The Spirit of God As Fire Part 11

St. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, says: "_If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable._"

No wonder that he came to such conclusion, when he knew that kings, rulers, and the populace were overwhelmingly against the few disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that persecutions, bonds, imprisonment, and even violent death were in store for many of them.

But hear him again:

"Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

"Now I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of G.o.d. 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 corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Death shall be swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to G.o.d, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

That there will be a resurrection of our spiritual bodies, is plainly taught in the Old and in the New Testament scriptures. We have already shown this conclusively in our opening chapter on "The Immortality of the Soul, and a future State of Existence." But had doubts remained in the minds of any, we think St. Paul--as quoted above--removes them, and sets the matter at rest.

St. John, the revelator, tells us that while in the spirit, the scene of the judgment was brought before his vision. He says:

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d, and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

Now we understand that this general judgment will be at the close of the time allotted to this world. Whether that period is far remote or near at hand, no one knoweth save G.o.d himself; "no, not even the angels of heaven." But as to that time, it matters not, so far as salvation and a condition of happiness to the righteous is concerned, nor to the wicked, as regards future punishment. Revelations and the Word of G.o.d establish the fact that as soon as the soul, or spirit leaves the body, it enters upon its future and final condition, whether of happiness or misery, "Lazarus died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and in h.e.l.l he lifted up his eyes, being in torment." The Saviour, while suspended upon the cross, manifested His pardoning and saving power to the thief, forgave his sins, accepted him, and said: "To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

Under the circ.u.mstances--the extreme sufferings and agonies the Saviour was enduring at the time--some have cavilled at this exhibition of grace and pardoning mercy to the dying thief. Let it be remembered, His mission was to save sinners. And that it is written, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

Here is a plain exhibition of the possibility, and plan of salvation to _all_. This thief had sinned; and had also violated the laws of his country, and in rebuking his fellow culprit in crime--who had reviled the Saviour--he acknowledged his own guilt by saying, "this man suffereth innocently; yet we are guilty, and justly deserve our punishment." Indeed, he seemed to be the _first_ to comprehend Christ's kingdom, and the plan of salvation through faith in Him. By faith, he grasped the hope, then springing from the Cross whereon the Saviour hung, and penitently cried unto the Redeemer of the world, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." See this flash of light in the midst of spiritual darkness, dismay, and surrounding gloom--even the light of immortality and eternal life! All the followers had forsaken the dying Redeemer, and those who had been his acknowledged disciples were fleeing in dismay, and even Peter denied his Lord and Master with an oath. The hope of the world's deliverance; through the Messiah, seemed lost. Yet here was one--even a poor dying thief--whose faith penetrated the veil, and _he_ saw that Christ's kingdom was not of this world. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise made to all who believe in Him; with a heart unto righteousness, was vouchsafed to him. We look upon this as the strongest exhibition of faith the world had ever yet known. And we think the evidence conclusive, that as soon as the soul leaves the body--this tenement of clay--it enters at once upon its future condition of happiness, or of misery.

Of the certainty of the final resurrection of our bodies--changed and transformed into spiritual bodies--and of a general judgment, the Scripture revelations are plain and conclusive. May we not therefore, for a few moments, contemplate the eventful, and, to some, the pleasant, yet to others the startling scene?

That the bodies of some who lived on this earth have already undergone this great, and to us mysterious change of "corruption putting on incorruption," and "mortal putting on immortality," we cannot doubt.

This seems manifest in the case of Elijah, and so also, as seems evident, with Moses. And it will be remembered that these two appeared in their heavenly vestments; bright and s.h.i.+ning, and stood with the Saviour when he was transfigured on the Mount. So also at the time of the crucifixion of the Son of G.o.d. When, at the last moment of his expiring agony he cried to his Father, with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost; the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent, and the graves were opened, "and many bodies of the Saints that slept arose."

And to make this--seeming mystery--more clear to those He had commissioned to preach His everlasting gospel--the power of which should be the resurrection from the dead--the Saviour himself, after His body had risen from the grave, appeared unto them--His disciples--and thus gave them a _visible manifestation_ of this wondrous truth, and re-commissioned them to go forth into all the world and proclaim _his own resurrection_, and that by repentance and faith all might come to a _resurrection of life_.

_THE RESURRECTION._

Therefore, behold, the time cometh when "all that are in their graves, shall hear His voice"--even the voice of G.o.d--and the angel shall sound the trumpet, and its tones of melody and the voice of love will move earth and seas, from centre to circ.u.mference, and awake into immortal life the decayed bodies and mouldering dust of His sleeping children. "For the dead in Christ shall rise first," and "blessed are they who have part in the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power." "They shall have a right to the tree of life."

See the myriads of sepulchres and graves opening, and saints rising in the light of the "glory of G.o.d," and millions of the sheeted dead--who have slept beneath the bosom of "deep blue seas;" in the depths of oceans, or were swept away by floods and flowing rivers--rising and riding in triumph upon the swelling, bright-crested waves which sparkle in the resplendent glory-light of heaven.

"See these all arrayed in white, Brighter than the noon-day sun."

These come forth at their Creator's call, and now at His bidding, the happy reunion of the long separated partners--souls and bodies--takes place, and the vast realm resounds with shouts of triumph and songs of praise. While the "_Morning Stars_" who sang the _pean_ of Creation, and the angelic host--who celebrated in the hill-country of Judea, the advent of the Saviour on earth to ransom fallen man--join in melody and again swell the loud anthem, "GLORY TO G.o.d IN THE HIGHEST!" Then shall be repeated the saying which was written, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" "Thanks be to G.o.d who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And, ascending again with their resurrected glorified bodies, the voice of the archangel Gabriel--who sounded their resurrection trumpet--will be heard from the portal of heaven, throughout the vast domain. BEHOLD THEY COME!

We would fain close this chapter with these delightful reflections, and leave the minds of all free from fearful apprehensions, and happy in the contemplation of a future resurrection to the enjoyment of a blissful immortality and eternal life. But the Laws of G.o.d are stern and inflexible in their requirements; His judgments sure; His revelations plain, and all are in duty bound to contemplate them.

We have told you that at His _call_ "the righteous shall come forth to a resurrection of life." And now we have to record the fact that--at His _command_--"the wicked shall come forth to a resurrection of d.a.m.nation." To contemplate or depict the scene startles the mind, and baffles and beggars the human intellect.

We fancy a death-like silence prevails throughout the earth and seas, and the vast domain of Heaven. Songs of triumph, and shouts of joy, of both saints and angels, have ceased for one hour of eternity. The Judge ascends His throne, from which to issue His command. The four and twenty Elders remove their glittering crowns of gold, and bow before Him. Moses and Elijah, and all the prophets, apostles, and martyrs are there. There the redeemed of the Lord--whom no man can number--are a.s.sembled with legions of angels. All bow before the Lord, and "there is silence in Heaven." Hark! the command was given! The voice of the final judgment-trumpet; in thunder tones, waxes louder and louder! and seems to shake heaven itself, with its surrounding universe of worlds. It is the trumpet-voice of the "WRATH OF G.o.d"

summoning the wicked of a sin-cursed world, to arise and come to judgment.

See! the Earth is convulsed from the centre to its circ.u.mference, and is "rocking to and fro, as a drunken man." Graves are opening on every hand, and from all the Earth, from deep dark seas and oceans' depths, behold the pale, _ghastly_ mult.i.tudes coming forth, filled with terror and dismay. Mountains are sinking, and valleys rising, like surgings of contending billows; and their rocky foundations, though ten thousand feet deep, are breaking into fragments! A tempest of G.o.d's fiery indignation is smiting the Earth! Hear the muttering thunders of the judgment storm! see the dread lightnings flas.h.i.+ng amidst the surrounding gloom! The internal magazine-fires of the Earth are belching forth their molten lava, which is lifting the deep foundations of seas and oceans into mountain-peaks, and rolling _fiery billows_. See! behold! the Universal conflagration of the world! seas, oceans, and all the Earth, one vast sheet of _flame_. While the angel (which John saw) "_standing in the Sun_" calls in thunder tones, ARISE YE DEAD AND COME TO JUDGMENT! And then swears by Him, that liveth forever and ever, "TIME SHALL BE NO LONGER."

The unnumbered millions of resurrected bodies of the wicked would fain refuse a reunion with their long lost souls, and fall back and be consumed or annihilated by the raging elements. But now, for the wicked there is no place of safety. They refused the refuge once freely offered them in the "cleft side of the Redeemer," and trifled away their days of grace, and now the stern reality of the threatened judgment is upon them. Their souls, perhaps, have already suffered for thousands of years in fiery torments, and now death and h.e.l.l give up their dead to a reunion, that all may receive their final sentence from the "Judge of quick and dead" to depart and "dwell in everlasting burnings."

In their direful extremity they would fain "flee from the presence of G.o.d." Hear them calling upon the fiery whirlwind-tempest of rocks, and moving mountains "to fall on them, and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," and crying aloud, "BEHOLD! THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH HAS COME; WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?" Yet these fragments of a convulsed and dismembered universe are restrained from performing such office of mercy, and by the Word--which created them--are hurled back into the raging chaotic storm, to "melt with fervent heat" and mingle with the elements in the convulsive throes of a _wrecked world_, which is being consumed by the "SPIRIT-FIRES" OF JEHOVAH'S WRATH.

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and h.e.l.l delivered up the dead which were in them; and I saw the dead small and great stand before G.o.d, and they were judged according to their works. And death and h.e.l.l were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire; and the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of G.o.d, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation. And I saw an angel standing in the Sun. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the Sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire; and men were scorched with great heat. And they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever."

_A SERIOUS CONTEMPLATION._

The contemplation of the final judgment, and the sentence to be pa.s.sed upon the wicked, is truly a solemn one, and should startle every mind, But oh, how few, comparatively, seem to stop and reflect upon this momentous subject? And yet _all_ are rapidly hastening on to their final doom. Few are aware of the vast numbers that are pa.s.sing from time into eternity--even each year, each month, each day each hour, or each minute.

We will here state the numbers, as well ascertained, or approximated, by the ablest staticians of the world. They tell us there is one death for every second of time, 60 every minute; 3,600 every hour; 84,400 every day; 2,595,000 every month; 31,140,000 every year, and a number equal to the entire population of the globe, _viz._: _one thousand millions_ every thirty years. And we are forced to the conclusion, that by far the larger portion of adults pa.s.s away without any conscious knowledge of the plan of salvation, or a tenable hope of heaven.

Reader, stop and reflect. No matter what your age, your condition of health, or in life, you, too, must soon know the realities of your future; your eternal state of existence.

We have heard the remark from the unG.o.dly, that if they failed to reach heaven, they would, at least, "be with a large crowd." Yes, we have no doubt of it. For we read of "legions of devils," and there will also be legions from _earth_ to be tormented by them. Now we appeal to the reason of every intelligent mind, can you expect to enjoy happiness in your eternal existence, amid devouring flames?

We learn that devils are fallen angels. Once they enjoyed happiness in that heavenly world, and were, doubtless, G.o.d's messengers; oft sent to different regions of His empire to do His pleasure. Yet viewing the grandeur and glory of G.o.d, it appears that the great Dragon--who had the control of many angels--enlisted them to sustain him in some unlawful usurpation. This was resisted by Michael and his angels, "and there was war in heaven." Michael and his angels prevailed, and the great Dragon, "that old serpent called the devil, and satan, was cast out, and his angels were cast out with him;" "neither was their place found any more in heaven." These, we learn, are the wicked spirits, which go to and fro, up and down, through the earth, tempting man to sin, and to do wickedly. Satan is the prince of the powers of darkness, and he and his minions are ever arrayed against the prince of life and salvation. And man as a free moral agent--having life and death set before him--is left the free choice as to whom he will serve. If your choice be the G.o.d who created all things by the word of His power, and whose glory is the light of eternal day, serve Him. But if Baal, the prince of darkness, whose reign is terror and death, then serve him. "Ye cannot serve two masters at once."

Remember! When death shall come and claim you for its victim, with the cessation of mortal life, there is cessation of all the sensations and faculties of your _human nature_. You will not be moved upon to the enjoyment of pleasure by human pa.s.sions or desires. These, as realized here, will forever cease, and the spirit can no more be controlled by flesh and blood, nor by human desires. Yet that immortal principle--the soul--will be susceptible of ineffable happiness, or of intense misery. Will it be any comfort or pleasure to you to know that others are, like yourself, doomed to suffer eternal torments? to witness their agonies, and hear their wailings in that pandemonium of the lost? Think for a moment, of the rich man--Dives--who realized those torments. No hope for him in the future; his day of probation had pa.s.sed; his eternal state was fixed; yet he prayed Father Abraham to send Lazarus back to this world, to warn his five brethren, lest they also should come to that place of torment. Remember, that as death leaves the body, so judgment finds the soul, for the prophet has warned you that,

"There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest."

_THE FINAL JUDGMENT._

"_The Lord shall endure forever, he hath prepared his throne for judgment." "We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ."

"Then every one of us shall give an account of himself to G.o.d."_

_"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d; and the books were opened, * * * and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."_

_"Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;" * * * "an entrance shall be administered unto you abundantly;" * * * "enter ye in through the gates into the city;" * * * "enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."_

_"Then shall he say also unto them on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." "These shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."_

_A HOME IN HEAVEN._

Our pilgrimage on earth is one of unrest, is one of toil, sorrow, and affliction. Here we have no abiding place, "no continuing city." Our "days on earth are few, and are full of trouble." There is no permanency here. From the time of the first infant breath and short unconscious slumber on a mother's bosom to the latest hour and moment of life, we are ever restless and moving onward, and endure all the disquietude and sufferings of mind and body incident to our mortal existence. The original sin of our first parents, blighted all hope of permanence or enduring happiness on this earth. At the time of their fall, G.o.d p.r.o.nounced as to our existence here, saying: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." "And the spirit shall return to G.o.d who gave it."

Yet to the true and faithful followers of the blessed Redeemer--who ransomed the world by the pouring out of His own blood, and opened up a way whereby we may escape the further penalties of a violated law--rest will come by-and-by. "There is rest for the weary," and mansions prepared for them in the "City of G.o.d," in that better world.