Searching the Scriptures on the State of the Dead
BRo. H. C. Miller writes from Oberlin, Ohio: Please send me the Review at this place. I believe you are doing God's work, and I think he is showing me the way of truth in answer to my earnest prayers. At a Bible-class, some six months ago, which I attended, I made the assertion that the dead were unconscious until the resurrection, little dreaming of the result. I immediately had the whole class including the pastor who led the class, in opposition to my views; and proof was demanded. Being unprepared at the time to advance proof from the Bible, never having given particular attention to the subject, I was forced to acknowledge my inability to furnish Bible evidence that evening. But my thoughts were awakened upon the subject. I have been praying God to lead me into the truth, and looking back now upon what has transpired since, I believe his hand is in what has occurred, to lead me to adopt the Advent view. As I said before, my mind had become awakened upon the subject, and I began to search the Scriptures for the proof. A friend providentially placed in my hands a tract called the "Hope of the Gospel" by J. N. Loughborough, which very much assisted me in the search. I soon had enough to convince any unprejudiced mind. The leader of the class ascertained that I was preparing for the conflict, and proposed taking up the subject with Matt. xxii, 23-32 as the lesson. We did not get through the first evening but the subject was postponed. At the second discussion, I gave them some plain direct passages, which they did not try to answer, but told me that the discussion would be adjourned, sine die. Thus the examination of the subject was closed. I do not wonder that such as I was, do not believe the truth on this point. But that theologians and Bible scholars should be misled is a wonder. Why is it? Whenever I give my views I am greeted with the cry, "Why you are a regular Advent." My reply is, "So were the apostles." Is it fear of being called a Millerite that leads them to reject the truth? No longer ago than last Sabbath I heard a divine make the assertion from the pulpit that man never dies; in the face and eyes of the fact that the biography of nearly all of the Old Testament worthies, closes with the statement "And he died." Man never dies! What direct contradiction of the declarations of the Bible.