THE BUILDERS by Roderick S. Owen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 16, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 11.

THE BUILDERS

By Roderick S. Owen

(Continued.)

I TOOK my Guide-book, and placing the pillow (Faith) beneath my head, I began to read. As I read, this vision came to me: I saw the cross upon the rugged hill again. I saw a few men approach it, and tenderly take from it the Sufferer, who had just expired. Followed by some women (Luke 23:50-56), they carried Him to that central grave, and placed Him therein, while the women stood by to see that all was neatly and consistently done. After this they all walked sorrowfully away, for it was near sundown on Friday, and the Sabbath was drawing on.

'After this, one hundred soldiers came (Matt. 27:62-66), and closed the tomb as securely as possible, sealing it with a great seal. This done, they began to pace up and down, keeping guard over it.

'Then my vision grew stronger, and I saw the enemy of my King placing about the tomb another guard, composed of those who had revolted with him. He instructed them to keep it closed for three days at all hazards. O, how dark it now seemed in all that graveyard! I noticed only a faint glimmering of a little light about that central grave.

'While I still watched, suddenly there came a rushing sound, and, looking up, I beheld a bright being coming adown the sky. Matt. 28:2-4. As he approached the tomb, the darkness was parted and scattered from his pathway. The guard of fallen ones fled in wild dismay, while the soldiers fell to the ground as dead men (Col. 2:15), and the glory of the Lord flooded the scene.

'A holy one, with majestic bearing, stood before the tomb, and, with earnest, penetrating voice, said: 'Son, Thy Father calls Thee; arise, come forth!'

'There was a mighty earthquake, the seal was broken, the stone rolled back, and He who had suffered now came forth Conqueror, in glory and power. My little window (State of the Dead) was radiant with this glory. I glanced toward the window Immortality, and found a wondrous light streaming through it, in the rays of which I read these words: 'But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.' 2 Tim. 1:10.

'I still saw the whole human family moving in the shadow of death, but I discovered another path, called the Way of Life. This path was radiant with light, altho beset with thorns and brambles. It also led down into the graveyard; but I saw that the graves of all who walked in this path were connected with the tomb of the mighty, risen Deliverer, and that He 'only hath immortality.' 1 Tim. 6:16. Then I heard a voice saying: 'Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. . . . For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.' 1 Thess. 4:14-17.

'Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' 1 Cor. 15:51, etc.

'Thus we see that the human family does not possess immortality, but that it is placed within their reach by the Gospel; that all sleep in the grave until the resurrection, when the righteous shall receive the gift of immortality, and the wicked shall be destroyed; after which all will see, in both the state of the dead and the destruction of the wicked, a manifestation of the love of God.

'And so, my friend, I love this room, for it makes me feel my weakness by nature and my utter dependence upon God. Also it leads me to view my Saviour in the light of a glorious benefactor, as He comes with the gift of immortality for all who will accept it. It leads me to admire the wisdom of God, who has made the eternal existence (Ps. 37:10, 11) of each individual dependent upon the character he develops (1 John 2:17), and it does away with that dreadful thought of the eternal conscious suffering of the wicked.

'As I look upon that graveyard I see in it a quiet resting-place (Job 17:16) for all, away from the cares and turmoils of life, where the parent is released (Job 14:21) from witnessing the downward career of the child, which would cause him pain could he see it; where the wicked are reserved unto the day of judgment (John 5:28, 29) to be punished, instead of being sent immediately at death to a place of torment, and then, after years, yea, even centuries of suffering, to be brought to judgment, and then to be returned to an eternity of such suffering. O my friend, God is good, and He sets before each one of us life and death, and urges us to choose the paths of righteousness, that we may find immortality in Jesus, and not destruction, at the last.'

'Well,' said the neighbor, 'this room does look brighter and better than when I entered it, and you certainly have given me ground for serious reflection.'

'Well, I am glad,' was the reply, 'and I trust you will not only think, but that you will study the Guide-book with care, that you may receive light; for in these last days those fallen ones, who have rebelled against our King, will come and pretend to be our dead friends, and seek to influence us (2 Cor. 11:14, 15; Rev. 16:14) to go contrary to God's will. But if we understand the doctrine of the state of the dead, we will know that they are deceivers, and we will not be led by them.

'But come, let us pass on to the next room, which is called the Sanctuary. The hours I have spent in this room have given me my clearest views of the Guide-book. You notice there is but one large window. Its name is Types and Shadows. Around the outer edge notice this line of beautiful pictures, such as 'Abel's Sacrifice;' 'Enoch's Translation;' 'Noah's Ark;' 'Abraham's Offering;' 'Israel's Deliverance;' 'Crossing the Red Sea;' 'Pillar of Fire;' 'Gathering Manna;' 'Water from the Rock,' etc.

'In the center is a beautiful picture of the tabernacle built by the Israelites in the wilderness, before which, in the court, stands Aaron as high priest, arrayed in his costly garments. You see that all these pictures are perfectly transparent, so that they do not obstruct the view. I have spent hours in this chair of Faith studying these pictures, while a flood of light was rushing into my mind. I never tire of this, for there is always something new. In no other room do I so much enjoy reading my Guide-book as I do here.'

(To be continued.)