THE DOCTRINE OF HELL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 November 1926, Page 6

THE DOCTRINE OF HELL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —“Bible Student” asks why I left unfiished the Scriptural quotation from Rev. 20, 14, and states there it answers my question as to what the lake of fire is. “This-is the second death.” If “8.5.” will read that letter carefully he will see I did not ask any question whatsoever, but simply quoted all needful for the point, in view of what Christ had said regarding future' punishment: “This is the second death.” Scripture does not teach anywhere that death means non-existence. God said to Adam (Gen. 2.17): “For m the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” yet* we find Adam living many years after that day. Way did the Apostle Paul, writing to the Christian - Ephesians, say, “You hath He quickened who were dead m trespasses and sin.” yet they were still existing? This proves that death as spoken in the Scriptures does not necessarily mean %.o cease to exist. Ail i is of God and in God. Separate man from God and you have death, not nonexistence. When Adam sinned, he sepn rated himself from God, hid away, for sin had worked in him the first death, not non-existence. In the fulness of time Christ came to redeem from the curse of that death upon every son of Adam. The God-given opportunity of life from that death is open to all. Thank God many have heard that Voice, (1 1 am the way, the truth, and the life.” Rejection of this life that is offered means a final separation beyond all hope in the ages to come from Christ. “This is the second death. Adam caused the first death; each individual has tasted it, but it rests with each one of us whether or not we will be partakers in the second. In concluding, I would thank you for vour consideration, sir, on this subject, hoping that these teachings having come before the public in this way, may cause people to search the Scriptures with an open mind, to see what they say on these things concerning _ our future destiny, for in them is to be found eternal life. —I am, etc., ONE CONCERNED. Hawera, Nov. 1.

(To the Editor.)

csj ri May I again ask for space in which to make clearer certain statements I have already made. I should be sorry indeed to cause any who are earnestly seeking the truth, of whom I am sure “Believer” is one, to doubt God’s Word in any way. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good” (I. Thes. 5, 21) is good advice to all. And by clearing up the fog that surrounds death, and thus slaying the bogey of “eternal torment,” may the light of God’s Word shine more clearly. “Believer” criticises the meaning I have put upon death. And wonders where in Scripture I got it from I did not get it from Scripture at all. It is the dictionary meaning, where I read, Dead: destitute of life, etc. Death: to cease to exist, etc. Does “Believer” mean to infer that words w-hen road in the Bible convey a different meaning from those given in the dictionary? The confusion resulting from such a method is too palpable to°need discussion. So, when we read, “The soul that sinneth it shall die (Ez. 18, 4), we understand that that soul shall cease to exist, because it is dead, and dead it will remain until a resurrection; for “If the dead rise not then is Christ not raised.” (Cor. 15, 13 and 16). If Christ needed a resurrection to reinstate life, surely we shall. To say that “the soul that sinneth shall live in everlasting torment” is totally different, and bestows upon the human family immortality. Yet we are told man is mortal, and “God only hath immortality.” (I Tim. 6, 16). After death the judgment. (Heb. 9, 27). Certainly; but how long after death? At Christ’s second coming for those who believe in Him. This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone that seeth the Son and believeth on Him miay have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6, 40). But the wicked sleep on in death until after the Millenium, when after a resurrection they receive the wages of sin, which 'is Death. As I have before stated, they are eternally destroyed by the second death mentioned in Rev. 20, 6 and 14, also Rev. 21, 8. This death is total annihilation, because, from it there is no resurrection. As it says in Proverbs 10, 25: “So is the wicked no more,” and Ps. 27, 10: “Thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” It would be difficult to keep the wicked in eternal torment, without even a plaqe in which to exist. “Believer” seems concerned as to how Moses and Elias appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, if the dead are now sleeping. But does he forget that Moses had a special resurrection (Jude. 9) and Elijah was translated? Also he feels, Lazarus could not have come from the. tomb where he had lain for four days, if he had ceased to exist. Of course he could. Christ the Life Giver called him forth, thereby causing him to exist, or live again. No, sir, Ido net think I failed to distinguish between the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah and Eie cities themselves. Both have ccas“(l to exist for the time being, the inhabitants only living again after the resurrection. Then I am afraid “Believer ’’ Chinks I have been shuffling with the term “for ever ami ever.” May I quote again from Greenfield: — “The Greek term translated for ever and ever, in Rev. .1, .1.1, has different meanings, according to the connection in which used, i.e., duration, finite or infinite, eternity, age, lifetime, etc.” I am not a Greek scholar, but that the word is used in this way is proved by the following texts: “His master shall bore his ear through with an awl and he shall serve him for ever.” (Ex. 21, (i). For his his life-time. “I will bring him that he may appear before the land and there abide for ever.” “As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.” (I. Sam. 1, 22 and 28). “I Avcnt doAvn to the bottoms of the mountains: the earth with her bars Avas about ine for ever.” (Jonah 2,6). Here “for ever” is limited to three days. Then why not apiplv the meaning here to Rev. 14, 11, and read it thus: “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up while life lasteth.” Would not this text then harmonize Avith the rest of the Scriptures? But Satan's first lie to our first parents, “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3,4) still is taught, and is still deceiving the Avorld. T am afraid I have trespassed upon too much of your valuable space again. But the subject, is so big: that is my only excuse. Thanking you for your great courtesy. —I am, etc., B. A. PRATT. Matapu, October 31.