1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

94 "THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE"
be a change in the nature of his followers, resulting
in their changing to spirit creatures in the
resurrection .-1 Corinthians 15 :51-54, NW.
4 Before our first parents there was set the opportunity
for everlasting life on earth, with never
a promise of being taken body and soul to heaven .
If they never ate of the forbidden fruit they were
merely promised a continuance of life as human
souls, in earthly perfection and under the rulership
of the universal Sovereign, Jehovah God .
But in unmistakable language God said : "Of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die ." Genesis 2 :16, 17
It follows that if Adam never ate of it as long as
God's prohibition rested on it, he would never
die off the earth of which he was a living part .
For him the test must result in either life or
death, existence or non-existence .
5 Adam and Eve's children were born outside
the paradise of Eden . They never had a chance to
eat of the forbidden fruit, and so they were not
directly on trial in Eden. Adam and Eve's judgment
was over with in Eden before their being
driven out, but not so with their unborn offspring .
Hence inescapably these were born dying, or with
death reserved for them . But God's own Word
shows when and why they were appointed to die
and after this to have a judgment . This appoint-
4 . What was the opportunity set before Adam for faithfulness?
5 . How was it reserved for men once to die, followed
by judgment?