The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-09-20
REPLY TO QUERY, IS
THERE A lETTERAL HELL?
Woodlawn,L La, Aug. 5, l9l2

Editor Rice Belt Journal,
Welsh, La,
Dear Sir
Some weeks ago there appeared IN
the cOlums of your paper the decision
of the International Bible Students
Association regarding the doctrine or
"hell, fire and birthstone. " | AIN
pleased to note your willingness to
publish the views of our local minis
ters on this subject and ] have been
disappointed that none have vet ap-
peared. While | am not minister
trust few words from one who IS
Bible student may not be out OF place.
Ia this letter, | shall endeavor to con-
fine myself to what the Bible says upon
this all important question.
What is the punishment for sin! In
Rom. 6:23, we read, For the wages OF
sin is death: but the gift OF Coo Is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord" Every funeral train Is re-
minder to US that sin has entered our
world. There is way OF escape, how
ever, to him who accepts this precious
gift of God through the gift OF the lie
OF His only begotten Son even though
we may have to pass through the dark
valley of the shadow OF death. Gooo
and bad men are alike subject to this
death, but this is temporal DEATH
which lasts only till the resurrection
After the cases of all men are settled
in the Judgment. the wicked Ole the
second death, which is eternal IL It's
effects.
But what of him who refuses to &C.
cent of this gift? In Matt. 2o:io TWO
distinct classes are mentioned. ANA
these shall 20 away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal" This second death or
everlasting punishment is described
in Rev. 2l:S and tells us who has part
in it. "But the fearful, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars shall have
their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and birthstone: which is the
second DEATH" Again in Rev. l4:lO. III
we read. He 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 tor
ment ascendeth up forever and ever. y
How long is this period forever and
ever" has different meanings, accord
ing to the connection in which it is
used: such as, duration, finite or In
finite: unlimited duration. eternity, a
period of duration, past or future
time, age, lifetime, etc.
Elk. ZIG throws little light upor
the term forever" as understood
ancientlv. "His master shall bore
his ear through with an awl: and be
shall serve him forever" He coulC
not serve his master longer than hi
lived. Again in Sam. % we read o
the time when Hannah presented hel
son Samuel to the Lord. ~ will bring
him, that he may appear before the
Lord, and there abide forever IL
the 2Sth verse, the forever is explained
in the words "as long as be liveth ht
shall be lent to the Lord" Had Sam
uel lived only week or month. tn,
forever would have been limited Il
that length of time.
1t is evident that the term forever
means as long as the subject is capa
BILE Of. One more case: Jonah saws,
went down to the bottom of the noun
tains the earth with her bars was abou
me forever" In this case forever il
limited to three days.
In Matt. 25:4l this fire which burns
the wicked is called everlasting fire.
and in Matt. 3:l2 it is called "unquencl
able fire " The fire is said to be ever
lasting because it is not quenched. ]
a fire is quenchsd after taking holt
upon house, the structure is saved
but ii the Ere is unquenchab BILE, it doe,
for the house what the text in Matt.
II says it will do for the wicked-bur,
them up. 1t is called everlasting be
cause it lasts as long as there is an y
thing for 1t to prey upon and its re
suits are everlasting.
Has everlasting or eternal fire eve
been visited upon mea in the past
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, al,
the cities about them in like manner
giving themselves over to fornlcatiop
and going after strange flesh, are Sc
forth for an example, suffering tn