Was Lincoln Dying Before Assassination?

According to a new book by Cardiologist John Sotos, Abraham Lincoln’s days would have been short on earth even if he had not been gunned down at Ford’s Theatre. In “The Physical Lincoln”, the author suggests that the slain president, and other members of his family, had a rare genetic blood disorder – a cancer that would have eventually claimed their lives. Sotos is attempting to have DNA test performed on blood from a strip of Lincoln’s pillowcase now housed Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library. So far, the testing has been denied, although that may change if additional questions on the proposed tests are answered appropriately.

John Sotos’ theory is interesting and may, or may not, be true. But it is undeniable that every man and woman ever born came complete with a blood-related disease that leads to certain physical death and, worse, eternal spiritual death, if not corrected. That tragic and universal illness is explained in Romans 5:12 which reads, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” In short, all who have blood running through their physical veins also have the common disorder of sin flowing along with it.

In some ways, the subject of blood is the dominant theme in the Scriptures. The book of Leviticus reveals repeatedly the importance of blood in the Old Testament. In chapter seventeen we read, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11) In the New Testament, the all-important role of blood is also substantiated by the writer of Hebrews. “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

In His absolutely stunning plan of redemption, the omniscient Creator-God decided to use blood to cure the disease transmitted through the blood. But this time the blood of choice was not ordinary sin-stained blood or the animal blood used as a temporary fix in the Old Testament. Neither would work as neither were adequate. God’s ‘blood cure’ for the human condition is laid out 1 Peter 1:17-19. Verse 19 explains the uniqueness of the only blood that had the ability to deal with sin. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Simply stated, only pure blood could purify human sin.

In Romans 3:23-25 the Apostle Paul relates the theological significance of the shedding of Christ’s blood. He uses two highly significant theological terms to make his point. Verse 24 begins, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith.” Justified means to be seen as though one had never sinned. And ‘propitiation’ comes from a Greek word that means merciful, or something that appeases or satisfies a requirement.

In summary, the sacrifice of Christ’s through the voluntary shedding of His sinless blood on the cross satisfied a holy God’s need for justice and judging sin. His wrath was, by design, taken out on His perfect Son as 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This nearly inconceivable act of love made Colossians 1:12-14 a reality to those who trust Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation. Verse twelve begins, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Whether or not Abraham Lincoln was physically dying at the moment of his death may be an interesting historical debate. But there is no question whatsoever that all are born spiritually dead and headed for an eventual physical demise from the moment of conception.

The only real issue of life and death therefore becomes the same for all - whether they be some famous world figure or some obscure person existing in some remote place. Has the precious and healing blood of Christ procured propitiation and justified them before a holy God, and fully opened the doors of heaven for all eternity?

Bill Breckenridge