tions apparently made, in which the second death brings no relief. Those exceptions are clearly indicated by the words found in Rev. 20:10-"And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night, for ever and ever.'

In Rev. 19:19,20,21, though a different figure of expression is used, yet it not only confirms the foregoing quotation, but plainly marks the distinction made between those arch offenders and the rank and file of sinners. It reads thus:

"And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

"And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

AN INTERMEDIATE STATE.

That there is an intermediate state, in which the souls of mankind have either a conscious, or an unconscious existence, from the time of departing this earthly life, till the final resurrection, is clearly indicated by many passages of Scripture, while none seem to plainly refute it.

When the thief on the cross spake in the Savior's defense, and prayed for his remembrance when he should come into his kingdom, our Savior graciously replied, "to-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise!" Luke 23:43. But we read in the first chapter of the book of Acts, that it was forty days before Christ ascended to Heaven; therefore the Paradise he referred to could not have been the high Heaven wherein the Father and his holy angels dwell.

We also read in Acts, 2:34 "For David

is not ascended into the Heavens:" and in John, 3:13, Christ himself says, "And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven." And again in 1st.Cor. 15:20, St. Paul says, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept."

These passages, and several others of a like character, imply that up to the time of the Savior's advent no man had yet ascended to the high Heaven; and that until the final resurrection, which will be heralded by his second coming, none will so ascend, is manifested by the Savior's own words in Matthew, 16:27-"For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father, with the angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

Also in St. John, 5:28,29-"Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrec

tion of damnation." (that is, shall be raised or resurrected to meet condemnatory judgment). Likewise in Thess. 4:16, Paul says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

As many ages have already passed since Christ's departure from this earth, and we know not how many more may ensue before his second coming, when all shall rise and appear before the judgment bar of God, a consideration of how that period of existence is employed by those who have departed this life, is a study of particular interest.

Many expressions throughout the Bible would lead us to infer that the departed may repose in that unconscious state called sleep till the resurrection morn, since that term is freely employed in the Scriptures to describe their changed existence. And while that may be true of the majority, yet the inspired teacher Paul, though appearing to hold this view, in part, as is shown by his words in 1st. Cor. 15:51, yet makes a most

decided exception. The passage reads thus: "Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." These words appear to imply plainly, that while many will sleep, yet others will not.

This exception is in perfect accord with the Savior's words recorded in John, 11:26, which read, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die !"

I interpret this clause as meaning that they who believe in the Savior in this life, and manifest their faith by their works, will at once, on leaving the earthly sphere, enter into a conscious and blessed intermediate state; or in the language of the Savior, shall never die. This I believe to be the First Resurrection, spoken of in Revelation, 20:6,

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such, the second death hath no power.

But does the exception apply only to the Lord's redeemed? There is introduced into the 16th chap. of Luke's Gospel a narrative from the Savior's own lips, which appears emphasized by standing alone; apparently