The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-06-13

| said In part:-
| w The Catholic
| thought Of Purga.
tory has been op.
(1ASI0R RVSSElO) posed by Protest
ants upon the plea
that Purgatory Is not mentioned in the
Bible. Let US admit TINT no such Pur-
gatory as Dante pictured has any vol
ume Of foundation. Let us admit that
not all that Catholics have claimed re-
specting Purgatory is either scriptural
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 Protestants 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 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-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 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 at 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
ble;;" 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 Misunderstanding 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 character-development Of the
individual who without them would DO
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 win
eventually be saved, no matter how
much error they may get into-even
though their entire faith structure is
wrong and viii be consumed in the
foretold fiery trial. All who build faith
on Him, in full accord with the Divine
Revelation, obediently, viii become
joint-heirs with the Redeemer' In His
Kingdom, while those who build their
faith on Him, and maintain 1t even
through error, viii be eventually saved,
though to q lower salvation. Theirs
viii be q pursatorial experience -puri-
flying, sanctifying, fitting them for an
inferior blessing on the spirit plane.
serving before the throne instead Of In
the throne.
Living Ii Time Mentioned In Text.
i 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 90 called" experienced
loss Of all the faith they possessed, be-
cause they possessed only the wood.
hay and stubble Of human tradition,
and not the gold, silver and precious
Jewels Of the Divine Revelation.
Indeed, according to prophecy, we
See that the time IL fast approaching
when God will have q further reckon.
ing with the Gentiles and especially
with the portion, called Chrbtendom.
Richly favored. the respenaihilttiss
have been proportionate. The iaQuaf-
ing Of that account means = time OF
trouble such ~ never was since thsee
vas q nation" 81 IL
But It will not be in another world
por In another lie nor eternal in dura-