Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-02

@. How can a believer doubt Gods
power to cover the earth with deluge
or make the sun stand still? You min
listers seem to me guilty Of pulling down
the Bible?
A.. I, for one, do not doubt Gods
power to do these things If He so
pleases. But do not think He has done
them or is likely to exercise His infinite
powers in that manner. I sometimes
wonder If those who speak confidently
about burying the entire globe In Hood
of waters or hating the sun in the
heavens understand the extremely pre-
carious and dependent nature OF the
physical globe.
Should the earth's axis get little
out of plumb, or the atmosphere en-
girdling its surface be deprived of its
oxygen and water vapor, or Its attrac-
ton by grayitation cease to hold 1t at
an exact distance which is neither too
near nor too far from the sun, every
thing on this planet would perish at
once.
Read Sir James Jeans on these mat
tiers. He will help you to understand
that the universe is infinitely more mar
Vicious than our forefathers suspected,
1t would seem from the revelations of
pared place for the development of the
human race In love and righteousness.
Believers who accept what science has
thus verified enthrone the Bible as the
best literature available for that de-
velopment. The marvel Is that so tram
scendent, book emerged when, where
and how 1t did. Do not let Oriental
symbolisms obscure for you its basic
teachings.
@. We are told in the Bible there will
be a day of resurrection when the soul
will unite with the body, and then ap-
pear before the Judgment seat of God
and be rewarded according to its merits
Can you form any hypothesis as to
where the soul Is and what 1t Is doing
during the interim? We frequently say
the soul has gone to Heaven. Yet
that cannot be so II it has to walt for
the day of Resurrection.
The Roman Catholics teach the doc
trine OF purgatory, which can be short
ened by masses, which, In turn involves
another question.
This problem has troubled me for
some time, and there does not appear
to be any solution. I shall be glad TO
hear what you have to say
A. Your difficulty is aggravated by
two erroneous beliefs. First, as to the
nature of biblical teaching concerning
the resurrection, and, second, the idea
that the soul waits for the resurrection
of the body. The latter error originates
In the first, and the first is due, In
part, to the highly symbolic language
of Holy Scripture in reference to mans
future state. The final teaching OF the
Bible is found in I Corinthians, chap
ter is. Here st. Paul expressly denies
that the resurrection signifies the re-
vivication of dead body.
Flesh and blood do not inherit the
kingdom of God, neither does corrup'
ton inherit interruption. Hence there
is no period Of coma following bodily
death. The soul goes on its way, anC
that way is determined by the soul!
use of It's probation here. God pro
Wdes whatever equipment 1t needs To-
this purpose He does not leave i
naked for an indefinite term. HI
clothes it with every required means TO
communication and fellowship In tn
| spiritual realm.
There is a real resurrection followed
| by a rsal judgment at the moment o
physical dissolution. But these are no
| final, nor can they be. On the contrary
1t is inconceivable that life is ever sew
cred from development. 1t proceed
| endlessly, passing from one plane T.
| another. Did not the apostle declar
that souls are changed from glory unit
| glory? Surely such gains are not Sc
cured without appraisals and tests.
realize this view is not orthodox
But 1t seems to answer more cues
tons and remove more obstacles thai
some views labeled as orthodox. In s.
far as purgatory means a state O
further preparation for the enjoymen
of eternal bliss there is much to be sal
for it. Few of us fail to realize tina
we are not perfect when We die.
Certainly something gracious and re
newing has to be done for us afte
death. Otherwise, how can we hope t
enter the presence of the All Holy an
the All Righteous? The theory of SOL
sleep and the further theory that 81
the hour and article of death" we ar
instantly and completely TRANSFORMS
; are unscriptural and discordant wit
what we know about ourselves and tn
God who made us.
@. What are the principal theorit
about immortality of the soul?
A. The orthodox view Is that life hei
determines life hereafter and also tn
final destiny Of the individual. wheths