LET THERE BE LIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19788, 11 March 1927, Page 6

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Sir, —My opponent has, even on his own candid admission, still further entangled himself, in that he has known that this Greek word “Anarousia” has been mistranslated “de-

part,” yet regardless of this my opponent thinks that I am ignorant of the Greek translations. I will admit that I do not know all tho language, but from the little I do know, I will try and enlighten the people by exposing a few more mistranslations which are taught by tho so-called orthodox creeds. If the dead are perished, as the Bible states, how could it be possible for sue' creatures to be conscious after they have perished? If Lazarus was at arl conscious during the four days that he was dead and in tho grave, why is there no proof thereof in the Bible? The Scriptures clearly teach that the dead are unconscious between the moment of death and the moment of awakening to the resurrection. Tn-s proposition I affirm, ami my opponent denies the truth thereof. If this proposition is not affirmatively true, as stated, then we must find (1) that man after death continues mentally active, that is to say, possesses knowledge and continues to exercise his mental functions, therefore, is conscious; (2) we must find that there can be no awakening, for the reason that a conscious person must of necessity ho awake; (3) wc must find that there is no actual or real death, because persons actually dead arc not conscious.

Man*is the subject of this discussion. Is man conscious or unconscious when dead? That is tho real issue joined here. My opponent claims that, the soul was carried into Abraham’s bosom. Luke 16:19.31. It is evident from tho whole setting of this passage that it is a parable. If it is to be literally eonstmpd, then, because Dives was ricand had plenty to eat and plenty to wear, he died and went to eternal torture. If that is true, then about per cent out of every hundred won-* have to go there. Again, if this is a literal statement and if we wanted to go to Heaven, wo would have to become beggars, and sit at the gate, and let the dogs lick us. I am sure no fntelligent person wants that interpretation. What is the soul The Scriptures answer: “Tho Lord God formed mat of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils tho breath of life, and man became a living soul (Gen 2:7). Every creature that breathes is soul. God applied the words, “living soul,” to the lower order of animals long before the creation of man (Gen and 30—margin). The wond ‘‘soul” is applied to both men and beasts in Numbers 31:28: “and levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war, which went out to battle, one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep.” God in his word declares that all die alike, and all go to the same place. “For that which befalleth the sons of men, befalleth beasts, even one thing befalleth them; as the one diet*, so dieth the other: yea they have all one breath, so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast, for all is vanity, all go unto one place, I all are of dust, and all turn to dusn again.” Eccles 3:1920. Can my opponent, in the face of this deny that tho ox is a soul, when the Bible says it Will njy opponent for one moment contend that an ox is conscious aftei death? A soul is a moving, breathing sentiment being that has senses and ex crcises the same. No man has a soul, * but every man is a soul. Mark the distinction between having a thing, and I being that thing! Jesus, who spoke with authority, 'pointed out that Satan is the author of the. theory of undieablo or immortai souls, and that this was tho beginning of lies. Again, Isaiah 53:12, speaking of Jesus: “He poured out his soul unto death.” Notice not unto “life-” Aem*n Exikiel 18:4, “the soul that sinneth, it stall die. A word about the theif on the cross! Another deception hero! The . reason this text is misleading is that,

when translated the punctuation mark, the comma, was placed after the word ‘thee,” making at read, “Verily I say unto thee, to-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” The Greek language had no punctuation marks, the translators had no authority to put this comma where they did. Put the emphasis where it belongs, and this text reads: “Verily I say unto thee to-day, thou shalt be with me in Paradise. My opponent would have you believe that the thief went to Heaven tfio very day that Jesus was crucified upon the Cross. Wc know that Jesus was dead for three days and, after his resurrection, he stated to the women that sought to take hold upon him, “Touch mo not, for I have not yet ascended tn my father!” Forty days later, he ascended into Heaven. Whore was t!v thief all this time! The thief was dead, is still dead, and will remain dead untilthe time of the resurrection. “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first friends of them that slept.’’ 1 Cor 15:20. If Christ is the first fruits of them that slept, how was it possible for the thief to have got to Heaven before him? I S. H. GODFBY