The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-11-08

standing open TO
the true beauties of Gods Word. we
find that while the gross Error OF the
past has some foundation in the Truth.
the two are very different.
Wrong Views of Future Punishment.
Wrong views of future punishment
have divided Christians into many
sects. Our forefathers were not to
blame; ability to read was not COM
mon until within a century. Further
more. for centuries the Bible was out
of the hands of the people and clerical
zeal tried to bring the whole world.
through fear. into the Church.
Now, all thinking people repudiate
the torment theories, and many are
turning from the creeds, and from the
Bible, the supposed foundation.
The present trend is toward Higher
Criticism. Evolution. In France, it is
claimed, ninety six per cent of the peo-
pie have lost all faith in religion; in
Germany. ninety per cent. How inn
portant that the people should learn
that God has made generous provision
for all through Christ, and that He
will bring all to a knowledge Of
Christ; that every wilful sin must
bear its just penalty.
The subject of future punishment is
most important. The people should
know respecting the word He'll in the
original Scriptures-that Sheol of the
Old Testament represents the Bible
teaching of hell for the first four thou
sand years, and that Hades in the New
Testament means the same: that these
words do not stand for torture. but for
the state of death. Humanity are re-
deemed from the grave by the death Of
Christ. and Sheol. Hades. the grave.
shall be destroyed during Messiah's
reign.-Hosea xiii. IA; Isaiah XIV. 8; l
Corinthians XIV, "a. 55.
Gehenna fire means the garbage-fur-
mace valley outside Jerusalem; it is
symbolical of the destruction of the
finally impenitent.
PurgatoraI Fires of the Bible.
These are symbolical. The church is
now on trial for everlasting life or
everlasting death. The worlds purga-
torial period will be under the super
vision of the Church, Cor vi. 2.
st. 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-
gatorial experiences; read l John iii.
IL; John XIV. IS; Matthew xvi "a
St Paul says that Christ Learned
obedience by the things which He suf-
fered," and that eff we suffer with Him
we shall also reign with Him"
The Scribes and Pharisees prosecuted
Jesus; He forewarned His followers
that "a mans foes shall be they of his
own household
st. Paul points out that in the end
OF this Age fiery trials will come upon
the Church: 'The fire of that day
shall try every mans work of what
sort it is" Faith built with the gold
silver and precious stones of Divine
Truth will come forth unscorched
Jesus declared to the Church. Through
much tribulation shall We enter the
Kingdom" These are purgatorial
Tibulations for which we may give
thanks.
The Worlds Pursatory Soon to Begin
The worlds purgatory will begin
with severe ordeal upon all man
Kind, but will continue in instructive
rlbulation upon all needing the same
The fires" will be symbolical. The
rev Age will be ushered in by "a time
OF trouble such as never was since
Ihere was nation" Daniel xii. 1.
Jesus declares that unless that trouble
We're checked no flesh could be saved
out because of the Elect, those day.
snail be shortened The Messianic King
dom will end the strife and anarchy.
81 Peter used symbolisms in describ
ing these troubles: The "sea- renra