The Washington herald., 1910-04-11
Eternal Punishment.

Editor The Washington Herald
In your issue OF Monday. March %. ]
noticed a communication from a Mr.
Eliot NJ. Thomson, who assumes to cham
pion Mr.. Russell, and to correct me.
without. however refuting the Scripture
texts l gave upon eternal punishment,
advertising at the same time. without
cost, some OF Mr.. Russells literature.
It is the way of some men. first. to
laugh TO scorn those who present unan-
sWerable truth Re begins by saying. Il
am amused" He then credits Mr. Russell
with bringing TO light long-hidden
truth" II Mr. Russell can present some
minor phases Of truth. he Is not to be
credited with what others have done long
before his literature had any public ex-
istence. have been acquainted with
some OF his publications since 1880.
But we are informed by Mr.. Thomson
that the horrible and defiling doctrine
OF eternal torment is removed" by Mr..
Russell from the Bible I would again
remind your readers that the words tor
ment' and the equivalent for eternal
in the words forever and ever are stlH
in the Bible, and put there under the
authority OF the Lord Jesus Christ Him
self
II is said Of those who Will yet follow
and do homage TO that wicked" one,
who is yet to come. that they shall be
tormented with fire and birthstone in the
presence OF the holy angels and in the
presence OF the Lamb. And the smoke OF
their torment ascendeth up forever and
ever. and they have no rest day nor night
who worship the beast and his image. and
whosoever receiveth the mark OF his
name" REV. xiv:l0, 10. ] quote this. not
to eXpound il, but 10 show that the Holy
Spirit. through the Apostle John. under
the authority Of Christ. placed those
words just where they are found and If
Mr. Russell has removed" them and
from the book which has an exceedingly
solemn warning uttered against any one
who would dare TO attempt st, will he
not incur the penalty?
I quote again: And il any man shall
take away from the words OF the book OF
this prophecy. God shall take away his
part out Of the book OF life. and out Of
the holy city and from the things which
are written In this book (Rev xxii1el.
again repeat that I have proof that Mr..
Russell denies the Godhead Of the Lord
Jesus Christ A1r- ThOmson's quotation
from Mr. RusseI's Interpretation not
withstanding. Mr.. Thomson is pleased 10
call this word mystic" 7 gather with
the view Of giving IL some other mean
ing. But it is the exact word used bv
the Holy Spirit, and needs no substitu-
ton or apologize definition by Mr.. Rus
sell or Mr.. Thomson Error can never be
frank, but evasive. Scriptural terms and
words are too plain for this school.
He who denies the "Godheadn of the
Lord Jesus Christ or gives Him an infe-
rlor or lower personality than God the
Father Is 'anti-ChriSt" To DENY both
Father and Son is truly anti-Christ. as
Mr. Thomson quotes. but that is not
meant 10 limit the evil spirit TO that
alone. To deny that Jesus Christ came
In flesh is "anti-Christ" Il John. iv:3. To
go out from the Christian church is
"anti-Christ." and there are many anti
Christs' (Ch.. ills, 49,
Does not the spirit OF anti-Cbristr
manifest Itself I'm Mr. Thomson's scorn-
fui rejection of the very words of God?
Eternal punishment" and eternal
torment are equivalents. and both are
found in the Bible, and both mean "a
certain fearful looking for of Judgment
and fiery Indignation which shall devour
the Anniversaries" tHeb.. KID And again
still, after this the Judgment (Ch.. tx:
%, namely. after" death.
/ may use severe terms. because 1 know
the bold subtlety OF Mr. Russelrs teach
ings, and for many years. too. and 7
write, If possible, that some NAV he
awakened from his influence.
S. A. WHITE