| In the Divine Plan of the Ages it is made clear that
death signifies "repose" and that the Scriptures do not teach consciousness in
death. But concerning The Second Death there is much confusion. The compiler of this
treatise lectured for over fifteen years as a "Pilgrim" for the International
Bible Students Association, and, together with most of these, repeated over and over again
the expression "The second death, from which there is no resurrection." This
statement was supposed to be either an actual quotation from the Word of God or
unmistakably taught in that Word. Today most of the Bible Students are astonished when
told that no such statement is either taught or hinted in the Scriptures. Hence it becomes
advisable to review the subject of death at this point in this message. Often an attempt is made to exclude from the second death all whose names are not found in the book of life, such as infants, imbeciles, idiots, etc. This attempt arises, evidently, from a failure to comprehend the nature and purpose of the second death. No special stigma should be attached to the second death. Those going into it are put to repose because they are not of the ones called to eonian blessing because they "believed." God is the Saviour of all men, but especially of those who believe. Just as the saints in Christ Jesus now go into death with a confidence of a resurrection through the grace of our Lord; so then, all who are put to repose will have the realization that the consummation will bring them full salvation. They cannot be holden in death after the eons, because death shall be abolished, and God shall be All in all. The Good Shepherd was not satisfied with 99% of His sheep, but must have 100%; so "He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied." |
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