Chapter 3
THE CREATURE
"IF WE are diligent and faithful in our studies of the Bible we shall be pursuing the right course and therefore a wise course. We are learning how to study, and we love to acquire knowledge of that which is good. We have the Bible, which is our perfect guide, and our faith in its Author is strong. We have helps to study the Bible, which have been graciously provided by the Lord. I am glad, Eunice, that you are a woman of genuine faith. I am grateful to the Lord that I have retained the faith that my parents have instilled in me while in my childhood. By the Lord's grace, we shall hold fast this faith and not depart from it.
"It is written in the Bible: 'Without faith it is impossible to please [God].' (Hebrews 11: 6) We desire to please God and to have His approval. The words of the text at Psalm 139:14, above set down, were uttered by a man of faith. He was one of the inspired prophets of Almighty God who spoke as he was moved by the spirit of God, and this was his testimony: 'The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.' (2 Samuel 23:2) In the Psalm he said man is 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. That means that perfect man was a creature by a superior power. If those bipeds that pose as professors and that are teachers of evolution are correct, then man was evolved from a very small and insignificant thing. That theory is flatly contradicted by the Word of Almighty God. No wonder God says that he will make the expressed 'wisdom' of such men 'foolishness'. From the information that we have we well know that the prophet of God uttered the truth, that man is 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. Our studies in school of physiology and our observation fully convince us of that fact. Man being a creature, therefore there must be a Creator."
Who made the man? The Bible answers: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)
How did God create man? By his unlimited power, which is invisible to man, and hence by His holy spirit: "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth." — Psalm 104:30.
He created the man out of the elements of the earth: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) He created the man first, and then the woman. — Genesis 2:18,21,22.
The attributes of the Almighty God Jehovah may well be named as these: WISDOM (which is fully proved by the following texts: Proverbs 3:13,19; Proverbs 2: 6, 7; Exodus 31: 3; Job 12: 9-13; Psalm 104: 24; Psalm 136:5); JUSTICE (Psalm 89:14); POWER (Psalm 62:11; 29:4); and LOVE (1 John 4:8). These attributes of God have no limitation. Man was created with a limited degree of wisdom, justice, power and love; hence God created man in his own image and likeness. God has dominion over everything in the universe. God gave man dominion over the lower animals of the earth, but not over his fellow man. (Genesis 1:28) Man is accountable to God for his action.
The religious professors say that man was created with an immortal soul, which is separate and distinct from his organism
or body, and that the soul never dies. That doctrine is also entirely false and is completely contradicted by the Word of God. Just here I am reminded of the words written in the Bible: "Let God be true, though every man be false." (Romans 3:4, Diaglott) When the words of man contradict the Word of Almighty God we know that the man is false, because God is true and all his works are done in truth.
A specific duty was assigned to man, and he was required by the Lord to be completely obedient to the commandment given. God planted a garden, which he named "Eden", and assigned the man to the duty of caring for that garden. God gave to man the privilege of eating the fruit that grew in that garden, with some exceptions, and which exceptions no doubt were for the purpose of testing man's obedience. "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." — Genesis 2:16,17.
The man was disobedient, and God's law must be enforced, and therefore man suffered the penalty. Some persons foolishly charge God with cruelty because he enforced his law by condemning man to death for the offense of "eating an apple". The wrongdoing was not in the apple, but the wrong-
doing was in the act of disobeying God's commandment, by eating that which God forbade him to eat. Man therefore with full knowledge sinned, and was justly sentenced to death.
If the religious professors who teach the inherent-immortality soul doctrine are correct their conclusion means that man could not have died, because immortality means that which is not subject to death. It cannot be said that only the body dies and that the soul lives on. It is plainly written in God's Word: 'The soul that sinneth, it shall surely die.' (Ezekiel 18:4) "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah." — Psalm 89:48.
What is the distinction between soul and man? There is no difference. Every creature is a soul, and hence a soul is a living, breathing, moving creature. God formed the body and then 'breathed into the nostrils the breath of lives, and man became a living soul'. (Genesis 2:7, Hebrew) The body of flesh and the breath, and the blood that courses through the arteries and veins, all together constitute a living creature called "a soul". "The life ... is in the blood." (Leviticus 17:11) The breath puts in action the lungs and the heart, and the blood is propelled throughout the body and life is sustained; and when man's breath goes out, his heart ceases to act and the man is dead.
It is the soul that is dead. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) The doctrine of the "immortality of all souls" was invented and taught for the very purpose of deceiving men and reproaching Almighty God, and this was where lying began. The Devil is the author of that lie and the other doctrines springing out of it.
Beginning of Wickedness
A creature once enlightened and who then opposes Almighty God is wicked. God, "whose name alone is Jehovah," is The Creator, The Being, the One who is supreme. He is the only BEING. All intelligent things that exist are creatures. Men frequently use the phrase relative to men and say: 'This is a human being.' But that is entirely out of harmony with the truth. Jehovah God is The Being, the Eternal One, and there is none other. He first created The Logos, his Beloved One, and thereafter used The Logos as his active agent in the creation of all things that are created: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was a god. This was in the beginning with the God. Through it everything was done; and without it not even one thing was done, which has been done.' (John 1:1-3, Diaglott, interlinear reading) (John 1:18; Revelation 3:14) The Logos, or Word, is Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 8:22-31) Aside from Almighty God there are no beings, but all are crea-
tures, therefore all are souls. The word "god" means Mighty One. There are many mighty ones called "gods", but there is only one Almighty God, "whose name alone is Jehovah," and who is the Most High: "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone." (Psalm 86:10) "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4: 6) Jehovah is the Self - existing One: "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Psalm 90:2) Christ Jesus is a mighty one and therefore a god. Jehovah is The Almighty One and hence greater than Jesus: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) Note the scriptures, which we here set down, and which speak of other creatures as "gods": "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High." — Psalm 82: 6; John 10:34-36.
Jesus said of his Father, the Almighty God: "My Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) Jesus speaks of Jehovah as his Father because the Almighty God is the Lifegiver to the Son. Jesus furthermore says: "I and my Father are one." (John 10: 30) Manifestly his words mean that he and his Father are in complete unity or harmony, always acting together, and there are many scriptures that show this, particularly the
declaration of Jesus himself as set forth in Psalm 40:8.
Among spirit creatures of old there was one named Lucifer, a mighty one and hence a god. The name Lucifer means "shining one, or bright star". The Logos, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, is called "The Bright and Morning Star". (Revelation 22:16) Other spirit creatures are called "stars" and are mighty ones. (Judges 5:20; Psalm 148:3) Lucifer was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth. He rebelled against the Almighty God, and did so willingly and deliberately, and therefore became wicked, and from thenceforth he is known in the Scriptures by the four names to wit: Satan, which means the opposer of Almighty God; Serpent, meaning deceiver; Devil, meaning slanderer; and Dragon, meaning devourer. (Revelation 20:1-3; 12:9) All opposition or rebellion against Almighty God is sin, and an enlightened creature who willfully sins is wicked. Lucifer's wickedness was made manifest in the following manner:
The Almighty God created man and created the earth for man. (Isaiah 45:12,18) The man Adam, being perfect, was the highest of earth's creation, and when God laid the foundation of the earth as the place of man's habitation there was great joy amongst the spirit creatures of heaven; as
it is written: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" — Job 38:4,7.
Lucifer was there and beheld the great praise given to the Almighty God by His numerous creatures. Covetousness found a place in the heart of Lucifer; he desired to have the praise that was bestowed upon the Most High. (Jeremiah 51:13) He set about to oppose Almighty God and to entrap man and bring about his destruction, and for this purpose he used the serpent. Adam and Eve were in Eden and had received God's specific commandment to refrain from disobedience, being informed by the Most High that the eating of a certain fruit would constitute an act of disobedience, punishable with death. (Genesis 2:17) Lucifer approached Eve and inquired why she did not eat of the fruit that was forbidden. Eve replied: "God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." Speaking through the serpent that he might deceive Eve, Lucifer replied to her: "Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." — Genesis 3:1-5.
The woman had a desire to "be as gods", that is, to be as wise as spirit creatures, who
possess knowledge superior to that of the human creature. Yielding to that desire, she violated the law of Almighty God, and then Adam joined her in the transgression or sin. That was the beginning of wickedness and also the beginning of religion. It will sound strange to some to say that this was the beginning of religion; but it is the truth. Properly defined, "religion" means the doing of anything contrary to the will of Almighty God. That which induced Eve to take a course contrary to God's commandment was the deception practiced on her by Lucifer, and she yielded because she wanted something that had not been given to her by the Most High. Lucifer and many of the other angelic creatures who became wicked introduced and caused men to practice religion. Following the practice of evil or wicked creatures is a snare, and for that reason Jehovah God said to Israel thereafter that they must keep themselves free from religion, because for them to practice and adopt the religion of the Canaanites, who were under the influence of spirit demons, would be a snare unto them. — Deuteronomy 7:16.
It was Lucifer, now known as Satan that old Serpent, the Devil, that led man into sin, and therefore Lucifer is called "that wicked one". (1 John 2:13,14; 3:12; 5:18, 19) Lucifer was a high and mighty one, and his covetousness led to his degradation
and will end in his ultimate destruction. Concerning Lucifer, now the Devil, it is written in the Scriptures: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15) "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." "All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." — Ezekiel 28:13-15,19.
For their disobedience Adam and Eve were sentenced to death, in harmony with God's law or commandment: 'In the day you eat thereof you shall surely die.' They did surely and actually die within that same day that they sinned. A day with the Lord is as a thousand years with man; and within that thousand-year period both of them died. (2 Peter 3:8) Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden and, as a part of their punishment, required to earn their bread in the sweat of their face and to fight the thistles and thorns. Adam was wicked and died as such, and his end is destruction. (1 Timothy 2:14; Psalm 145: 20) At the same time Satan was sentenced to death, but his execution was deferred.
Why was not the judgment of destruction executed against the Devil at the time he was adjudged guilty of death? This has been a much debated question amongst men, but the Scriptures make it quite clear. The Devil, seeing that Adam was not immediately put to death, no doubt reasoned that God could not put him to death and be consistent. Satan would reason, 'If God puts Adam to death, that is an admission that His creation is not perfect. If he does not put him to death, then that means that his word cannot be trusted.' Satan would reason that, however the matter turned out, he would be able to prove that God is not all-powerful, and therefore that He could
not put a man on earth who would remain true and faithful to God. In earth and in heaven, then, all creation would look upon God as imperfect, hence not all-powerful, all-wise, and all-just, and therefore all creation would give honor and glory to Satan because Satan had thus exposed God. This conclusion of his is justified from the course he took. Satan then challenged Almighty God, saying in substance that God could not put a man on earth who would remain faithful and true to Him; that Satan could cause all men to curse God: "And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin; yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face." — Job 2: 4, 5.
That challenge raised the question as to who is supreme. To accept Satan's challenge and give him an opportunity to prove his challenge, and his failing to prove the same, such would show Satan to be a liar, would establish in the minds of creation that God is supreme, and would furnish them a basis for their faith and obedience. God did accept Satan's challenge and announced to Satan at the time that in due time He would have the testimony delivered throughout the earth that God is all-powerful and that then he would exercise his power in destroying Satan and all his works. This record appears in the Bible, wherein God said to Satan:
'For this cause have I permitted thee to remain; to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.' (Exodus 9:16, Leeser) That certainly means that God would permit Satan a free hand to do all he could in opposition to Jehovah and against mankind and that in due time God would prove Satan a liar and himself supreme, and prove this to the satisfaction of all creation that love righteousness. God did not permit Satan to continue his wickedness for Satan's benefit, but he did it to furnish an opportunity to all creation to choose between right and wrong and thus prove their own integrity toward Him, and those proving their integrity would be rewarded by life everlasting, and those who hold to the Devil would with him suffer everlasting destruction. The permission of wickedness in the earth over the centuries past, therefore, has afforded the opportunity to all creatures to prove their integrity toward God; and those failing or refusing to do so, thereby prove themselves entirely unworthy of life everlasting. It is further proved that the soul is not immortal and that a creature cannot be willfully wicked and continue to live on forever. It establishes the rule that only those who render themselves willingly in obedience to Almighty God can have life everlasting.
Inherit Death
When Adam and Eve were perfect and in Eden, and before sin had entered, God gave to them this commandment: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth." (Genesis 1:28) Nothing was done to carry out that commandment while they were in Eden. Not until after Adam and his wife were sentenced to death and driven from Eden did they make any attempt to carry out that divine commandment. It was the imperfect man and woman, sentenced to death, that began to exercise their God-given power to bring children into the world. Cain was the first one born, and then Abel was born. (Genesis 4:1,2) The test upon human creatures raised by the Devil's challenge began immediately. Cain yielded to the influence of the Devil and murdered his brother. Abel chose to serve God; and his faith and obedience were counted unto him as righteousness. Thus he received God's approval. (Hebrews 11:4) When Lucifer, before he became the Devil, was made overlord he was given "the power of death", which power he thereafter retained. (Hebrews 2:14) By inducing Cain to be obedient to him, and seeing that Abel was faithful to God, the Devil chose to murder Abel in order to carry out his wicked challenge. The Devil is the one that was responsible for the murder of Abel. The Lord
Jesus thereafter stated authoritatively that Abel was a righteous man and that the Devil was a liar, and a murderer from the beginning. (Matthew 23:35; John 8:44) This statement by the Lord Jesus is further proof of the authenticity of the Genesis record. This Divine Record also proves that the Almighty God permits human creatures to choose for themselves whom they will serve and thus the opportunity is afforded to intelligent creatures to fix their own destiny. Those who prove their integrity toward God are rewarded with life everlasting. The Devil has exercised a powerful influence over humankind throughout all the centuries, and God has left the people free to serve whom they might choose. Therefore it is written in the Scriptures: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" — Romans 6:16.
From Abel to the time of the flood was a period of more than 1600 years, and within that time only three men, as shown by the Bible record, chose to serve God. The names of those men are Abel, Enoch and Noah. Noah's sons, as later appeared, went with their father Noah, but the three men above mentioned are specifically named. All the other human creatures, as well as many spirit creatures, within that period of time
fell under the influence and power of the Devil. No doubt the Devil concluded that he was progressing well in proving his own greatness and superiority over Jehovah God.
Satan seduced many of the angels and led many of them into wickedness; and this shows his attempt to turn all creation against the Most High, Jehovah. The angels that became wicked are designated in the Scriptures as demons, with Satan the Devil as the chief of demons. (Matthew 12:24) These demons at all times have exercised influence and control over human creatures. It is those demons, of which Satan is the chief, that have caused men to practice religion, the purpose being to cause the worship of creatures instead of the Creator and thus to bring about reproach to the name of Almighty God. It is the Word of
God that leads men into the way of salvation, and the following scripture shows that men, influenced by wicked angels, have turned to religion and worshiped the creature rather than the Creator and thus have brought reproach upon Almighty God. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened: professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." — Romans 1:18-25.
Yielding to the influence of demons, all men on earth, with only a few exceptions, became wicked, and in Noah's day "God saw that the wickedness of man was great . . . and the earth was filled with violence". The exception was Noah; as it is further written: "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:1-12) Thus Noah and those who were with him chose the way of righteousness, while those choosing to serve the Devil and oppose Almighty God are doomed to destruction. (2 Peter 2:12) The Almighty God now would express his wrath against the willfully wicked and at the same time make a great prophetic picture foretelling what would be the end of all the wicked nations and peoples of the earth, including the Devil and other wicked demons. Therefore the Almighty God brought the great flood of waters upon the earth and destroyed all human creatures, save only Noah and the members of his family, who had shown their faith in God and chosen to be obedient to the Almighty God. (Genesis 7:1-23) That flood was a type or prophetic picture showing what God's purpose is concerning the wicked and that he will destroy all such at Armageddon, "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," and these truths he has made clear to those who love him and who are now on the earth.
— 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4; Revelation 16:13-16; 2 Peter 3:6-12.
Noah and his family were carried over the flood in the ark, which Noah had built at the command of Jehovah God, and which ark was a type or prophetic picture of the organization of Jehovah God under Christ Jesus. Thereafter God gave this commandment to Noah and to his sons: "And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. " — Genesis 9:7.
Again the human race increased in the earth, and the Devil was busy to see to it that men were turned away from the Almighty God. To accomplish his wicked purpose the Devil organized men into a religious body. Nimrod, a very wicked man, became the dictator of the organized nation of Babylon and not only ruled the people with an iron hand but caused the people to worship him, and hence it was claimed for Nimrod that he was a god and mighty one in the earth: "A mighty hunter before [that is, greater than] the Lord." (Genesis 10:8,9) Thereafter every nation fell under the powerful influence of the demons, led by Satan their chief, and practiced demonism, otherwise called "religion", which reproached the name of Almighty God and turned the people into wickedness. The purpose of such on the part of the demons was to turn the hu-
man race against God and lead them into destruction.
By nature human creatures desire to look up to and worship some higher power, and the Devil has chosen religion as being the easiest means of deceiving the people and turning them away from God by causing them to worship anything, such as images, and to bow down to such, that they might be turned away from God. The Devil has made the most of it, deceiving the people, and has made them think that they were worshiping God, when in fact they were worshiping the Devil. Therefore "religion" clearly means the doing or practicing of anything that is contrary to the will of God or that which tends to turn men away from Almighty God and the worship of the Most High. At the present time there are hundreds of religions practiced in the earth and many of the practitioners thereof think they are serving the Lord God. Because they are in darkness as to God's purpose they are under the influence and power of the Devil and have been turned away from God. None of them in fact serve the Most High, because they follow the traditions of men and ignore the Word of God, which is the only true guide. To learn of the purpose of Jehovah toward mankind one must have an honest and sincere desire to know the truth and then be diligent in seeking to know the truth, and the only
way to learn is to study God's word as set forth in the Bible. Therefore searchers for truth must believe that Jehovah God is the Almighty and that the Bible contains his Word of truth. The man who continues to hold to the doctrine of evolution concerning man will never know the truth, but will continue in darkness concerning God's purpose.
Due to Adam's sin, the result of which has been inherited by his offspring, all human creatures have been born in sin under the condemnation of death. Even an imperfect man, however, can have a sincere desire to know and to serve the Almighty God and, then doing so, he may receive the favor of God. Abel was imperfect at his birth, but he had a sincere heart's desire to serve the great Almighty God, and because of his faith and obedience to God he was counted a righteous man. It is even so with all who entirely devote themselves to Almighty God, exercising faith and obedience. Adam and Eve were under the curse of death when their children were born, and necessarily their children were born imperfect: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51: 5) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." — Romans 5:12.
The Scriptures abundantly testify that every human creature has inherited death from Adam and, death being the penalty imposed for sin, therefore every human creature must die and must remain forever dead unless the Almighty God provides a means for man to gain life. The Bible abounds with testimony that God has made and provided the means whereby sinful human creatures may be set free from sin and gain life everlasting. The condition upon which a human creature may obtain life everlasting is set forth in the Bible. For this reason a study of the Bible is of greatest importance to anyone who desires to live.
Where Are the Dead?
When Adam died, where did he go? Being a willful wrongdoer, he was destroyed. He chose to serve the Devil and, being wicked, he suffered destruction, as the judgment of Almighty God provides. (Psalm 145: 20) Did not Adam's soul survive somewhere? No; for the reason that Adam did not possess a soul. Adam was a soul, a man, a breathing creature, and when he died it was the soul that died, and that meant everything concerning Adam. Adam, therefore, went completely out of existence.
The doctrine of the "inherent immortality of all souls" is a lie, the great lie first told by the Devil, "that old Serpent," for
the very purpose of deceiving mankind and bringing reproach upon the Almighty God. That lie of the Devil brought about the death of Adam and millions of others since. Hence Jesus said of the Devil that "he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it". (John 8:44) While the Devil possesses the power of death, the Devil himself is not immortal. God has entered his judgment of destruction against the Devil, and in due time the Devil shall be completely destroyed; and in execution of that judgment the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy the Devil; as it is written: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) The angels are not immortal, and those spirit creatures that follow the Devil in rebellion shall suffer destruction. — 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
The religious doctrine that the dead are conscious in "purgatory" or in the "hell of torment", undergoing conscious punishment, is entirely false and is the fruit of the Devil's first lie. "Purgatory" is a demoniacal myth that never had a semblance of existence. As to "eternal torment", there
is no such place. "Hell," as that word appears in the Bible, means the grave, or tomb, the condition of death or destruction. There is no consciousness in "purgatory" or in hell, and concerning this the Scriptures plainly testify, to wit: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (Ecclesiastes 9:5,10) "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." (Psalm 115:17) "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah." — Psalm 89:48.
The Scriptures abundantly testify that God has provided a resurrection out of death for those who obey him. If those who have died are alive somewhere, then they could not be resurrected, because "resurrection" means coming out of death and standing up to life. The doctrine of "inherent immortality", therefore, would make God a liar; and we know that God cannot lie. This is further evidence that the doctrine of inherent immortality of men originated with the Devil. The Lord Jesus is always obedient to His Father. God raised Jesus out of death; as it is written in the
Bible: 'Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [in death]; for since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ Jesus] came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive; but every man in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, and afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming.' — 1 Corinthians 15: 20-23.
"Immortality" means that which cannot die. Who, then, is immortal? The infallible Word of God answers: 'God only hath immortality.' (1 Timothy 6:16) Clearly this establishes the fact that all who receive immortality must receive it from Almighty God and that none have it inherently. When Almighty God raised Jesus out of death he clothed Christ Jesus with immortality and gave to him a name above every name, and therefore Jesus is "alive for evermore". (Philippians 2: 9-11; Revelation 1:18) The faithful followers of Christ Jesus, who continue faithful even unto death, shall be raised from the dead and made immortal, by the grace and power of Almighty God. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) Resurrection to immortality is the crown of life, the great gift of Jehovah God to those faithful followers of Christ Jesus even unto death, according to the promise made by the Lord. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." (Revelation
2:10, Am. Rev. Ver.) The fact that immortality is the great gift of God to faithful creatures who shall be associated with Christ Jesus is proof conclusive that no man has immortality.
The Devil's lie of inherent immortality of all souls is the only means by which the false and wicked doctrine of conscious torment in "purgatory" or hell could possibly be supported. Therefore the Devil is responsible for the false teaching of conscious torment after death, which false teaching is used by religionists to frighten human creatures, causing them to serve men and to defame God's holy name.
The dead are out of existence. The only way for any of the dead to live again is to receive the gift of life from Almighty God, administered to them by and through Christ Jesus: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." — Romans 6:23.
All who desire to live will give heed to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, to wit: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17: 3) There is no other way to life save that which God has provided by and through Christ Jesus. To the religious leaders of Israel, who brought about the crucifixion of Jesus, these words of authority are addressed, to wit: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the
people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." — Acts 4:10-12.
"These emphatic scriptures are plain and convincing," said John, "and, Eunice, in our next study, let us look well unto the record which tells of God's purpose to give life to those who obey him. The traditions of men, which mean 'human wisdom', so called, have served as a means of leading millions into darkness. Although the kingdom of God is of such great importance to humankind, seldom, if ever, do we hear anything said about God's kingdom. In our next study let us look carefully into this and set down in our notebooks the important and enlightening points that show how God will grant life to obedient human creatures."
