Issue 39

Sept 2008 From Death To Life

“Blessed is a man who

perseveres under trial; for
once he has been approved,
he will receive the crown of
life which the Lord has
promised to those who love
Him.” (James 1:12).
Bible Teaching • Life • Death • Resurrection • Eternal Destinies
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From Death To Life

Conditional Immortality Association Issue 39

Contents
Editorial p. 4
David Burge.
The Crown Which is Life
Jachin Mandeno. p. 5
Conditional Immortality in the 19th Century
(Part 2) p. 6
Armand Newrick
Resurrection Revealed (Part Seven) p. 11
Beryl Ching
The Dead Know Nothing p. 14
David Burge
A Meeting In The Air (Part 2) p. 15
Al Maxey
The Big Picture p. 19
Immanuel Koks
From Death To Life
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 From Death To Life Page 4

Editorial
I talked with someone the other other in death. David makes no
day who had had the misfortune of judgment as to the eternal destiny
having a friend commit suicide. His of Saul.
religious background told him that
One can only say, as Abraham did,
the penalty for suicide was a one
Will not the Judge of all the earth
way ticket to eternal conscious tor-
do right?" (Gen. 18:25). Suicide is
ment, he looked to me, as a pas-
always a tragedy. I don‟t want to
tor, for consolation.
condone it, let alone promote it.
The Bible describes two famous However I am sure God could ex-
suicides: King Saul and Judas. tend mercy to one who like Saul
Doubtless Judas was lost. Peter thought themselves fatally wounded
speaks of "the reward he got for by life, and, not being in a healthy
his wickedness" (Acts 1:16-18). He state of mind, decided to end it all
was lost however because he re- before being degraded any further.
jected the Lord, not because he
At any rate, conditional immortality
committed suicide.
means that like David we can affirm
The story of King Saul's demise is that our loved ones (even suicides)
different. He was fatally wounded are at peace now. We may also af-
in battle. To avoid capture, and firm that God would never be so
probably torture before being callous as to torment anyone for all
killed, he killed himself. David's la- eternity—no
ment over Saul and Jonathan is matter how
kind: "Saul and Jonathan - in life great their sin.
they were loved and gracious, and The judge of
in death they were not the whole earth
parted ..." (2Sam. 1:23). This is will do what is
not to say that Saul and Jonathan right and eter-
are now in heaven. David simply nal torment is
means that having died together in not right.
battle, they now rest with each
- David Burge.
Issue 39 Page 5

One of my favourite songs has the line "Life is hard, peo-

ple are strange, God is good". All of those things are true,
and I'm glad to know that there is a reward to look for-
ward to at the end of this hard life, which is a race over-
seen by a good God and run in the company of strange
people.
This reward is mentioned in James 1:12, “Blessed is a
man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been ap-
proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has
promised to those who love Him” (NASB).
A literal translation would be 'the crown which is life', and
it refers to the wreath given to the winner of a race. That
is what those who love God have to look forward to at the
end of this race full of trials: eternal life with God. There is
no better prize.
Jachin Mandeno
The Author
Jachin in no way
intends to imply
that the reader is
any “stranger”
than he. You can
read Jachin's story
in From Death To
Life, Issue 31,
September 2006,
p6 (You can find it
online at our web
site).
www.afterlife.co.nz
 From Death To Life Page 6

Conditional Immortality in the 19th

Century (Part Two)
This is part two of an We could now capture times, volatile mo-
address given by images by photograph ments between promi-
Armand Newrick at (1827), there was the nent Christian leaders
our Conference 2008. invention of the of the day.
The first part can be telephone (1876), the DARWIN’S
found in Issue 38. light bulb (1879), the THEORY
ENGLAND internal combustion
It is somewhat ironic
In nineteenth cen- engine (1807). Was
that at this time
tury Europe, changes Charles Darwin was
emerging in society pursuing “naturalism”
were beginning to as his reaction against
loosen the bonds of a God who would tor-
tradition! People ment the unsaved in a
were being freed by conscious hell. It is
the advances of sci- ironic for at this very
ence and philosophy time a number of
to question long held prominent preacher/
beliefs such as the theologians were com-
origin of the uni- ing to the conviction
verse, the authority that hell was in fact a
and inspiration of Charles Darwin place where the wicked
the scriptures, and would be annihilated.
even the existence of there anything which
Here is a quote from
God. Debates on sci- humanity could not
Darwin: “I can indeed
ence and religion oc- now control and
hardly see how anyone
cupied the minds and achieve? Such radical
ought to wish
the con- “modern” changes were
Christianity to be true;
versations of the peo- exciting for many but
for if so the plain
ple on the street in scary for those who
language of the text
Victorian England. Yes, valued tradition. This
seems to show that
England was coming was an era out of which
men who do not
of age! freedoms and powerful
believe, and this would
convictions provided, at
 Issue 39 Page 7

include my Father, Higher criticism could German universities

Brother and almost all best be described as an that taught this
of my best friends, will
approach to the Bible approach.10 Therefore,
be everlastingly text which treated the this type of scholarship
punished. And this is atext as if created solely was believed to have
damnable doctrine.”9 by human beings with contributed to the
Darwin was not the all their human motives demise of biblical
only one for whom the and biases written into authority in America
doctrine of hell was a it. The biblical scholar giving rise to “Christian
psychological barrier would treat the Fundamentalism”. It
to belief. In 1859 scriptures like any other was also making its in-
Darwin‟s, Origin of fluence felt in England.
Species was published, A number of stanch
creating a serious evangelicals, and none
threat to the very more prominent than
foundations of the Charles Haddon
Christian faith, a Spurgeon, would in
challenge that many time deal a blow to the
Christians sort to advancement of
synthesize with belief conditional immortality
because, to not do so by linking it to the
was deemed backward spirit of the age which
and ignorant of the Charles Haddon had produced both the
advances of science. theory of evolution and
Spurgeon
HIGHER higher criticism.
CRITICISM ancient text trying to THE GOLDEN AGE
determine why, and
Another threat to the OF PREACHERS
who wrote it in the first
Christian faith which Despite these threats
place, and for what
was buffeting the going on beneath the
reason with very little,
Church in England was surface of English
if any, thought of divine
a new form of biblical Christianity, on the
inspiration.
scholarship known as surface this era still
Higher Criticism which American preachers produced some
had emerged in the would cross the Atlantic
outstanding preachers!
German Universities. to gain their advanced
These “golden”
theological education in
 From Death To Life Page 8

preachers could draw the USA; Beecher knew each other well;
crowds of thousands pastored the huge Spurgeon & Parker had
to hear the Gospel Plymouth church in a unique friendship,
preached with deep Brooklyn and would both held pastorates in
conviction. I can‟t help have been viewed by London, they would
but wonder if such Spurgeon as a liberal. often swap pulpits in
conviction in preaching Second to Beecher was the earlier years.
was fueled by the C. H. Spurgeon, pastor Parker however was a
threat of what was of the London Metro- staunch defender of
happening in the politan Tabernacle and the doctrine of
scientific philosophical conditional immortality.
strand of English life. He no doubt had a
Sadly, when speaking measure of influence
of the great preachers upon the late George
of the 19th century Brown who founded
the only name that the Churches of Christ
springs to most (Life and Advent) here
people‟s minds is that in New Zealand.
of Charles Haddon DR JOSEPH
Spurgeon who gained
PARKER
the title “prince of
So who is this Dr.
preachers”, a title
Joseph Parker, and
which might suggest
what do we know
that he had no equal
Dr. Joseph Parker about him? Dr. Joseph
at the time.
Parker was a man of
To the contrary, there third in the rankings
enormous literary
were a number of was Dr. Joseph Parker
output whose work
great preachers who who pastored the Lon-
and ministry influenced
gained just as much don City Temple.11
many throughout the
prominence as Parker in fact took the
English speaking
Spurgeon, but who funeral eulogy of
world.12 The following
have long since been Beecher and was ru-
is a quote from his 25
forgotten. The most mored to be set to take
volume work known as
outstanding preacher over Beecher‟s pastor-
The People‟s Bible
of the era was Henry ate in the United
Vol.1 p.160;
Ward Beecher from States. All three men
 Issue 39 Page 9

“By destroying evil I people of London and birthed in September

do not mean locking it see them repent, turn 1878 by many
up by itself in a moral from sin, and place distinguished clergy
prison, which shall be their faith in Jesus men and laymen,
enlarged through the Christ as Lord and including Rev. George
ages and generations Savior, just as Brown.
until it shall become Spurgeon did! Although beginning in
the abode of countless However, although London it took on
millions of rebels, but Parker was a strong international
its utter, final, advocate of conditionaldimensions, at one
everlasting extinction conference it claimed
so that at last the seventy speakers and
universe shall be twenty six countries
without spot or represented! This new
wrinkle, or any such organization believed
thing the pure home that they could give a
of a pure creation.” more united and effec-
Edwin Froom tive voice to the truth
describes Parker along of “Life only in Christ”.
with Spurgeon as: So, why didn‟t Parker
“… alike to symbols of join this conditionalist
pulpit oratorical power. organization? If Parker
Each had a worldwide had joined, conditional
following; both being immortality may have
regarded as master
A younger Spurgeon gained far more
preacher and able ground in its efforts to
Bible expositors.” 13 immortality, he was address the erroneous
Parker had a racy not prepared to put his doctrine of eternal
oratory style, spitting name and reputation conscious torment!
out the sermon with toward a new Perhaps Parker may
great speed and interdenominational have been playing a
urgency. He was often organization which was strategic game. Six
quoted in the secular being formed for the years after the forming
and religious press. promotion of the of the organization
Parker desired to bring doctrine! This new Parker preached a
the Bible alive to the organization was sermon that was
 From Death To Life Page 10

published in his work, and peculiarities. All whether he had actu-

The Apostolic Life, three had over inflated ally been converted.
where he addresses egos. Beecher, Parker when asked
the forming of groups described as a “sexy why he didn‟t take up
and organizations, for celebrity” was caught a small pastorate in his
doctrinal purposes, as up in a scandal early years replied: “A
divisive. Although no involving adultery. He great eagle doesn‟t
specifics were given in surrounded himself make its home in a
that sermon, it may sparrows nest!” These
very well have been men didn‟t always ex-
aimed at this new emplify the Bible‟s ad-
organization. Parker, monition to humility;
(although a propo- never the less we love
nent of conditional a human hero don‟t
immortality) desired we.
unity and this may be 12. Some of Dr. Joseph
the reason for him Parker‟s works include
not attaching his the following; City
name to this new or- Temple Sermons 1869-
ganization. 1870, The People‟s
(Part 3 to follow). Dr. Joseph Parker Bible in 25 Volumes
FOOTNOTES 1885-1895, Springdale
with a number of lady Abbey 1869, The Inner
9. Quoted in the
friends leaving his wife Life of Christ 1881,
magazine The Good
and children unloved. Apostolic Life 1884,
News July-August
2007 p.12
He carried with him a Tyne Child: my Life and
10. Some theological
pocket full of gems Teaching 1883, A
which he would look at Preachers Life 1899.
colleges were founded
if ever he was feeling 13. Leroy Edwin Froom
in America as a
response to this
down. Spurgeon was The Conditionalist Faith
concern.
often blamed as a of our Fathers Vol. 2
narrow egotist who (Review and Herald
11. Unfortunately time
considered everyone publishing Assoc.
seems to immortalize
wrong if they didn‟t Washington D.C. 1965)
these characters and
agree with him; many p.638.
blind us to their faults
clergymen questioned
 Issue 39 Page 11

RESURRECTION IN the rendering of the

THE PROPHETICAL LXX, and of 1 Corin-
BOOKS (Cont’d) thians 15:55, “O
death, where is thy
General sting? O grave, where
Resurrection is thy victory?” G.
THE AUTHOR In Hosea 13:14 we Campbell Morgan ex-
read, “I will ransom claims, “We do not
Armand is a member
them from the power wonder that Paul ...
of Manukau Central of the grave; I will re- knowing what that res-
Baptist church and a deem them from urrection meant to
recent graduate from death...”. We know men, would recall
Carey Baptist College that that ransom was these words of Hosea,
with a degree in paid by the death of and ... make them the
applied theology. He the Lord Jesus when prelude to his final
he gave up his life note of victory and
has had a keen
(Mat. 20:28). The praise; „Thanks be to
interest in theology
verse goes on with God, Who giveth us
since his teenage words which are the victory through our
conversion (See quoted in 1 Corin- Lord Jesus Christ‟ (1
Issue 30) and came thians 15:55 in a gen- Cor. 15. 57).”50
to the conditionalist eral way. In Hosea it Zechariah 14:4, in a
position about eight reads, “O death, I will prophecy about the re-
years into his walk be thy plagues; O turn of Christ, when
grave, I will be thy de- His feet shall stand
with the Lord. He is
struction:”, which with upon the Mount of Ol-
married to Suzanne
a little change in the ives, says that He will
and they have two order of the conso- come, and “all the
children Daniel and nants, says the New saints with thee”.
Emma. Commentary, becomes
 From Death To Life Page 12

Unless one takes the in order for Him to be again”. Though cut off
“saints” to mean able to reign. He saw His offspring.
“angels” (as J. F. B. Isaiah 53 is a chapter This could only happen
Commentary does),51 detailing the sufferings if He rose from the
here is a pointed refer- and death of Christ, dead. V. 11 goes on to
ence to the resurrec- which many Christians say, He shall see of the
tion. have memorised. In v.8 travail (“labour”
Resurrection of we see the Messiah N.K.J.V) of his soul,
Christ and shall be satis-
Many prophecies fied”, and
of the Messiah in v.12,“Therefore will I
the Old Testament divide him a portion
necessitate, as J. with the great, and
Stafford Wright he shall divide the
says, that “He spoil with the
must either be un- strong” - all mean-
dying or be raised ingless promises if
from the dead.”52 he was not to rise
Among these are from the dead. J.F.B.
Isaiah 9:7 “of his Commentary says of
government and v. 11, “Messiah shall,
peace there shall after death, rise
be no end”, and again to an endless
verses which life”, and The New
speak of His reign. Bible Commentary,
(E.g., Isaiah 11:1-5, “At verse 10 the note
10; Jer. 23:5). Though “cut off out of the land changes...beyond the
not clear even to the of the living ”, and in v. darkness of the sorrow
prophets themselves 10, He is an “offering and the shadow of
(1 Pet. 1:10, 11) with for sin” yet His resur- death is shown the ra-
the knowledge that rection is predicted for diance of resurrection.
the New Testament “he shall see his seed, He will live to see a
gives us, we know he shall prolong his spiritual offspring and
that after the prophe- days”. The Living Bible come to the throne of
sied sufferings, there paraphrases it in plain the conqueror re-
must be a resurrection English, “He shall live nowned.”
 Issue 39 Page 13

We have already us: in the third day he lowed by a great fish

commented in the In- will raise us up and we and was three days
troduction that Paul, in shall live in his sight.” and three nights in its
his sermon in Acts 13, Though this has a ref- belly in the depths of
saw Isaiah 55:3 as re- erence to it being but the sea. (Jonah 1:17).
ferring to the resurrec- a short time before Is- When certain Jews
tion of Christ, though rael is restored, it also asked Jesus for a sign,
to us, “the sure mer- appears to be a refer- Jesus answered that
cies of David” they would not be
might seem a very given any sign except
vague, indefinite that of the prophet
promise, not hav- Jonas. “For as Jonas
ing anything to do was three days and
with resurrection. three nights in the
However, when whale‟s belly; so shall
we look into this the Son of man be
promise, we must three days and three
turn to 2 Sam. nights in the heart of
7:16 to see that the earth.” (Matt.
David was prom- 12:40). The Lord is
ised a house, a obviously referring to
kingdom and a His time in the tomb
throne which and subsequent resur-
would be estab- rection on the third
lished for ever. day. Matthew Henry
This presupposed expands the type by
the resurrection of pointing out that Jo-
the Messiah, who is to ence to the resurrec- nah‟s tomb was a new
be the eternal ruler of tion of Christ, “a figure kind of tomb, and
that kingdom. of Christ‟s rising the Christ was laid in a
53
Hosea 6:1,2 speak of third day” Jonah‟s ex- new tomb in which no
Israel as being torn periences are taken by man had previously
and smitten, but the Lord Jesus Himself ever been laid; also
bound up and healed. as a type of His death, that in both the case
Verse 2 says, “After burial, and resurrec- of Jonah and of the
two days he will revive tion. Jonah was swal- Lord, their rising from
 From Death To Life Page 14

their “tomb” brought Beryl was for a THE DEAD KNOW

the gospel of repen- long time secre- NOTHING
tance to the Gentile tary of this As- A TV Review (Who reads TV
world - in Jonah‟s sociation. RES- Reviews?) said: “Save for the
case, to the Gentiles URRECTION AS quirky Pushing Daisies, in
of Nineveh, of course, REVEALED IN which a man brings the dead
and in Christ‟s case it THE OLD TES- back to life, television has suf-
meant the gospel was TAMENT AND fered from a rash - pestilence,
carried away beyond CONFIRMED IN even - of drama programmes
the Jews to the Gen- THE NEW TES- which take as an absolute
tile world.54 TAMENT is the given that there is an afterlife,
Footnotes full title of her and that those in it are pre-
50. Searchlights Thesis pre- pared to go to a lot of trouble
from the Word sented to the to communicate with the still-
Faculty of the living.
51. The J. F. B. Bible
Freelandia Insti-
Commentary Medium, Ghost Whisperer,
tute Biblical
52. Bible Characters Sea of Souls and the recently
Theological Col-
and Doctrines. Scrip- finished Afterlife all demand
lege in partial
ture Union. Vol. 3. that we accept that the dead
fulfilment of the
Study 77. have a bristling array of agen-
requirements for
53. Matthew Henry. das, which they are intent on
the Degree Mas-
Commentary in One pursuing beyond the
ter of Biblical
Volume. grave.” (Source: http://
Studies.
54. Matthew www.stuff.co.nz/4513103a208
Henry. See 79.html).
above. Who stands for the Word of
God in this area may feel they
stand alone. They will have to
The Author
stand against our culture. The
Beryl Joy Ching, Bible says the dead have no
spent over 40 agenda (Eccl. 9:4-10), no
years on the hope apart from Christ (1Cor.
mission field in 15:18-19).
India. Return-
For more visit our website at
ing to New Zea-
www.afterlife.co.nz
land to “retire”,
 Issue 39 Page 15

A Meeting in the Air

Part 2 (1Thess. 4:13-18)
By Al Maxey
"For the Lord Him- encounter) with the by which we shall AL-
self will descend Lord in the air. This will
WAYS be with our Lord
from heaven with a be the first encounter are: (1) His coming,
shout, with the or "meeting" of the re- (2) our resurrection,
voice of the archan- deemed (both living and (3) our gathering
gel, and with the and dead) with the up. Nothing is said
trumpet of God; Lord. "And THUS we about the dead already
and the dead in being with
Christ shall rise Him for hun-
first. Then we who dreds and
are alive and re- thousands of
main shall be years.
caught up together Rather, it is
with them in the under THESE
clouds to meet the CONDI-
Lord in the air, and TIONS
thus we shall al- (coming,
ways be with the resurrection,
Lord" (1Thess. 4:16- gathering
17, NASB). up) that this
In this passage we meeting with
behold those "dead in shall always be with the Lord occurs, an
Christ" raised from the the Lord." The word encounter which leads
dust of the ground, translated "thus" is to us being with
and they are gathered "houtos" which signi- Him always.
up, along with those fies "thusly, under such Several of our be-
believers still living at circumstances or con- loved gospel hymns
the Parousia, unto an ditions." The condi- speak of this blessed
"apantesis" (meeting, tions or circumstances promise to the re-
 From Death To Life Page 16

deemed. Perhaps we ing of joy the Lord shall sound

should pay greater at- When the King shall and time shall be no
tention to the words of appear, in His beauty more, And the morning
some of our songs of on high, And shall breaks eternal, bright
praise and anticipa- summon His children and fair; When the
tion.
Hallelujah,
We Shall Rise
In the resurrec-
tion morning,
We shall meet
Him in the air,
We shall rise,
Hallelujah, We
shall rise! And
be carried up to
glory, to our
home so bright
and fair, We
shall rise, Halle-
lujah, in that
morning we
shall rise!
In The Morn-
ing Of Joy
When the trumpet to the courts of the saved of earth shall
shall sound, and the sky, Shall the cause of gather over on the
dead shall arise, And the Lord have been all other shore, And the
the splendours im- your employ, That roll is called up yonder,
mortal shall envelope your soul may be spot- I'll be there.
the skies, When the less in the morning of When He Comes
angel of death shall joy? In Glory By And By
no longer destroy,
When The Roll Is Oh, how sweet 'twill
And the dead shall
Called Up Yonder be to meet the Lord,
awaken in the morn-
When the trumpet of When He comes in
 Issue 39 Page 17

glory, by and by; great power" unto an "ashes under the soles
What a song of praise encounter with our of your feet on the day
will be outpoured, Lord. He seizes us and which I am preparing"
When He comes in lifts us mightily from says the Lord of hosts
glory, by and by. the earth which is (Malachi 4:3).
I am longing for that about to experience Kittel, in his clas-
happy day, When He the full outpouring of sic Theological Diction-
comes in glory, by and the fury of God's con- ary of the New Testa-
by; For with Him I suming fire. The ment, states that this
hope to soar away, wicked are not word means "to take
When He comes in snatched away, but something forcefully --
glory, by and by. - firmly, quickly ...
The word trans- forcefully snatch ...
lated "caught with the thought of
up" (vs. 17) is the speed” (Vol. 1, p.
Greek word har- 472). He further
pazo which means states that it
to "snatch away by "always expresses
force, convey away the mighty opera-
suddenly, seize (as tion of God" (ibid).
a wild beast grabs This whole event
its prey)." It ap- will happen sud-
pears as a Future denly, quickly, in
Passive which sig- the "twinkling of an
nifies this has not eye." Thus, our
yet occurred, but lies rather will be con- gathering up to this
in the future (at the sumed along with the encounter with the
Parousia), and it is old heavens and earth Lord will be a sudden
something that hap- (2 Peter 3:7). When "snatching away" from
pens to us (we our- this is accomplished, the earth, for the judg-
selves are not the ac- we will all be brought ment of God will delay
tive agent). We are with Him to our dwell- no longer. We are be-
awakened and called ing in the new heavens ing taken out of the
forth from the grave, and earth, and the way so as not to be
and then we are wicked, now destroyed destroyed in the out-
"snatched away with forevermore, will be as pouring of His wrath.
 From Death To Life Page 18

The wicked will experi- them, and He shall from the earth (along
ence no such gather- wipe away every tear with those believers
ing up out of harm's from their eyes; and still living at the time)
way, but will flee to there shall no longer be unto an encounter with
caves to seek protec- any death; there shall Him in the air, and
tion against the con- no longer be any then with Him, follow-
suming fire. There will mourning, or crying, or ing the destruction, we
be none, however, and pain; the first things shall be brought unto
they shall be de- have passed away.' And the new heavens and
stroyed along with the he who sits on the earth where only right-
old heavens and earth throne said, 'Behold, I eousness will dwell,
(from which the right- am making all things and we shall thus for-
eous will have been new'" (Revelation 21:3- ever be with our Father
safely snatched away). 5). and His
"But according to His To sum up, the pas- Son. "Therefore
promise we are look- sage in 1 Thess. 4:13- comfort one another
ing for a new heavens 18 does not even begin with these
and a new earth, in to teach what the tradi- words" (1 Thess.
which righteousness tionalists claim
dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). it does. It
"And I saw a new merely declares
heaven and a new that our Lord
earth; for the first will return, raise
heaven and the first those who sleep
earth passed in the dust of
away" (Revelation the ground,
21:1). "And I heard a snatch those to
loud voice from the be saved away
throne, saying,
'Behold, the taberna- Al Maxey is an elder and preacher at the
cle of God is among Cuba Avenue Church of Christ, Alamo-
men, and He shall gordo, NM. He has graciously given us
dwell among them, permission to publish this article from his
and they shall be His web site. Many other interesting articles
people, and God Him- on biblical topics can be found at
self shall be among http://www.zianet.com/maxey/
 Issue 39 Page 19

Choose Life (Part 1)

By Immanuel Koks
every tree in the gar-
den, - including the
tree of life. (Gen 2:16)
While they exercised
that freedom there re-
mained the possibility
of life. However God
did give them one very
clear instruction:“Of
the tree of the knowl-
edge of good and evil
you shall not eat, for in
There are times when have some detail, but the day that you eat of
we do theology that it not complete clarity. In it you shall die.” (Gen
is useful to stand back this paper I will exam- 2:17) We know the
and look at the trajec- ine a brief biblical the- story, they chose to
tory of scripture. That ology of Life and disobey and ate the
is, instead of studying Death asking: what forbidden fruit. (Gen
the detail, asking what does this tells us about 3:1-6) Death of hu-
does the overall pic- the future fate of the manity entered the
ture of scripture, indi- righteous and the world. Instead of the
cate on the topic. This wicked? produce of the earth
type of work often Our First Parents being a thing of free-
comes under the title dom it became a
Starting at Eden, we
of Biblical Theology. source of toil and bur-
find that God offers
This is especially im- den. (Gen 3:17-19).
Adam and Eve the
portant when consid- Humanity was not
chance to choose life
ering things to do with
or to choose death. To snuffed out at the mo-
the future plans of ment of their sin. God,
choose life was the
God; for which we in his love, sent them
freedom to eat of
 From Death To Life Page 20

out of the Garden and life in total freedom. Moses could not go in
set Cherubim to guard Disobedience led to with them, he would
the entrance. Why was bondage, death, and have to die on this side
it, “In his love?” Was being cut off from the of the Jordon. What
this not God‟s wrath? source of life. would he tell them? He
The tree of Life repre- Israel told them the Message
sented the source of of God. He told them
Picture this: Israel had
life, and God did not their story. He told
journeyed with Moses
want his people eating them of the exodus.
for 40 long years. While
from that source. If He told of God‟s ever-
they had seen the cloud
they did they
would live
forever while
being in a
state of Sin.
Humanity was
cut off from
the source of
life from that
time. So, as
Paul says “In
Adam we all
die.” Paul also
holds out
hope for
Christians “in
Christ we
shall all be made lasting love for them,
and fire, leading them,
alive” (1 Cor. 15:22.) his people. He told
he was the voice piece
But I am getting them of the Covenant
of God for them. Now,
ahead of the story. God made with them,
at the end of all that
Two things are impor- and how they could re-
time, they were about
tant to note in this main part of that cove-
to go into the land
episode: from the be- nant. A covenant with
which Moses had led
ginning, obedience to its foundations firmly
them to. However
God meant abundant planted on God‟s
 Issue 39 Page 21

grace, not on what and ordinances, then to witness against you

they did. He told them you shall live and be- today that I have set
what is recorded in come numerous, and before you life and
the book of Deuteron- the Lord your God will death, blessings and
omy. In summing up bless you in the land curses. Choose life so
Moses relayed God‟s that you are entering that you and your de-
message to his people to possess. But if your scendants may live,
"See, I have set be- heart turns away and loving the Lord your
fore you today life and you do not hear, but God, obeying him, and
prosperity, death and are led astray to bow holding fast to him; for

adversity. If you obey down to other gods that means life to you
the commandments of and serve them, I de- and length of days, so
the Lord your God that clare to you today that that you may live in
I am commanding you you shall perish; you the land that the Lord
today, by loving the shall not live long in swore to give to your
Lord your God, walk- the land that you are ancestors, to Abraham,
ing in his ways, and crossing the Jordan to to Isaac, and to
observing his com- enter and possess. I Jacob." (Deuteronomy
mandments, decrees, call heaven and earth 30:15-20, NRSV)
 From Death To Life Page 22

They were to live in humanity, is that we gelical" who still be-

obedience to their gra- are marred by sin. We lieves in Conditional
cious God; who be- all fall far, far short of
Immortality. Imman-
cause of his everlast- righteousness. uel's passion is to com-
ing love he set them -Immanuel Koks bine his understanding
free from the slavery of disability and his
of Egypt, who because
The Author
theology. While many
of his enduring faith- Immanuel's parents Christian organizations
fulness, desired to immigrated to New are doing good work
bless them in the land Zealand from the Neth- for people with disabili-
that he gave to Abra- erlands in 1968, six ties and those who are
ham, Isaac, and years before Immanuel suffering, there is a
Jacob. The result of was born with moder- need for a stronger
that obedience would ate Cerebral Palsy. He theological foundation.
be enduring freedom grew up in the World- Immanuel feels called
in the land. But like wide Church of God to this. To further this
Adam and Eve there which he left, with his goal he plans to study
would be real, harsh mother and brother at at Regent College in
consequences if they the end of 1995. Now, Canada. If you would
chose not to obey. after attending the like to know more
They would perish, Bible College of New about Immanuel's
they would die. In- Zealand (BCNZ) Im- dreams and aspirations
stead of freedom, manuel considers him- visit his web page at
their children would self an "orthodox evan- www.immanuelkoks.com
once again know cap-
tivity. (Deut 28:41)
Once again the mes-
sage is clear, when
one lives in righteous
relationship with God
there is life and free-
dom, outside that rela-
tionship there is de-
struction and ulti-
mately death. The
story of the Israelites,
indeed the whole of

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Statement of Faith
1. We believe in God and His one and only Son,
Jesus the Christ. Heb. 11:6; John 14:1; 3:16; 20:31;
Mat. 16:16.
2. We believe in the Holy Spirit. 2Pet. 1:21; 1Cor.
6:19; Jude 20; Eph. 3:5.
3. We believe that Jesus died for us and gave
himself a ransom for all. Rom. 5:8; 1Cor. 15:3; 1Tim.
2:6.
4. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead;
that by resurrection He became Lord of both the
dead and the living, and the first fruits of those who
have fallen asleep; and that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life. Rom. 10:9;
14:9; 1Cor. 15:20; John 3:16.
5. We believe that baptism is commanded by Christ,
was practiced by His Apostles, and is taught in the
New Testament. Mat. 28:18,19; Acts 8:12,38.
6. We believe that all Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the people of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Tim. 3:16,17.
7. We believe that human beings are by nature
mortal. Gen. 2:7; 3:19; 1Tim. 6:16; 2Tim. 1:10;
Rom. 2:6-7.
8. We believe that human beings in death are
unconscious. Psa. 6:5; 115:17; Ecc. 9:5,10. This is
likened to "sleep". Job 14:12; Psa. 13:3; Jer. 51:39;
Dan. 12:2; John 11:11-14; 1Cor. 15:51.
9. We believe that immortality is obtained only
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Cor. 15:21-
23; 2Tim. 4:7-8; 1John 5:9-12.
10. We believe that there will be a resurrection of
both the righteous and the wicked, to be followed by
the Judgment. Acts 24:15; John 5:25,28,29; Rev.
20:12,13.
11. We believe that evil and evil-doers shall be finally
destroyed. Psa. 145:20; Mat. 10:28 Rom. 6:21; Phil.
3:19; Heb. 2:14; 1John 3:8; Rev. 22:3.
12. We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:11; John 14:3; 1Thes. 4:16.