[543]Jesus arose from the dead and ascended on high.  The fact of his resurrection is a guarantee that all men shall have an opportunity for life.  If there is to be no restoration of the human race, then the resurrection of Jesus and the awakening of others from the dead are meaningless and for no purpose.  If we believe the Scriptures, we must believe in restoration, because God “hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead”. (Acts 17:31) If we do not accept the doctrine of restoration of the human race, then we must ignore the positive words of the Apostle, who wrote:  “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  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.  But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”—­1 Corinthians 15:20-26.

[544]"The mystery” is the Christ, the anointed class—­Jesus the head and his body members—­designated in the Scriptures as the seed of Abraham, according to the promise. (Colossians 1:26,27) It is the repeatedly announced purpose of Jehovah that through this seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Galatians 3:8,16,27,29) Jehovah has devoted much time and effort to the development of the seed of promise.  If, therefore, there is to be no opportunity for full restoration of mankind, then the time and effort spent in developing the seed of Abraham has been wasted, and the promise of blessing through this seed is meaningless and void.  If we believe the Scriptures above cited, that God’s word cannot return unto him void, then we must know that his purposes cannot fail.

[545]The Lord Jesus went away to prepare a place for his bride, the church, which is the seed of Abraham through which the promised blessing of mankind must come.  He promised to return and receive his bride unto himself.  He has come again, as the Scriptural evidence herein cited clearly and conclusively shows.  If there is to be no opportunity for the restoration of man to the condition which Adam enjoyed before he sinned, then the second coming of the Lord must fail in one of its primary purposes.  That one of the primary purposes of his second coming is the restoration of the human race, is definitely stated by the inspired witness:  “God ... shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive [retain, hold] until the times of restitution [restoration] of all things, which God hath spoken