Immortality and the Future - The Christian Doctrine of Eternal Life Book

IMMORTALITY and THE FUTURE The Christian Doctrine of Eternal Life -- PREFACE - - THIS little book is meant as a first guide to those who are studying the problems of Eschatology, and who wish to do so in the full light of history and faith. These two interests, accordingly, have throughout been kept in view. By saying so much, I hope that I suEciently indicate what is and what is not to be looked for in the pages that follow. The volume was planned and in great part written before the outbreak of war, but the subject of which it treats, and especially the great themes of death, immortality and the . life everlasting, have now laid hold upon all hearts with new power. Evidences abound on every side that not for a century has interest in these matters been so widespread and so profound. The war has made a new heaven let us trust that it may aid in making a new earth. For kind help in reading proofs of the first edition I am under a deep obligation to my friend and colleague, the Rev. Prof. H. A. A. Kennedy, D. D., whose suggestions much contributed to improve the text. Some part of the best literature for those who wish to pursue the study of this field is mentioned in the text or footnotes. Here let me name, as valuabla and quite recent additions to the eschatologists library, Prof. A. E. Taylors essay on Immortality in the collection The FaitF. and the War, Dr. S. H. Mellones Eternal Life Here and Hereafter, and Principal GrifEth-Jones Immortality and the Faith. H. R. MACKINTOSH. New College, Edinburgh, 1917. V CONTENTS PART I THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER PAGE I ETHNIC IDEAS OF DEATH Ah THE FUTURE . . 1 I1 ESCHATOLOGY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND JUDAISM. . . . . . . . . . . 19 I11 THE ESCHATOLOGY OF JESUS . . . . . . 39 1v ESCHATOLOGY IN E APOSTOLIC AGE . . . 60 PART I1 A RECONSTRUCTIVE STATEMENT I THE CHRISTIAN HOPE . . . . . . . . I1 OBJECTIONS ON THE THRESHOLD . . . . . I11 THE RETURN OF CHRIST . . . . . . . IV DEATH AND THE SEQUEL . . . . . . . V IbaIORTALITY . . . . . . . . . . VI FUTURE JUDGMENT . V11 UNIVERSALRESTORATION. . . . WI CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY . . . . . . IX THE LIFE EVERLASTING . . . . . . . INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . PART L THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I ETHNIC IDEAS OF DEATH AND THE FUTlTRE IN the vast field of religious history, so various in belief and custom, it is impossible to select more than a few characteristic types of ethnic eschatology. These cast light on the Christian hope either by contrast or by their historical and preparatory influence. a Primitive Races1 Among primitive or savage races it is held universally that something or other in man does survive death. Three groups of ideas prevail, often combined at random or used alternately. 1 The corpse is considered still to be in some sense alive. It is given a place at meals and provided with food and drink or has its sinews cut, lest it should revisit its old haunts or its grave is heaped with stones, to keep it down in its neighbourhood, men speak low. 2 Mingling obscurely with this is a notion of that which persists separate from the body-the man himself, grown invisible. It is not incorporeal, therefore Cf. Steinmann, Jenseitsvorstellungen der primitiven Vol ker. ETERNAL LIFE not mere soul, but rather the whole man, only unseen. In Melanesia, the dead kings shade is conducted to the shore and bidden step on board an invisible skiff, which bears him to a distant land. Elsewhere the distinction between 1 and 2 is less clearly marked. The ghosts or shadows of the dead may be seen at sunset or in moonlight their whispers are heard their footsteps, even, may be detected in ashes strewn on the path...Read More