Claim. Merit of the age is the accumulated foundation of heart laid by prior prophets, sages, and righteous people through their faithful exertion — even partial — toward God’s Will. Each generation’s resurrection is carried out on the foundation of the merit of the age built by its predecessors; the providence advances cumulatively.
Elaboration. Per 2.1. How Does God Carry Out His Work of Resurrection?: “Many of those who were entrusted with a mission exerted themselves with utmost sincerity and faith to realize the Will of Heaven. Even though they may not have fully carried out their responsibilities, based on their devotion, they broadened the foundation upon which subsequent generations can form a relationship of heart with God. We call this foundation the merit of the age.”
This is a structural principle of the providence: “the merit of the age has increased in proportion to the foundation of heart laid by the prophets, sages and righteous people who came before us. Therefore, resurrection is carried out based on the merit of the age.”
Doctrinal consequences:
- Each historical age has a different ceiling for resurrection (Old Testament saints could reach only form-spirit, NT believers only life-spirit — see dp-formation-stage-old-testament-age-justification-by-works-form-spirit and dp-growth-stage-new-testament-age-justification-by-faith-life-spirit) — the ceiling rises with each age’s accumulated merit.
- Partial fulfillment counts. Failed missions are not wasted: even prophets who fell short broadened the foundation for successors. This softens the indemnity logic of inherited failure.
- Faith never operates in vacuum — every believer inherits the spiritual achievement of those who came before, and contributes (or fails to contribute) for those who come after. A historicized communion of saints.
Connects to Ch 3’s dp-history-is-providence-of-restoration-through-indemnity: merit-of-the-age is the positive counterpart to indemnity’s negative (debt-payment) — the running balance of providential capital.
See also. dp-resurrection-providence-completed-through-three-ages