One thing more, and I will close. The question may arise, Allowing that Jesus did come, and did execute judgment, as has been shown, may there not still be another coming to judgment? That there is to be another coming of Christ, we do not deny; but we do deny, that at his final coming he will execute judgment upon any. Where is your proof of such a judgment, if it be not in the texts we have quoted? There is no proof. Will you say these texts have a double meaning? Then why did Christ say, All these things shall come upon this generation? Why did he not say, These things shall in part come upon this generation, and in part at the end of the universe? Besides, shall we go back to the long since exploded doctrine of a double meaning to Scripture, to sustain this theory? Had we not much better abandon it, than to revive any thing so foolish and absurd?

If you wish to learn the particulars in regard to the final coming of Christ, read 1 Cor. xv. In reading this important chapter, bear in mind, that those to whom it was addressed, had expressed some doubts as to the resurrection of the dead. This we learn from vs. 12 – 15. "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. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not."

With this fact respecting the doubts of the Co

rinthians in our mind, it will be easy to understand the apostle. They doubted not the resurrection of Christ. This they admitted. Neither did they doubt the resurrection of the wicked simply; but they doubted also the resurrection of both the wicked and the righteous. Hence in his answer he speaks of the dead. Observe, "If the dead rise not." "How say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead? By man came also the resurrection of the dead." Therefore, all men will be raised; and it is the resurrection of all, that the apostle is arguing. Hence he says, "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." verse 22. This verse is not, As in Adam all die, even so all that are in Christ shall be made alive; but, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Now what is it to be made alive in Christ? Let Paul answer. "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." Verses 45-49. Thus, to be made alive in Christ, is to be quickened by his spirit; to be like the second man, or the Lord from heaven; to bear the image of the heavenly. But who shall be thus made alive? We answer the dead, or all men. in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be

"As

made alive." All then, will bear the image of the heavenly, as they now do the image of the earthy.

Hence Paul says, the dead shall be raised incorruptible and immortal, and that the resurrection shall introduce them into the kingdom of God. Hear him. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." Verses 50-55. Here all the dead experience the same change; they are all made incorruptible and immortal. It will avail nothing to say, we can be incorruptible and immortal without being happy; for the change which takes place introduces them into the kingdom of God. Observe,- Flesh and blood, he says, cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Then he describes the change which will introduce them into the kingdom of God. "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 incor

ruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Verses 51 – 53.

When the dead are thus raised, and the living thus changed, the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory," will be fulfilled. Where is this saying written? Turn to Isaiah xxv. 6, 7, 8, and you have the answer. "And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it."

In these words, the prophet first speaks of the provisions of grace, and declares, that they are made for all people, by which Christians now almost universally understand the whole human family. Calvinism is too cruel and partial for this benevolent age. In the next place, the prophet shows who will partake of the provision; and, in doing this, he uses the same broad terms that he employs in teaching the number for whom the provision was made. His language is, "He will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations; and wipe tears from all faces." Thus all will partake of the feast. And when this is done, death will be swallowed up in victory; the redemption of the world will be accomplished. Now we know we are right here; for Paul has applied this language

to the resurrection, and shown its fulfilment then. He says, when the dead shall be raised, "then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

This agrees with what is said respecting the reign of Christ: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." 1 Cor. xv. 24 - 28. Christ's warfare is against sin; and he only gains the victory, when the sinner becomes his friend. Hence, to make his enemies his footstool, or put them under his feet, is the same as to reconcile, subdue, or subject them. Therefore, when all are subdued, God will be all in all. But he cannot be all in the rebellious; and, therefore, all will be in willing subjection.

Let not the objector cavil at the expression, "every man in his own order"; for it is immaterial about the order. If all are made alive; if all are subjected; if all are incorruptible and immortal; if all are in the kingdom of God; if God is all in all; and if death is swallowed up in victory; it is enough!

Such, hearer, will be the condition of man at the final coming of Christ. Where now is our