CHAPTER I - Their origin and history

It is written:-“The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterwards that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”-1 Corinthians 15:45-49.TTA 1.1

At the creation, the “first man Adam was made a living soul,” to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”-Genesis 1:26.TTA 1.2

Nothing was withheld from him, of all God had created,-connected with the earth-with the exception of one tree, “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”TTA 1.3

This apparently trifling prohibition, was to prove a test of man’s love for, and obedience to his Creator. Although he had just received a present of all the earth-all the real estate, and all the personal property upon the earth-nothing being kept from him except the one tree; yet his life, and consequently the possession of his property, depended upon strict obedience to the command;-“Thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die; or as the margin reads,-dying thou shalt die! Strange that man should not have been satisfied with such vast wealth, and, also, with being a man; but strange as it may appear, he made the attempt to rise above a man, and to become “as gods,” and therefore partook of the other tree, and death was the consequence,-unto dust he had to return. Sad change now over all the earth! Man in a dying state, and the earth itself, and all connected with it, under the curse:-“An enemy had sowed tares among the wheat.”-(Matthew 13:28.)TTA 1.4

But must the earth forever remain under the curse! and man forever remain in the dust! Yes, unless a plan be devised to restore them. Such a plan Almighty wisdom devised; for through the second Adam, or “seed of the woman,” (Genesis 3:15,) he will bring “eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”TTA 2.1

In regard to the two Adams, let us be careful to discriminate between them. “The first Adam,” was of “the earth, earthy;” “the last Adam,” is “the Lord from heaven.” It is not, then, very difficult to determine which of the two is the oldest!TTA 2.2

Can the “last,” or “second,” be older than the “first?”TTA 2.3

The inspired apostle declares, “that was not first, which is spiritual, but that which is natural, afterwards, that which is spiritual.” Let the word of the Lord stand, though men’s theories be blown to the winds!TTA 2.4

Paul says,-“For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For, in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18.TTA 2.5

The children then, being partakers of “flesh and blood,” he also himself-Jesus, the Son of God-likewise took part of the “same!” for verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him “the seed of Abraham!” wherefore in “all things” it was needful for him “to be made like unto his brethren!” How was he “made like unto his brethren?” Let Gabriel answer.TTA 3.1

About 1864 years ago-true era-there was a woman called “Mary,” living in Nazareth, of Galilee; and Gabriel was sent from God to her, with the most important message ever communicated to mortal man. When the angel came in unto her he said:-TTA 3.2

“Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”TTA 3.3

When Mary inquired of the angel how this thing could be, the angel answered and said:TTA 3.4

“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the son of God.”TTA 3.5

Let us ever bear in mind, that this “holy thing,” born of Mary, is the Son of God, and his name is called Jesus! Whose name shall be called Jesus? The Son of God,-that holy thing of flesh and blood and bones, which was born of Mary! The name Jesus, then, was a proper name, given to the Son of God to distinguish him from other sons born of women, such as Peter, John, etc.; although the name Jesus, signifies Saviour.TTA 3.6

Therefore, “when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”TTA 3.7

We have then, the age of the Son of God, but who can tell how old his Father is!TTA 4.1

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.” And when he was “twelve years old,” he went with Joseph, and Mary up to Jerusalem to a feast. When they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child “Jesus” tarried behind in Jerusalem. When he was found by his friends, he was “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” He finally returned to Nazareth, with Joseph and his mother, “and was subject unto them.”TTA 4.2

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Note this:-Jesus increased in wisdom, as well as stature, or age-as the margin reads.TTA 4.3

When Jesus “began to be about thirty years of age,”-preparatory to his entering upon his public ministry, he was baptized of John in Jordon. How significant this act! Jesus, the second Adam, knowing that he must soon commence his conflict with Satan who had ruined the first Adam and his posterity; and that he must ere long die, be buried, and rise again from the dead, in order to break Satan’s power and rescue man from death, he went to the Jordan, unto John and said something like this, we think,-John, I wish you to baptize, or bury me in this water. But John replied,-“I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” “Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” Or in other words, we think he said something like this,-John, I have come into this world to accomplish a great work; and to complete it, I must die and be buried; but the third day I shall rise again. Now as a striking emblem of this gloomy yet triumphant work, I wish you to bury me in this water, and then raise me up again, that it may be a sign, or emblem of my future burial and resurrection from the dead; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he baptized him.TTA 4.4

After Jesus had fulfilled his ministry, and was betrayed into the hands of sinful men, he was brought before the governor of Judea for trial.TTA 4.5

When Pilate had condemned him, they scourged Jesus, and then he was delivered to be crucified. After he was nailed to the cross, “about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!’” “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice yielded up the ghost.”TTA 5.1

Now let us be careful, and not lose sight of Jesus-the Son of God-that holy thing born of Mary. He is already dead! What will be done with him?TTA 5.2

“And after this Joseph of Arimathea, (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews,) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave.” “Then took they the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus.”TTA 5.3

And they “rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” Now the “chief priests and Pharisees” came to Pilate and said,TTA 5.4

“Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again. Command therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so that the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it sure as ye can. So they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”TTA 5.5

Did the tomb hold the body of Jesus? No!TTA 5.6

“For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I have told you.”TTA 5.7

What is the testimony of an angel of the Lord, in regard to the resurrection of Jesus? It is this: “He is not here; he is risen; come, see the place where the Lord lay! and go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and behold he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him!”TTA 6.1

The news soon spread abroad that, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon?” While the disciples were holding a council upon this all-absorbing subject, lo, “Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: Handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honey-comb. And he took it and did eat before them.”TTA 6.2

Is it not strange! that such testimony as this from the lips of Jesus himself, did not satisfy all minds beyond a doubt, that he was even alive from the dead! The disciples at first were “terrified and affrighted,” and thought they had seen a spirit! But Jesus said to them,-Why are ye troubled? “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bone, as ye see me have!” What I had be flesh and bones, after he was raised from the dead? Yea, verily-so Jesus testified; and then he took a piece of broiled fish, and of an honey-comb, and did eat before them!TTA 6.3

But after all this evidence that Jesus was alive from the dead, still, there was one of the twelve who did not believe that Jesus-the Son of God-that holy thing, born of Mary, was alive again! John says:TTA 6.4

“Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”TTA 6.5

O, cruel unbelief! what will man not doubt. But the compassionate Jesus labors to remove every doubt from the minds of his disciples, and gives them a few days for reflection:TTA 7.1

“And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Yes, blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe!TTA 7.2