The age-herald., 1902-01-27
JUDGMENT DAY
 AT END OF WORLD 0r. Mcferrin Disputes Popular
 Theory of World
TO BE JUDGED ONLY ONCE
Reward and Punishment Not Meted Out at Death, But Will Come on Gods Day of General
 Justification.

At the First Methodist church last night the Rev. J. P. McFerrin preached an able sermon on the Judgment and its relations to the intermediate state. Dr. McFarrins text was from Acts 17:31, Because he hath appointed day in which he will judge the world"
 Mir. McFerrin said that belief in general judgment is not universal even among Christian people. There are many who honestly think that souls are judged and sentenced one by one as they leave this world If this were true there would be no need of a general judgment. The question is not what we believe but what the Scriptures teach.
 T know not a single text" he said, that warrants the belief that men are judged imm ediately after death, unless 1t be that passage in Hebrews 'It is ap- pointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment
 This cannot mean immediate judg- ment in the face of so many plain pas sages that teach to the contrary. The evident meaning is that as men die once they are to be judged but once. One death, one judgment The judgment is spoken of in this passage without refer ence to the time of it's taking place. The bible teaches, as we shall try to show, that no one has as yet entered upon his full reward or full punishment; these take place at the judgment.
 Tt teaches also that between death and the resurrection and the Judgment that all departed spirits dwell in an interme- diate state-a between state, that is, state between the going and of the body and the resuming of 1t at the resurrec- tion. It is state that is neither proba- ton nor reward nor retribution. This view may not be according to our pre- conceived notions but 1t is the teaching of the Bible.
 @rhe general judgment is based upon the intermediate state, for there would be no meaning in the general judgment if all went after death immediately to reward and punishment. But with day appointed for the judgment of the world an intermediate state Is what we would expect The general judgment, as we shall see, will not take place until the end of the world and until then rewards and punishments are alike deferred.
 ITO quiet the fears of any who may think otherwise we would say that the good and bad in the intermediate state are happy and miserable, but that this happiness and misery are not the direct results of rewards bestowed or punish ments inflicted, but the natural outgrowth of character
 pr. McFerrin then gave the following passages to sustain the view of the gen. eral judgment viz. Rev. 20:10, Matt 25 :S1-33. 1 Peter 1:3-5-13, 1 Peter 5:4. Pe-
 These and many other passages which might be quoted" said he, teach that the general judgment will take place at the end of the world and that men will be rewarded or punished according to the deeds done in the body.
 Some may object to this and allege that they see no reason for it. It is not for us to question the ways of God or say unto Him what doest Thou? If we be- lieve that God has a moral government stretching through the whole course of the worlds history, 1t is not unreasona- ble that he should appoint a day for a general review of his administration and a justification of his ways to the chill dren of men. There are many mysteries and inscrutable providences connected with this earthly state, and concerning these men have wondered and questioned. Would 1t not seem befitting that these mysteries be cleared and Gods govern ment vindicated.
 Besides, no mans life is ended at death. Men live on in their influence the present generation is reaping the fruits of seeds sewed centuries ago and as mems works follow them after death and tell in this influence indefinitely, it is plain to be seen that no man can be judged properly immediately after he quits this earthly state."