Shall the Dead Rise?

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 4, 1878

Shall the Dead Rise?

Few thoughts are more terrible to the ungodly than that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Nowhere but in God's word are men taught so to live that they may meet that day in joy and peace. Mr. Moffat, the missionary, once went to pay a visit to an African chief, several hundred miles inland from the missionary station at Talacoo, in South Africa. The name of the chief was Macaba. He was a mighty warrior, and was the terror of his savage foes.

In one of his conversations with this man of war and strife, who was surrounded by fifty or sixty of his head men and "rain-makers," Mr. Moffat spoke of the resurrection of the dead.

"What!" said the chief, starting with surprise, "what are those words about the dead? The dead—the dead rise?"

"Yes," said the missionary; "all the dead shall rise."

"Will my father rise?"

"Yes," answered the missionary.

"Will all the slain in battle rise?"

"Yes," answered the missionary.

"Will all that have been killed and eaten by lions, tigers, and crocodiles rise?"

"Yes, and come to judgment."

"Hark!" shouted the chief, turning to the warriors, "ye wise men; did your ears ever hear such strange and unheard-of news? Did you ever hear such news as this?" turning to an old man, the "wise man" of his tribe.

"Never," answered the old man. "I thought I had all the knowledge of the ancients, but I am astonished by these words. He must have lived long before we were born."

The chief then turned to the missionary, and, laying his hand upon his breast, said, "Father, I love you much. Your visit has made my heart white as milk. The words of your mouth are sweet like honey; but the words of the resurrection are too great for me. I do not wish to hear about the dead rising again. The dead cannot rise; the dead shall not rise!"

"Tell me, my friend," said the missionary, "why must I not speak of the resurrection?"

Lifting his powerful arm, which had been so often reddened in the slaughter of his foes, and shaking his hand, as if grasping a spear, the chief said, "I have slain thousands; shall they rise?" The thought greatly troubled him.

Alas, for the men of sin and blood! "The dead, small and great," shall rise, and stand before "the great white throne." The warrior shall meet the multitudes of those whom he has helped to kill; and every guilty, godless man must behold those he has injured, neglected, or destroyed before the judgment throne.

But good people shall "awake and sing." In the "great day of his wrath" they shall hide themselves "until the indignation be overpast." But woe to the unholy; "for, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26: 19-21.—Sel.