THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE

Matt. 25:47-"And these [the wicked] shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (46).

John 3:16-"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 11:25, 26-"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

ETERNAL LIFE (AND CONDITIONS)

Luke 18:18, 22-"What shall I do to inherit eternal life? . . . sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me."

John 17:3-"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Rom. 2:7-"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life."

Rom. 6:23-"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Gal. 6:8-"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I John 3:2-"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

I John 3:15-"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

I John 5:11, 20-"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. . . . This is the true God, and eternal life."

D. and C. 28:12-"Thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation; that by his natural death, he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe."

Matt. 19:16, 17; Luke 10:26; 20:36; John 4:38; *6:49, 51, 54, 68; 1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Heb. 7:16; 1 John 1:2; *Rev. 20:6; 21:4.

D. and C. 10:3; 12:3; 17:5; 22:23; 76:5, 7; 85: 2.

ETERNAL LIFE PROMISED

†Gen. 6:62; Matt. 25:47; Mark 10:29; Luke 18:30; *John 3:15, 16, 36; 5:24; 10:28; 12:50; 1 John 2:25.

CAUTIONS CONCERNING ETERNAL LIFE

Matt. 18:8; Mark 9:43; *John 3:36; *5:40, 41; *6:27; 12:25; Acts 13:46; 1 Tim. 6:12.

2 Nephi 1:120; 6:74; 7:40; 13:25; Enos 1:4; Jacob 4:16; Moroni 7:47.

IMMORTALTY

2 Sam 12:23-"But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

Alma 9:34-"What is this that thou hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state, that the soul can never die?"

2 Nephi 6:32, 36-"And the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incoruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us, in the flesh; . . . And it shall come to pass, that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel."

Ps. 133:3; Eccles. 12:7; Dan. 12:2, 3; *Mark 12:29-32; Luke 20:36; 23:44, *John 6:27, 40, 47; 8:51; 11:25, 26; 1 Cor. 15:53, 54; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; *Phil. 1:22, 23; *I Tim. 6:16; 2 Tim. 1:10.

Enos 1:46; Mosiah 8:38; Alma 8:105-107; 3 Nephi 13:19.

D. and C. 76: 4, 6, 7.

DEATH ABOLISHED

Prov. 12:28-"In the way of righteousness . . . there is no death.

John 5:24-"Believeth hath everlasting life, is passed from death unto life."

John 8:51-"Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

Rom. 8:2-"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

I Cor. 15:22-"In Christ all shall be made alive."

I Cor. 15:26-"Death shall be destroyed."

I Cor. 15:54-"Death is swallowed up in victory."

2 Tim. 1:10-"Jesus Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

I John 3:14-"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."

†Gen. 4:10; †6:62; †7:64, 69; †14:32; 2 Kings 2:1 ; John 11:26; Acts 2:24; Rom. 6:9; *1 Cor. 15:52, 53; Col. 1:21, 22; Heb. 2:15; 1 John 5:11; Rev. 21:4.

(Also see Helps to Bible Study, Topical Index D55, 56, 59; S570, 571.)

RIGHTEOUS CHANGED AT SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

D. and C. 63:13-"But they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye."

D. and C. 98:5-"In that day an infant shall not die until he is old, and his life shall be as the age of a tree, and when he dies he shall not sleep (that is to say in the earth), but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious."

(See Bible Study, Topical Index D55 death abolished; 56 exemption from; 57 penalty; 59 redemption from; 62 second death; 64 spiritual death; 68 of the wicked.)

D. and C. 85:35 (Sanctified shall not see death).

D. and C. 98:5 (Fear not death).

2 Neph: 6:11-29 (Death and the resurrection).

Mosiah 8:80, 81.

Alma 15:33, 34 (No fear of death).

Mormon 4:73 (Eternal band of death).

HEAVEN

PARADISE THE ABODE OF THE SPIRITS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

Luke 23:44-"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee; Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (43).

John 12:26-"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be."

John 13:36-"Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards."

John 17:24-"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me."

2 Cor. 5:8-"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

2 Cor. 12:4-"How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

Rev. 2:7-"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

Rev. 14:13-"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."

*Luke 16:27-31.

Alma 19:44-"And then it shall come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise; a state of rest, a state of peace: where they shall rest from all their troubles, and from all care and sorrow."

Moroni 10:31-"I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and my body shall again reunite."

2 Nephi 6:31-"The paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous."

3 Nephi 13:12-14; 4 Nephi 1:15.

GLORIES OF THE REDEEMED

Matt. 13:45-"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father"(43).

Matt. 17:1-"And was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" (2).

Isa. 49:9-"That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves."

Isa. 61:1-"He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

Matt. 12:34-"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (40).

*Luke 4:18-"He hath sent me . . . to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them who are bruised."

Eph 4:9-"Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?"

*1 Pet. 3:18, 19-"For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, that he might bring us to God. For which cause also, he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."

*1 Pet. 4:6-"Because of this, is the gospel preached to them who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live in the spirit according to the will of God."

Acts 2:31; Rev. 1:18.

2 Nephi 6: 28, 29-"Wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies."

I Nephi 4:43-62; Alma 9:14-32.

D. and C. 85:28-"And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump, and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which was prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh."

D. and C. 110:22-"Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained before the world was that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prisons; for the prisoners shall go free."

D. and C. 36:7, 11.

†Mark 8:43-"He that layeth down his life for my sake and the gospel's shall come with him, and shall be clothed with his glory in the cloud, on the right hand of the Son of Man."

*John 14:2, 3-"In my Father's house are many mansions; . . . And when I go, I will prepare a place for you, and come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also."

John 17:22-"And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."

*1 Cor. 15:39-42-"All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beast, another of fishes, and another of birds. Also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, and bodies telestial; but the glory of the celestial, one; and the terrestrial, another; and the telestial, another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead."

Phil. 3:21-"Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body."

I Pet. 5:4-"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

I John 3:2-"But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

*Rev. 1: 7-"For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory of his Father."

Rev. 1:13, 14, 15-"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."

Rev. 11:18-"That thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great."

Ps. 17:15; 73:24; Matt. 16:30; *25:32-35; 2 Cor. 3:9; 4:17; 12:2-4; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 2:12.

D. and C. 76:5-"We bear record for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony . . . concerning them who come forth in the resurrection of the just; They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name, and were baptized after the manner of his burial . . . and this according to the commandment which he has given, that by keeping the commandments, they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; and who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. . . . These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever; these are they whom he shall bring with him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, to reign on the earth. . . . These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical."

D. and C. 76:6-"And, again we saw the terrestrial world. . . . These are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited and preached the gospel unto them, . . . who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh but afterward received it: these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who are blinded by the craftiness of men; these are they who receive of his glory but not of his fulness; these are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not the fulness of the Father; wherefore they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun; these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore they obtained not the crown over the kingdom of our God."

D. and C. 76:7-"And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that . . . of the moon. . . . These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus; . . . these are they who are thrust down to hell. . . . who shall not be redeemed from the Devil, until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work. . . . As one star differs from another in glory even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world. . . . These are they who say that they are some of one and some of another. . . but received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus. . . . They shall be servants of the Most High, but where God and Christ dwell they can not come, worlds without end."

D. and C. 76:3, 4; 85:4-10.

CELESTIAL GLORY

†Gen. 6:62; John 17:22; *Rom. 8:18; *1 Cor. 15:40-42; Col. 3:4; I Pet. 5:1, 4, 10.

D. and C. 76:5; 85:2, 4, 6; 98:9

TERRESTRIAL GLORY

Matt. 25:35, 42 *I Cor. 15:40-42.

D. and C. 76:6; 85:5, 6

TELESTIAL GLORY

1 Cor. 15:40-42.

D. and C. 76:7; 85:5, 6

HELL

PRISON THE ABODE OF THE ANGELS WHO FELL

 

2 Pet. 2:4-"For if Cod spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."

Jude 6-"And the angels which kept not their estate, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

†Gen. 3:4; *Luke 10:19.

HELL THE FUTURE ABODE OF THE WICKED

Ps. 9:17-"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Prov. 5:11, 12-"And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, and say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof."

Isa. 5:14-"Therefore hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."

Isa. 24:22-"And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."

Ezek. 32:18, 21-"Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. . . . The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell."

Zech. 9:11-"As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water."

Matt. 5:27-"Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time thine adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison" (25).

Matt. 12:38-"And he said unto them, When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest and finding none" (43).

*Gen. 3:4; Isa. 14:9; Isa. 24:21, 22; Ezek. 26:19, 20; Luke 10:19; 16:24-31; Rev. 20:13-15.

Alma 19:47-"Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and in a state of awful, fearful, looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them."

Alma 19:56.

THE PIT

Job 17:16; *Ps. 30:3, 9; 69:15; 88:4; 143:7; Prov. 1:12; Isa 38:18; Ezek. 26:20; 28:8; 31:14; 32:23, 24.

BOTTOMLESS PIT

Rev. 9:1, 11; 11;7 17:8; 20:1, 3.

ILLUSTRATIVE TEXTS ON HELL

Ps. 55:15 (The wicked into hell).

Ezek. 26:20 (The low parts of the earth. Pit).

Ezek 31:16, 17 (The Pit).

Jonah 2:2 (The belly of the whale).

Matt. 5:24 (Hell-fire [9]).

Luke 16:9 (Everlasting habitations).

DEGREES IN HELL

Deut. 32:22; Ps. 86:13; 88:6 (Lowest hell).

Matt. 11:24-26 (More tolerable for Sodom [22-24]).

*Matt. 23:11 (Greater punishment [141]).

Luke 12:56, 57 (Many stripes [47, 48]).

Rom. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 2:23 (According to deeds).

DURATION

†Gen. 7:44, 45-"Those that perish in the flood shut up until the day my chosen shall return to me."

2 Pet. 2:4 (Fallen angels reserved to day of judgment).

Rev. 20:13 (Death and hell deliver up the dead).

Isa. 24:22; I Cor. 5:5.

D. and C. 18:2 (Endless punishment is God's punishment).

D. and C. 76:4 (The height, depth, length, torment and end thereof).

D. and C. 76:7 (Whoremongers, murderers and adulterers suffer in hell yet may receive the telestial glory after they have paid the price),

CHRIST TO DELIVER THE CAPTIVES

Ps. 16:10-"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Isa. 42:7-"To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

HELL, AND EQUIVALENT TERMS

Throughout the Old Testament, the word hell is translated from the Hebrew word sheol. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines it: "hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), includ. its accessories and inmates: grave, hell, pit." Young's Analytical Concordance defines it "The unseen state."

It is translated "hell" 31 times (examples: Deut. 32:22; Ps. 9:17; 18:5; Prov. 5:5; 23:14; Isa. 28:15; Ezek 31:16, 17; 32:21.) In 30 texts it is "grave" (such as: Gen. 37:35; Job 21:13; 24:19; Ps. 30:3; 89:48; Prov. 1:12; Isa. 38:10; Ezek. 31:15); but other Hebrew words are rendered "grave" 29 times. Nor does the Am. Revised Version render sheol "grave," or "pit" as in the Authorized Version in Num. 16:30, 33; and Job 17:16. Examination of these 64 texts indicates that sheol had a variable meaning in ancient usage.

In the New Testament, hell is from the Greek geenna (or gehenna) 11 times (as in Matt. 5:22, 29; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Luke 12:5), meaning valley of Hinnom, which Strong says is "a valley of Jerus., used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: hell." it is from hades 10 times (as in Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14), "prop. unseen, i.e., 'Hades' or the place (state) of departed souls: grave, hell," says Strong. In 2 Peter 2:4 it is from tartaroo, explained by Strong to mean "to incarcerate in eternal torment: cast down to hell."

The Standard Bible Dictionary explains the significance of sheol and hades by saying: "The O T Sheol (Hell AV) and the N T Hades must be distinguished from the grave. . . . To what extent even consciousness was believed to continue in the state after death is uncertain. That some degree of mental activity must exist in any condition in which the distinctiveness of man is preserved goes without saying; but it is possible both to exaggerate the amount of feeling implied and to minimize it."-Article "Eschatology," pages 222, 223.

Concerning the doctrine of Jesus that future punishment awaits the wicked, we read:

"Of the duration of this punishment, all that may be said is that it is eternal (eonian, or age-long), just as its counterpart is eternal life for the righteous (Matt. 25:46, everlasting, AV). There is, however, an intimation of the modulation of penalty according to the amount of knowledge of the sinner (Luke 12:46, 48)."-Ibid., page 225.

Robinson's History of the Apostles Creed shows that in post-apostolic times the belief was common among leading church teachers that Christ's soul went to hell to perform his work of salvation there. He says:

"For farther proof whereof, I might cite St. Jerome, who writes, That it was the soul of Christ which went into hell; as also Epiphinius, Ambrose, Origen, Athanasius, with many others, who all apply this action of our Saviour's to his soul alone."-Page 187, London 1702 edition.

He explains this mission of Christ as set forth by Athanasius, one of the Primitive Fathers, in his tract:

"That whilst his body lay buried in the grave, his soul went into Hell, to perform in that place those several actions and operations which were necessary for the complete redemption and salvation of mankind."-Ibid., page 190.

The doctrine of the punishment of the wicked, Justin Martyr says, they had learned from Christ, and was taught by them in his day (Apol. 1, Par. 8). In his Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, he declares:

"I affirm, that souls never perish, for this would be indeed a godsend to the wicked. What then befalls them? The souls of the good are consigned to a better place, and those of the evil and unjust to a worse, there to await the day of judgment."-Paragraph 5.

That early Christians did not invent the doctrine of a hades is manifest:

The idea of a Hades (Heb.), known to both the Hebrews and the Greeks, was transferred to Christianity, and the assumption that the real happiness, or the final misery, of the departed did not commence till after the general judgment and the resurrection of the body, appeared to necessitate the belief in an intermediate state."-Hagenbach's History of Doctrines, Section 77, page 221.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus emphasized features the Jewish ideas of sheol would make clear. The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia states:

"According to the notions of the Jews, sheol or hades was a vast receptacle where the souls of the dead existed in a separate state until the resurrection of their bodies. The region of the blessed during this interval, or the inferior paradise, they supposed to be in the upper part of this receptacle; while beneath was the abyss or gehenna (Tartarus), in which the souls of the wicked were subjected to punishment."-Article "Hades," page 747.

THE MILLENNIUM AND CHRIST'S COMING

The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia notes two views held by Christians concerning the return of Christ. Some have concluded that he will come before the millennium and establish his reign with the Saints, including those to come forth in the first resurrection at his appearing. Others have supposed that his coming will not take place until after the millennial period at the final judgment. On this matter the opinion is expressed that:

"In either case it would seem that we are now very near the opening of the millennial period. According to the prophecies of Daniel and the statements of the Christ this period is to follow as the next great after the four successive empires which occupy 'the times of the Gentiles."'-Volume II, Article "Millennium," page 1163.

Of some results to be expected, the further conclusion is reached:

"But Christian intelligence will banish superstition. Idolatry will cease. Apostate churches will be reformed or destroyed. False religions will be overthrown. Enlightened governments, permeated with Christian principles, will displace tyrannies, and religious liberty will become the heritage of all the nations. This much may be expected, and such a millennium will be indescribably glorious."-Ibid., page 1166.

Aside from the Bible, one of the earliest writers on this subject was Barnabas. He held that the creative period symbolized the pre-millennial age of man, saying:

"Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end. For with him one day is a thousand years, as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, shall all things be accomplished. And what is that he saith, And he rested the seventh day: he meaneth this, that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in that seventh day."-The General Epistle of Barnabas, 13:4-6.

In his Dialogue with Trypho, Justin Martyr quotes considerable Scripture on this subject, and affirms:

"But I, and all other Christians whose belief is in every respect correct, know that there will be both a resurrection of the flesh, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be rebuilt, adorned, and enlarged, as the Prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and others declare."-Paragraph 80, page 175. (See D. and C. 45:3; 108:4, 5).

The Standard Bible Dictionary states that, whichever view may be correct:

"Only after his earthly work was ended and Jesus had returned as the glorified Messiah would the Kingdom be in full manifestation. Hence the promise of His second coming (Greek, Matt. 24:3, 27, 39) of which the time is concealed from all, even from the Son (Mark 13:22), but of which He gives certain signs that they may recognize it."-Article "Eschatology," paragraph 34.

Hagenbach's History of Doctrines, Volume 1, says of early millenarian beliefs:

"The doctrine of the Messianic Kingdom ruled the first period. This turned upon the point that the Lord was twice to come; once in his manifestation in the flesh, and in his future coming to judgment."-First Period, Section 27, page 74, note.

Hagenbach mentions Cerinthus, Papias, Justin, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Cyprian, of the early church Fathers who taught the coming millennial Kingdom, and Giesler's Text Book of Church History is quoted:

"In all the works of this period (the first two centuries) millenarianism is so prominent, that we can not hesitate to consider it as universal in an age, when such sensuous motives were certainly not unnecessary to animate men to suffer for Christianity."-Section 75, footnote 6, page 215.

Buck's Theological Dictionary informs us that:

"About the middle of the fourth century the Millenarians held the following tenets: 1st, That the city of Jerusalem should be rebuilt, and that the land of Judea should be the habitation of those who were to reign on the earth a thousand years. 2dly, That the first resurrection was not to be confined to the martyrs, but that, after the fall of Antichrist, all the just were to rise, and all that were on the earth were to continue for that space of time. 3dly, that Christ shall then come down from heaven, and be seen on earth, and reign there with his servants. 4thly, That the saints, during this period, shall enjoy all the delights of a terrestrial paradise."-Article "Millennium," page 370.

Some, however, opposed the doctrine in some respects, including Origen, Dionysius, Augustine, and Eusebius. The latter viewed the texts as mystical, saying of Papias:

"The same historian also gives other accounts. . . . likewise certain strange parables of our Lord, and of his doctrine, and some other matters rather too fabulous. In these he says there would be a certain millennium after the resurrection, and that there would be a corporeal reign of Christ on this very earth; which things he appears to have imagined, as if they were authorized by the apostolic narrations, not understanding correctly those matters which they propounded mystically in their representations."-Eccleriastical History, Book III, chapter XXXIX, page 115.

Hagenbach states that after Christianity became connected with the state, the doctrine had but little support by the church, and that:

"Thus the period of Christ's second coming, and of the destruction of the world was inevitably deferred from time to time, and it was only extraordinary events that caused men for a season to look forward to these events as nigh at hand."-Second Period, Section 139, page 368.

THE CHANGE OF THE EARTH

†Gen. 7:70, 72-"And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; . . . and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem . . . and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest."

Isa. 11:6-9-"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

Isa. 35:1, 5-7, 10-"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. . . .Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; . . . and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Isa. 65:17-"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth."

Isa. 66:22-"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain."

†Luke 17:39, 40-"For verily there shall be new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. And there shall be no unclean thing; for the earth becoming old, even as a garment, having waxed in corruption, wherefore it vanisheth away."

*2 Pet. 3:7, 12, 13-"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, are kept in store by the same word, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. . . . Looking unto, and preparing for the day of the coming of the Lord wherein the corruptible things of the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the mountains shall melt with fervent heat? . . . And we look for new heavens, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Rev. 21:l-"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and therc was no more sea.

†Gen. 6:43; †7:75; *Ps. 46:6; 102:25, 26; Isa. 11:5-9; Dan. 12:4; * Matt. 5:7; * 13:39; * 24:32; *Acts 3:21.

Ether 6:9-"And there sball be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like the old, save the old have passed away and all things have become new."

2 Nephi 12:87.

D. and C. 63:6-"When the earth shall be transfigured, even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount,"

D. and C. 85:4-"Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; for after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory."

D. and C. 28:6; 36:3; 38:1; 43:7; 49:2; 56:6; 85:6, 29; 100:2.

TIMES OF RESTITUTION

Isa. 40:3-5-"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

Isa. 65:25-"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock; and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."

Ezek. 47:12-"And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed."

Joel 2:23, 25-"And rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately. . . . And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."

Hab. 2:14-"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

*Acts 3:21-"Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

Rev. 22:2-"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Isa. 1:26; 44:3; *51:3, 11; *62:4; Ezek 36:30; Amos 9:13.

THE EARTH THE INHERITANCE OF SAINTS

†Gen. 7:73-"And it came to pass, that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth, in righteousness, for the space of a thousand years."

Ps. 37:11-"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

Ps. 115:16-"The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth hath he given to the children of men."

Isa. 65:21-"And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them."

Dan. 7:27-"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom."

*Matt. 5:7-"And blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth" (5).

Rev. 5:10-"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth."

Rev. 21:2, 3-"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men."

Isa. 45:18; *Matt. 6:11; Eph. 1:11, 14; Rev. 20:4.

D. and C. 63:6-"He that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth."

D. and C. 85:6-"The earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law. Wherefore it shall be sanctified, . . . . and the righteous shall inherit it."

D. and C. 38:4; 45:10, 59:1.

THE GREAT JUDGMENT

Alma 19:56-"Until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works."

THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

Alma 19:57-59-"Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which have been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost, but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame. And now my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God."

THE BOOK OF LIFE

Exod. 32:32, 33-"Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."

Dan. 12:l-"And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

Mal. 3:16, 17-"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."

Phil. 4:3-"And with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life."

Rev. 3:5-"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life."

Rev. 13:8-"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

Rev. 17:8-"And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life."

Rev. 20:12-"And another book was opened, which is the book of life."

Rev. 20: 15-"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life."

Rev. 21:27-"And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Rev. 22:19-"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life."

Luke 10:21.

CHILDREN LIVING IN THE MILLENNIUM

Isa. 11:6, 8-"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. . . . And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den."

*Isa. 65:20-"In those days there shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall not die, but shall live to be an hundred years old; but the sinner, living to be an hundred years old, shall be accursed."

Ezek. 37:25 "And they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children forever."

D. and C. 45:10-"And their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation, for the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their King and their lawgiver."

D. and C. 63:13-"Nevertheless it is appointed to him to die at the age of man; wherefore children shall grow up until they become old, old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye."

D. and C. 98:5.

FOREVER, AND EVERLASTING, USED IN

A LIMITED SENSE

Deut. 15:17-"Thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever."

I Kings 9:3-"I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever."

Eccl. 1:4-"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever."

Isa 34:10-"It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever; from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever."

Jonah 2:1, 2, 6-"Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, and said, . . . I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever; yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord, my God."

Hab. 3:6-"And the leverlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow."

Jude 7-"Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Alma 17:9, 10-"When I heard the words, If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God, I was struck with such great fear and amazement, lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth; . . . I was racked with eternal torment."

Alma 19:87-"As they were cut off from the tree of life, they should be cut off from the face of the earth, man became lost forever; yea, they became fallen man."

Mormon 4:72, 73-"Tbe death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep. . . . and they shall come forth, both small and great."

D. and C. 18:1-3.