1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

It cannot be denied that the doctrine of judgment is one of the first principles of the gospel. (Reference to the following testimonies will convince any candid mind on this point: Heb. 6:1; Rom. 2:16; Acts 10:42; Matt. 16:27.] Therefore, the believing or not believing this doctrine does undoubtedly "affect the standing of one immersed."

You seem to admit this, but entertain a doubt whether the question of time is an essential element in the matter — that is, whether it is necessary to recognise that the unfaithful will be present at the tribunal at which the righteous are accepted.

A full consideration of the question, in the light of all the testimony that exists, ought to settle this. Nothing can be plainer than the statement that it is

"at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:1]

that Christ is to judge both living and dead—a statement supported in so many ways by Christ's parables and scattered statements; and nothing can be more evident than if you remove this element of time, you destroy the moral character of the occasion. It is an occasion for

"making manifest the hidden things of darkness,"

as well as giving praise and honour to the faithful.—(1 Cor. 4:5.] Now, if the unfaithful are absent, neither to themselves nor to the faithful can this manifestation take place. Not only so, but the righteous themselves must come through the ordeal of giving account to God.—(Rom. 14:12.]

They are saved "so as by fire." They may be saved, though their work in others may be destroyed; but it will only be on the principle of successfully coming through the trial which destroys worthless work. It is an unsafe rule to trim and clip the truth, and try how little we can do with. Rather let us make our calling and election sure, by removing every element of doubt.

The Christadelphian, May 1874

Pre-Millennial Resurrection of the Wicked

There will be a resurrection of the wicked at the close of the thousand years, it is true; but there is also a resurrection of this class at the appearing of Christ, as apparent from the following Scriptures; Dan. 12:2; John 5:29; Matt. 25; Rom. 2:9–16.

The parables all represent Christ calling before him the two classes of servants—faithful and unfaithful, at his coming.

To suggest that he might call before him the unfaithful alive at his coming, while leaving the unfaithful dead in their graves, is to ignore the fact that Jesus is "Lord of both the dead and living;" and that he "will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.—(2 Tim. 4:1.)

The fact of a man being dead when the Lord comes makes no difference in his relation to Christ's jurisdiction or power. If his being alive would ensure his appearance before the judgment-seat, you may depend upon it that death will be no barrier.

The Christadelphian, July 1872

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

... and so to Titus he says:

"These things I will that thou affirm constantly" (Titus 3:8).

What he advised Timothy and Titus to do in the first century, he would recommend everyone taking hold of the word to do in the nineteenth; for the work is the same and its difficulties are the same now as then, though the form of surrounding circumstances has changed.

The work now, if a work is doing, is the work in which Paul and others were engaged -- the work of taking out and purifying a peculiar people for Christ; and the principal difficulty springs now, as then, from the almost unconquerable bias of the human mind in favour of the present evil world.

Bro Roberts - Walking worthily, Seasons 1: 39.

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Such was the awful apostasy from the faith that manifested itself ere the apostles had retired from the contest, and the gifts of the Spirit had been withdrawn. It was modern Christendom in embryo; a field of tares sown by the enemy, now fully ripe for harvest.

Not only have the saints been prevailed against, but the faith they contended for is denounced as heresy, and the real heresies, protested by the apostles, established and incorporated as the truth. These have eaten as a gangrene, so that

"the things concerning the kingdom of God and name of Jesus"

are as fables in the ears of the deaf. What is to be done in such a case? The evil is too great and strong for the saints in the absence of their Lord. They cannot destroy it, and to reform evil would leave it but evil still. One thing only can be done, and that is, testify against it, and bear witness for the truth, by which we may save ourselves, and some gleanings of the field.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Dec 1857

The gospel, we have said, is the covenanted promises evangelized. To make our meaning distinct, a word or two must be said in regard to "evangelized."

This is a Greek word in an English dress, being in its own country called εναγγλιζω evangelidzo. This is the noun εναγγελιον, evangelion, with a verbal termination implying action—a putting into action the noun. Now this noun is composed of εν eu, signifying good,well; and αγγελια, angelia, a message, from αγγελλω angellō, to narrate; from which comes αγγελοζ angelos, one sent, a message-bearer, angel.

Evangelion, therefore, signifies a good message, which, when put into circulation, is evangelized. Now, a message to be good must be something excellent, beneficial, and to be desired by those to whom it is sent; and because this is the fact, God has called the message, or

"word he sent unto the children of Israel by Jesus Christ proclaiming peace"

to them, good. That "peace" is the subject matter of the covenants of promise; and is the reason why we so often meet with such passages as these—

"Thou shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel"—Ps. 128:5, 6:

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, April 1857

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

His appearing

How will he appear to human eyes when he is thus manifested in the glorious majesty of his kingdom‭?

Read the narrative of the transfiguration,‭ ‬and your inquiry will find the best answer that can be given.‭ ‬Here were three witnesses who tasted not of death till they saw‭ "‬his majesty,‭" ‬or the glory with which he will be invested when he sits as King of Israel on the throne of his father David's kingdom,‭ ‬which is also‭ "‬his kingdom,‭" ‬and‭ "‬the kingdom of God.‭"

These eyewitnesses in mortal flesh saw him as he will appear‭ "‬at his appearing and‭ ‬at his kingdom‭"—‬kata with accusatives‭ ‬at in the sense of‭ ‬in.‭ ‬His personal appearance will be earth-illuminating wherever he goes,‭ ‬and shining as the sun—the Spirit of the Father as from electro-magnetic poles glowing through an incorruptible body.‭

He will‭ "‬shine as the brightness of the firmament,‭ ‬and as the stars,‭ ‬for ever and ever.‭" ‬Hence he is styled‭ "‬the Bright and Morning Star,"‭ ‬having‭ "‬a countenance as the sun shining in his strength‭'—‬the Day-Star of the morning that dawns‭ ‬at eventide.

‭ ‬Moses‭' ‬face shone with glory—the Spirit glowing through mortality as the changed exterior of Jesus‭; ‬how much more enduringly brilliant the Spirit's glow through incorruption‭!

‭"‬The moon shall‭" ‬then indeed‭ "‬be confounded,‭ ‬and the sun ashamed,‭ ‬when‭ (‬Jesus‭) ‬the Lord of hosts‭ ‬shall reign on mount Zion,‭ ‬and in Jerusalem,‭ ‬and before his ancients‭ ‬gloriously.‭'

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, May 1852

The other side of the picture is to be seen in that opposite course which certainly brings a hardness of heart for which a man will be held responsible. In this opposite course, the man neglects the reading of the word. He does not absolutely leave the Bible unread but he adopts no system; he does it at haphazard, as time and inclination may suit. The consequence is, it is never very convenient, and never very enjoyable.

The affairs of this life are always exacting, and he always accords to them the first claim. Bible reading is attended to at odd times, when he has nothing else particularly to do-perhaps on a Sunday afternoon occasionally, when he is heavy, or on a weeknight, when he is tired out with a day's work. It becomes more and more occasional, as time goes on, until it is practically shelved altogether.

By and by, he wonders if the Bible is true, and becomes finally perhaps an easy prey to the shallow objections of a very superficial and unprincipled scepticism. If he does not exactly sink to this depth, he hangs on, a dead branch-a weight and a grief of mind to those who are flourishing on the sap of the true vine. This man. Whose delight is not in the law of the Lord, soon ceases to pray. He is tired at night, and he is in a hurry in the morning, and he does not see any particular use in praying.

And so in the habitual absence of this opening and subduing and sanctifying act of the mind, his carnal heart settles gradually into a state of hopeless hardness. The meetings he thinks are all very well in their place, and he is easily kept at home; and as for bringing the precepts of Christ to bear on daily surroundings, he will be heard to whisper that religion should be kept in its own place.

Money-making, by any means, is his charm; and he will be found standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the scornful, and prominent in all pleasure-taking, and condescending even to worse follies in which he "does not see any harm." His heart is hardened, and he has hardened it; and in the hardness of his impenitent heart, he is treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds.

Brethren, be it ours to listen to the Spirit's exhortation to harden not our hearts as in the day of Israel's provocation. Let us obey the other exhortation which says,

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life . . .. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."

Seasons 1.72.

‭O‬nce a brother always a brother

‭...‬as regards judgment-seat responsibility to Christ,‭ ‬but not as regards communion with the family‭; ‬this depends on steadfastness in the faith and practice of the household.‭ ‬In so far as‭ "‬brother‭" ‬is expressive of this communion,‭ ‬it is out of place towards those who of the faith have made shipwreck.

The Christadelphian, Dec 1873