<TITLE>12. Par -</TITLE>L-276-405 The way the tree leans, that's the way it falls. And the state you die... That's the reason I different with praying for the dead (See?), the intercession of prayers or--or communion of saints and so forth. It cannot be according to God's Word. It does no good to pray for anybody after they're gone. They're finished. They're--they've... They've passed the line between mercy and judgment. They either went to mercy, or went away from mercy. Jesus said so. In 16th chapter of St. Matthew He--He--He taught it; 16th chapter of Mark, I believe it is: the rich man and Lazarus. No man can cross over this gulf, and never will cross over it. There you are. See? So it settles it.

L-276-406 Now, but when Christ died, everything had to witness that He was the Christ. Now, let's go to your question. The first thing, the stars refused to shine; the sun went down; the moon wouldn't give its light; the earth belched its rocks at His death. And He went and preached to the souls that were in prison, that repented not in the long-suffering of the days of Noah. He... They had to recognize... Look at that. And if there by chance be a sinner here tonight, think that over a minute. Someday this Gospel that you're hearing preached right now, you'll have to witness by. Somewhere you'll bow your knee, regardless of who you are. It may be ten thousand years from today; it may not be until the--in the morning. Whenever it is, you're going to bow somewhere, and you're going to hear this same Gospel preached right back to you.

L-276-407 For after those souls were in prison, that repented not when Enoch and when all of them preached, and Noah... And for the long-suffering of God, like it is now, waiting for that time to come... And Noah and Enoch and all of them preached, and those people laughed and made fun of them. And they were in the prison house, and Jesus went and preached to the souls that were in prison. He witnessed. The heavens witnessed He was. The earth witnessed He was. Hell witnessed He was."
The Bible said that it... David, many years ago, in the Psalms... All right, Brother, you read the Psalms, if you will there, Psalms 16:10. [Brother Neville reads, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption."--Ed.]

L-277-409 Read the same thing, brother, in--at where Peter preached; on Acts the 2nd chapter and 27th verse: [Brother Stricker reads, "Because thou will not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption."--Ed.]
Read two verses above it, brother, so you can get the context--context of it. [Brother Stricker reads, "For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord--Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption."--Ed.]
Read the next verse now. [Brother Stricker reads, "Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance."--Ed.]


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