1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
====================R293 : page 7"WHO CAN HEAR IT?"An idea sometimes becomes so imbedded in our minds, somuch a part of ourselves, as that we can scarcely part with it.Yet how many of our ideas we have found it necessary tomodify, the reason doubtless being that now we see as through asmoked glass, dimly. To very many it becomes a trial to have along-cherished theory interfered with; but to all who have thechildlike spirit of Christ, viz.: a readiness to take the Father'sword unhesitatingly (not man's word), to such there is notrouble, for they say: I know nothing at all on the subject, and ifI have received an idea unsupported by God's word I don't wantit. I want truth, not my own ideas; give me truth, no matter whatidol it may overthrow.To such only, we have a word to say touching the longcherishedidea, that some of those now living would never die aphysical death. We want to say to you that the Scriptures uponwhich that idea has been based, when critically considered to not(in our judgment) support the thought; and other Scriptures seemto teach positively that all who will be members of the body--Christ, must like their head, example, forerunner, die physically.Carefully examine the subject in the light of the followingremarks on texts usually regarded as the basis of the idea that wewill be exempted from physical death, and should you find anyother texts which you consider evidence of the old idea, pleaseinform us.In 1 Thes. 4:15,17, we read-- That we which are alive andremain unto the coming (parousia--presence) of the Lord shallnot prevent [hinder] them which are asleep. For the Lord...shalldescend... and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we whichare alive and remain shall be caught up together [or also] with[or to] them, &c."Now we do not claim that anything here mentioned, indicatesthat the saints who remain over to this time of the Lord'spresence will die; but we do claim that nothing in this textteaches that their human bodies will not die. This Scripture doesnot mention what change they will undergo before being joinedto the Lord; in fact the change is not mentioned here at all. Butthe same apostle elsewhere informs us that a change must takeplace, because "flesh and blood" cannot inherit the kingdom ofGod--we must all be "changed" to spiritual bodies.Let us next look at 1 Cor. 15:51, for it mentions the changeparticularly, and let us notice carefully whether Paul says weshall be changed without dying, as we have always supposed hedoes. We read: "Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all
sleep but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinklingof an eye;...the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall bechanged." We received our impression that our earthly bodywould not die, from the above statement regarding sleep, butwho cannot see that the human body might be dissolved and wethe new creatures be delivered from it and so quickly clothedupon with our spiritual body, that not a moment for sleep wouldintervene. If time should intervene between the dissolution ofour earthly house (human nature) and the receiving of ourspiritual body we should be obliged to sleep, as the Apostles and"all who sleep in Jesus." But that sleep has always been anundesirable thing; therefore with the apostle we can say that weare anxious, not to be unclothed (asleep without either human orspiritual body) but we prefer if the will of God be such, that weshould be of the class alive when the Lord has come, so thatinstead of being even for a moment in the unclothed (or sleep)condition, we might be clothed upon, or receive that spiritual atthe same moment we part with the old human house. And this insubstance Paul here states--all will not sleep for to some thechange will be in a moment, in an eye twinkling.One thing is sure, we must leave the flesh sometime, andwhenever or however it may be, it will be the death ordissolution and end of the human to all who become fullrecipients of the divine.Now notice the words of Jesus, concerning John. John, we havelong since seen to be a type or representative of the last part ofthe church--those who are alive and remain unto the presence ofthe Lord and who shall be changed. Jesus said of ourrepresentative, John: "If I will that he tarry till I come what isthat to thee," Peter? Then went that saying abroad among thedisciples, that that disciple should not die; howbeit Jesus saidnot that he should not die but, if I will that he tarry till I come,"&c. (John 21:22.) Just so, dear brethren, it has been with thecompany typified by John; the saying has gone abroad and hasbeen generally received that this part of the church will not die:Howbeit when we examine the evidences, we find that neitherJesus nor the apostles said we should not die, but that we wouldtarry till the Master's presence and be changed in a moment andnot sleep.Now notice the positive teaching that all of "the body" will dieand then mark the necessity of death. It was no less an authoritythan Paul who said: If we be dead with him we shall also livewith him; and if we have been planted in the likeness of hisdeath, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection--desiring therefore to be made conformable unto his death.Does some one object that these words are applicable to thedaily life of Paul and of us and suggest that we are to be "livingsacrifices." Very true, so we have taught and so we still believe,but while our dying commences at our consecration, it does not
- Page 389 and 390: in fashion as a man, he humbled him
- Page 391 and 392: -the Lamb's wife--"To him that over
- Page 393 and 394: The words Incorruptible, Incorrupti
- Page 395 and 396: a mediator--a person who stands bet
- Page 397 and 398: God actually takes man's sins away
- Page 399 and 400: from among the people."--Acts 3:22.
- Page 401 and 402: learn that when in that parable he
- Page 403 and 404: off) for your sakes: but as touchin
- Page 405 and 406: quitting; are you willing if this g
- Page 407 and 408: now, inasmuch as you are an heir of
- Page 409 and 410: R286 : page 1VOL. III.PITTSBURGH, P
- Page 411 and 412: In harmony with this same thought w
- Page 413 and 414: This earthly part of the kingdom is
- Page 415 and 416: As we saw in the July number, in th
- Page 417 and 418: And as we saw some time since (Arti
- Page 419 and 420: We care not Lord for earthly fame,I
- Page 421 and 422: disappointed once and consequently
- Page 423 and 424: and to become his bride. "The Bride
- Page 425 and 426: The Lord's answer to those knocking
- Page 427 and 428: The character of the song to be tau
- Page 429 and 430: ====================R290 : page 5IN
- Page 431 and 432: probably designed as a ripener to s
- Page 433 and 434: out their consecration vows--the bo
- Page 435 and 436: one member suffer all the members s
- Page 437 and 438: Found the free Methodist's very fai
- Page 439: ejoicing is apparent among the mult
- Page 443 and 444: We are on the race course for life,
- Page 445 and 446: THE CHART OF THE AGES.At a consider
- Page 447 and 448: perfect harmony with what we have a
- Page 449 and 450: that would be a church meeting--an
- Page 451 and 452: established. And if he shall neglec
- Page 453 and 454: -(Matt. 28:19, and 11:27.) "He is L
- Page 455 and 456: Father, and that "God hath both rai
- Page 457 and 458: age during the reign of The Christ
- Page 459 and 460: R299 : page 1VOL. III.PITTSBURGH, P
- Page 461 and 462: us not only with admiration, but wi
- Page 463 and 464: A question of the first importance
- Page 465 and 466: Apparently God had another reason f
- Page 467 and 468: These letters have just come to han
- Page 469 and 470: "partakers of the divine nature." W
- Page 471 and 472: head. This is complete immersion in
- Page 473 and 474: Yes, he went about doing good, spen
- Page 475 and 476: inheritance. The full inheritance w
- Page 477 and 478: the truth and show us things to com
- Page 479 and 480: To the class thus "blessed," there
- Page 481 and 482: Prince Jerome Boneparte. Others qui
- Page 483 and 484: did put down all enemies and that f
- Page 485 and 486: hindered the more rapid development
- Page 487 and 488: power resulted, as we have seen, in
- Page 489 and 490: death by Papacy--so that she is rep
====================R293 : page 7"WHO CAN HEAR IT?"An idea sometimes becomes so imbedded in our minds, somuch a part of ourselves, as that we can scarcely part with it.Yet how many of our ideas we have found it necessary tomodify, the reason doubtless being that now we see as through asmoked glass, dimly. To very many it becomes a trial to have along-cherished theory interfered with; but to all who have thechildlike spirit of Christ, viz.: a readiness to take the Father'sword unhesitatingly (not man's word), to such there is notrouble, for they say: I know nothing at all on the subject, and ifI have received an idea unsupported by God's word I don't wantit. I want truth, not my own ideas; give me truth, no matter whatidol it may overthrow.To such only, we have a word to say touching the longcherishedidea, that some of those now living would never die aphysical death. We want to say to you that the Scriptures uponwhich that idea has been based, when critically considered to not(in our judgment) support the thought; and other Scriptures seemto teach positively that all who will be members of the body--Christ, must like their head, example, forerunner, die physically.Carefully examine the subject in the light of the followingremarks on texts usually regarded as the basis of the idea that wewill be exempted from physical death, and should you find anyother texts which you consider evidence of the old idea, pleaseinform us.In 1 Thes. 4:15,17, we read-- That we which are alive andremain unto the coming (parousia--presence) of the Lord shallnot prevent [hinder] them which are asleep. For the Lord...shalldescend... and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we whichare alive and remain shall be caught up together [or also] with[or to] them, &c."Now we do not claim that anything here mentioned, indicatesthat the saints who remain over to this time of the Lord'spresence will die; but we do claim that nothing in this textteaches that their human bodies will not die. This Scripture doesnot mention what change they will undergo before being joinedto the Lord; in fact the change is not mentioned here at all. Butthe same apostle elsewhere informs us that a change must takeplace, because "flesh and blood" cannot inherit the kingdom ofGod--we must all be "changed" to spiritual bodies.Let us next look at 1 Cor. 15:51, for it mentions the changeparticularly, and let us notice carefully whether Paul says weshall be changed without dying, as we have always supposed hedoes. We read: "Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all
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