1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

sacrifice) for divine nature, it means, the lifting up (at onebound--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye) to the fullperfection of the new nature--the divine nature; not gradually,but instantly, from mortality to immortality, from weakness topower, from dishonor to glory, from a natural body to a spiritualbody; because their trial is fully past before death. And all whoshall be accounted worthy of the first [chief] resurrection willhave been already proved "overcomers," "faithful until death,"and "worthy," or they would not have part at all in that chiefresurrection.Blessed and holy, proved and accepted, are all they that havepart in the first resurrection. And while all others shall share inthe general resurrection, none but holy ones shall ever reach itsgrand climax-- perfect life;--for everlasting life is the gift of God(through Jesus Christ our Lord); and he gives it to none of thewilfully wicked or rebellious, but only to such as will serve,honor and obey him, when their knowledge and opportunitiesare perfect. All shall be awakened and brought to full knowledgebefore being sentenced as "wicked." But the wicked shall neversee life.--Psa. 145:20; Heb. 10:26,27; John 3:36.====================R1107 : page 6THEY THAT SHALLATTAIN RESURRECTION."They that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that age and theresurrection from among the dead, neither marry nor are givenin marriage."-- Luke 20:25.We do not here treat the subject, "Whose wife shall she be?"having already considered it. (See, TOWER of March '87.) Wewish now merely to draw attention to the harmony between theabove words of our Lord and the foregoing view, on themeaning of the word resurrection, as applied to the world,showing the class worthy of it, and how the worthiness orunworthiness of each will be demonstrated by their conduct,when awakened from death.We cannot understand our Lord's words, to apply to the saints,the church, who will share in the first resurrection; for theinquiry and conversation were regarding another class, and byanother class. The Lord's answer applied to ordinary Jews whoknew nothing about the first resurrection, the reward offollowing the Lord in sacrifice.The Millennial age is an age of trial, a transition period, andhence was not the age looked to by the question of theSadducees who wished to know how matters would be finallyand everlastingly. Our Lord's answer meets the question exactly;he does not explain how it will be during the Millennial age,