Is not DEATH the last enemy that shall be destroyed? (I Cor. 15:26). Does not this imply that there are other enemies to be destroyed before death? (I Cor. 15:25). Are there not many enemies now to the spirit-begotten creatures in Christ? And is not one of the worst enemies of these embryotic new creatures, who follow Christ, the false, deceptive, deluding religious doctrines of Christendom here within exposed, which deceive the whole world, and even the very elect of the Lord, if it were possible? Must not these ecclesiastical enemies be destroyed before death? (II Thes. 2:11; I Tim. 4:1-4; II Tim. 3:1-9; II Cor. 4:4; Matt. 15:14; 24:24; Rev. 3:14-20, and chapters 13, 17, 18). Are not the unjust and selfish principles that control all governments, enemies to humanity? and must not this political enemy be destroyed before death? (Dan., 2nd chapter). Are not the great selfish corporations and trusts enemies of humanity, that will be destroyed before death? (James 5:1-5; Rev. 18:9-24). Are not intoxicat- ing, alcoholic drinks, adulterated foods and useless poisons of all kinds, enemies of humanity that will be destroyed before death? Are not thorns and thistles, and all offensive, troublesome and unprofitable weeds, enemies of humanity that will be destroyed before death? Are not death-dealing germs and microbes of every description, both vegetable and animal, enemies of humanity that shall be destroyed before death? Are not the selfish lusts and evil passions of humanity, enemies that shall be destroyed before death? Would not the destruction of all these, and other enemies of the human race, be the destruction of the effects of Satan’s rule?— and would not the absence of these evils result in a healthy, living condition among humanity, both mentally and physically?— and if they will, would it not also produce a healthy condition morally? Rev. 21:1-5.

If the destruction of all other enemies brings about a healthy, living condition, would not this in itself destroy the LAST ENEMY, death? And after all enemies have been destroyed, will we not have a restored human race with eternal life, in an Eden prepared from the foundation of the world? I Cor. 15:26; Matt. 6:10; 25:34; Rev. 21:1-5.

Would not the destruction of ALL enemies of mankind mean the destruction of the devil and all his works? (Heb. 2:14; I John 3:8). Does not the destruction of all enemies and the saving of THAT which was lost, imply the restitution of all things? (Luke 19:10; Acts 3:21). Is not the restitution of all things the fulfillment of God’s oath-bound promise to Abraham, that in his seed all families of the earth should be blessed? (Acts 3:25; Rom. 9:7; Gal., 3rd chapter). If we be Christ’s, are WE not the seed of Abraham, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, according to the promise? (Gal. 3:29). Will not the church share with the Lord this glorious work? Rev. 20:4, 6.

Would not the destruction of the enemy, grave, necessi- tate all in the graves coming forth, i.e., reanimated? [NOTE: While the word reanimation as used here and in other places does not exactly express the thought desired to be conveyed, yet it comes nearer than any other English word, save the word re-creation; but as the word re-creation expresses the completed work, beginning with the “reanimation” of the dead, by the (anastasis) resur- rection process, the word reanimation is used, and is used altogether in an accommodated sense. In Lazarus’ case, the word reanimation properly describes what took place, as he had not yet returned to dust; but in the case of millions of others, it is evident that there will be some- thing more necessary than mere reanimation]. Would not the destruction of the enemy, death, in the reanimated dead, necessitate the destruction of sin and evil in them (if they will)? — and would this not be the resurrection of the unjust? And if they will not, shall they not have the first or enemy death destroyed in them by being cast into the second or eternal death? (Rev. 20:14). Would not the full resurrection of the unjust be equivalent to their being made “alive” in Christ? Would not the making alive in Christ of all the willing of the re- animated unjust necessitate the destruction of the sin and evil in them, and would not this necessitate future probation?

Wipe now your tears, ye saints, and tell
How high your great Deliverer reigns;
Sing, he accomplished all things well,
And led the monster, Death, in chains.

O! live forever, wondrous King!
Born to redeem, and strong to save;
O Death, thou Monster, where’s thy sting?
And where’s thy victory, boasting Grave?