The Harp of God: Proof Conclusive That Millions Now Living Will Never Die
John Stuart Mill · en
[184]All the human race, then, from Adam until now having been born
imperfect, it follows that if any ever get full life and the right to
life he must get it through the loving Jehovah God. Unless God had made
some provision for the redemption of man from death and the lifting up
of him again to the condition of life, the time would come when there
would be no people on the earth. We remember that Adam lived 930 years;
and now a man scarcely lives to be half a century old. The race has been
degenerating for centuries, growing weaker and weaker, and ultimately
all would come to that condition in which they would be unable to
transmit even the spark of life, and the earth would be depopulated.
Hence we see our utter dependence upon God; and if we find the great
Jehovah has made a provision for us to live, that ought to fill our
hearts with gratitude; and as we further examine his great plan it
should fill our hearts with boundless love for him. And surely that
provision would bring joy to the heart and enable one to see that such
provision constitutes one of the strings upon the great harp of God.
REDEMPTION FORESHADOWED
[185]At the time that Jehovah entered the judgment or sentence against
man he vaguely hinted at a time coming when man should be released from
that judgment. Satan, one of whose names is the old serpent, was the
first inducing cause of sin. And God at that time said to him: "I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head". (Genesis 3:15) This foreshadowed the
fact that ultimately Satan should be destroyed and that the same would
result as a blessing to man.
[186]But we must remember that the judgment of God entered against man
must stand forever. It could not be reversed or set aside or annulled,
for the reason that Jehovah cannot deny himself. Nor could any of his
creatures have faith in him if he changed his mind. While it is true
that this judgment must stand forever, it is equally true that God could
make a consistent provision for having the terms of the judgment met by
another, equal to Adam; and this is exactly what we find the Scriptures
to disclose that he did.
[187]Jehovah desired that man should understand the necessity and
reason for providing redemption, that when man does understand it he
will rejoice in the loving-kindness manifested by God toward him. For
this reason God caused certain pictures or types to be made by his
people.