The Resurrection and Man’s Mortality
By Albert M. Dart
Both the Righteous and the Wicked to Be Raised from the Dead—If the Real Man Does Not Die, Why the Resurrection? “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” These two general resurrections, as has been frequently shown in the columns of this paper, are a thousand years apart, the just being raised at Christ’s coming, at which time they enter their reward. “But when thou makest a feast,” said the Saviour, “call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14: 13, 14. The idea that man is immortal and receives his reward at death is at uncompromising variance with this plain statement of the Saviour’s. THE RESURRECTION NECESSARY TO LIFE
“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: 21, 22. Could this be said if man lived between death and the resurrection? RESURRECTION OF CHRIST NECESSARY TO MAN’S RESURRECTION
When it is proved that Christ’s death and resurrection were necessary to man’s resurrection and life, no one can longer consistently claim that man is immortal; for why this tremendous expense to Heaven to save the house man lives in, when man himself has, as would be the case in many instances, been enjoying life in glory for centuries? “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. . . . And if Christ be not raised, . . . ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” 1 Cor. 15: 13, 14, 17, 18. “In your sins” and “perished” without the resurrection of Christ! The language is too plain to admit uncertainty and doubt; and with that fact admitted, who can possibly believe that man is immortal and receives his reward at death? THE RESURRECTION OF THE WICKED
“For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves [Where are they?] 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. Here is seen the whole human family, apart from the living, in their graves. And here also is proof sufficient that the result of their choice before death is visited upon them at the resurrection. Then, dear reader, really, could they in either case have received it before? While both righteous and wicked die—go to sleep, for there is an awakening—the former are raised to life eternal, and the latter to pay the penalty of sin in the second death; for the revelator states: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20: 6, 14, 15. Truly, dear reader, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6: 23. How hard and persistent are the efforts of the archdeceiver to make people believe his statement to Eve in the Garden of Eden, “Thou shalt not surely die”! But all that Christ has done for the human family is against it, and in the final apportioning of awards at the resurrection, whosoever is not found written in the book of life, himself pays the penalty that the blessed Saviour paid for him, and longed for him to accept it paid in him, without which acceptance he would continue in the ways of sin, and reap its full result in the second death. RESURRECTION POWER FOR THE BELIEVER
How ample the provisions made by the dear Redeemer for a life in harmony with the principles He died to establish! We are not left to human strength to win the prize; but God would have us know the power brought to our aid by a belief in the resurrection, even “what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead.” Eph. 1: 19, 20. Yes, dear reader, it is here in this life that we may, by faith, appropriate resurrection power to overcome sin. Death and sin are on very friendly terms. We must break with one to escape the other; and resurrection power, which is creative power, is involved in either case. “That I may know Him,” said Paul, “and the power of His resurrection, . . . if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Phil. 3: 10, 11. Did the apostle himself expect to attain to the resurrection of the dead, or was he thus solicitous for his body merely?—The latter position is unthinkable. RESURRECTION POWER IN THIS LIFE
The gospel plan is, to know the power of the resurrection in life, and thus experience it in death, and—if I may be permitted to speak paradoxically—death during the life in which it is appropriated; for death to self is a living experience. “I die daily,” is the statement of one who appropriated resurrection power to pass through trials the thought of which is enough to cause the stoutest heart to shudder; and by grace he could call them “light afflictions,” working out “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Are you acquainted with the glorious truths of the resurrection, dear reader? I can hardly see how they can be fully appreciated without an acceptance of His death and resurrection, which is an acknowledgment of man’s death and resurrection; and this implies a rejection of the immortality-of-the-soul theory, for the latter is incompatible with the former. A correct understanding of the plan of salvation is necessary to a full realization of divine blessing. To be ignorant of any phase of God’s scheme to save man, when God has made enlightenment possible, is to suffer loss. A knowledge of the facts will enable us to escape the snares of the enemy, into which we might easily fall if knowledge is rejected. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4: 6. But “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1: 3. And when He who broke the fetters of the tomb, to release the human family from death’s thralldom, shall come a conquering King, may reader and writer be numbered with the released captives!