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What Lies Beyond the Grave?
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attractive to the selfish. What enjoyment could heaven offer those
who are absorbed in selfish interests?
Could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth
and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and join their songs
of praise? Years of probation were granted them, but they never
trained the mind to love purity. They never learned the language of
heaven. Now it is too late.
A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven.
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Its purity and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God
would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy
place and would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden
from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the
wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is
voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.
Like the waters of the Flood the fires of the great day declare God’s
verdict that the wicked are incurable. Their will has been exercised
in revolt. When life is ended, it is too late to turn their thoughts from
transgression to obedience, from hatred to love.
The Wages of Sin
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” While life is the inheritance of the
righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. “The second death” is
placed in contrast with everlasting life.
Romans 6:23
; see
Revelation
20:14
.
In consequence of Adam’s sin, death passed upon the whole
human race. All alike go down into the grave. And through the plan
of salvation, all are to be brought forth from their graves: “There
shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust,” “for
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” But
a distinction is made between the two classes brought forth: “All
that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that
have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
Acts 24:15
;
1
Corinthians 15:22
;
John 5:28, 29
.