THE THREE TILLS by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 47.

THE THREE TILLS.

By H. A. St. John

BY ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN.

"But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" Job 14:10. This is a direct inquiry as to the state of the dead. The above inspired words in three different ways assert the death of man; first is the simple statement, "man dieth;" second, "he wasteth away;" and, third, "he giveth up the ghost"—all of which mean death—and then comes the explicit question, "Where is he?" And we are glad to learn that this important question is just as explicitly answered in the inspired words that immediately follow: "As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up; so man lieth down, and riseth not; . . . they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." This is indeed a plain and explicit answer as to the state of man in death.

First, we are told that it is like something of common occurrence and observation—as water is absorbed in the earth so man lieth down in death; he wasteth away. Then we are told in plain words that he sleeps, and shall not awake—riseth not. What, never rise? never awake? and is death then an eternal sleep—as the atheist claims?—Ah, no; blessed be God! We have omitted a most important and beautiful clause, "So man lieth down, and riseth not; till the heavens be no more." In that little word till there is a bright gleam of hope to the dying man, and he anxiously inquires, When will that till run out? When will the heavens be no more?

This brings us face to face with the question of a resurrection, and so the inspired patriarch of Idumea proceeds: "If a man die, shall he live again?" This question is right to the point. Now give attention to the answer: "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 14:14, 15. Waiting an appointed time, "a set time," then to be remembered by the Lord, to be called, and changed. Elsewhere he says the place of waiting is the grave. Job 17:13. And let it be observed that here is another till,—I will wait "till my change come."

Now if the reader will consult John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:16, and Rev. 6:14, as well as many other Scripture texts of like import, he will get a clear knowledge of the time when these "tills" expire. The appointed or set time to remember the dead is when Jesus comes. Then the heavens depart as a scroll; Jesus calls to the dead, first his own people; they hear, answer, come forth, and are changed to immortality, made like the angels, never to die any more. Blessed hope, soon to be realized.

Again Job breaks forth: "Oh 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!" Job 14:13. The set time is appointed; it is the resurrection, and the servant of God will then be remembered. Thus it is seen that all these tills expire at one and the same time, and then all that Job hoped for will be realized.

1. "Till—the heavens be no more." The heavens depart as a scroll when Jesus comes.

2. "Until—thy wrath be past." The wrath of God, filled up in the seven last plagues, will be past when Jesus comes.

3. "Till—my change come." God's sleeping saints will all be changed, when awakened by the last trump, when Jesus comes.

Lord, hasten the glad day when these tills all run out, and the saints' last great change comes, when they shall sing victory over death and the grave.