Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01


lfPASTI1R PIlSSIlDl eyes Of our under
- standing open to
the true beauties Of Gods Word. we
hnd that while the gross Error OF the
past Inns some foundation in the Truth,
the two are very different
WRONG Views Of Future Punishment.
Wrong views o. future punishment
hare divided Christians into many
sects. Our forcfathers were not to
blame. ability 20 read was not CON
mon until within a century. Further
more. for centuries the Bible was out
or the hands OF the people and clerical
zeal tried to bring the whole world.
through fear, into the Church
Now. all thinking people repndiate
the torment theories. and many are
turning from the creeds. and from the
Bible, the supposed foundation.
The present trend Ia toward Higher
Criticism Evolution. In France. IL Ia
claimed. nlncty.slx per cent Of the PEG.
pie have lost all faith Ia religion: ia
Germany, ninety per cent How i'm
portant that the people should learn
that God has made generous provision
for all through Christ, and that He
+ will bring all 10 a knowledge o.
Christ: that every wilful sin must
henr its lust penalty
The subject Of future punishment Is
most important The people should
know respecting the word Hell IN the
original Scriptures that shcol o. the
Old Testament represents the Rlhle
teaching Of hell for the tlrst four thou
sand years, and thar fades IN the New
Testament means the same. thai these
words do not stand for torture, but for
the state of deafh Humanity are re
deemed from the grave by the death Of
Christ. and She'd. TIades. the grave
shall he destroyed during Messialis
reign Hosea Sill, "a. Isaiah XIV. s;
Corinthians XIV "a, ~
Geheuna fire means the snrhage.ftf
mace valley outside Jerusalem. L Is
symbolleal OF the destruction OF the
finally impenitent
PufaaforiaI Fires Of the Bible.
These are symbolicaI The church f.
now on trial for everlasting life or
everlasting death The worlds purga
toria period viii be under the super
vision of the Church ~ Cor vi. 2.
81 Peter tells Of purgatorial fires
which now are purifying the saints.
"Think IT not strange concerning the
fiery trial which shall try you, as
though some strange thing happened
unto you" Jesus referred TO these pur
patorial experiences; rend | John III,
10; John Ky. 49, Matthew xvi, "a
ST Paul says that Christ 'ieaFned
obedience by the things which He snf
fered. and thnt "if we suffer with Him
we shall also reign with Him"
The Scribes and Pharisees prosecuted
Jesus. He forewarned His followers
that n mans foes shall be they OF his
own household
st. raul points out that In tho end
OF this Age fiery trials viii come upon
the Church; "The fire OF that day
shall try every mans work Of what
sort Il is" Faith built with the gold.
silver aud precious stones Of Divine
Truth will come forth nnscorched
Jesus declared to the Church. Through
much trlbulation shall ye enter the
Kingdom These are purgatorial
tribulations for which we may give
thanks.
The World's Purgs.ory Soon 70 Begin.
The worlds pnrgatory viii begin
with a severe ordeal upon all man
Kind but viii continue ia instructive
all
The "fresf will be symbolical The
New Age will be ushered IN by "a time
OF trouble such as never was since
there was q nation" Daniel xii. -
Jesus declares that unless that trouble
were ehecked no flesh could be sayed.
but because OF the Elect. those days
shall be shortened The Messianlc King.
dom viii end the strife md anarchy
ST. Peter nsed symbolisms IN deFcrih
ing these troubles; The sea repre-
sents the restless peoples: the solid
land" -earth represents the social
structure. whose "mouatalna'' are the
Kingdoms and whose ''heaveng" are
khe ecclesiastical powers I'll Peter Ill
81. 10. 70: Psalm XVIII The Apostle
graphlcaav pictures the elements OF
Society IN violent agitation. resulting
IN a great "heat" which will consume
these. He then pictures the New Dis
pensati0n "srhe new hcavenS" will be
the Church in glory The new cartii
will be Society reconstructed WHO
cannot see the capitalstic element. the
labor element and the social element IN
great danger Of the conAagration d
.vipeIy fpretolda The Lord pietures
mankind anxious to knowsand obey the
Truth. "Theu will uru unto the peo-
pie pure Message. That they may MI
call upon the name Of the Lord. to serve
Hin with one conseut "-zeph Iii.