any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
A false theory forces many to attach an erroneous meaning to the phrase eternal life, making it stand for eternal happiness. While eternal happiness is the sequence of eternal life, the one must not be confounded with the other. Since the testimonies given prove that eternal life is the gift of God to the righteous only, it follows that those who obtain the precious gift will enjoy a happy state of being. If wicked men live for ever, they live everlastingly; and surely to live everlastingly is eternal life. The place where they live can make no difference as to the duration of life. If we ask those who are unreasonable enough to believe in the eternal conscious existence of all wicked and depraved men, Do you believe the wicked will be tormented eternally,? they will answer yes. Then do you not believe they will live eternally in torment? Yes. Then if they live eternally, will not that be eternal life in torment? The difference, therefore, between the righteous and the wicked is only one of place and state in which they live eternally--both having eternal life, the one in happiness and the other in misery. Compare this theory with the testimonies given above, and it will be seen that it is far astray from the Word of God, which teaches that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Everlasting life for those who believe. No everlasting life for those who do not believe; but they perish.
14. The wicked and depraved who are not amenable die and remain dead
PROPOSITION 14.
Everlasting or Eternal Life Is Not a Present Possession, but a Matter of Promise and Hope of the Righteous
I John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, EVEN ETERNAL LIFE, through Jesus Christ.
II Tim. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God according to THE PROMISE OF LIFE which is in Christ Jesus.
Tit. 1:2 IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began.
Tit. 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Rom. 2:6, 7 Who will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honor and immortality, eternal life.
Col. 3:3, 4 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God; and when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN shall ye also appear with him in glory.
John 5:28, 29 All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life.
Gal. 6:8 He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.
Luke 20:35, 36 They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
A false theory forces many to attach an erroneous meaning to the phrase eternal life, making it stand for eternal happiness. While eternal happiness is the sequence of eternal life, the one must not be confounded with the other. Since the testimonies given prove that eternal life is the gift of God to the righteous only, it follows that those who obtain the precious gift will enjoy a happy state of being. If wicked men live for ever, they live everlastingly; and surely to live everlastingly is eternal life. The place where they live can make no difference as to the duration of life. If we ask those who are unreasonable enough to believe in the eternal conscious existence of all wicked and depraved men, Do you believe the wicked will be tormented eternally,? they will answer yes. Then do you not believe they will live eternally in torment? Yes. Then if they live eternally, will not that be eternal life in torment? The difference, therefore, between the righteous and the wicked is only one of place and state in which they live eternally--both having eternal life, the one in happiness and the other in misery. Compare this theory with the testimonies given above, and it will be seen that it is far astray from the Word of God, which teaches that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Everlasting life for those who believe. No everlasting life for those who do not believe; but they perish.
15. The wicked who are responsible of the dead and living will be destroyed after judgment
PROPOSITION 15.
The Wicked Who Are Responsible, of the Dead and the Living, Will Be Destroyed After Judgment and Condemnation
Acts 24:15 And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
II Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things in body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ezek. I8:4 Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE.
Prov. 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Psa. 37:10, 20 For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not be. * * · But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
MaI. 4:1, 3 For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leaves them neither root nor branch. * * * And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.
Matt. 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the tire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Matt. 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will bum up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
II Thes. 1:7–9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Now, a great many people will, when they are confronted with testimonies to prove that man is mortal, that he dies and is unconscious, and that the wicked are destroyed, proceed to theorize that such testimonies refer to the body only--not to the soul or real man. But, reader, can you satisfy yourself in the belief that God has taken so much pains to tell us that the body, as a mere house in which the man resides, dies? that when the Scriptures speak of the dead knowing "not any thing" it is simply the body that is unconscious, while the real man continues alive and conscious? Can you be fully persuaded
