The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-06-19

n "
tory has been Op
(fAST0R RUSSEll)) posed by Protest
ants upon the pie,
that Purgatory is not mentioned in the
Bible. Let US admit that no such Pur
gatory as Dante pictured has any vol
ume Of foundation. Let US admit thai
not all that Catholics have claimed re
specting Purgatory Is either Scripture
or logical.
But let US admit also that there are
Scriptures (of which our text is one
which tell of salvation by fire" that
evidently is not the salvation in which
the ''elect' of God will participate as
"more than conquerors" through obedi
emily following in the footsteps OF
Jesus their Redeemer. Indeed, our text
Is the principal one used by our Cath
Ole brethren in support Of their Pur.
gatory.
Pursatory In Our Text.
But If the Pastor did not agree with
the Frotestants that there is no Purga-
tory taught in the Bible. neither did
he agree with the Catholics respecting
the kind of. Purgatory, for he pro-
ceeded to show that his text referred.
not to a place of suffering. purgation
that existed in the Apostles day. but
that the Apostle was here speaking
prophetically. of the end of this Gospel
Age-foretelling purgatorial condition
at that time-pOt after men have died.
nor in another world. but in the pres
ent life. and on this earth.
Indeed. said Pastor Russell. not only
is the fire Of this text symbolical Of
trouble. but the same is true of nearly
all that is said about fire in the Bible.
There is process of destruction. con
sumption. Gods righteousness is
spoken of as a consuming fire which
burns against all sin and unrighteous-
ness.
The context shows that the Apostle
is discussing the Church in her earthly
estate; that some of the brethren
would not ut the time appreciate the
difference between the gold. silver
and precious stones" of the Divine
promises and the cheaper materials
likening them to wood. hay and stub
bie:" but that day would come in
the end of the Age when the Lord
would specially test His people and
when the tests would be severe and
crucial like fire. In that day wood. hay
and stubble would be consumed: but
the gold. silver and precious stone
characteristics of the true faith and
proper character building would re-
MAN, We are not to understand him
to mean that doctrines are all-impor
tant. but rather that they are reflect
ed in the character-development Of the
Individual who without them would lie
unable to stand in the testings that
would surely come in the close Of this
Age.
The Apostle points out. however, that
all who build their faith on Christ will
eventually be saved. no matter how
much error they may get into-even
though their entire faith structure is
wrong and will be consumed in the
foretold fiery trial. All who build faith
on Him. iu full accord with the Divine
Revelation. obediently. will become
Joint. he rs with the Redeemer in His
Kingdo; 4. while those who build their
faith O.: Him. and maintain it even
through error. will be eventually saved.
though to lower salvation. Theirs
will be purgatorial experience-puri-
flying. sanctifying. fitting them for an
inferior blessing on the spirit plane.
serving before the throne instead Of IN
the throne. .ssy!;;''sa'..'::A IN ~s'ess ~"
Living In Time Mentioned In Text.
Apparently we are now living in the
very time mentioned in our text
Many Of Gods people under the fiery
trials of higher criticism" and sci
ence falsely so called" experienced
loss Of all the faith they possessed. be-
cause they possessed only the wood.
hay and stabbie Of human tradition.
and not the gold. silver aud precious
Jewels Of the Divine Revelation.
Indeed. according to prophecy. we
zee that the time Is fast approaching
W ucu SIOO Will 0uV0 a AutNuct tCN AOu
Ing With the Ge0tiles aud especially
with the portion called Christendsm
Richly favored. the responsibilities
have been proportioaate. The squar-
Ing OF that account means "a time Of
trouble such "a never was since there
was a nation"
But it will not be In another world
nor in another life nor eternal In dnra-
ton. Instead. God viii merely permit
the race. Ia seifishness OF heart reject
Ing His cosnsets. to wreck present civ
|lization to such a0 extent that. unless
those days were shortened. there
would no nesh be saved. But 90 &C.
rount Of tee elect those days will be
shortened. by the establishment Of
Gods Kingdom. to restrain evil. to en-
tighten the world end to assist the
willing and obedieot hack into the i'm.
Ne and likeness Of God.