15:12-19.
9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?
"_But now is Christ risen from the dead_, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Verses 20-22.
NOTE.-The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ.
If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.
10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?
"_I am the resurrection and the life_: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." John 11:25, 26. "_I am He that liveth, and was dead_; and, behold, _I am alive forevermore_, Amen; _and have the keys of h.e.l.l and of death_." Rev. 1:18.
NOTE.-Christ changed death into a _sleep_. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.
11. What question does Job ask and answer?
"_If a man die, shall he live again?_ all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. _Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee_: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands." Job 14:14, 15.
12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?
"_For I know that My Redeemer liveth_, 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 I see G.o.d_." Job 19:25, 26.
13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?
"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and _the dead shall be raised incorruptible_." 1 Cor. 15:51, 52.
14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?
"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is _sown in corruption_; it is _raised in incorruption_: it is _sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory_: it is _sown in weakness_; it is _raised in power_: it is _sown a natural body_; it is _raised a spiritual body_." Verses 42-44.
15. What saying will then be brought to pa.s.s?
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Verse 55.
16. When did David say he would be satisfied?
"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, _when I awake, with Thy likeness_." Ps. 17:15.
17. What comforting promise has G.o.d made concerning the sleeping saints?
"I will _ransom them from the power of the grave_; I will _redeem them from death_: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." Hosea 13:14.
18. What else has He promised to do?
"And G.o.d _shall wipe away all tears_ from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are pa.s.sed away." Rev. 21:4. See pages 759-785.
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away."
Matt. 24:39.
The World"s Conversion
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.
1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?
"_As it was in the days of Noe_, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.
2. How was it in the days of Noah?
"And G.o.d saw that _the wickedness of man was great in the earth_, and that _every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually_.... And _the earth was filled with violence_." Gen. 6:5-11.
NOTE.-In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said: "Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world"s history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low."
3. How did Paul characterize the last days?
"This know also, that in the last days _perilous times shall come_." 2 Tim. 3:1.
4. What did he say would make those times perilous?
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of G.o.d; having a form of G.o.dliness, but denying the power thereof." Verses 2-5.
5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?
"_But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse_, deceiving, and being deceived." Verse 13.
NOTE.-"Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, and _worst of all_ just before Christ"s coming."-_Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8._
6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?
"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil." "_Let both grow together until the harvest_: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them." Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.
7. When does the harvest come?