The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-05
THE FUTURE LIFE
IF a Man Die He Shall Live
Again"
GODS REVEALED PLAN
Mans Immortality as Taught
in His Word.
THE SOUL NOT ANNIHILATED
There Can Be NO Human Soul Without
the Body Upon Which Gods
Spirit or Life Can
Operate.
THE SOUL NOT ANNIHILATED

book. That they were craven with an
| iron pen and lead in the rock forever!
| For | know that my Redeemer liveth
| and the He shall stand at the latter
DAY upon the earth: And though after
my Skin worms destroy this BODY. vet
IN my flesh shall l see God" Job 1929
to 26. -
The Apostle Peter tells rs that
prophecy came not in olden time bv
the viii of man; but holy men OF God
spoke as they were moved by the Holv
SPIRIT" So we see that, in Job 14tb
chaptef which was the basis of NV
former article. God unfolded inst
enough of truth for man to see that
the penalty for disobedience, was his
total annihilation, both soul and BODY.
and so completely that no hope of life
was left. This was done, not only to
show him his true condition but also
to prepare him for better apprecia-
ton of the great work of Redemption
and restitution.
Therefore when God revealed His
plan for bringing them back to life. IN
MS JOY, Job exclaimed 'tOh that nv
words were now (as he told of the Re-
deemeF) craven with an iron pen and
lead in the rock forever" From what
was he TO be redeemed? Those who
teach mans immortality per Sc. also
teach that when Pood man dies his
soul goes direct to heaven or some 9th
err place of bliss. Could Jobs iov have
been so great because he was to be re-
deemed from this spirit life? Hear
him! Il know that my Redeemer lfyeth
and that he shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth: And though after
my skin worms destroy this body yet
in my flesh shall / see God.
From this we gather the unmistaka-
bic truth, that. Job did not expect to
see God when his body died; but after
ats destruction by worms, and when
his Redeemer stood upon the earth at
the latter day, and had redeemed him
from death, he expected, in his flesh
mot as spirit to see God.
Thus attesting the fact, that there
can be no human intelligence or soul
without the body upon which Gods
spirit or life can operate, as shown in
my former communication.
Blessed is the man who, through the
light of Gods word can see enough of
His plan to join with the prophet in
the above joyful exclamation.
know that the Bible has been called
book of confusion because so
many different doctrines are appar-
entity taught from it; but when we
understand Gods plan in dealing with
the human race, we see that there is no
| confusion, no conflict of doctrines, but
/ that it is tremendously united from
| beginning to end on one great theme
| the redemption and restoration OF man.
That God had a well devised nan
| i'm view when He created lBhe earth Is
| amply attested in His word 1T was
| not created as a mere toy, soon to fall
/ to pieces. "The earth abideth for
| ever" Neither was man made as an
| idle speculation. God tells us that he
was made in His own image" and
capable of living forever. He also so
| arranged the earth thai it would have
remained home of peace and happi-
| ness for man upon the simple condi-
| ton of obedience. The penalty for
disobedience was death, which car.
ried with it the loss Of all perfect
earthly blessings.
As God could see into the future
He knew that man would not keeI
His law, and therefore must die So
in order to prevent His work from
failing, and to preserve the earth fol-
the purpose for which it was intend
ed 1.-THE home Of many He laid the plar
of redemption before man was Great
ed. As God has all wisdom and power
aud could see the end from the be
| ginning, we know He would not have
laid plan that would fail of success
But for the purpose of testing man
and showing him his dependence upor
God, and the great trouble that would
follow disobedience, also to better pre-
pare him for an everlasting life of hap
piness, God permitted evil to enter
the world. Man yielded and in so do
ing brought death and its conse
| quences upon his race. Now what diC
he lose by disobedience? Simply thu
right to live on earth forever, per
feet, happy earthly being. God gave
no intimation that He would even exal
him above this.
The main object, therefore of re
demption and restitution, was to res
tore him to his former position or
earth, and not to elevate him to spiri
life, equal with God and Christ, and t.
give him home in heaven. This
would have put premium on sin by
giving him more than he was promised
for obedience.
Our Savior is the highest authority
we have as to His mission on earth
He emphasized more than once tha-
1.-THE Son of Man came to seek and IL
save that which was lost" Now wha
was lost? AS we have already seen
perfect earthly life and no right
whatever to a spiritual existence OF
home in heaven.
But, as a part of the great plan Of
redemption, God had determined tt
select from among men little flock,
which He has designated by many en-
dearing names such as his "Choser
| people" elect church "body Of
Christ" ''bride of Christ" etc. They
were to be chosen in period Of
earth's history when Satan was th'
ruler or prince of this world" wheT
God had withdrawn all His visible
| agencies from His work among men
and they had TO walk entirely by