Resurrection - Continuing Study.

 Act 24:15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, though some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. 

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust (continued)

By J.H. Waggoner

"WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES?" 

In examining the Scriptures, I will arrange the texts under certain propositions, to give a better view of my objections to the non-resurrection theory…

Our relation to the judgment of God is a most solemn and important matter, and we cannot be too careful how we reason upon it, or to what conclusions we come in regard to it. If our errors do not result disastrously to ourselves, they may yet prove stumbling-blocks to others, by leading them to presume upon the mercy of God, and to detract from that judgment and justice which is the habitation of his throne. Such, and so dangerous, I think, is the tendency of this non-resurrection theory.

Other texts of like import might be adduced, but the design is to prove the positions taken, not to try to exhaust the proofs thereon.

(Objections to the non-resurrection theory---)

(CONTINUED)

And now, inasmuch as the apostles spoke by the same Spirit which was conferred upon them by the Lord Jesus, and which is also called the Spirit of Christ, when they spoke of "the day of judgment," they must have meant exactly what he meant when he spoke of "the day of judgment." ((The apostles meant what Jesus meant when they too spoke of a day of judgment in their inspired words to us.))

And here let it be remarked, that this is not an arbitrary condition by which a forced construction is put upon his language to make it harmonize with that of the apostles, but, to the contrary, his language perfectly agrees with theirs, and must be forced to make it  refer to something beside that which by them is defined to be "the day of judgment." ((Those wishing to change the meanings of God's word in the Bible have to force it to fit their lies.)) 

Thus in Matt. 10:15, referring to the city which should reject him, he said, "It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city." Also in chapter 11:23, 24, he upbraids Capernaum, with threatening, and says, "It shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee."

((Note- IN the DAY of judgment - both texts))

On this text, Eld. Storrs remarks:

"Now observe, the day of judgment here spoken of is the day of Capernaum's visitation for its disregard of Jesus' works. Sodom was judged, overthrown, and did not "remain until this day' in which Christ spoke; therefore judgment had been executed upon that city. Now what? The day of Capernaum's judgment was at hand, and it should be more intolerable than the infliction on Sodom." Life from the Dead, p. 56.

((It will be more tolerable… in the DAY of JUDGMENT, than it was for Sodom and Gomorrah. We KNOW that Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the fate of being wiped out of existence- that's factual. Fire rained down on the city destroying everyone and everything. ON -- future tense -- the DAY of JUDGMENT the city spoken of in those texts is going to suffer MORE than Sodom and Gomorrah did. NO cities have suffered the raining down of fire since Sodom and Gomorrah, more so than they did. No city with ALL its inhabitants has had their entire population irradicated from a DAY of JUDGMENT by God. To go further than total annihilation would mean what? The suffering more extreme, longer lasting, permanent for all with no hope of rising from the dead when Christ returns because He will have returned! This is what it means by Sodom and Gomorrah having it MORE tolerable, it has to be to make any sense at all.))

Now look at the text, and the facts in the case, and judge whether such remarks are just. Is it a fact that any judgment yet inflicted on Capernaum was more intolerable than that inflicted on Sodom? What special visitation came upon her, exceeding that which came upon Sodom? None. 

Her, inhabitants died as other generations had; and the city itself passed away as many others had before, and have since. 

Evidently the Saviour's prediction REMAINS TO BE FULFILLED. But again, the Saviour does not say it shall be more intolerable for Capernaum in the day of her judgment than it was for Sodom in the day of hers. This is the construction put upon the text in the extract quoted. But the words of Jesus throw Sodom forward into the judgment, thus: "It shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment." The day of judgment is never used in the Scriptures but in such manner as to indicate exactly what Peter affirms it to be, viz., THE FUTURE DAY OF RETRIBUTION. 

We must allow the words of Christ and his apostles to harmonize, for so they do in fact; and the natural construction of the Saviour's language does place the day of judgment in the future, as do the words of the apostles, and also brings Sodom into that day. 

Another consideration is here involved, which should not be lost sight of. If the day of judgment for that generation is in the past, and that infliction was their final punishment it follows that inasmuch as Lot was delivered from the terrors of that day, he has had his final deliverance. For on what principle is Lot made a subject of two judgments more than the other men of his age? 

But if it be affirmed that there is a future, final deliverance for Lot, as all will affirm, can that fact be more clearly proved by the Scriptures than can the relative fact that the wicked are "reserved" to the day of judgment to be punished? The events of that day were either final, or they were not. If they were final, then Lot has had his reward; if they were not, then our opponents are wrong in their theory and conclusions. 

And so of Noah, and of all others who have escaped what we denominate temporal or special judgments. If the judgments from which they were delivered were not temporal or special, but final, as our opponents affirm, then Noah, Lot, etc, have had deliverance from the final judgments of their respective ages, and therefore cannot look for a deliverance in the future, not pertaining to the judgments assigned to their ages. This conclusion is unavoidable, and I see no possible way for the opposers of the resurrection of the wicked to escape its  consequences.

To Be Continued….