| Highlights of DAWN | July 1979 |
“That Whosoever Believeth”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
LONG ago Satan recognized a universal truth when he said, All that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4) Jesus, applying a deeper meaning to this same truth, said, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul [life]? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul [life]?” (Matt. 16:26) One manifestation of this compulsive desire to live that exists in every human heart can be seen in the vast sums expended by man in his efforts to prolong his existence.
Probably the United States has the most elaborate and extensive health-care facilities in the world. Indeed, there are those who believe they are too extensive. “We have too many hospitals, too many admissions, too many tests, too many operations, and as a general rule, patients stay too long in the hospital,” contends Executive Director Harold A. Cohen of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.—U.S. News & World Report, March 5, 1979
Mr. Cohen may well be right. Nine percent of our Gross National Product is spent on health. Over thirty-seven million residents of this country (one person in six) enter hospitals each year, where the cost of a semi-private room now approaches $150 per day. One U.S. resident in twelve undergoes surgery each year. Surprisingly, more than three percent of our total labor force is employed in hospitals!
But in spite of the expenditure of great sums of money, in spite of the most modern facilities and scientific research and care, in the United States as elsewhere in this sick and suffering world, people continue to die. In 1977 alone 780,000 Americans died of heart and artery diseases, 390,000 of cancer, 180,000 of stroke, and 550,000 from other causes.
In 1939 Lou Gehrig was forced to retire from baseball in what appeared to be the prime of his life. An insidious disease was destroying him—myotrophic lateral sclerosis, which slowly but inevitably weakens the muscles of the body, until finally death stops the process. Since then, over one million other Americans have met the same hideous fate, for which medical science, though searching diligently, has as yet found no cure.
The elusiveness of victory by man over various forms of disease is sometimes seen in the recurrence of an ailment that was thought to have been eradicated. Tuberculosis is such a case. It is an ancient disease, having been observed in the bones of Egyptian mummies that date back to 1,500 B.C.
Tuberculosis had long been considered most difficult to deal with. “There are no medicines that can cure tuberculosis,” says an encyclopedia some four decades old; “the only cure is prolonged rest.” But finally, with the development of such drugs as streptomycin and isoniazid in the 1940s and 1950s, “tuberculosis seemed on the way to being vanquished.”—Time, April 23, 1979
“Not so,” the article continues. “TB still thrives. In the U.S., nearly 3,000 Americans died of the disease in 1977. Each year about 30,000 new cases are reported nationwide; last year 21 states noted a rise in cases. … Says one concerned pulmonary specialist, Dr. Lee B. Reichman of the New Jersey Medical School in Newark: ‘It’s a classic case of what happens when we eradicate a disease but we don’t eradicate it. We know everything about it, yet it’s still there.’“
Another example of man’s perplexity in his struggle to overcome the diseases that afflict humankind relates to the use of antibiotics. For some decades the medical world hailed antibiotics as miracle drugs in treating bacterial infections such as typhoid, and such they seemed to be. Indeed, it was widely believed that such diseases would henceforth be no problem to the human race. What has happened, however, is that the indiscriminate use of these wonder drugs has resulted in the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
As a result, 20,000 people died during the typhoid epidemic in 1972-73 in Mexico, because the typhoid bacteria had developed resistance to the specific antibiotic that had previously been effective against the disease. More discouraging, it is now known that certain bacteria can actually transfer their developed resistance to still other bacteria.
Diabetes is another disease that is frustrating to patients and doctors alike. “Diabetes is among the most discouraging of diseases because it cannot be cured, only controlled, and control demands a punishing degree of self-discipline by its victims.” (New York Times, April 15, 1979) Unless the diabetic keeps close to a rigid diet, he risks such complications as blindness, kidney ailments, and cardiovascular disease—and possibly death. Recently researchers succeeded in performing experiments that seemed to offer hope in attacking this difficult disease. But their claims were cautious. “Success of the tests does not mean that a cure for diabetes has been found,” stated Dr. Paul E. Lacy, head of the research team. Similar experiments, it was noted, have failed before.
“New Strides in Battle Against Cancer” are being made, according to an article in U.S. News & World Report (April 9, 1979). “Experimental vaccines, better diagnosis, improved use of radiation—put together, such gains point to progress in treatment of a leading killer.” Unfortunately, this statement has a familiar ring, for victory over this dread disease has long proven to be discouragingly unattainable. As one doctor stated concerning a new technique that seems to show promise in shrinking surface tumors, “We have a technique with great potential, but much more work needs to be done.”
All too often drugs prescribed to provide relief from one physical problem can cause troublesome side effects or even lead to other serious ailments. Recently U.S. News & World Report (May 14, 1979) reported on the blood-pressure drug risk. It stated, “One million people taking reserpine—a prescription drug used to control mild high blood pressure—should discuss the matter with their doctors, the Food and Drug Administration says. Why? Because “recent studies find that the drug causes cancer in animals and may increase the risk of human breast cancer by 50 to 100 percent.”
Inasmuch as some of the old-time scourges against humanity have been virtually eliminated in the United States, it is easy to assume that the entire world is therefore free from them. But this is not true. Today, Americans planning to travel to Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America are routinely warned to take necessary medical precautions before leaving home, such as inoculations to provide protection against yellow fever, cholera, and typhoid, and pills to prevent malaria.
Other areas of the world in which disease continues rampant are the tropical nations. World Health Organization estimates that 200 million human beings are at this very time afflicted with schistosomiasis, 300 million with river blindness, and 200 million with malaria. “Asked whether we are winning or losing the battle against tropical diseases, some experts, among them Dr. B. H. Kean of Cornell University Medical College, answer promptly that we are losing,” reports the New York Times (July 9, 1978).
It is interesting, as well as confusing, to note the diverse opinions often held by medical experts on specific matters of health. The recently (and widely) adopted fad of jogging for one’s physical well-being is a case in point. Under the heading, “Is Jogging Really Good for You?” U.S. News & World Report recently published the results of separate interviews with two health specialists relative to the merits of jogging. Briefly, one expert strongly endorsed jogging for health, while the other, when asked, “Is jogging good for most people?” answered with an emphatic “No!”
Smallpox, however, is one disease that scientists now believe may finally have been eradicated in the general population. The last known case that so occurred was in Somalia, in October of 1977. The only other cases of smallpox that have since occurred have been in connection with scientific laboratories where stockpiles of the virus are maintained. The medical community of the world has been debating whether these stockpiles should not all be destroyed, but some scientists argue for their retention for the present. “Now that smallpox is gone, we’re finding other pox viruses that we didn’t see before. It is essential to be able to differentiate between these,” said Don Berreth, of the Federal Center for Disease Control at Atlanta, Georgia.
In many areas of human health the medical profession has recorded noteworthy and laudable achievements. In the last one hundred years alone tremendous advances have been made in the treatment and relief of man’s diverse ailments. As a result of the creation and use of new procedures and new devices, many today can see, hear, eat, walk about, and measurably enjoy life to an extent that was not formerly possible. Pain-killing drugs have made the treatment of serious ailments bearable and life more comfortable. Life expectancy itself in many parts of the world has been dramatically extended—in the United States alone from 47 years in 1900, to 73 years in 1977.
Yes, mortal man can boast some truly remarkable achievements. He can build mighty bridges, breath-taking skyscrapers, and amazing computers that do just about everything but think. He can fly across vast oceans in a matter of hours. He can send moving pictures around the world by satellite. He can explore the farthest reaches of the universe with his radio telescopes and determine the size and composition of the remotest stars. But he cannot free his fellowman from disease and death! If a relief is found for a specific disease, the people live somewhat longer, perhaps; but eventually all succumb to one ailment or another. The words of Solomon are as true today as when he said them almost three thousand years ago: “The living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything.”—Eccles. 9:5
And man will continue to sicken and die until the condemnation to death that came upon Adam has been set aside. The source of man’s suffering and death was in the Garden of Eden, and the cause was the disobedience of God’s just and righteous commandments. “Unto Adam he [God] said, Because thou … hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it … thou [shalt] return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:17,19) Thus was Adam condemned to death because of sin; and death has been the sorry lot of all his children ever since.
The Apostle Paul confirms this simple truth in simple language. He says: “By one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for … all have sinned. … For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 5:12; 6:23) Thus it has been from that sad day to this; and in spite of man’s best efforts to conquer disease and extend life, thus will it continue to be until the condemnation of the human race has been lifted.
At his first advent, Jesus went about the land of Palestine healing all manner of diseases. In addition to proving that he was the promised Messiah, these healings were to serve as illustrations of God’s promised restitution to health and life of the whole world of mankind when Christ’s kingdom is established. On one such occasion he clearly showed the direct connection between sin and death on the one hand, and forgiveness of sins and life on the other hand. A man who was sick of the palsy was brought to Jesus by his friends, hoping that Jesus would repeat one of his healing miracles. On other similar occasions when Jesus had restored the sick to health, he indicated to them in simple words that they were healed, and they went joyfully on their way. On this occasion, however, he used different words. He said to the sick man, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
The account records that certain of the scribes were sitting nearby who reasoned in their hearts, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” Jesus said to them: “Why reason ye these things in your hearts? … is it easier [for me] to say to the sick of palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”—Mark 2:1-12
Thus will it be in Christ’s kingdom! When the merit of Christ’s ransom sacrifice is placed in the hands of Justice to redeem man from his sins, then will all the world of mankind be released from the chains of death, raised from their graves; and the times of restitution of mankind to health and everlasting life will begin.
True, Jesus died almost two thousand years ago as man’s Redeemer. True, “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2) But during this Gospel Age the merit of that sacrifice has been applied only on behalf of the footstep followers of Jesus. These are justified, or reckoned righteous in God’s sight, by their faith; and thus their efforts to serve their Heavenly Father are made acceptable to him. (Rom. 4:3,22-25; 5:1,2; 8:1) This present age is the day of salvation for the church. “For he says, ‘In a season acceptable, I listened to thee, and in a day of salvation I assisted thee.’ Behold! now is a well accepted season; behold! now is a day of salvation.”—II Cor. 6:2, Diaglott
The Apostle Paul applies this passage to the faithful followers of Jesus of the Gospel Age. Elsewhere he says: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”—Rom. 8:33,34; Heb. 9:24
The day of salvation for the world of mankind is the coming thousand-year kingdom reign of Christ and his risen church. (Rev. 20:4,6) This blessed period of time in the outworking of God’s loving plan of salvation on behalf of the entire human race is also called in the Scriptures the day of judgment, the times of restitution, and the new world [or social arrangement] wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Pet. 3:7,8,13; Acts 3:19-23) All who are in their graves shall be called forth and given an opportunity to gain perfect, everlasting life right here on earth.—John 5:25
As very helpful and welcome and comforting as have been the efforts and accomplishments of the medical world to benefit mankind during “this present evil world,” in Christ’s kingdom there will be no need for hospitals, doctors, nurses, or undertakers. There will be no need for eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, crutches, and heart and cornea transplants. Indeed, there will be no more death. All the obedient of that blessed time will attain to perfection of mind and body. For what joy would there be in gaining everlasting life if it merely meant enduring a more or less sick body or sick mind for an eternity of suffering?
That coming millennial kingdom of love and everlasting life has been the unconscious hope of the world since the sentence of death passed upon man in the Garden of Eden. “For the created universe waits with eager expectation for God’s sons [the risen, glorified church, to be associated with Jesus as the blessers and restorers of mankind] to be revealed. … Up to the present, we know, the whole created universe groans in all its parts as if in the pangs of childbirth.”—Rom. 8:19,22, NEB; Rev. 20:4,6
The Scriptures indicate that the due time for the world of mankind to be called forth from the grave and restored to health and life is near. The Prophet Malachi foretells that the Great Physician, “the Sun of righteousness [shall] arise with healing in his wings,” and he connects it in time to the day of the Lord, or the day of Jehovah. He says, “Behold, the day [of Jehovah] cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.”—Mal. 4:1,2
Our Lord Jesus tells us that this day of the Lord (Jehovah), or time of trouble, marks the end of the age. (Matt. 24:3,21) We believe the events of the world clearly show that we are now in this foretold time of trouble and of the end of the age, and therefore that the time for the healing kingdom of Christ to be established in the earth is near. In that wonderful day “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”—Isa. 33:24
The glory, beauty, peace, and joy of that wonderful time defy description by the human tongue and comprehension by the human mind. But the Revelator gives us an inkling of the happiness that shall fill the hearts of every human being when Christ’s thousand-year reign of righteousness is established in the earth:
“And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth: for the [former] heaven and the [former] earth [this present evil world] were passed away; and there was no more sea.
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”—Rev. 21:1-5