West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-01-17
kNGWOOD PRESTON COUNTY THURSDAY JANUARY n 1901


rather proposition that there IS no death
at all. II "begs the question" assuming
without proof that ''souJ" is death proof.
''In Adam all die All are alenated from
God. Otherwise God could no, Judge the
world guilty before him (Rom. s.6.Io) and
ransom would no, be required for the
righteous If any such could be found
From ,hi, standpoint all arc reckoned
dead; 'aliens from God" Those who
have ''passed from death unto life" are
only reckonedly so. They are no longer
under the sentence; but we see that all die.
81 have said yeare Gods. but We shall all
die like men psalm Ss;6.7). An alien con.
dition, IS the condemned damned, SEN
teneed, cursed, unblesD state in which the
race is born. "COnceived' in sin" the
wrong course is easy to travel, downward
and leads to death. but the way to death is
not an answer to our question "Whst IS
Death ?" OF ''Where is lie ?"
The proposition offered in this theological
answer involves another metaphor "Sleep. 3"
This is freely used with regard 10 the dead
The hope of man is no, based upon any
inheren, life Independent, of the organic
vital action Man does not long for i'm
mortality; he knows nothing of il; his
yearning is for lasting, continued life. lie
has been brought back from destruction;
his hope lies in resurrection from the
dead, and its basis is the "ransom for all. -
u Tim 7;4-6l. Hence the metaphor ,sleep'
IS used to express the unconscious condition
IN death. Save in few typical inustra-
tions all arc either dead or its semblance
asleep and nought but the memory of
them in Gods plans. has existence anywhere
until the resurrection.
With regard to the babes referred To- in
Matthew 2;I6IS. Sec the prophecy, and
note what words of comfort the Lord offers
TO their mothers. "Thus saith the Lord
Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine
eyes from tears; for thy works shall be re.
warded, saith the Lord; and they shall
come again from the land of the enemy.
And there is hope in thine end tin future).
saith the Lord, that thy children shall come
again to their own border."-Uer 3I:Is.I7.
Their mothers will be there to receive them,
the time question drops out" "Joy com.
eth in the morning" "
Thou turnest man to destruction aud
sayesl Return, ye children Of men. -
psalm Oo;5.)
81 am the resurrection aud the life.
Bat some one will say that heaven is EN-.
tirey ignored in this presentation. We
answer; Let the querist frs, establish the
theological idea if possible. The Old Test.
amenI promises are all earthly, and though
they remain sure they have not yet been
fulfilled. Heb. 1913 .3S4o)
ono man hath assembled into heaven,
Uohn 3;ISl and no man can picture any.
thing so grand as the edsnic condition rightly
understood, Adam was in no sense spirit
being "rha, which is born of the flesh /,
flesh and no offer of a change of nature
was made known previous TO the gospel age.
The traditions OF men have made the word
OF God of none effect. The comfort of
scripture is the resurrection, as promised
the mothers IN Israel. (See Thess. 4:tA.
IS) Metaphor, similitudes and personi6.
cations OF ideas and things inanima,e.
abound in all languages. The heather
PHILOSOPHERS describe the condition of the
dead, as alive in "Tartarus," or covered
place and the rewards aud punishme nts are
fairly just recOmpsns-s. I, remained for
"Chrisiendom" 10 inyent the moH incon.
ceivabIe defamation upon Gods Character
in support of the lie that murdered the race.
aye shall not surely die."-Gen. 3:4.
John 8:44
But the covenant made with Shsd shall
not stand. Death is not an angel lie
who is the 'life" source, holds the keys of
dark prison house. Himself has invaded
the Gland Of the enemy" aud led captivity
captive, and sent the glad udiugs Of release
to the captiycs. Ills shou, Of victory again
rings through the earth; heard by th. ear
OF faith amid the tusils aud confusion in
the enlightenment OF the forces for the
final conflict
go death, will Thy plaques; 0 Sheol,
will be thy destruction "--Hosea G3ua.
''rhe last enemy to be destroyed is death. -
Il Cor. 1890 c..