River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-04-15

lRASI02 RgSSEzg) in part;
Those who wrote
the Bible did their duty well. The Old
Testament, covering the history Of over
four thousand years, tells US that all
mankind at death go to SheOl-the
tomb. The New Testament. written in
Greek, tells the same story, using the
word Hades as the translation Of the
Hebrew SheOl. 1t is in modern trans
lations Of the Bible that difficulty is en-
cOuntered. particularly in the English.
Nearly all these TRANSACTIONS have been
made within the last five hundred
years. For 1900 years before the Bi-
bic had been little known. because not
translated into the languages Of the
people, and because few could have
read it if it had been translated.
In the second century the theory pre-
vailed that the bishops were as much
inspired as the Apostles and Jesus; for
they were called Apostolic bishops.
Bible study was considered unneces-
sary because those Apostolic bishops
were on the spot to give up-to-date in
formation and communications from
God. Then followed thirteen centuries
Of no Bible study. during which time.
as the Apostles had forewarned. griev-
GUS wolves came into the flock, max
ing merchandise of the sheep for their
own profit. (Acts 2O:26-31) Gradually
the doctrines became so mingled with
errors that the false teachers enslaved
the people with fear, and then eXtorted
money for the relief of the fears
When Bible study revived in the Eff
teenth Century. the errors were so in
trenched in mems minds that their
thoughts We're cOlored respecting every
feature of faith. Those who translated
the Bible doubtless did their best to set
forth its meaning. but unconsciously
gave little twists. in their endeavor to
have the Bible say what they thought
il meant As an Illustration, note John
500. There the translatOrs have given
rs the expression, resurrection of
damnatiOn." when nothing in the Greek
justified the word damnation. The
Revised Version renders it properly,
resurrection of judgment''-trial
When the Hebrew word Sheol was
word to fit their ideas Hence they
translated it He'll as many times as
possible; and only when this was i'm
possible did they give something APP
preaching the proper translation-the
grave. There is another word for
grave-Qeber. a sepulchre, mound, a
monument But do their best to make
He'll out OF Sheol they could only SO
translate it less than one-half the whole
number Of occurrences. The Revised
translation retains the Hebrew Sheol
and the Greek Hades, saying, Let the
reader find out what it means, doubt
less he will think that SheOl is the hot
place; and SO the common people will
not know what an cgregiouS blunder
was made by the theologians.
Good men, who know better, permit
their congregations to think that they
believe in burning He'll of torture.
when privately they confess to the
contrary. But they say, Let us not do
good, lest evil follow-let us not tell
the people, lest fewer would then
come to church. and the power of SUI
perstition, which holds so many. be
broken. Poor men! They seem blind
to the fact that these deyilish doc
trines are driving intelligent people
away from God, from the Bible, and
from the churches.
Two Escape From He'll.
The Bible tells of several who were
released from Sheol, but of two the
very word is used. The Prophet Jonah.
swallowed by the great fish. was in its
belly parts of three days. He calls it
his tomb-belly, a sheol-belly. While
there entombed, he cried unto the Lord
in prayer, and the Lord delivered him.
Jesus tells us that Jonah's experiences
typified His own-that as Jonah was
buried in the sheol-belly of the fish,
Jesus would be buried in the Sheol of
earth AS Jonah came forth on the
third day. so Jesus came forth. st.
Peter points out that this was prophe-
sled of Jesus, saying. Thou wilt not
leave My soul in [Sheol. orr Hades'-
the tomb. He says that God fulfilled
this by raising Jesus from the dead
Acts 2:27.
see that all, good and bad, go down to
the tomb-to Sheol, Hades, called in
our Bibles He'll. The Scriptures very
distinctly tell us that "the dead know
not anything; that their sons come
to honor, and they know it not; and to