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Q. 6. Why will the body be raised or changed, and united to the soul in the life hereafter?

A. 1. It will be changed because the present body is unsuited to the future state. The body of every creature is fitted by God to the state in which it exists. This is a constituted law of the whole creation. (e) 2. The body will be raised, that it may be united to the soul, so that, as it was a partaker of the deeds on earth, it may be a partaker of the awards that shall be adjudged for eternity. 3. By the re-union of body and soul, the person will be prepared to enjoy or suffer more than he otherwise would. The righteous hereby will be completely redeemed from the evil effects of sin, and the wicked will be brought entirely under its dominion, and be compelled to endure its evils. In consequence of the connection of soul and body, a person is capable of virtues and vices of which the soul alone cannot be, as the denial and gratification of certain bodily appetites or animal desires. And for these the soul and body connected will be awarded in a future state; and in this way the happiness or misery of the soul will be augmented. Were it not for this consideration, it would be difficult to point out the design of the resurrection. 4. By the resurrection or change of the body and its re-union with the soul, the wisdom, goodness, and power of God will be illustriously manifested.

Q.

2.7. By whom will the dead be raised?

supernatural and Divine work is attributed in Scripture to the Lord Jesus Christ in His

to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.-1 Cor. xv. 51, 52, 53. 23. Behold, I show 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. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming.

(e) 1 Cor. xv. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

mediatorial character. It will be effected instrument ally by the archangel's trumpet, sounded by Christ's order, and attended with His all-quickening power. This will be a summons, not only for the dead bodies to arise, but for the souls to be united with them. (ƒ) Q. 8. What will be the nature of the resurrection body?

A. The bodies of the righteous will be raised spiritual, incorruptible, strong, active, and glorious. They will not be subject to weariness by labor, wasting by disease, or decay by age. The bodies of the wicked will be raised immortal; but in dishonor, deformity, shame, and everlasting contempt. (g)

Q. 9. What will be the feelings of mankind at the time of the resurrection?

A. The righteous will rise with joy and triumph; but the wicked will rise with fear and trembling.

Q. 10. Will persons who were acquainted with each other in this life know each other in the life to come, when clothed with the resurrection body?

A. Undoubtedly they will. The righteous who knew each other on earth will know each other in heaven. The wicked who knew each other on earth will know each other in hell. Even spirits in the separate or intermediate state know each other. Moses and Elijah knew each other, and talked with each other, in the mount of transfiguration. (h)

Q. 11. Is the doctrine of the resurrection an important and peculiar doctrine of Christianity?

A. It is; for, though it may appear non-essential to some, incredible to others, and mysterious to all, yet the whole Gospel stands or falls with the truth

(f) 1 Thess. iv. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

(g) Philip. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.-Dan. xii. 2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

(h) Matt. xvii. 3. And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

of this doctrine, especially with the resurrection of

Christ. (i)

CHAPTER XXII.

Judgment.

Q. 1. What is meant by the general judgment? Å. The general trial of angels and men, whether holy or unholy. Q. 2.

Is there a particular judgment passed upon all, both angels and men, at the close of their probation?

A. There is; but this judgment is individual and

secret.

Q. 3. What are the evidences that there will be a general judgment?

A. 1. The dictates of conscience and reason suggest this 2. The justice of God implies this. 3. And the Sacred Scriptures explicitly teach this. All that is said in the Bible respecting the probation of angels and men has reference to a general judgment. (a)

Q. 4. When will the day of judgment be?

A. At the end of the world-when this scene of things shall close. (b)

(i) 1 Cor. xv. 12, 13, 14. Now if Christ be preached, that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

(a) Acts xvii. 31. 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.-Rom. xiv. 10. 12. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.-Jude 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

(b) Matt. xxv. 31-33. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a

Q. 5. Do the Scriptures teach how long the judgment day, or the time of judgment, will continue?

A. They do not. A day, as used in relation to this subject, evidently means a period of time; and this period, we must conclude, will be sufficient for all the purposes of final judgment.

Q. 6. Where will be the place of the general judgment?

A. We do not know. It will be, however, in that place which is best suited to the occasion. Probably, therefore, it will not be on the earth, but in the air, the region of clouds, the most capacious place for such vast multitudes of beings to assemble. (c)

Q. 7. Who will be the judge?

A. The Lord Jesus Christ. He will sit in judgment, and render unto all according to their deeds. (d) Q. 8. In what manner will Christ come to final judgment?

A. He will appear in His glory attended by His holy angels. (e)

Q. 9. How will angels and men be affected at His approach?

A. None will then be disposed to deny either the Divinity or humanity of His person, nor the truth of His religion. The holy will have unspeakable joy and delight, and the unholy will have the most heartrending anguish and horror.

Q. 10. What is the particular design of the general judgment?

A. 1. It is not to furnish the Judge with instruction and information, for He is omniscient, and, con

shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.

(c) 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (d) John v. 22. 27. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of

man.

(e) Matt. xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.

sequently, knows the heart and actions of all creatures: But, 2. It is to let all intelligent creatures in general, and every individual in particular, whether holy or unholy, know on what grounds angels and men are approved or condemned, and publicly to justify God in His treatment of all moral beings. It is not only highly important, that God should do right, but that he should display His righteousness, and manifest the glory of His character to all intelligent beings. Without a general judgment, God can make every individual see and feel that He has treated him right; but He cannot make any person see and feel that He has treated others right, without a full exhibition of all their conduct. But in the general judgment all will perceive, most clearly, the equity of every sentence that is passed. This will be the case with angels and men, whether holy or unholy. And in doing this, God will show forth the glory of his perfections, and, especially, the glory of Divinity in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Q. 11. By what rule of judgment will Jesus Christ Judge angels and men ?

A. By the means of knowledge they enjoyed, and the motives to obedience with which they were favored. Among mankind, the Heathen will be tried by the light of nature, and those who have enjoyed the Sacred Scriptures will be judged by them. (f)

Q. 12. For what will angels and men be judged? A. For all their moral conduct. The conduct of holy angels, who have kept their first estate, will be examined and applauded. The conduct of those angels who have apostatized will be examined and condemned. The conduct of all mankind will be brought to view, of the righteous as well as the wicked. The sins of both, as they are so intimately connected and interwoven one with another, will of

(f) Rom. ii. 12. 16. For as many as have sinnea without law shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of inen by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

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