Reconciliation

Returning from Hell

JEHOVAH'S Word, which is the truth, nowhere intimates that hell is a place of conscious torment. Satan the Devil is the father of that false and libelous doctrine; and his agents, the clergy, have used it for centuries to defame the good name of God. Without doubt many of the clergymen have believed that hell is a place of conscious torment because they were thus taught, and they have been conscientious in teaching it to the people. Being honest in their convictions and conscientious in their teaching has made them none the less the agents of Satan the enemy. The fact that one promulgates a lie, although meaning well, does not make that lie a truth. A man is the servant of him whom he serves. (Rom. 6:16) The doctrine of hell torment being a lie and emanating from the Devil, and the clergymen being the ones who teach that doctrine to the people, it follows that in teaching such false doctrine, clergymen are the servants of the Devil whether they intend so to be or not.*

Hell is not a place but it is a condition. It is a condition of death, which means non-existence. The word is often used as synonymous with grave, which means not merely the place of burial but the condition of the

dead. Following the death of Jesus upon the cross the body was taken down and buried in a sepulchre, or grave. For three days Jesus was dead. His being or soul was in hell; that is to say, in the condition of death, or out of existence. God's prophet speaking for Jesus said: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." — Ps. 16:10.

At Pentecost, when Peter had been anointed with the holy spirit he explained the meaning of the words of the prophet above quoted and said: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." — Acts 2:29-32.

Death could not hold Jesus because it was God's will that he should live again. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts 2:24) Jesus afterward corroborated Peter's statement, saying, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1:18) These words of Jesus prove conclusively that there is no life in hell, because when he was in hell he was dead, and when God brought him forth from hell he was alive. The fact that he stated that he possessed then the

keys of hell and death means that he is clothed with power and authority to bring those in hell back into existence and to remove the effects of death and bring them into full harmony with God.

The word "soul" is synonymous with the words "man", "creature," "being." Every creature is a soul. No creature has a soul. The soul Jesus was in hell, that is to say, out of existence, in the condition of death. The body of Jesus God did not permit to corrupt but otherwise disposed of it. The fact that Jesus went to hell is proof that all souls at death go to hell and therefore that the millions of persons who have died are in hell, which is the condition of death. If hell, as the preachers teach, were a place of eternal torment then Jesus could not have been brought out, nor could any one else be brought out. The fact of being brought out proves that it is not a place wherein such are kept eternally. But when we understand that hell is a condition of death, or absence of life, and that God raised up Jesus, we can see how he can bring back by Jesus all who are in hell. Because he has so promised and has clothed Jesus with power and authority to raise up the dead, he will do so. — 1 Thess. 4:14-17; Matt. 28:18.

Returning from hell means bringing back the dead. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave in order to establish faith in the minds of those who were with him that God in due time will bring back the dead. On that occasion he said, "I am the resurrection and the life," thereby meaning that God had committed to him the power of resurrection and bringing back to life those who have died. On another occasion he said to his disciples: "All .. . shall come forth; they that

have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." — John 5:28, 29, R. V.

It is manifest from these words of Jesus that there are some men who have done good and that there are others who have done evil, that both the good and the evil have died and gone to hell, and that God in due time through Christ Jesus shall bring both the good and the evil from hell. What then is the distinction between the good and the evil? and do they all return from hell at the same time?

The Good

No one can be classed as good unless he has God's approval. No one could have God's approval without being reconciled to God. All men were born sinners and therefore without the approval of God. (Rom. 5:12) Those whom God justifies by reason of their faith in the shed blood of Jesus have peace with God because they are reconciled to him. (Rom. 5:1, 9; 8:33) During the Christian era God has justified such in order that they might be brought into the covenant by sacrifice. Such are brought into Christ and become new creatures in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." (Rom. 8:1) Necessarily the words of the apostle here used mean that those who become real Christians and thereafter continue loyal and faithful in their devotion to God, have God's approval and are accounted as the "good". It is concerning such that it is written: "According as he hath

chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." (Eph. 1:4) To be holy and without blame in love means to be entirely devoted to God's righteous cause and that the motive for so doing is unselfishness. It is to those who thus continue faithful unto death that the promise is made, that in due time they shall have glory, honor, and immortality. — Rom. 2:7; Rev. 2:10.

Paul the apostle was one of the good ones, because he was reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus, adopted into the family of God, anointed by the spirit of God, and was God's faithful servant unto death. He cherished the hope of having a part in the resurrection and of receiving the crown of life. When he had finished his work he wrote: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." — 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

Paul had pursued consistently the course of absolute devotion to the Lord. He had kept the faith and had been faithful. He then had the assurance of God's approval and was therefore good. He was now in possession of the assurance that in God's due time he should participate in the resurrection of Christ. Paul knew that he must die and go to hell, where Jesus had once been, and that in that condition he must wait until the Lord's good time to call him forth from hell. While his words do not fix the date of his resurrec-

tion, they do fix the time, to wit, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. It seems clear from the Scriptures that the appearing here mentioned has reference to the time when Jesus Christ comes to his temple to take account with those who have been brought into the covenant by sacrifice. That therefore would mark the time for the resurrection of those who have been good and faithful.

The true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ gathered together unto Christ constitute the temple of God. (2 Cor. 6:16) Prior to the time that the Lord Jesus appeared at his temple all Christians who were faithful and died in faith, as Paul, must wait in hell. The resurrection of these faithful ones, or the calling of them forth from hell, and the bringing of the faithful ones on earth into the temple condition take place approximately at the time of the Lord's coming to his temple. In another place the proof is submitted that the coming of the Lord to his temple occurred in the year 1918 A. D. From that time forward the resurrection of the good and faithful Christians has been instantaneous; that is to say, at the moment of death the change from human to spirit beings takes place. Concerning this the Apostle Paul wrote: "Behold, I shew 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, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (1 Cor. 15: 51-53) From that time forward the words of Jesus apply: "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead

which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." — Rev. 14:13.

All members of the body of Christ have been taken from amongst men. These, being justified, begotten and anointed by Jehovah, are new creatures in Christ, but the organism of each one is human and therefore corruptible. Such were reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus and ever since their imperfections are covered by the value of his sacrifice and they, from that time forward, have been counted good because in Christ. The entire number of the faithful make up the body of Christ. They are all one body. (1 Cor. 12:12-27) Therefore the entire Christ is spoken of by the apostle as "it". "Christ" means anointed one. The anointing of Jesus took place while he was on the earth. The anointing of the body members takes place while they are in the flesh. The body of Jesus was human and would have corrupted except for the miracle God performed in preserving it. All the body members do corrupt. Paul gives an illustration when he says: 'You sow seed and it corrupts and dies, and there comes forth from it a new plant.' "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it [The Christ] is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So 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." — 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 53, 54.

The members of the body of Christ are begotten to a heavenly inheritance which is incorruptible or immortal. (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:14; 2 Pet. 1: 3, 4) Being faithful unto death they will have immortality, which is the crown of life. These when brought forth from hell are partakers of the divine nature and have part in the resurrection that is first in importance and first in time and are the only ones that will possess incorruptibility or immortality, over which the second death shall never have power. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." — Rev. 20: 6.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is the record of men who believed God and were faithful to him. The heart of each one was right and his life was entirely devoted to God. These men had full faith in the coming of the great Messiah and his reconciliation work. (Heb. 11:13) These all died and went to hell. They must return from hell, because God promised that they should come back. These men are properly called heroes of faith or faithful worthies or ancient worthies. They all died in faith and faithful. They had faith in the resurrection and had promise of a better resurrection. — Heb. 11:35.

Were these men "good" within the meaning of the scripture which Jesus used? They did all they could to be of the "good" class. They were full of faith and the heart of each was devoted to God, and because thereof God counted them as righteous. (Rom. 4:20,

22) But at that time there was no basis for the complete reconciliation of these men, because the death of the perfect One as a substitute for Adam had not then taken place. God must be just and the justifier also, which he is. Therefore the ransom price must first be provided and presented as an offering for sin before the way for complete reconciliation is open.

God's purpose is to make these men perfect. For this reason it is written: "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:39, 40) The "us" here used means The Christ, of which Paul was a part. Until the atonement is made by the blood of Jesus Christ these men could not be made perfect. They all died before the sacrifice and before the sin-offering. The new covenant was made at the death of Jesus. When the sacrifice of the body of Christ is complete the new covenant will be inaugurated in heaven. There seems to be no good reason why these faithful worthies could not be awakened and brought forth to life before the new covenant is inaugurated that they might be present in the earth at the inauguration of the new covenant as the visible representatives of the Lord. They would thereby have a better resurrection than other men, even as they were promised. Doing everything within their power to be good, it seems clear that they are included in the "good" class who participate in the resurrection to life that Jesus mentioned.

Those who will compose the great multitude were brought into Christ by adoption. They do not prove wholly faithful to their covenant. God graciously per-

mits them to be forced through the great tribulation of Armageddon; and because of their faithfulness unto God at that time of great stress they will receive his approval, which approval is represented by their robes which they wash in the blood of the Lamb.  — Rev. 7:9-17.

The Evil

There is another class called "evil", the members of which must be brought forth from hell because Jesus declared they should be brought. (John 5:29) Who are in this class? All of Adam's children have been born evil. (Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51: 5) From Adam till now thousands of millions have died and gone into hell, there to await God's due time to awaken them out of that condition and to bring them forth. This must be done because 'Jesus, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man', and in due time every man must know that fact. — Heb. 2: 9; 1 Tim. 2: 3-6.

Concerning this great truth of bringing forth men from the grave Satan the enemy, through his representatives the clergy, has further defamed the good name of Jehovah God. The clergy, when asked to explain concerning the awakening of the dead, answer: 'They are not really dead, but they are alive. The souls of the evil ones are in hell torment with the Devil, and at the resurrection their souls are to be brought out of hell and given the same old bodies that they once had; then these bodies will, in some mysterious way, be made indestructible; and then the poor creatures shall be returned to hell, there to be tormented through the endless ages.' They cite in

proof of this contention the words of Jesus in John 5: 29. They should know better. The word rendered "damnation" there is mistranslated, as will be observed by referring to the Revised Version. The clergy know that this word, correctly translated, means "a judgment". That vicious doctrine which they have long taught, however, makes God appear as a fiend; and many millions thus believing have been turned away from God. Now let the people get the truth and rejoice.

All the evil ones will be brought forth from hell for the purpose of judgment, as Jesus stated. Judgment means the judicial determination of the rights of the parties involved in the trial. Jesus, having tasted death for all men, bought all the rights that the perfect man could have; and God's purpose is that at the judgment man shall be placed in a condition that he may receive the right to life which was bought for him. Christ, as God's great Executive Officer, is the honored Supreme Justice of the world; and before his judgment bar all people must in due time and in due order appear. (John 5: 22, 27) Those who will be associated with Jesus in the trial and judgment of the people will be the faithful ones who are made members of the glorious body of Christ. (Luke 22:30) The period of trial will be extended over a thousand years in duration. (Rev. 20: 6) It will be a righteous trial and a righteous judgment, and all the world shall have opportunity to benefit therefrom.

No one could be put on trial without some knowledge of the truth. The millions of heathen have gone into hell without ever having heard the truth of God's plan for salvation. Millions in the lands called Chris-

tian, even millions in the systems called organized Christianity, have also gone into hell with their minds filled with error and without having any conception of God's gracious purposes toward man. All these therefore are "evil" and all sleeping in death, which is hell; and all must be brought forth and given a knowledge of the truth in order that they may be put on trial and have an opportunity to accept the truth that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of man and that God through him has provided salvation for all. The purpose of the trial will be to offer each and every one the opportunity to be reconciled to God and live. There is no other name given under heaven whereby this can be done save that of Jesus. (Acts 4:12) All these must be brought to a knowledge of the truth, that they may be permitted to accept the gift of reconciliation unto life. (Rom. 5:18; 6:23) God has given assurance of such fair trial to all men and has appointed the judgment day for that purpose: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." — Acts 17: 31.

The covenant by sacrifice is now about completed. The new covenant was made at the death of Jesus and will soon be inaugurated. Then God's kingdom will be in operation on earth. Then the mighty Executive Officer of Jehovah God, he who holds the keys, shall open the doors of hell and death and bring forth the countless millions that are there, that they may be given the truth and have their trial, a full opportunity to be reconciled to God and to live for ever.

They will be shown that there is a right way for them to go in order to live, and that way will be made clear to them.