The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-15

Our Lord always used the word nre in a fgura-
tive way. showing that fire is symbol of de-
struction. and that everything that went into
the nre would be consumed, destroyed. When a
farmer cuts the dead branches from his trees
and cast them into fire. he does not expect them
to remain branches. but that they should be
converted into ashes, and when God cast the
wiful sinner into the Are he does not intend him
to remain there a human being forever, but to
be turned into ashes at once (Malachi 4a).
We ask did Lord teach his apostles that
the penalty for wilful sin would be eternal
torment in fire and birthstone? We answer
no. Why do you say that? Does not nearly all
the denominations say that Lord taught
eternal torment for the wicked We answer
yes Then why do you say that Lord did
not teach the apostles such a doctrine? 1t is
this way: When our Lord was about to be
taken up, He left with His disciples a
mandment to teach all nations, to observe all
things, whatsoever He had commanded them or
taught them (Matthew 2S:20) Now If our
Lord Lad told His apostles to teach all nations
that the penalty for sin is eternal torment. they
did not carry out his instructions. Hear the
words of Peter in his second after Pen
tecost And 1t shall come to pass that every
soul which will not hear that prophet shall be
destroyed from among the people acts 2:23)
Peter again said, But these (sinners} natu
raj brute beasts, made to be taken and destroy
ed tII Peter 212). Paul tells n Romans s:23
that "the wages of sin is DEATH not everlast
ing life in torment. Paul again tells us in
II Thess "a. that the sinner shall be pun
ished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His
power" Do find any of the other apostles
teaching the eternal torment doctrine? No
Well. that Is very good indication that our
Lord did not teach them such a thing.
Now We the immortal soul that the
brother mentioned In his article. We want you
to come again. brother. and tell where you
find that in the Bible. No such statement as
Immortal soul appears in my Bible.
Now Just a word about a Second chance
wouldn't it be a dreadful thing if God would
give some poor creature a "secord chance"F
don't believe that there is a person In the
world that believes in second chance" but
there are thousands of people that believe
In chance Jesus tasted death for every
man We naturally expect thai every would
get benefit from that death. and again
there is only one name given under heaven and
among whereby he saved We must
agree that unless we hear Of that and believe
on that name cannot receive everlasting
life. But how about the billions Of heathens
that have gone into death and have never
heard of the of Jesus: they in
heaven? We say Are they in lake of fire
being roasted. fried and baked? We say God
forbid, Well then where they? Let
Lord tell us where they are at "AI1 that
in their graves shall hear the voice Of the Son
of God and shall come forth" We see that
they are in their graves. and never had a chance
before going into their graves, We naturally
suppose, God Is all wise, all powerful. all
loving, and the foundation OF His throne is Jus
tice and that He is respector Of persons
that he will bring the heather out OF the gross
| darkness and bless them with the light Of the
! gospel truth, the same have been
| blessed, We not only suppose that they will
hear the glad tidings of great Joy which shall
be all people. but we assured OF the
fact by the Apostle Paul: God will have all
men to be saved and come TO q knowledge OF the
| truth" not given everlasting life before com
| ing to a knowledge of the truth. but saved from
! the Atlantic curse, saved from the death state
an awakening from the death condition. and
then hear the glad ttdings Of great Joy.
/ NJ.