The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-04
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Dead.
a Millenarian View

MeSSrS. EdetorS,-An article in your
issue of 2lst ult., "Our Record Books, y
has engendered good deal of thought
upon the subject of the last day, when
the dead shall be summoned before the
great white throne"
The first question 1 would ask, after
reading. this solemnly graphic picture of
the final sentence of the souls of men. is ::
Who are these dead? To get at the an
swer let us examine this same Scripture,
(Rev. Xxx chapter) a part of which was
quoted in the said article.
The angel binds Satan, shuts him up
in the bottomless pit, and sets a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations
no more, till the thousand years should
be fulfilled Then this picture is pre-
sented to the spiritual eyes of the Evan
gellst: And | saw thrones, and then sat
upon them, and judgment was given unto
them, &c. The little word they brings
out, as it were, the fulflment of Scrip
lures well known to most believers, but
little understood by many. eff we suf-
fer, we shall also reign with him" 2 Tim.
II: z. And hast made us unto our God
kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth, Rev. V: 10. "Do ye not
know that the saints Gail believers in Je-
sns) shall judge the world?" X
Know ye not that we shall Judge an
gels2" 2 Cor. Vi: 2, 3.
The judgment given unto the saints in
these quotations does not follow but goes
before the great white throne" picture,
and must therefore count out, or relieve
all saints from any participation as Gull
prits In that scene. They are living with,
and are one with Christ, wherever He is
The 9th verse says, But the rest of the
dead lived net again until the thousand
years were finished" Can words be
plainer?" The crest of the dead" must
refer to all who are not with Christ, and
they are the lost souls from the days of
Adam to the end of the ages who are
here congregated around the great white
throne, every man to be judged accord
ing to his works.
Further 1t is said of the first picture,
{" This is the first resurrection. Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection on such the second death
(the second picture) hath no power"
The great apostle Paul desired to be one
OF the characters in the first scene when
he was inspired to write, eff by any
means | might attain unto the resurrec-
ton of the dead" The second picture is
unfolded after the thousand years have
expired, when Satan is let loose for lit
tie season to deceive the nations and bring
them together to battle against the saints
Then it is, after the final shutting up
of Satan, that the judgment is set and the
books are opened. "And the dead were
judged out of those things which were
written in the books" The word "books"
does not necessarily include the "book of
life" Death and hell" are judged
death and he'll" are cast into the lake
Of fire. Then blows: "This is the Sec
ond death" Finally: If the saints, who
sit with Christ On His throne, having been
called unto His kingdom and glory
are accounted worthy to have part in the
resurrection of the just and on whom
the second death hatk no powerfully
will they put themselves, as many do, in
that company Of the wicked dead" be-
fore the "great white throne" The two
pictures are referred to in 9 Tim. iv: /,
II charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall Judge
the quick (depitted in Matt. 25th) and
the dead (Rey. 2Dth) at his appearing and
his kingdom" w.