Preface

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LIFE- DEATH- HEREAFTER
"The Entrance of Thy Words Giveth Light."— Psa. 119:130
5,000 Edition
If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed
time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call,
and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a
desire to the work of Thy Hands."
—Job 14:14, 15.
A Collection of Writings of Biblical Scholars, vindicating God's Character, Plan and Works, and the Ransom-Sacrifice and Power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to Minister Life and Immortality to the Faithful.
EDITED AND PUBLISHED
BY
PASTOR PAUL S. L. JOHNSON, V.D.M.,
Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.
1920
To the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
IN THE INTEREST OF . \ QT
HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS
WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION AND OF
ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE LORD, "THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH,"
THE GROANING CREATION, TRAVAILING AND WAITING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD,
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED
To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.'! "Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispen- sation of the fulness of the times He might gather together in one all things, under Christ." Eph. 3:4.5.9; 1:8-10.
COPYRIGHT 192O
PAUL S. L. JOHNSON
PHII.ADEI.PHIA, PA., U. S. A.
CU571875
FOREWORD
'T'HE EDITOR AND Publisher of this treatise on Life— ■■• Death — Hereafter has no apology to make for his gather- ing and publishing under one cover some pen products of able Biblical Scholars on timely themes; for the subject of this book is of compelling interest to all inquiring minds. Philosophers and scientists, theologians and publicists have given us wise and unwise treatises on the subjects set forth in this work. The too common mistake of trusting solely to human knowledge, tradi- tion and hope has more or less marred the majority of the efforts to arrive at the Truth on these themes. On these as well as on all other matters of faith and practice, the only reliable source and rule of correct knowledge — true science — are found in the Holy Scriptures, which, we are happy to recognize, set forth their views on these matters in strict harmony with sound reason and human experience. Therefore the writings appear- ing in this book pass by human theories and philosophies on Life — Death — Hereafter as foundations for Faith's building, and ground their thoughts on "the impregnable Rock of Holy Scriptures," and therefore offer the Divine Mind on the subjects presented herein. This accounts for the many and frequent references to the Scriptures found throughout this work.
This book being a compilation of writings that have appeared at various times, and that were not originally intended to form a single treatise, of necessity there will be found here and there brief repetitions of thought which could not be omitted without marring the discussion of the various themes. Even this feature of the book has its advantages, as St. Paul assures us that his repeating the same things did not hurt him, but profits us; because repetition is the mother. of learning. Therefore we trust that the good reader will among other, ways be blessed by this unavoidable feature of the book.
The subjects chosen are especially timely. The vast harvest that Death has recently reaped through the World- War and its accompanying Famine and Pestilence has aroused a more wide- spread interest in the subjects herein discussed than has been in evidence for many years. In Church, State, Family, Finance, Industry and Society the deep sorrows of death coming in the very recent past to many hearts, and the natural cravings for renewed fellowship with loved ones who have passed away, have made the subjects herewith presented the theme of many an earnest conversation, devout meditation, fond hope and anxious inquiry. But Satan, the Adversary of God and man, ever alert to entrap the unwary, is seeking to use this interest to
Foreword.
further his own purposes — to enslave in the thraldom of error those whose hearts are mourning, because the grim reaper has garnered one or more of their loved ones to the tomb. As has been his custom from time immemorial, he is now setting the extremes of error in opposition to one another, hoping thereby to divert the honest investigator from, and to cause him to for- get, the Truth which lies between these extremes of error. On the one hand through so-called Orthodoxy he holds before the mourning heart the present as well as the eternal felicity of the good dead, and the present as well as the eternal woe of the wicked dead, in places far distant from this earth ; while on the other hand through Spiritism he is using his underlings, the fallen angels, to palm themselves off as the spirits of our loved dead and as inhabitants of earth's atmosphere, whereby he is woefully deceiving many, through taking advantage of their guilelessness by his subtle playing on the tender cords of their mourning hearts. By means of these extremes of error he suc- ceeds in hiding from the eyes of many the Truth — that the dead are asleep, peacefully resting after the nightmare of toil and trouble amid which they passed from the cradle to the tomb, where they are quietly, peacefully resting, until the voice of Christ, the Life-giver, calls them back from Death to Life and to a better Hereafter. Both Orthodoxy and Spiritism delude their votaries ; Truth alone gives Solid comfort to the Bereaved. To help honest hearts to be and to remain free from prevail- ing delusions on Life, Death and the Hereafter, and to gain the rest of mind and the comfort of heart that flow from an accurate knowledge of the Divine Mind on these subjects is one of the purposes of this book; and back of this purpose, and permeating the contents of the entire work, is the thought of vindicating the Glorious Character, Plan and Work of God, and the Ransom- Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His resultant Ministry, whereby "He is able to save unto the uttermost them that come to God by Him." Surely such purposes appeal to all good people, whose prayers are asked that God may prosper the book in 'this its Divinely approved mission !
Paul S. L. Johnson, Editor and Publisher. Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A., July 16, 1920.
CONTENTS