The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-12-27

~ .A..-ass a.-olslS NNdAAhliJs az NhS
llGASI0R RUSSELL)l eyes of our under
standing open 20
the trne beauties of Gods Word we
find that while the gross Error OF the
past has sone-foundation In the Truth.
the two art. 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 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 ls
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. aud that he
will bring all to knowledge Of
Christ; that every wilful sin must
bear its Just penalty.
The subject Of future punishment IL
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 fonr 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, aud SheOl, Hades, the grave,
shall be destroyed during Messiah's
reign, Hosea xiii, a; Issiah, ky. 81 Y
Corinthians XIV. "a. 80
Gehenna fire means the garbage fur
mace valley, outside Jerusalem; It IL
symbollcal Of the destruction OF the
finally tmDenltent, .s"~t
PuIsatorial Fires Of the Bible.
These are symbolical The church, 1a 4
now on trial for everlasting ME or
everlasting death The worlds purga,
toria period will he under the super.
vision Of the Churchill Cor. vi, 2. II
st Peter tells OF purgatorial fires I
which now are purifying the saints:
"Think It not strange concerning the
fiery trial which shall try yOn. as
though some strange thing happened
unto You" Jesus referred to these pur.
gatorial experiences; read | John H.
10; John XIV, Is; Matthew xvi, "a
St Paul says that Christ Learned
obedience by the things which He SUIT =
fered," and that "if we suffer with Him
we shall also reign with Him"
The Scribes and Pharisees presented
Jesus; He forewarned His followers
that "a mans foes shall be they Of his
own household"
st. ranl 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 nnscOrched.
jesus declared to the Church. Through !.
much tribulation shall ye enter the
Kingdom" These are pnrgatoriaI
tribnlations for which we may give
thanks. +,
The Worlds Purgatory Soon to Begin.
The worlds purgatory will begin I
with severe ordeal upon all man
kind. but will continue In instructive
tribulation upon all needing the same.
The "fres" will be symbolical The
New Age will he ushered in by "a time
Of trouble such as never was since
there was a nation" Daniel XII. H.
Jesus declares that unless that trouble
we're checked no flesh could be saved;
but because Of the Elect, those days
shall be shortened The Messianic King,
dom will end the strife and anarchy.
ST. Peter used symbollsms in describp
ing these troubles; The sea" repre-
sents the restless peoples; the sold
LAND" -earth-represent the social
structure. whose "mountnlns" are tho
Kingdoms and whose "heavens" are
the ecclesiastical powers. Oh Peter Ill
81. 10. ~: Psalm xlvi.l The Apostle
graphically pictures the elements Of
Society IN violent agitation. resulting
In great heat" which will consume
these He then pictures the New Dis
pensation THE new heavens" will be
the Church In glory THE new earth
will be Society reconstructed- Who
cannot see the capltalistic element. the
labor element and the social element In
great danger Of the conHagration ID
finely foretold? The Lord pictures
mankind anxious to know and obey the
Truth "Then VIII turn unto the peo.
pie a pure Message. that they may all
call upon the name Of the Lord. to serve
Him with one consent '-zeph. III. Q.