If a man has lived a sinful life, committed murder and robbed the widows and orphans, etc., and then at the last moment, with his dying breath, confesses his sins and accepts Christ as his Savior, will he not go immediately to Heaven and be with the Lord in glory?
When we think of the vast numbers of vicious, depraved characters, hardened criminals, convicts, etc., who at the solicitation of clergymen and religious devotees have "made their peace with God" at the last moment before [...]
What is death?
Death is the cessation of life; the cutting off of the great privilege of living. It signifies annihilation. "The dead know nothing," Ecclesiastes 9:5. Also, Ecclesiastes 9:10, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your [...]
Is there any difference between death and annihilation?
The Bible speaks of two types of death. The first is Adamic death, so called because the entire human race was put under its curse because of Adam's disobedience to God. In Genesis 2:17, God [...]
What is meant by Divine nature, etc.? What is the meaning of the word nature in these connections?
The word "nature" in its true sense, as applied to creatures, or beings, signifies the kind of organism and sphere of existence in which they live and move and have their being. Thus when human nature is referred to, it signifies [...]
God said to Adam, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” How can you harmonize this with the record that “all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died?”– `Gen. 2:17`; `Gen 5:5`.
St. Peter gives us the key to this question in his declaration, "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years" (`2 Pet. 3:8`). Father Adam began to die as soon as he was [...]
1 Peter 4:6 – Who were the dead that the gospel was preached to? And when and by whom? How will they be judged in the flesh and live to God in the spirit?
In the preceding verses, the Apostle Peter says, "Speaking evil of you who shall give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead." From these words it is manifest [...]
If the dead are asleep in the graves awaiting the time of the resurrection at the second coming of our Lord, when all who are in their graves shall be awakened and shall come forth, as the Scriptures affirm; how shall we understand the experiences of some who, at the time of their departure from this life, see heavenly visions of angels, and hear strains of celestial music?
The Scriptures are clear that the dead are "asleep" "in their graves" and "the dead know not anything," “for there is neither wisdom, nor device, nor knowledge in the grave whither thou goest,” and that [...]
If Moses and Elijah were actually dead, how could they appear on the Mount of Transfiguration with our Lord Jesus? (Matthew 17:1-3)
While Moses and Elijah both passed from the scene of earth's experiences under peculiar and mysterious circumstances, yet we are assured that both died. We’re plainly told in Colossians 1:18 that Jesus was the firstborn [...]
Here is a Scripture that is confusing. If you can explain it I will be very thankful to you. It reads, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”–`1 Cor. 15:22`. What is the meaning of the latter part?
The correct translation of this text is thus: "As in Adam all die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive." Adam by disobedience brought death upon himself, and all his children being then [...]
How shall we understand the words of Jesus, "Let the dead bury their dead"? (Matthew 8:21,22)
When our first parent, father Adam, disobeyed the divine command, the death sentence passed upon him. Therefore, from the Creator's standpoint in a legal sense, he was dead although the dying process took over 900 years. The death [...]
What does this mean: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; but their works follow with them?" Revelation 14:13. How can the dead continue their works when there is no consciousness, wisdom or knowledge in the grave? Ecclesiastes 9:10
Addressing the members of the church of Christ, the followers of the Lord Jesus, the apostle says "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). From the Divine viewpoint, [...]
Please give the Scripture evidence for the statement that the seventh creative "day" is a period of 7,000 years. Harmonize with the fourth commandment.
Genesis chapters 1 and 2 outline God’s grand act of creation. Chapter 1 divides God’s creative process into six distinct phases which the scriptures refer to as “days.” At the conclusion of many of these [...]
Were there two works of creation as narrated in the first and second chapters of Genesis, (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2) or are these simply two accounts of the same works of creation?
The first and second chapters of the book of Genesis are wrongly divided. There are two descriptions of the work of creation. The division of the chapters should show this and be in harmony. The first [...]
Were the six days of creation literal days of 24 hours each?
The Bible refers to other "days" which are not 24-hour periods. For example, we read of a forty-year day in Hebrews 3:8,9, "the day of temptation in the wilderness." We are given the scriptural statement that [...]
What do we understand by the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 and Revelation 14?
For more than 16 centuries, God dealt exclusively with the Jewish nation. They were favored above every other nation in the earth. The Lord told them on one occasion that He recognized them only of [...]
Which is the oldest church?
There is only one church from the scriptural standpoint - "the church of the first born which are written in heaven," the "church of the living God," and “the church of Christ” (Hebrews 12:23, 1 [...]
What does Revelation 3:15,16 mean: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot. So then because thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
This statement is addressed to the church in Laodicea, a wealthy city in Asia during the time the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. The city’s great prosperity contributed to the Christian church’s sense [...]
Was Christ human and Divine at the same time?
The word "Divine" signifies "the nature of God." The Creator, God, is a Spirit Being glorious and immortal, dwelling in light that is inaccessible to mortal man. One possessing the Divine, immortal nature could never [...]
If all people are to be converted to Christ before he comes to set his kingdom, why is it written in Revelation 18 that "the nations were angry" at his coming?
It is a mistake to suppose that the earth will be converted at the time of the second coming of Christ. His coming and the establishment of his kingdom are for the very purpose of [...]
If Christ were here in person as at the time of his first advent, do you believe the people would treat him the same as they did then?
Yes, it seems to us that Jesus would be treated the same if his first advent were repeated in our day. People received Jesus at his first advent according to their heart attitude. It is [...]
Since Christ is referred to as the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) and the angels announced at his birth–"Peace on earth, good will to men" (Luke 2:14), how is it that we find Jesus himself saying, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth? I tell you Nay; but rather division?"
The whole history of the Christian Era has been one of bloodshed, wars and strife, brought about for the most part have been brought about by differences of religious opinions. In Matthew 24, Jesus gave a [...]
When did our Lord become the "only begotten son of God?"
The pre-human existence of Jesus is clearly established in the Scriptures. His own testimony about himself was that he is the "faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3:14).Jesus was the [...]