The Late ELDER D. M. VAIL (Letter written to Elder F. A. Chick

Waverly, New York, 2/20/09. Eld. F. A. Chick, Dear Bro, in Christ: I am now seated to try and answer your questions.

Your first statement is as follows: You say, “If I have understood your views upon the resurrection, they are that it takes place immediately that the breath leaves the body”. Dear Bro.: – I have been declaring with my lips and pen twenty-eight or twenty-nine years that there is no waiting in eternity, and am still declaring it. I would ask, do you think it would be holding fast the form of sound words to say that the saint has died and gone to glory, enjoying perfect felicity in the presence of Jesus, and at the same time is waiting for the resurrection morn? To me, the resurrection morn of the church was when Jesus arose from the dead, and that is the truth revealed in the experience of each and every saint, as they are raised experimentally in and with him. Are the saints who have breathed out their lives in eternity, or are they still creatures of time? If in eternity, how could they be waiting; if they are still creatures of time, would it be correct to say they are in glory and perfectly happy with Jesus, to go no more out forever?

I suppose you have noticed the contradictory statements in many obituaries, how they hold the dead both in time and eternity, giving their language its logical interpretation. Is it true that any of the saints are waiting, but those on earth? The Scriptures are given to the living on earth and apply to them alone in their experience of God’s grace. While here below, they and they only, are waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body.

It could not be said of those in glory that they are waiting-no indeed. To prove that one is sound on the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, is it necessary to speak of literal graves, with literal bodies to be carried through space, to literal clouds, there to be reunited body, soul and spirit; and as the theory generally follows, the spirits of millions of the saints called back from heaven and the others from hell – what for? There is but one redeeming feature to my mind in this teaching – that is, it would take faith to believe that God could do this, but no faith is needed to believe and understand all the rest of the affair as theory; it is altogether too literal for me.

Bro. Chick, is not the resurrection of the dead preached every time the resurrection of Christ is preached? Is not the resurrection of the body preached when the resurrection of the head is preached? Is not the resurrection of the dead denied when the resurrection of Christ is denied; can the resurrection of the dead be denied without denying the resurrection of Christ? I do believe that God, by his spirit and almighty power, will change our vile body and fashion it like unto his glorious body.

I also believe that the resurrection of those living on the earth is in the future for them, and will be as long as there is one remaining on the earth, and that will be the end of the gospel dispensation or day. On that day (gospel day), the judgments of God will be made manifest to his people. As the gospel day is the last day, there can be no final judgment day following it. Can there? In God’s eternal mind, everything natural and spiritual was unalterably fixed before time began, therefore, God or Christ are not waiting to pass judgment upon the elect or non-elect at the end of time. Would it be holding fast to the form of sound words to teach such a doctrine? Certainly not. You speak of the sepulcher of David remaining until a certain day as proof that he was waiting. This does not prove that he was there waiting for the resurrection, to be raised; no evidence to me in that.

Then you refer to Christ as being in the grave for three days. Bro. Chick, you know that the body of Christ did not see corruption; so it could not represent the bodies of sinners that do see corruption. You then mention Lazarus and six others who were raised after being buried for some time. You know that they were brought back to natural life, and I am surprised that you should refer to them as representing God’s people that are raised to eternal happiness, or in other words, the resurrection of the dead to eternal glory and perfect happiness. It does not present God’s power in bringing his people from a grave of sin, condemnation, and death, to a life of joy and peace, eternal perfection, or a good hope through grace.

You then mention those bodies that rose after Christ’s resurrection. I think the same truth is set forth as in the other six. Faith never looks to flesh, bone, dust, or a literal grave, which expression is generally figurative in the Scriptures; but to Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; the I AM, not will be; therefore, whatever our natural eyes may look upon of our friends that are dead is not proof that they are not in glory with Jesus and eternally happy. While holding tangible or natural bodies in our minds, we do not present the resurrection of the dead to the comfort of God’s people, and our teaching will confuse and starve the spiritually minded seeker after truth. You speak of Jesus being known and seen with natural eyes after his resurrection as before. Bro. Chick, why was it that Martha did not know him until after he had called her by name? Why was it that his disciples did not recognize him until the breaking of bread, when he immediately vanished out of their sight? There is no evidence that Thomas knew him until he (Jesus) spoke to him. Do we have any scriptural proof that he was seen with natural eyes as he was seen before his crucifixion? Was it not that his word was spirit and life that they recognized him as the Saviour, the Son of God? Is he not revealed to the faith of God’s people now in various ways or experiences? Most assuredly. Sometimes in a vision, dream, promise, affliction, joy, peace, poverty, hunger, thirst, crucifixion, dying daily, mourning, feeling forsaken and alone, and in many other ways and conditions in which Jesus is manifest to his saints.

I feel sure that whatever we can fathom or comprehend with our natural mind or mind's eye is not spiritual; hence, what we would teach while led or exercised in that way would not comfort a spiritually minded Christian. Bro. Chick, bear with me a little longer. I wish to speak a little concerning Jesus expecting or waiting at God’s right hand. Is Jesus waiting and expecting to be separate from his church or people? If not, is it not by his Spirit that they are waiting for whatever God has promised? It is not possible that any are waiting in eternity, at least in the sense that we are waiting for tomorrow, next week, or next year. I cannot understand how that God, or Jesus as the Son of God, can be spoken of in the attitude of waiting, but Jesus as the Son of man, the Mediator Days man, or perhaps the God man Mediator, in this connection with his people in the flesh can be spoken of in that way as waiting.

Now Bro. Chick, I have felt free and willing to write you as I have. What I have written has been given to me to believe by some power. I know I have not copied from anyone, although I do know of many ministers and brethren who endorse fully what I advocate on these subjects, but Bro. Chick, though we do not see alike on some things, my love and fellowship for you is firm and complete without wavering, and I do hope you will not cast me off from you if you can possibly bear with me. 

Love to all. 

D. M. VAIL Binghamton, N. Y.