The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-13

But let us admit also that there are
Scriptures tof which our text is ouej
which tell Of a salvation by fire" that
evidently is not the salvation in which
the elect" of God viii participate as
more than conqucrors" through obedi-
emily following il the footsteps OF
Jesus their Rcdrrmcr. Indeed, our text
is the principal Gle used by our Cath
Ollie brethren IN support of their Pur
gatory.
Purgatory In Our Text.
But il the Pastor did not agree with
the Protestants that there is no Purga-
tory taught in the Bible. neither did
Ne agree with the Catholics respecting
the kind OF Il Purgatory, for he pro
ccedcd to show that his text referred
not to a place Of suffering, Il pur@ation
that existed in the Apostles day, but
that the Apostle was here speaking
prophetically. of the end of this Gospel
pur@atorial condition
at that time--not 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 symboicaI OF
trouble. but the same is true of nearly
all that is said about fire in the Bible
There is Il process of destruction, con
Gods righteousness is
spoken of as a consuming FIRE which
burns a,-liuSt all sin and uuuighteOuS
ness
The context shows that the Apostle
is discussing the Church in her earthly
estate: that some of the brethren
would not at the time appreciate the
difference between the gold. silver
and precious stones Of the Divine
promises and the cheaper materials
likeniog them to wood, hay and stub
bIe:" but that a 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-
main. We are not to understand him
to mean that doctrines are all-impOr-
tant. but rather that they are reflect
ed in the acknowledgement of the
individual who without them would be
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
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. in full accord with the Divine
Revelation. obediently. will become
joint heirs with the Redeemer in His
Kingdom. while those who build their
faith on Him. and maintain it even
error, will be eventually saved,
though to lower salvation. Theirs
will be purgatorial eXperiencc-puri-
flying. sanctifying fitting them for an
inferior blessing on the spirit plane,
serving before the throne instead of in
the throne.
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 50 called" experienced
loss OF all the faith they possessed. be
cause they possessed only the wood.
hay and stubbe of human tradition,
Ind not the gold. silver and precious
Jewels OF the Divine Revelation.
Indeed. according to prophecy, we
see that the time is fast approaching
when God viii have a further reckon
ing with the Gentiles and especially
with the portion called Christendom.
Richly favored, the responsibilities
have been proportionate.. The squar-
ing of that account means "a time Of
trouble such as never was since there
was nation"
But it will not be in another world
nor in another life nor eternal in dura-
ton. Instead. God will merely permit
the race. in selishness Of heart reject
ing His counsels. to wreck present civ
ilization to such an extent that. unless
those days were shortened there
would no flesh be saved But on ac-
count of the elect those days will be
shortened. by the establishment Of
Gods Kingdom. to restrain evil. to en-
tighten the world aud to assist The
willing and obedient back into the i'm