Untitled article by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 4, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 40.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 21.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

THE family of Brother Hartman was more than surprised and gratified as they seated themselves for their next study, to see that, instead of their number decreasing, as they had almost feared, their little circle was increasing in membership. Very glad were they to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Gray, whom Walter gallantly introduced to his friends.

"We are happy to study the Bible together with you all, on this most important topic," began Brother Hartman. "Beth, my child, what is the subject of our lesson to-night?"

"We are going to try to find out by the Bible, papa, what becomes of us when we die."

Brother Hartman smiled, and grandma drew the little form that as usual nestled by her side, a little closer, as she said: "That is good, my dear. Your statement of the subject is all right, and perfectly understandable, I am sure."

"I think," said Brother Hartman, "that Job answers the question as plainly as any one can. Elsie, will you turn to Job 14, and read the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth verses?"

"But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?"

"You see," interrupted Sister Hartman, "that Job asks the very question we would have answered?"

"Yes," continued Elsie, "he both asks and answers it. 'As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down, and riseth not, till the heaven be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.'"

"What!" exclaimed Mrs. Gray. "You don't believe, do you, that death ends everything,—that it is an eternal sleep?"

"Why no, Mrs. Gray," smiled John. "Job says they will not awake until something happens; what is that which must happen first, Walter? See here; read this line once more, won't you?"

"Till the heavens be no more," repeated the lad, wondering what would come next.

"I should think that was almost equivalent to saying they would never awake," volunteered Mr. Jones, gloomily.

"O no, my friend, not so fast. Please turn to 2 Peter 3:10, and we will see if there does not come a time when the very heavens shall pass away."

"Do you think the heaven where God dwells is ever going to pass away?" queried Walter, more mystified than ever.

"Certainly not; you know the Bible speaks of three heavens. Paul says he was caught up into the third heaven. But the heavens which pass away must mean the atmospheric heavens which surround this earth. Please read the verse, Mr. Jones,—it will explain everything."

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

"The twelfth verse also speaks of a time when the heavens shall be on fire and be dissolved," continued Brother Hartman, "and the tenth verse says this will be when the day of the Lord comes. So we suppose Job refers to the resurrection at the last day, when he affirms that the dead shall not awake till the heavens pass away,—or be no more."

"Rev. 21:1, is quite to the point right here; shall I read, father," asked Elsie.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away."

"This, then, seems very plain that man lies in the grave after death, until the resurrection. Where did Job expect to go at death? Mrs. Wilbur, please read Job 14:13."

"O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave." Well, we suppose, of course, that the body rests in the grave, but is not the immortal soul conscious and happy in heaven,—is it not, Mr. Hartman?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilbur excitedly.

"Many of us have been taught so to believe, but—"

"Pardon the interruption, father," said John, "but please let me ask Mrs. Wilbur a question. If the soul is conscious and in heaven, would it not be perfectly aware of everything which happens on earth?"

"Why, I suppose so, of course; I think it very likely and entirely reasonable."

"Well, then, let us see," replied John, smiling. "Please read Job 14:20, 21."

"Thou prevailest forever against him, and he passeth; thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them."

"Well," said Mr. Gray, "I was not aware that such a text of Scripture existed. It certainly does appear that the dead must be asleep—unconscious. Still it seems to me there are other texts on the subject, which—"

"O, there are, Mr. Gray, there are; here is another. Let us read what the psalmist David says about the condition of dead men. Will Mrs. Gray please read Ps. 6:5?"

"For in death there is no remembrance of Thee; in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?"

Mrs. Gray looked up with flushed cheeks; and grandma remarked: "Without doubt David was praying to be healed from sickness; for in the second verse he prays, 'O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.' And as one great reason for his desire to be healed, he urges the plea which Mrs. Gray has just read. He wishes to live because he can not give God praise after he is laid low by death."

"Yes, grandma," interrupted Mattie, "but that isn't all David has said about the condition we are in when we are dead. Josie and I just found another verse by the reference. Please let Josie read it, father," and the little girl read:

"The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence."

"Death, then, is a condition of silence,—a condition of unconscious inactivity," said Brother Hartman.

All this time Billy Black had been an attentive listener, and his usually dull eyes shone with interest.

"Well, Billy, what is your opinion?" asked John. (To be continued.)