| Christian Life and Doctrine | June 1952 |
“Say to the Prisoners, Go Forth”
—ISAIAH 49: 9
AMONG the items considered in the Panmunjom truce negotiations none has had such an emotional impact upon our nation as the exchange of prisoner lists. Washington promptly urged all to treat the names with reservation because it would take time and much investigation to determine definitely the accuracy of the lists. They realized the possibility that some whose names appeared as prisoners could be dead. To illustrate another type of possible error, some men listed as captives had returned from Korea, and months before were released to civilian life.
However, in spite of official warning for caution, families and friends received the news with unbounded joy and emotion. And the nation joined with them. How tender, yet strong, are the ties of love which bind families and friends! Is it any wonder that death has been considered such a cruel enemy, and war, which deals in death by the wholesale, a gross evil?
It would be difficult for one not directly concerned to appreciate the full emotional reaction of the families who received the hopeful news. Thousands upon thousands were gathered around radios and television sets awaiting that special name which touched their heartstrings. The vigil sometimes lasted hours, but those interested could not be turned away. One news dispatch told of a family gathered around their television watching name after name being shown upon the screen. Months before, their hearts had been saddened and left heavy by a Pentagon telegram informing them that their son and brother was missing in action. Suddenly, this night, his name was flashed upon the screen and all screamed at once. Then the family all gave way to tears.
Another instance was of a father and mother silently sitting and praying before their radio, afraid to speak lest their son’s name would be announced and they would fail to hear it. Then came the name of their boy. They instinctively grabbed each other and wept long and hard. Still another story concerned an Italian couple in the eastern United States whose son’s name was flashed on the screen at midnight. Minutes later, neighbors, who also had seen the name, began coming into their apartment and an impromptu celebration followed.
In our mind’s eye we can see and in measure enter into the joy experienced by the families of the men reported as alive and prisoners of war. No doubt, people not accustomed to prayer attempted in some way to render thanks to God; others talked far into the night, with reminiscence of the missing member and perhaps formulating plans for the big homecoming.
Our hearts go out in sympathy to those who waited in vain for “his” name to be announced. Hopefully, perhaps joyfully, they began their wait; but as time wore on, their hearts became weighted with apprehension which turned to sorrow. That night when names were released more tears of sorrow than of joy were shed—tears for the name that did not appear. Those who received hopeful tidings knew nothing of the condition of their loved ones—just the possibility that he was alive. He may have been maimed or mentally scarred, but the important thing was that the name of one whom they thought might be dead was on a list of those alleged to be alive.
The joy these people experienced gives a hint, the meagerest kind of hint, of the joy to be expected in the resurrection. When death is stopped and the resurrection work commences, what a glowing happy morn will dawn for man! Then there will be no doubt about the authenticity of the list. Then, too, there will not be a wait in vain for a loved one to return because “all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.”—John 5:28,29
It also is interesting to note that the Bible pictures the dead of earth as being asleep in a great prison-house of death. We read in Job 3:11,17,18: “Why died I not from the womb? … There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.” Thus the return of the dead will also be the release of prisoners.
Because of Adam’s willful disobedience, the whole world of mankind was condemned to death in death’s prison-house. When Adam disobeyed, and the sentence was passed, the process of death began which demanded its full toll of him 930 years later. God stated to him, “Dying thou shalt die.” In this dying condition our first parents were forced from the ideal conditions of the Garden of Eden. And in that condemned, dying condition they began to bring forth their offspring. All their progeny have experienced the suffering and sorrow that come as a result of the sentence, and we all have realized the inevitableness of our end—the great prison-house of death. The Apostle Paul states it so simply and clearly, “For as in Adam all die.”—I Cor. 15:22
Before Adam, or we who were in him when sentence was passed, could be released from this place of bondage, it was required that another take his place. None of Adam’s children could suffice as a substitute because they too were under the same condemnation. Thus it was that Jesus, the great Logos, previously used by God in creating all things (Col. 1:16,17), had his life transferred to earth and became a man. As such, he could become the ransom, the corresponding price for Adam. Through his willing and substitutional death the way was opened for the eventual release of the prisoners. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—I Cor. 15:21,22
Notice how dramatically the Bible follows through with the “prison-house” illustration. In Revelation 1:18, we read of Jesus, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen! and have the keys of hell and of death.” Of course we know the reference is not to literal keys. Rather, this forceful illustration declares that the death and resurrection of Jesus have provided the means for opening the prison-house of death and calling forth the prisoners. A similar thought is found in Ephesians 4: 8: “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
In this instance the grave is pictured as holding captive all its dead, but Jesus has captured even this stronghold, and freedom will result. It is much like that which occurred in the last great war when invading allied armies captured concentration camps filled with the oppressed. They had captured that which had held prisoners captive, and then could begin their release. From these dank and foul places the prisoners were called forth; so, too, will be the work of the kingdom.
Isaiah, 42nd chapter, is prophetic of Jesus. It describes facts about his earthly pilgrimage and also tells of his triumphant establishment of the kingdom of righteousness. In verses 6 and 7, the Father says, “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.”
The opening of “the blind eyes” and bringing out “the prisoners from the prison-house” suggest a rehabilitation program. It means a period of enlightenment so that the darkness of superstition, fear, hatred, and evil will be dispelled by the light of the “Sun of Righteousness.” Bringing out “the prisoners” reminds us of the work done in releasing prisoners from the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp. The prisoners of that bestial place were so emaciated and mentally deficient that much tender care was found necessary. Top medical skill was needed to coax into flame the feeble spark of life in some. Much sympathy and reassurance were needed to erase the fears which had been seared into their tormented minds by inhuman treatment. The same evil mind which prompted the tormentors of those concentration camps has been behind all the evils which has plagued mankind.
In the kingdom none will come from the “prison-house” as physical wrecks, but much assistance will be needed to restore them to mental and moral health. There will be no change in the grave. The character possessed at point of death will be the disposition upon awakening, and to erase the evil from men’s minds will call for skilled help.
When Europe’s frightful concentration camps were first encountered it was immediately realized that an abundance of expert medical skill would be needed to assist these people who had been so abused. Similarly the world, who are to be released from the great “prison-house” of death, will require healing and restoring palliatives. God has been preparing a “corps” to work with the “Great Physician” to skillfully effect their rehabilitation. It has been the preparation of these “assistants” which has required the interval between the time Jesus laid down the ransom price,’ and the time for the release or resurrection to begin.
That there would be this intervening age is suggested in I Timothy 2:5,6: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom [corresponding price] to be testified in due time.” The phrase, “to be testified in due time” indicates, first of all, that a period of time would elapse before the fact would be testified or generally known or appreciated. Secondly, the expression “due time” suggests that the interim would be according to a previous plan, and precise in its duration.
This period is the Gospel age, which is, generally speaking, the period of time between the death of our Lord and the beginning of the “release” of the “prisoners” in the resurrection. This portion of God’s plan was set apart for the call, preparation, and selection of the “little flock,” or group of “assistants” that will be with the Lord in the “liberation” work. This Gospel age work of God has not been generally known, and is spoken of by the Apostle Paul as “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.”—Col. 1:26
The recognition of this truth makes the Bible harmonious. Some have erroneously concluded that God is now frantically attempting to save as many as possible, because all who are not of this number will be eternally doomed. The proponents of this error strenuously resent the truth that an opportunity of life will be given to the world in the next age. A prominent text in their argument is, “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2) If this is the day of salvation, how then, they ask, can we say any can have life held out to them in the next age? The consideration of their question and the text involved points up in the true scriptural teaching that the church of this age will share with Jesus in the millennial age work of “liberating” the prisoners and assisting them back to perfect life.
The full citation reads: “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” At first glance it does seem to confine all opportunity of life to this age. However, when we see the text in its original setting all becomes clear. In this instance Paul is urging the called out class of this age to appreciate the grandeur of their invitation. He is attempting to impress the thought that such an opportunity of living and reigning with Christ is unique in eternity. Only during this Gospel age will such an offer be made; therefore he urges that we “receive not the grace of God in vain.”
That such is Paul’s intended meaning is made manifest when we read the statement as originally written in Isaiah 49:8. Paul’s quotation is only in part, and the complete thought in Isaiah illuminates not only the call of the Gospel age, but also the sublime work to be accomplished by the selected group. It reads, “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.”
That the entire text applies to the saints of this age we are positively assured on the authority of the Apostle Paul. “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.” This language does not preclude an offer of salvation in a later age. It merely shows that the time mentioned is the only acceptable period in which to receive God’s special or great salvation.
“And I will preserve thee.” This is peculiarly applicable to the faith class of this age. Only this group are promised immortality—“To them who by patient continuance in welldoing seek for glory and honor and immortality.”—Rom. 2:7
“And give thee for a covenant of the people.” It is through the sacrifice and death of Jesus and the church that they are prepared to become mediators of the New Covenant, and it is the mediation of this covenant which shall rehabilitate the willing and obedient of the world during the millennial reign of Christ. “For this is the covenant I shall make. … I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.”—Heb. 8:10
“To establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.” United with their Lord, the church will establish the kingdom called in Bible picture language, the “new earth.” Peter in speaking of the end of this evil order by a time of trouble, said hopefully: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens [the spiritual phase of Christ’s kingdom, consisting of Christ and his church] and a new earth [the perfect society among men inaugurated by The Christ], wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—II Pet. 3:13
“That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.” This work of liberation from the prison-house of death, and the rehabilitation of the prisoners, will touch every family that has ever lived. When Jesus and his church engage in that grand work it will not be just a few families hearing the good tidings. No, the communist dead, the U.N. dead, yea all in their graves shall come forth.
And to what a world will they return!
“In this mountain [kingdom] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things. … And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people. … He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; … for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him.”—Isa. 25:6-9