Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-27

SEATTLE, Wash, July 25.-Pastor Russell: OF
Brooklyn Tabernacle, addressed the Bible stu
dents convention twice here today. we publish
one OF his addresses follows
The theology which came down TO US iron
the dark ages was wonderful in its extremes
1t pictured divine wrath as unsatlsIleu WIN
anything short Of an eternity OF torture torture lO Os
the sinner, and in the next breath assured US
of a divine mercy which would take the Nnest
sinners to an eternity Of glory without char-
acter development. merely at their request One
would suppose that neither of these doctrines
could command support amongst reasoning m
iSCugent people, but they do; and the onIy
explanatio of the matter Is that by reason Oh
the fall the balance of human judgment, on
moral questions particularly, is sadly uhuone'
1t is fair, however to suppose tnat Ine Inch ss
of intelligent people have never so much as
given these subjects consideration. Receiving
them through the various creeds from ehhu
hoods hour, they have swallowed them wlthou!
reflection. taught that to doubt them Would
bring them under the ban of divine dispieasure
and make that divine mercy should never
We are willing to admit that with the human
reason twisted as 1t is 1t would be difficult 10
say that any doctrine was wholly narnlui' I'D in go
no instances of profit could be shown. Ana so
with the subject under discussion. we 9oubt
not that while Lords words to the dylng
thief have been generally misunderstood, tueS
have carried comfort and encouragement 10 some
naturally deficient in self-esteem and courage
Even these. however. we claim would have oeeh
much more advantaged by the true m'eIPfeta-
ton of the Masters words.
BAD EFFECTS OF ERROR.
the other hand, IL Is OlIIlculI 10
the bad results which have flowd from the mis-
Interpretation of our text. "a The divine cnar-
acter and government have thereby been ira
duced and measurably brought into contempt
as unpfilosophical unreasonable, arbitrary, in
stead OF wise and just. Two Vagabonds gsmuIeu
and Quarreled. drew their revolvers ana shOt
each other The contemplate OF the two
killed his antagonist instantly, while he hlmselI
fingered in consciousness for few minutes,
during which he had opportunity TO say zoo of
Professionalism tell us that the one VINO useo the
magical words was instantly ushered 10 heaven,
ly glory and companionship with the pure and
LolT Throughout eternity The other, we are
told though less vile, went instantly TO eternal
torture and despair, without single ray Oh
Is IT any wonder that such unreasonable con-
illusions have driven many Of the brighter lmlnds
of Professionalism unto infideIty, and leo 0tners
back to the teachings Of the church or Rome
which, to say the least, is more consistent, IN
that it would put both Of the culprits into
! ''purgatory," where, after centuries OF torture
and Instruction in righteousness, they might be
prepared, either both of them, for heavenly
glory. We not advocating either lnIloenty
or Romanism; we are defending the Bible, but
incidentally must admit that our Protestant
views of portions of Holy Writ have been
very unsatisfactory and very baneful.
Who can measure the evil effects OF TINS
doctrine upon thousands, leading them to be
lieve that whatever their crime, few msgical
words OF repentance will straighten 1t all out.
Cep ~ no dorbted that this wrong theory is
| accountable for much OF the wickedness com
mitted by those who know better who reside IN
1 Ian0SI
doctrine OF eternal torment, being unable to
imagine how anyone could burn forever and yet
not be destroyed. Secondly, IL there be such
a place of eternal torment, they reason, II Is
quite improbable that they will die so sud
| denly not to have time to offer petltlon TOT
mercy-a petition which II offered VIII surrey tsy
1 be heard and answered, and bring them 10 tne
regions OF the blest.
| The further reasoning is, that while heaven
certainly desirable It Is useless 10 sees ssf
sacrificing experience Of Jesus and the apostles
and all the saints. The reasoning Is, that these
sanity ones may indeed occupy a higher posi-
ton in heaven than those who are saved after
| n life of sin and carelessness by a momentary
prayer in the dying hour. But the philosophiz-
more than compensate for the higher glory of
the ssints. since even the sinners are to get to
paraS4'e at the small cost OF nine woros-the
I supposed teaching of our text.
| THE TRUE INTERPRETATION.
Before proceeding to discuss the principles
involved between the right and the wrong
interpretations of our Lords words, let us no.
| tice what he really did say and really did mean,
and how it happened the true meaning was lost
sight Of and the erroneous one adopted gen
orally The Bible teaching that 1.-THE dead
know not anything" together with the doctrine
that the resurrection of the dead is the divine
| provision, has long been lost sight Of Our
Lords own words that mo man hath assembled
up to heaven" have been overlooked, and so
has His teaching respecting His kingdom-that
| the blessing of the church and Of the world
awaits His second coming, when He VIII estab-
fish His Kingdom under the whole heavens In
| 49,
| truths has led directly to the acceptance of
the general error respecting our text.
| let as begin the investigation by noting whAt
| the diving thief requested. he had heard his
companions berating our Lord, saying, II thon
| be Messiah, save myself and us. He had sur
ficient character to realize the dishonesty OF
classifying our Lord with evil doors. He spoke
I'D, reproving his companion, and then turned
! to Jesus, and, reward, asked, lord, re-
| member me wkhen thou contest into Thy king
DOM" He did not ask to be remembered in
heaven, nor that day, but when our Lord, who
was then being crucified, should attain 10 his
| that then his words of defense and comfort
might be remembered with such suitable reward
as the great King might deem proper.
As the thIef's request was a reasonable one,
our Lords answer was no less reasonable lie
said, in the words of our text, verify (truly)
| / say unto Thee today-ths day Of my agony
| and rejection of Israel, and crucIrixion by the
Roman soders-this day when l seem to be
| an imposter and not at all the Messiah never
theless truly I tell you today, thou shalt be
with me in Paradise. do not tell you when
! Won shall be with me, nor have you even
asked me to tell you. You nave ASKED sIn 70 De
when / shall have fully taken control OF the
Kingdom under the whole heavens. when tue
speedy result will be that the entire world
Will become a Paradise, and you have asKeo My
/ assurance that you will be there, and Will
remember you as requested 4 moe In@ w2T
| translated 'amen." The Specification is that
! the Lord responded TO or granted the petition
| of the thief as 1t stated-that he would
A
PUNCTUATION NOT INSPIRED.
II VIII he noticed that this different interpre-
| tation makes necessary the changing OF the
comma from before today to after It, We
| remark that tho punctuation OF our text was
| surely not inspired for punctuation was not In
vented until centuries after our Bible was writ
| ten. Our Interpretation, with the comma after
| to-day" makes thie entire passage reasonable
and MISREPRESENTATION with all the re-
| nainder Of the Bible, and logical. Further. be
| 1t remembered that Jesus was not In Paradise
! on the day He died-nOr has Paradise lost yet
| been restored. Jesus was dead and St Peter
| declares He AROSE from the dead" on the third
| dsv." He then declared to Mary, II have not
! yet assembled to my Father and to your Father
TO nv God and to your God."-John 2O:1I.
As matter of fact the other thief also will DC
In Paradise All mankind redeemed by our LORDS
sacrifice will have the privilege OF the miilen-
| MUM blessing. AS we read, All that are In
their graves shall hear the voice Of the Son
Of Man and come forth" The church will come
forth to the heavenly glory and condition, Tor
which they have been prepared by the trials,
| the discipiines the lessons, the chiselings the
| the instantaneous change, or resurrection, from
earthly to heavenly conditions. The remainder
of the spirit begotten church, all who wuruIy
walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit,
having had their trial in the present life, VIII
| be accounted worthy Of the second death. All
| the remainder OF mankind, not having come to
/ n knowledge Of the truth, not having incurred,
therefore, the responsibility Of this age, will
come forth during the Millennium, when Mos
siah's kingdom shall be established and His rule
of Righteousness shall have brought the earth
to the condition of Paradise. Both OF these
thieves and ali other thieves and all other
evil doors, all of the heather, all who have