Untitled article by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 57.

167. JOHN 11:26.

By Editor

Will you kindly give me some light on the following text? "And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

The text in question is intimately connected with the three verses which come before. Jesus said to Martha, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha replied, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Evidently the words of our Saviour in response to Martha had reference to that time as well as the present. He declared to her that the One who raised the dead at that time had power to raise the dead in the present, and therefore he replied, "I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me [that is, in the last day], though he were dead, yet shall he live." All those who sleep in Christ who died in faith will then come forth, and "whosoever liveth and believeth in me [at that time, the righteous living] shall never die." This to us is the simplest meaning of the text. When Christ comes there will be the two classes who will live forever, those who sleep in him, and those who will be looking for him. And He who will give life then can give it now.