The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-12-30
The Rich Man and Lazarus Does not
Teach Endless Torment.


other words, parable, but if it were
literal history, nothing could be gained
for the terrible doctrine of endless tor
ment. 1t would oblige us to believe in
literal fire after death, but there is not
word to show that FIRE would never go
out We have heard it claimed that
the punishment of the rich man must
be endless, because there was gulf
fixed 30 that those who desired to,could
not cross it. but were this literal &C.
count, it would not follow that the gulf
would last always, For are we not as
sured that the time is coming when
every valley shall be exalted, and every
mountain and hill shall be made lowP
lisa. 40-4. When every valley is exalted
what becomes of the great gulf? And
then there Is not word said of the du-
ration of the sufferings of the rich man.
If the account be a history it must not
initiate against the promise of the res
titution of all things spoken by the
mouth of all Gods holy prophets since
the world began. There is not word
intimating that the rich mans torment
was never to cease. So the doctrine OF
endless misery if after all, not in the
least taught here.
The most that can be claimed is that
the consequences of sin extend into the
future life, and that is a doctrine that
we believe just as strongly as can any
one, though we do not believe they will
be endless, But allowing for moment
tn at this is intended to represent
scene in the spirit world, what a repre-
sentation we have! Dives is dwelling
in world of fire in the company of lost
spirits, burdened by the depravity that
must possess the residents of that world
and yet, yearning in compassion for
those on earth. Not totally depraved,
not harboring evil thoughts, but be-
nevolent, human. Instead of being 10y
al to the wicked world in which he
dwells, az anyone bad enough to 60
there should be, he actually tries to
prevent migration thither from earth,
while Lazarus is entirely Indifferent to
everybody but himself. Dives seems to
have more mercy and compassion than
does Lazarus. But what does the para
BILE teach? That the Jewish nation, and
especially the Scribes and Pharisees
were about to die as power, as a church,
as controlling influence in the world;
while the common people among them,
and the gentiles outside of them, were
to be exalted in the new order of things.
The details of the parable show this:
There was certain rich man clothed
in purple and fine linen. In these first
words, by describing their very customs
the Savior fixed the attention of his
hearers on the Jewish priesthood. They
were. phatically, the rich men of the
nation. His description of the beggar
was equally graphic. He lay at the gate
of the rich, only asking to be fed by the
crumbs that fell from the table. Thus
dependent were the common people,
and the Gentiles, on the Scribes and
Pharisees. We remember how Christ
once rebuked Them for shutting up the
kingdome of heaven against these.
They lay at the gate of the Jewish HER
archy. For the Gentiles were literally
restricted to the outer court of the tenn
pie. Hence in Rev. 11-12, we read:
But the court, which is without the
tar,
for it is given unto the Gentiles. They
could only walk the outer court. or lie
at the gate,
We remember the anger of the Jews
at Paul, for allowing Greeks to enter
the temple. This is the significance of
the language of the Cananitish wo-
man, Matt. 1927, who desired the Saw
Tor to heal her daughter. The Savior, to
try her faith said: st is meet to cast
the chrildren,s bread to to the dogs"
She replied, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs
eat of the crumbs that fall from th cir
masters table,"
The prophet lisa. 10y represents the
common people of Israel as "full of
wounds, bruises, and purifying sores.
The brief, graphic descriptions given
by the Savior, at once showed his hear
ers that he was describing those two
classes, the Jewish priesthood and ma
ton, on one hand, and the common
people, Jews and Gentiles, onithe other.
The rich man died and was buried,
This class died officially, nationally,
and it's power departed. The kingdom
of God was taken from them, and con-
ferred on others. The beggar died.
The Gentiles, publicane and sinnera.