A GREAT DECEPTION by C. P. B.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 27, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 20.

A GREAT DECEPTION.

By C. P. B.

WRITING of the doctrine of future probation, in the Methodist Recorder, Rev. C. H. Wetherbee says:—

“There is a very mischievous deception abroad in the land, which was originated by the devil, that those people who neglect their salvation or will not obtain it in this world, will have an opportunity to secure it in the world to come. And there are quite a good many people who are trying hard to believe this devilish fable. They want to live just as they please all through their days on earth; and when they get into eternity they want the privilege of making a settlement with God on very easy terms. They seem to think that they will be willing then to make some arrangement by which they can avoid suffering for their sins.

“If it were not for the idea of suffering eternally, or suffering to any great extent in the world to come, no one would ever think that God might possibly give people another chance of being saved after death. But, in order to ease their consciences and quiet their fears, they are willing to believe that God will be so very merciful as to give them an opportunity in the eternal world to escape from the consequences of their sins.”

Yes, the doctrine of a future probation is a “mischievous deception,” a deception which will no doubt lure souls to eternal death, and as Mr. Wetherbee says, the doctrine of eternal torment is responsible for it. The Bible declares, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4), and the nature of that death is fully indicated in Mal. 4:1: “Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” This is nothing less than utter extinction of life; a death which is eternal because unlike the first death; there is from it no resurrection. It is eternal or everlasting punishment because from it there is no release, no return.

But men are not willing to take God at his word, and have sought to improve upon his work and designs; and so they declare that man is naturally immortal and can never die, that what we call death is not really so, but that it is only a change, a transition, and that man must live forever either in happiness or in misery. Mark the result: finding themselves incapable of believing in eternal torment, and holding to life for all, they naturally accept the idea of ultimate universal salvation.

But God is not vindictive, and the Bible does not teach that he is. He is not willing that any should perish, and he will save all who will be saved; but “all the wicked will be destroyed.” Now is the accepted time; now God says, “Come unto me all the ends of the earth and be ye saved!” but by and by the decree will go forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still;” then mercy forever ceases to plead, and the door of mercy is forever closed. Truly the doctrine of future probation is “a great deception.” C. P. B.