Destruction of Death by William F. Martin

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 15, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 32.

Destruction of Death

By William F. Martin

FOR centuries, death has held the victory over the human race. In fact, it has been the great destroyer, blotting out the lives of old and young. Nothing is truer than the saying of the philosopher, that "the young man may die, the old man must die." Death comes to the king on his throne, the business man, the child at play, and the peasant in his hut. As a blast of cold cuts down the flowers of summer, so death blights and destroys mankind.

But a time is coming when this shall be changed. "O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." When this time comes, not only death, but the graves, will be destroyed, plowed up and filled in, never to be again. Long years after this text was written, the apostle Paul said, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." So this enemy is not simply to be conquered, but destroyed, blotted out, never to appear again.

Once more this divinely inspired writer sent the word, "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." Notice the expression. Death, the victor, so long master, who has seemed to exult in swallowing up the human race, will himself be swallowed up, exterminated, in victory. Then comes the time of which the seer of Patmos speaks, when "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death."

W. F. MARTIN.