DEATH, WHAT IS IT? by L. Maxson

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1860

DEATH, WHAT IS IT?

By L. Maxson

[We received the subjoined article from Bro. L. Maxson, accompanied with the following note: “This article has been sent to the Sabbath Recorder the organ of the seventh-day Baptist denomination of which I have been a member for over half a century, with an earnest request that it should be published in the paper, as it was requested by one of the correspondents of that paper as an answer to some few remarks previously made. I also requested that if they did not see fit to publish it, they would be so good as to return it to me which they promptly did.”]

ANSWER TO INQUIRER.

IN the Sabbath Recorder of Jan. 5, I find an article over the signature of Inquirer. He says “in the Recorder of Dec. 22 I see what purports to be an answer to my inquiry of Dec. 1st as to the meaning of the word death.” I would say that I made only a few remarks and gave some advice as to the best way of arriving at a correct understanding of the Scriptures on that subject, and asked him a question in the following words: If you think that the word death does not convey in meaning the opposite of life, or the extinction of life, I would kindly ask you to inform me what word in the English language would convey that meaning; which he has neglected to answer. He said he had seen the definition that I had given disputed, and that too by what seemed high authority, but did not tell me what that authority was. He wishes me to have patience with him and give my rule of definition, and quote my authority for the meaning of the word death. He says “it is to be supposed when a man attempts to speak through the press that he has authority for what he utters.” I think I have seen an exception to that rule. I do not think that I can give authority that will satisfy every person. I have no greater authority to present than the plain common sense meaning of the word of God (unmixed with the traditions of men, and heathen and Romish mysticism and superstition) as spoken by Moses and the prophets, Christ and the apostles. That is sufficient for me as theological authority; and I take Webster for my lexicographer, for the plain common sense meaning or definition of English words; but I do not take him for my theological instructor. In theology he gives the different views as he finds them in religious creeds. For instance; “Transform, to change the elements bread and wine, into the flesh and blood of Christ.” He quotes Rev. ii, 10 as the second death. From such authority for establishing truth I beg leave to dissent. Telling what sects believe does not make their belief truth.

There is a theology at the present day which is gaining very fast by the name of modern Spiritualism, which is striving to overthrow the doctrine of the Bible by establishing a new revelation purporting to be received from the spirits of the dead. Their avowed mission is to convince those that are skeptical of the immortality of the soul. They say that the Bible is not an inspired book; some of it is false and some of it might have been good in its day, but not to be depended upon at this time. I should take them to be of that class that deceived Eve; and drove a whole herd of swine down to perish in the sea; and I think there is great danger of their leading multitudes of men down to a worse fate.

Inquirer like many others of our good brethren whom we respect, appears to exhibit quite a degree of pleasure in annexing the name of materialist or materialism, to those of his brethren who differ in sentiment from him on this subject. It appears to be almost as obnoxious to them as abolitionism is to southerners. We have always believed that God and angels were spiritual beings; and that the redeemed will be such after the resurrection. But I consider myself at present with the rest of my fellow creatures, as belonging to an earthly province in the material universe of God; and as such I addressed my friend. When I address one that is an immaterial or immortal being I do not do it with pen and ink. We are probations required to seek for glory, honor, and immortality. Rom. ii, 7. We must seek for it of God who only hath immortality. 1 Tim. vi, 16. We must seek for it through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. i, 10. We must seek for it by becoming “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” [Rom. viii, 17], to that glorious inheritance. We wait for “the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies;” for we are saved by hope. Rom. viii, 23, 24. “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies.” Rom. viii, 10. “For this mortal must put on immortality;” then “death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?” 1 Cor. xv.

I claim no immortality by virtue of creation, but would humbly take the lower seat and wait with patience until the coming of my Lord; and I am “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ” [Tit. ii, 13] “when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe,” [2 Thess. i, 10], and be called by him in the resurrection morn to take a higher seat in that immortal state with my blessed Saviour as the purchase of his blood. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” 2 Cor. 4, 7.

Let us go back to the head of the stream, where [Rom. v, 12] “sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Gen. i, 26. “And God said let us make man in our image.” Image, “A representation or similitude of any person or thing formed of a material substance.” Web. “After our likeness.” Likeness, “Resemblance in form; similitude; external appearance.” Web. Verse 27. “So God created man in his own image.” Create, “To cause to exist; to make or produce from new combination of matter already created; to shape and organize.” Web. Gen. ii, 7. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.” Make, “To form of materials; to fashion; to mould into shape.” Web. “And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Breath in the original is translated into our language spirit. Webster says, “Spirit, primarily, wind; air in motion; hence breath; animal excitement, life, mind.” “And man became a living soul.” A living creature, a living man—living soul and living creature are both of them taken from the same word in the original, and mean one and the same thing. Verse 17. “For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Die, “To cease to live.” Web. Gen. iii, 3. “God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it lest ye die.” Verse 19, “For dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.” Death, “That state of being in which there is a total cessation of all the vital functions, the state of the dead.” Web. Rom. v, 12. “By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin.” 1 Cor. xv. “The first man is of the earth earthy”; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” “For since by man came death (the first death, a literal material death), by man came also the resurrection of the dead (brought back from the first death into life); for as in Adam all die (return to the dust), even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (by a resurrection provided in the gospel for all by Christ).

Mark xvi, 16. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (receive glory, immortality, eternal life. Rom. ii, 7.), “but he that believeth not shall be damned,” condemned, fail to obtain immortality; have no part in the book of life [Rev. xx, 15], be judged according to his works and “cast into the lake of fire which is the second death” [Rev. xx, 13-15] from which there is no resurrection, it being the final “overlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” 2 Thess. i, 9.

Destroy, “To ruin; to annihilate by demolishing or burning; to devour; to consume, to cause to cease; to put an end to.” Web.

Immortality, “Having no principle of alteration or corruption; exempt from death.” Web. Man was not made exempt from death; he has altered and changed from good to bad, and will have to be changed again before he becomes immortal. If you say that death was physical, moral, or spiritual, in either case he has altered and changed from his original state, and therefore was not immortal.

“In Adam all die” [1 Cor. xv], and return to the dust (the first death) without one glimmer of hope of a future existence until it is found in the glorious plan of redemption through Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. Man was placed on a second probation; life and immortality were brought to light through the gospel [2 Tim. i, 10] and provision was made for all who would accept offered mercy. Salvation is offered to all who will receive it; and they that believe and obey the gospel receive immortality and eternal life as the gift of God through Jesus Christ, while those who reject the invitations of the gospel and slight offered mercy shall reap the reward of their doings; for they shall be destroyed without remedy. James i, 15. “Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.” Acts iii, 23. “Shall be destroyed.” Phil. iii, 19. “Whose end is destruction.” Isa. i, 28. “Shall be consumed.” Heb. x, 17. “Which shall devour the adversaries.” Heb. vi, 8. “Whose end is to be burned.” Ps. xxi, 9. “The fire shall devour them.” 2 Pet. ii, 12. “Shall utterly perish.” Ps. cxlv, 20. “But all the wicked will be destroyed.” Rom. viii, 13. “For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die.” “The soul that sinneth shall die.” Rom. vi, 23. “For the wages of sin is death.” Mal. iv. “Shall burn them up.”

What stronger language could possibly be used than the above to express the final destruction of the wicked? Man is a finite being, and is not capable of performing an infinite act, nor of receiving an infinite penalty for a finite act. To ascribe natural immortality to man by virtue of creation, would be to rob God and Christ of the glory due in the plan of redemption, for immortality and eternal life which is brought to light in the gospel through Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead.

The wicked are spoken of in the Bible as the most combustible materials; as chaff, withered branches, fruitless fig-trees, tares of the field, stubble; and the day that cometh shall

burn them up saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

And now I have quoted a few of the many passages of scripture, and given my theological and lexicographical rule, and have proved by high authority my position. There is however, one passage that I have not quoted that might seem to be high authority against my position if it had come from the right source. Gen. iii, 4, 5. I do not think that passage will invalidate the testimony that I have given, in the minds of the lovers of Bible truth. That truth may triumph, and error flee away is my desire and prayer to God.

L. MAXSON.

Alfred Center, N. Y.