Men of reason and common sense, give your serious attention to the following points. Read your Bibles again. Read carefully, read prayerfully. See if these things be true or not. Dare to think for yourselves. Do not trust to commentaries. Do not build your faith on bodies of divinity. Go to the fountain head of truth. “The words of the Lord are tried words.” “The law of the Lord is perfect.” This cannot be said of the writings or opinions of any man, or number of men, however wise or holy they may be. To err is human. God and His truth alone are infallible. Show yourselves true Protestants, and cast away the “traditions of men.” You have the Bible. The wisest and holiest of the “fathers” had no more. Your ministers have nothing else to guide them—at least they ought not. “The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the book for Protestants.” Go then to your Bibles, and see if the God-dishonoring doctrines to which I am directing your attention are found there or not. Excuse me if I tell you, that, however full of these doctrines human books and sermons may be, God’s Bible does not contain them.
Rather, believe that man is mortal and condemned to die, but Christ is “come that they [mankind] may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Is It Reasonable
… to suppose that God created man an immortal being, and yet never once in His holy word informed us of the fact?
… to suppose that if man naturally possessed immortality, God’s word would recommend us to seek for it, as it does in Romans 2:7?
… to suppose, that if men were naturally immortal, God’s word would so plainly assure us that “God only hath immortality?” 1 Timothy 6:16
… to suppose that words, when found in the Bible, must have a meaning attached to them, which no man in his senses would ever think of attaching to them in any other book? For instance, the words life and death, when found in the Bible, must (as theologians tell us) mean “happiness” and “misery”; but, if found in any other book in the world, they would simply mean “existence” and “cessation of existence.”
… to suppose that in all the vast multitude of passages in which Christ promised eternal life to His followers, He did not literally mean what He said? This He could not, if all men have immortal life by nature. In that case, the wicked would live with the righteous throughout eternity.
… to suppose, in all the vast multitude of passages in which death is threatened as the punishment of the sinner, that loss of happiness is all that is meant? An unhappy man is as truly alive as the most happy being in existence; and if he be immortal by nature, will continue alive through all eternity. In no plain, common-sense language can any immortal being be said to suffer death.
… to suppose that infinite wisdom would invariably use language which was only calculated to mislead mankind, or which none but doctors of divinity could unravel? Would God speak in riddles to men in the great matters which concern their salvation?
… and more in accordance with the wisdom and love of God to suppose that He would give His creatures such a revelation, as plain, common-sense people could easily understand? He has done so; if men would use their reason in reading the Bible, as they would do in reading any other book.
… to believe that men go to heaven or hell immediately at death, and then hundreds or thousands of years afterward are taken out to be judged, and to see to which they deserve to be sent? Should we deem it right to send a man to a state’s prison for ten years, and then bring him out for trial to see if he deserved such a punishment? And “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
… that such prominence should be given in Scripture to the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead, if that event only means a “reunion” of a lump of clay, with the conscious thinking and real man—the soul; and which is said by theologians to be as capable of happiness or misery, without the body as with it?
… to talk about a “death that never dies,” when there is not a word in Scripture to sanction such a contradictory phrase? Would it not be equally reasonable to speak of the reward of the righteous as a “life that never lives?” Is there not as much common sense in the one as in the other?
… to be so constantly, both in sermons and prayers, talking about “immortal souls,” “never-dying souls,” “deathless spirits,” and other such expressions, when there is not from Genesis to Revelation one single passage to warrant the use of such language?
… to say that eternal death and eternal torment are synonymous expressions (as theologians tell us)—for how then can it be said in Revelation 21:4, “There shall be no more death?”
… to believe that a hell of fiery torment and ceaseless misery is to exist forever, when God says, “Behold, I make all things new?” Revelation 21:5
… to believe in the eternal torment of the wicked, when more than two hundred passages of Scripture plainly affirm that they shall “die,” be “consumed,” “devoured,” “destroyed,” “burnt up,” “be as though they had not been?”
… to believe that the righteous in their glorified state can be indifferent to, and unaffected by, the endless sufferings of countless millions of their fellow beings; among whom would probably be found parents, children, husbands, and wives? Is it possible that they will be destitute or deprived of qualities which are considered most lovely and godlike in this life (piety, sympathy, compassion, commiseration for others’ woes)? Will insensibility to the woes of the wretched ever become a virtue? Will that which is a vice in this life, become a grace in the glorious future life? Is the standard of virtue thus variable, that what is vicious here, is to be gracious hereafter?
… to believe that a God of infinite rectitude will punish with eternal torment the heathen who have never heard of Christ, and who therefore could not reject Him? Is it possible that God can cast into one indiscriminate mass of fiery torment, the least wicked among the heathen, together with the most guilty in this Christian land, for such must be the case if their souls are immortal, and if their torment is to be eternal? There can be no degrees in that which is infinite. Is it not far more reasonable to believe the apostle’s words literally, “For as many as have sinned without the law, shall also perish without law?” Romans 2:12
… to believe that God is such a vindictive Being, that His justice cannot be satisfied with the death of the offender? To believe that He must be constantly pouring floods of fiery wrath upon the wretched being through the ever-rolling cycles of eternity?
Is it not far more reasonable to believe that immortality is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? Romans 6:23
Forty Questions on Immortality
- Who is immortal? “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1Timothy 1:17
- Are not all men possessed of immortality? “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords: who only hath immortality.” 1Timothy 6:15
- Are not all men created immortal? God “alone has immortality.” 1Timothy 6:16
- Is there any way by which men may obtain immortality? “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2Peter 1:4
- Is this immortality revealed by Plato or Socrates, or by familiar rapping spirits, or in nature—or is it through Jesus Christ and His gospel? “By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2Timothy 1:10
- Who has power to bestow immortality upon man? “… the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- Will God give this gift to all persons whatever their works may be? God “will render to every man according to his deeds.” Romans 2:6
- What will be the portion of those who are contentious and obey not the truth? “But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil.” Romans 2:8, 9, first part
- To whom will God impart immortality? “To those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” Romans 2:7
- What shall be their reward? “Eternal life.” Romans 2:7
- Upon what conditions may we obtain this blessing? “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” 1Timothy 6:12, first part
- When do men obtain immortality? Is it at death or at the resurrection? “And the dead will be raised incorruptible.” 1Corinthians 15:52, last part
- How shall those who are not dead become incorruptible? “We shall be changed.” 1Corinthians 15:52
- When will this change take place? “At the last trump.” 1Corinthians 15:52
- How suddenly will the change occur? “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” 1Corinthians 15:52
- Will this change be a change of the internal, or the external and physical, corruptible man? “For this corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1Corinthians 15:53, first part
- What, then, becomes immortal? “This mortal must put on immortality.” 1Corinthians 15:53, last part
- What scripture will be fulfilled when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality? “Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1Corinthians 15:54, last part
- Who will be raised from the dead? “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” John 5:28, 29, first part
- Will the unburied arise? “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades [the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them.” Revelation 20:13
- Will different classes of characters arise in the resurrection? “There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15
- For what are the good raised? “They that have done good unto the resurrection of life.” John 5:29, first part
- To what will all others be raised? “They that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29, last part
- Will a man’s destiny at last be in accordance with his previous life? “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7, last part
- What will be the portion of the ungodly? “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” Galatians 6:8, first part
- What will be the reward of the saint? “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:8, last part
- Where now is the Christian’s life? “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
- How, then, should we live? “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
- What will be the fate of those who sow to the flesh? “They will utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2Peter 2:12, last part
- Is it possible for man to be utterly destroyed? “Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28, last part
- What is the wages of sin? “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
- Is this death merely a bodily death? “The soul who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20, first part
- If the wicked turn away from his wickedness and do right, what then? “He preserves himself alive.” Ezekiel 18:27, last part
- When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin, what will be his fate? “Because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.” Ezekiel 18:26, last part
- As he first dies in his iniquity, and then dies for his iniquity, what must this last death be called? “The second death.” Revelation 21:8
- What is the result attained by the man who converts a sinner from the error of his ways? “He will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:20, last part
- What has God placed before us to excite us to action? “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.” Deuteronomy 30:19, first part
- How does God manifest His love to men? “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
- What is our Saviour’s complaint concerning mankind? “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John 5:40
- What is the command of God to all? “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. ‘Therefore, turn and live.’ ” Ezekiel 18:31, 32
Source: adventbeliefs.com/assets/BBR/17/Appeal-on-Immortality-James-White