Then the
living ones who believe on the Lord shall not die. We should keep in
mind, however, that to believe means to act upon that belief, in
accordance with it, and to be obedient to the new order that the Lord
will establish in the earth. Furthermore Jesus said: "If any man keep my
saying, he shall never see death". (John 8:51) Men cannot keep the
sayings of Jesus until they hear them; and the world cannot hear until
the Lord's due time. (1 Timothy 2:5,6) We are now entering that due time
and the message of the kingdom is being given out, by the Lord's grace,
that some may hear, and hearing, may profit and live.
[568]The majority of mankind practise unrighteousness. This is due
largely to the fact of their imperfections. As the Prophet puts it, each
one was born and shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin. (Psalm 51:5)
They have been surrounded by conditions and influences that have induced
wrong-doing. A great many of these have not the power of resistance
against evil; but during the reign of Messiah evil will be punished and
righteousness rewarded, and evil influences restrained. Then even those
who are wicked and turn from unrighteousness to righteousness shall live
and shall not die. Of this God gives positive assurance through his
Prophet.--Ezekiel 18:27,28.
[569]As further proof that restoration blessings will begin with those
living on the earth at the beginning of the Messianic reign, we cite the
words of the prophet Job.
Pages:
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389