The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-25

scriptural q Corinthians 1854;
1876; Acts 2:24; Romans 6:4; Peter
1:21.) The Hebrew sheol; the Greek
hades. and the English word hell all
signify the same thing-the grave,
the condition of the dead. All en-
lghtened Bible scholars and clergy
men versed in the original languages
of the Scriptures will Acknowledges. II
they are honest and unprecedented,
that there is not the slightest sug-
gestion, in the original meaning OF
these words, of fire, birthstone and
torment. We have not the space here
to give an explanation OF the Scrip
lures referred to at the beginning OF
this reply, but can assure all that
these are in entire harmony with
themselves, rightly understood, and
with all the rest of the Scriptures
which teach that our Lord was in
the tomb for the three days pre-
ceding His resurrection.
Q.-How does the manner of reck-
oning time in the age in which Moses
lived compare with the chronological
methods now in use, and II there IS
any difference would it not account
for the great age of Methuselah as
given in the Scriptures?
Answer.-The Jewish method of
reckoning time which was in use in
of solar and lunar time. 1t was SIM
pie, automatic, self-adjusting system,
which, so far as the final results were
concerned, was accurate as the
present methods in use. The Jewish
months were thirty days In length
corresponding to the lunations of the
moon. Ordinarily twelve of these
made up the year of three hundred
and sixty days. The discrepancies
resulting from this method were recti-
fled by the unique arrangement of
starting the new year with the new
fIo fraa
Some years by this method contained
thirteen months instead of twelve.
The length of years, therefore, in
Moses time was in the aggregate the
same as today. The extreme old age
of the antediluvians can reasonably be
accounted for by considering the Bible
narrative to the effect that originally
the human race was perfect, and be-
cause of death entering into the
world as the result of sin, the race be-
gan to deterforate. In its more per-
feet state, the average length of life
or the race would be far more than
1t is today after the past six, thou
SAND years of degeneration. This of
course is in opposition to the theory
of evolution, which maintains that the
condition OF the human race is gradu-
ally improving. However, no one has
ever been able to advance a single
proof in evidence of the truth of this
theory, and those most advanced in
scientific knowledge are now reject
ing it.
ON Zephaniah 3:S, we read, MY de-
termination is to gather. the nations, that
upon them Mine indignation, even ali MY
Iierce anger. How will the Lord gather
NE rne nationS. and in what sense will He
H. 3D. Nfo-- '-'o---' w.
,Answer.--This is a day of Information
alism." Nothing is of any real import
ance unless it is of worldwide or inter
national scope: The nations are all united
a great community of general interests
This condition of affairs is the natural
outcome of the enlightenment of our
ments such as the cables, wireless tele-
graph, telephones, railroads, steamships
mun1cation between nations a simple and
ordinary matter. There are the interna-
trusts, the International zionisn, inter
nat1onaI (Olympic) sports, International
fereneesi etc, all of which are leading
up to the great International Thine of
TROUBLE" foretold for the last day. The
assembled Kingdoms and nations will re-
suit in worldwide fiery time of destruc--
the present evil order of things; and then
will follow the establishment of an inter
national or Universal Government in the
g Ihis of Ti all be t6e great de
Q.-where did evil originate? Is God
the Author of evil? Qsaiah 45:7; Amos
3:6.)
Answer.-The word evil in the texts
cited has the meaning in the Hebrew Ian
guage of adversely or calamity. These
evils or calamities We're sent upon the
Jews Establishments for their violation
of the terms of the Covenant which they
had made with the Lord. The evil here
referred to was not evil in the sense of it's
being a wrong or a sin. Right and wrong,
good and evil principles have always
existed and always will. Principles are
eternal. Sin was produced by the evil
principle becoming active, and began with
Satan who permitted evil to control and
dominate his course of action. Sin and
evil were introduced into the world by
Satan when he induced our first parents
to 1isobey the Divine command. Thus the
race has come under the dominion of sin
and death supervised by Satan, the god
(ruler) of this present evil world G.
Corinthians 4:4) At the appointed time
when the Lord shall again control earths
affairs, establishing His own Kingdom In
the earth, Satan is to be bound and
eventually will be destroyed, while evil
will gradually cease to be active until at
the close of Christ's reign, when sin and
evil in their various forms, sorrow, suf-
fering, and death, shall be no more.
bible STUDY III,