The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-07-26

llEASIS2k RgSStlll go and prepare a
place for you.
will come again and receive you unto
Myself. that where I am there We may
be alsO."-JOhn xiv, 10.
The error Of supposing that men are
alive when they are dead lies close to
the foundation of every theological err
rOr the world over. We have all erred
In taking the guess of Plato instead Of
the Word Of God. and we can get rid
Of our difficulties and theological en-
tanglements only by retracinC our
steps.
The Bible alone, Of all religious
books, teaches that dead man Is dead,
and knows nothing. and that his only
hope Is In the Divine arrangement
through Christ. by resurrection Of the
dead-"both of the Just and of the I'M
just"-Acts xiv, IS.
mo Man Hath Assembled to Heaven"
Here note our text. In 1t the Master
says not word about our going to
Him at death. but quite to the contrary
-tudt IIC WOuiu NOuC 1Sdui anu iC-
ceive us unto Himself. And are we not
told that this will be an instantaneous
change? Is 1t not styled an weakening
from the sleep of death?
But, says one. does not the second
coming Of Christ take place whenever
His holy ones die? Does He not i'm
mediately come to receive them unto
Himself?
Surely only very lame theory could
seek to bolster itself up by such per-
version Of the Scriptures. II Christ
were to come every time one Of His
sanity ones die. would 1t not mean
many comings instead of merely second
coming! And even IL His faithful were
very few indeed. would 1t not seem
that this would keep the Redeemer
busy coming and departing every few
minutes?
Hearken again to Jesus words. mo
man hath assembled up to heaven.
(JOhn iii, 49, Only the Son OF Man
had ever been in heaven. He has as
cended up where He was before. with
additional glory and honor.
The Case Of the Dying Thief.
But, says some one. did not the dying
thief 20 with Jesus to Paradise the
very day in which they both died?
No. we have made stupid blunder
and misinterpretation OF our Redeem
cr's dying words to the thief. The
wrong thought being in our minds we
misinterpreted in harmony herewith.
And our Interpretation has done an
immense amount of harm. Thousands
Of people have been encouraged to
continue life Of sin. trusting that
with their dying breath they may have
the opportunity of saying. God be
merciful to me-" and then be immedi-
ately ushered into glory, honor and I'm
mortality.
Let us see what Jesus really said.
Note the circumstances. Jesus hung
between two thieves; one of better
heart than the other honestly admitted
his own guilt and that of his cOmrade.
We paraphrase His words, Lord. |
have defended you against an unjust
attack. Remember this poor thief II
you ever have an opportunity to do a
kindness to me In return. I heard you
before PLATE say that you have a
Kingdom. but not of this Age; some
heavenly Kingdom I therefore pre-
sumo. My request is. Remember me
when Thou contest into Thy King
DOM"
To this Jesus replied. "verily. verify
Tor. so be 1t. SO be 1t. as you have asked
Verify say unto thee this day"-this
dark day. In which it would appear
that have not friend In Heaven or
ON earth--this dark day in which ! am
crucified as a malefactor, falsifier
and blasphemer-"I say unto thee
this day. Thou shalt be with Me in
Paradise"
Paradise has not yet come. Messi-
abs Kingdom has not yet been estab-
lished: and 1t must come first before
Paradise Lost can be restored and the
whole earth be made Gods glorious
footstool. as He has promised. Rut
when the time shall come. when the
Kingdom shall be established. when
Paradise conditions shall be introduced,
the resurrection Of that thief will be
in order. "for all that are In their
graves shall hear the voice of the Son
Of Man and come forth."-JOhn v. %,
20. II. v.
But Jesus arose from sheol. from
hades. from the tomb, from the state
of death. ON the third day. He had not
been to Paradise, for Paradise was not
yet In existence. He had not been to
heaven. for He had been dead. Let
US hear His own words TO Mary on the
morning of His resurrection: II have
not yet assembled - to My Father
and your Father. to My God. and your
Ged." John Xxx. III Could anything
be palmer, simpler. mere harmonious!