articles on the general theme of the relation of man to the question of immortality. In previous articles, Professor Gosmer has called attention to the fact that the immortality of the soul has been generally accepted by the pagan nations of all time, and that the doctrine has found its way into the beliefs of a large part of the Christian church without sufficient consideration from the Biblical standpoint. He has shown the Bible use of the terms “soul” and “spirit,” and carefully considered some of the texts that have been thought to teach the immortality of the soul, and has shown that the Bible clearly presents the fact that God alone has immortality, and that man has no hope for immortality outside of the life given to him in the gospel of Christ. Next week, his theme will be “The Destiny of the Wicked.” EDITOR. In previous articles, we have examined some of the leading evidences bearing on the nature of the soul. From the scriptures presented, it must be clear that there is no life in death. It must be evident that man, left entirely to himself, “is like the beasts that perish.” Were it not for the sacrifice of the blessed Saviour, the darkness of eternal oblivion would forever seal the portals of the tomb. But for Him who is the Light of the world, and the Life of men, those who have passed the threshold of the grave would never again behold the light. RESURRECTION PROMISE THE DOOR OF HOPE
But God is true, and the eternal promise will come to pass 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 5: 28, 29. This is the hope of mankind, “the blessed hope” toward whose glorious dawning saints and prophets have looked forward with eager, longing eyes. Beholding it afar, the patriarch Job cried out: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job 19: 25, 26. “As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: so man lieth down, and riseth not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.” Job 14: 11-15. DAVID’S HOPE WAS THE RESURRECTION
This resurrection hope was shared also by the psalmist David. He says, “Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” Ps. 71: 20. That David clearly recognized in the resurrection the hope of his eternal destiny, was shown by the apostle on the day of Pentecost: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.” “For David is not ascended into the heavens.” Acts 2: 29, 34. If the psalmist had not yet entered heaven in Peter’s day, the resurrection would be his only hope. That is certain. AWAKE FROM THE DUST, AND SING
Isaiah testifies: “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” Isa. 26: 19. Hosea cites the promise of God to Israel: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.” Hosea 13: 14. Daniel’s prophecy shows that the dead will be raised: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” Dan. 12: 2. To the foregoing may be added the testimony of Ezekiel: “Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.” Ezek. 37: 12. KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN
That the truth of the resurrection was correctly understood by some of the Jews during the ministry of the Saviour, is shown by the words of Martha to Jesus concerning Lazarus, who was dead: “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11: 24. That is the true idea. The Scriptures plainly teach that on the last day of this world’s history will occur the first general resurrection of the dead. “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.” 1 Cor. 15: 52. Some of the Thessalonian brethren feared that death would end all. Therefore Paul wrote to them these words of hope and cheer: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. . . . 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: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4: 13, 16-18. If man at death immediately enters heaven, why is a resurrection at all necessary? And if Paul believed the popular immortal-soul theory, why did he speak of the resurrection, and say, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words?” The fact is that he saw in the resurrection the only way to heaven. He fully believed that he himself must be raised from the dead. Dwelling somewhat on the dangers to which he was almost constantly exposed, he said: “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.” 1 Cor. 15: 32. Paul here quotes the Epicurean philosophers, who allowed full indulgence to every appetite, and the sum of whose philosophy was expressed in the proverb, “Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.” This was saying that for them the future held out no hope. Paul qualified their maxim with the saving clause, “If the dead rise not,” thus showing, without question, that the destinies8of mankind depend upon the resurrection. Speaking of his toils and his sacrifices for Christ, the apostle said to the Philippians, “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Phil. 3: 11. That he fastened his hope for the future upon the second advent and the resurrection day, is further shown by his last words to Timothy: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4: 7, 8. Awaiting that immortal morning, Paul rests. Besides, Jesus taught that it is not at death that God’s people receive their reward, but at the resurrection: “Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14: 14. He further testifies: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22: 12. The resurrection takes place at His coming. Besides, there is an innumerable company of God’s dear children, who in all ages have kept the faith—saints, martyrs, apostles, and prophets—who now sleep their last sleep. In the words of Luther, “They lie, not reckoning days or years, but when awakened, will seem to themselves to have slept scarcely a moment.” That is a reasonable, comforting view; for theirs is a dreamless, perfect sleep. It is as if they were to close their eyes in death, and immediately to open them in the resurrection. By the words of God’s revelation, that day of days hastens on. Some have looked upon the Scriptural view of man’s state in death as a “gloomy doctrine.” We may therefore pertinently inquire, Which is more gloomy,—to rest all unconscious of the passing of time, or to suffer the torments of a seething, burning hell for the same period? As those who are merciful and possessed of human feeling, we must think also of the condition of the lost; for they are many. And if the immortal-soul theory be true, then countless numbers have already spent several millenniums in the agony of hell fire. Almost shuddering, we divert the mind from the fearful thought. Can there be conceived anything gloomier or more terrible than this? PERISHED IF NO RESURRECTION
We can do no better than to quote here Paul’s argument on the resurrection, for it seems final: “Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and 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. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15: 12-22. Here Paul shows the utter inconsistency of preaching that Christ was raised from the dead, without at the same time teaching that the dead will be raised. “For if the dead rise not,” says the apostle, “then is not Christ raised.” That is to say, the resurrection of the dead is as certain as was the resurrection of Christ; for His resurrection is a pledge that all men will come forth from the tomb. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.” “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Therefore to disavow faith in the resurrection of the dead, is equivalent to denying that Christ was raised. Then “your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Then there will be no resurrection; and “if the dead rise not,” what follows is the only logical conclusion that can be arrived at,—“then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” FATE HINGES ON THE RESURRECTION
Then without the resurrection, humanity would come to nothing, and be destroyed; for the word “perish” implies just that. Could this possibly be true if the soul, independent of the body, goes to heaven at death? If the immortal-soul theory were true, could not the resurrection be left entirely out of the question, and mankind yet be saved? But as the Scriptures stake the fate of humanity upon a resurrection of the body, that theory must be abandoned as worthless and contradictory. To this false teaching may be charged the widespread neglect of preaching the doctrine of the resurrection in these days. Says Dr. Adam Clarke, in his commentary: “The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now. How is this? The apostles were continually insisting on it, and exciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention it. So apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed: so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect.”