Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1909-07-08
ETERNAL TORMENT.
Editor News:

liberal spirit of inquiry, and to hope
they received reading matter promised
and sent. pray for them a blessing
from reading the divine Plan of the
Age" such as l got myself, or, if pos
ible, more abundant / thank the edi-
tor for the space given my letter and
for publishing poem requested. /
thank him, too for quoting from the |
tract, (Which is the True Gospel?'
and must say his good courage in de-
Tending what he believes to be mis-
representation of the Catholic doctrine |
with regard to the Torment of non
Catholics is praiseworthy. Such lib
eral christian spirit must be accorded
its share of praise. Surely it would
be pitiless proceeding to torment ev-
Ell one of these millions of brave
christians who worshipped God ac-
cording to their own conscience
which all have a right to do-many of
whom suffered martyrdom for their
faith. This question of eternal tor
ment is an absorbing one. But the
question is; Not as to who, or what
church teaches the doctrine, and what
element of the human race is to suf-
fer it, but the question of worldwide
interest now is: Is the doctrine a
| scriptural one? There was a time
when it would have been highly dan
gerous to ask the question, but now
the question is of worldwide interest
taught in Gods Word? The increas-
ing light and knowledge of this our
day ON every topic, and f0retold by the
Prophet Daniel (12:4), is bringing a
positive convincing, negative answer.
The doctrine of eternal torment for
any is not only unscriptural, but it is
blasphemOus, and derogatory to the
Divine Character. 1t is contrary to
reason, which God invites us to use.
lisa. 118). The subject is long and
interesting one and only few texts
may be given ON the state of the dead
However the following should con-
vince any who care to know that there
are no flames, no torment in the grave
lsheol, hades, hell, whittier all go.
Notice first the penalty passed on faith
er Adam for his original sin in Eden,
lin the day thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die " For dust thou art,
and to dust shalt thou return. Gen.
"a C &c
death mot eternal torment). Rom.
6:23. 1.-The dead praise not the Lord
neither any that go down into silence.
psalm 115:t7). His breath goeth
forth. he returneth to his earth DUST
in that very day his thought perish. -
Psalm 14:64. THE living know
that they shall die, but the dead know
not anything. --Eccl. 9:5. There is
no work, nor device, nor knowledge,
nor wisdom (nor torment) in the grave
(sheol, hades, hell) whittier thou go,
est. "--Eccl $40. Many more might
be cited. Destruction and not life in
any condition is to be the final reward
of the willfully wicked All the
wicked will be destroyed. " THE sou,
that sinneth, it shall die. 1T shall
come to pass that every soul who viii
not hear that prophet shall be destroy
ed. Acts 3:sS They shall be as
though they had not been. JOB. IS,
"There the wicked cease from troub.
ling, there the weary be at rest. -
Job 3:17. Does this sound like tor.
ment? Surely not. Do you believe
God2 Who would you rather believe,
God or Satan We all say we would
rather believe God, but strange to say
we have not l will prove it. Goo
said to Father Adam: In the day
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely
die. " Satan, who was represented by
the serpent, said, "Ye shall not surely
die. " (Gen. 2:17:3,4). But strange tC
say Satan lie has been kept going
through all the ages. Man has prefer
ed to believe that instead of dying he
becomes more alive than ever. Such
nonsense, such contradiction of the
Word and common sense. Truly false.
hood takes its course, but truth must
be fought for. Should we not now be
ashamed and use our reason and seek
to know more what God says instead
of depending on fallible men, and ira
dition, and doctrine of devils. ~ II
is fact that only few of our Lord
parallels and the symbolisms of Revel'
ation-which are understood by but
few-appear to support this most un
reasonable, most devilish, most God
dishonoring of all doctrines. st. Pau
wrote nothing about torment and he
wrote a good portion of the New Tes'
lament and said he had declared al
the counsel of God (Acts 20:7.
What do you think about it, now
dear editor and fellow pilgrim! What
do you think about it, dear reader
Do you believe the dead are alive
Are you one of the millions VINO have
accepted religious doctrines simply be
cause they were fashionable, and is il
not time to think for ourselves in mat
ters of so much import? Let us be
lieve right about the dead, and We
will have no difficulty about the nee(
and promise of restoration Of lif,
and being, and resurrection to per