The Mankato free press., 1912-09-13

insist that the parable applies to literal
goats as to claim that this penalty is
literal fire. All who have studied the
subject will freely admit that fire
throughout the Bible is used fgurative-
ly to represent destruction. Fire Is
not used as symbol for Adamic death.
the sentence upon all of the race. be-
cause God from the beginning purposed
the setting aside of that sentence
through the redemptive work of Jesus;
hence Adamic death Is not destruc-
ton. but in the Bible is styled. sym
bolically. falling asleep" and resur-
rection is styled awakening from
sleep"
But when picturing the Second
Death. the Bible uses strong terms.
representing destruction In the fullest
and most absolute sense. Mark the
words used: Perish" Second DEATH
"EreriaStiRg Destruction" We even
overlooked the plain explanation which
Jesus gave us when He said. 1.-The lake
of fire. which is the Second Death" +"
RevelatiOn Xxx. 14l st. Peter sum-
ming up the fate of the incorrigibly
wicked. says that they shall be destroy
ed like natural brute beasts. QI Peter
II. l2D Only a bugaboo Of eternal tor
ment. hundreds of years old. could have
so alarmed us that we failed to note
these matters long ago.
Meanwhile. alas. while many of the
learned have abandoned the doctrine Of
eternal torment. they have practically
abandoned everything else in the Bible,
because they supposed the Bible to
teach this Inconsistency. Let us not
follow them into Higher Criticism"
infidelity and total rejection Of the in
spiration of Gods Word. but let US
compare Scripture with Scripture and
use our GOd-given reason within the
boundaries Of Gods Message. So doing
we are seeing more and more the glor-
iOus perfection of our Fathers charac-
ter and of His inspired Word.
Reasoning by Contrast.
Some shallow thinkers have been
thrown off the track Of religious inves-
tigation. reasoning that II there is
heaven. there mrst Of necessity be
hell Of torment But the contrast
which the Bible establishes in respect
to the sinner and the saint Is life and
death-and not hearen and he'll. As
matter OF fact the Bible nowhere
promises heaven to any except the
Church of the First-borns. who are
now being called out Of the world for
association with Messiah in His King
dom. The world of mankind never
lost heaven and Is nowhere promised
heaven. .--
Adams loss was an earthly Eden.
human perfection. Jesus declares that
He came to seek and to sare that
which was lost" The work Of His
Kingdom for thousand years will be
the bringing of earth to a Paradise
condition. And He will restore all the
willing and obedient Of mankind toSail
that, was lost. bringing them back
again to the image and likeness of
God in the flesh. Adam possessed
these qualities when he was declared
by his Creator very good,', and was
given the dominion of earth
:; When Adam was placed on trial in
Eden he was endowed with perfection
of life and organism as man. God
said not one word to him about heaven
or hell. but did set before him lite and
death. II he would be Obedient he
should be privileged to maintain his
life and all his perfections and bless;
tngs everlastingly. II he would rebel
against his Creators laws and be dis
Obedient thereto he should die-be cut
off from life. He was disobedient. and
was expelled from Eden into the ac-
cursed. or unfit earth. where he died
slow death. battling with thorns and
thistles. This has been the fate Of his
entire race-death-mentai. moral and
physical decay to completion.
"Lifs Or osath-Biessins or cursins."
Addressing the people of old through
the Prophet God declares. II have set
before you life and death. blessing and
life that We may live"
deuteronomy xxx. 49, The hope be-
fore the Israelites was of a resurrec-
tion-a better resurrection"-tO the
faithful. Hebrews ri, 35.) Not word
was said to them in all the four thou
sand years down to Jesus day respect
ing eternal torment, or any hope of life
in any condition except in harmony
with God.
When telling the object of Jesus
coming into the world, and describing
mans redemption from the penalty Of
death. We read. God so loved the
world that He gave His Only Begotten
Son. that whosoeyer believeth in Him
might not perish. but have everlasting
life John Ill. 49, What right had
we or anybody to twist the word perish
which means destruction. to make 1t
mean everlasting life in torture? Such
perversions and wrestings Of the Scrip
lures have brought great discredit upon
our God and great confusion into the
minds of His people We should note
with emphasis the contrast so force
fully stated in this most precious text
mot perish, but have everlasting life"
Certainly whoever gets the everlasting
life will not perish; whoever does not
get it will perish. How plain Gods
Word. ~ ~
Notice again the various terms used
in respect to the Savior and His work.
The word Savior signifies Life-Giver.
Wo u0uld ba va Saou tho hoautv nf this