THE RESURRECTION

THE RESURRECTION




Now I unfold unto you a mystery: nevertheless, there are many mysteries, which are kept, that no one knoweth them, save God himself.
But I shew unto you one thing, which I have inquired diligently of God, that I might know; that is, concerning the resurrection.

Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead.
Now when this time cometh, no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.
Now whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case; that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.

Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death, and the time of the resurrection.
And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men, from this time of death, to the time appointed for the resurrection?
Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise, it mattereth not: for all do not die at once: and this mattereth not; all is as one day, with God; and time only is measured unto men;
Therefore there is a time appointed unto men, that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection.

And now concerning this space of time. What becometh of the souls of men, is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.
And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.

Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection.
Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body; yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken taken home to that God who gave them life.
And then shall it 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, etc.
And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord: for behold they choose evil works, rather than good: therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house;

And these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil.

Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for, of the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
Now there are some that have understood that this state of happiness, and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection.
Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection; the raising of the spirit or the soul, and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.

And behold again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection; a resurrection of all those who have been or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Now we do not suppose that this first resurrection which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls, and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye can not suppose that this is what it meaneth.
Behold, I say unto, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body of those from the days of Adam, down to the resurrection of Christ.
Now whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom have been spoken, shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say;

Let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.

Now I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.
But whether it be at his resurrection, or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery, 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;

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.

For behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

Now there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death;
The spirit and the body shall be reunited again, in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time;
And we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

Now this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous;
And even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body,
And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

Now behold I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body.
I say unto you, that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body; that is from death; even from the first death, unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided;
Thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.