The Meaning of Torment

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 15, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 32.

The Meaning of Torment

Students' Library, No. 111. The word "tormented" comes from the Greek word "basanos," thus defind by Baxter's Analytical Greek Lexicon:

"Basanos," properly "lapis Lydius," a species of stone from Lydia, which being applied to metals, was thought to indicate any alloy which might be mixed with them, and therefore used in the trial of metals; hence examination of a person, especially by torture, in New Testament "torture," "torment," "severe pain."

Therefore "basanizo," properly to apply the "lapis Lydius," or "touchstone;" by metonymy, to examine, scrutinize, try, either by words or torture.

Liddell and Scott's great standard lexicon defines the verb:

1. To rub upon the touchstone; hence, of things, to put to the test, prove, to investigate scientifically. 2. Of persons, to examine closely, cross-question; to question by applying torture, to torture, rack.

It will be seen by the above definitions that the meaning of the term is, TO TEST, or TRY, by words or torture. The idea of torment, or causing pain, is not a necessary element in the original meaning of the term. That is wholly a derived meaning. The scientific use of that touchstone never caused pain, and the judge could scientifically test, or try, his witness or criminal without causing pain; but the habit of the ancients was to torture, consequently the idea of torture became connected with the word. But we appeal to our readers if the just treatment of the word would not be to take it in its primal meaning, to test, or to try, rather than in its derived meaning which a false theology has connected with it—to torture, to torment. The Greek language had other words to express pain and torment.

Now Satan declared in the beginning that man would not die. Gen. 3: 3, 4. A false theology has declared through all the ages that he can not die. God has declared, on the other hand, that "the wages of sin is death." Rom. 6: 23. Over and over He has repeated the thought in His Word. Satan has deceived multitudes into believing that when man died, he did not die; and that something survived death and continued to live elsewhere, in some other existence. God has declared that "the dead know not anything." Those who have believed God, have been much more ready to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ for life alone. Those who have followed error, have believed that man possessed something divine, and that he would live forever, some contending in ultimate restoration, and others in eternal torment. The great test comes sometime; and God's test is by fire, for the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. 1 Cor. 3: 13. In His mercy to fallen man, God has withheld His own glorious presence; and if He has ever come near to the children of men, He has veiled that presence, in order that the glory of it might not consume them. For the shining out of God's glorious presence is "a consuming fire." Heb. 12: 29. But sometime, when Christ the Lord shall come again in His transcendent glory, the very presence of God will set on fire the foundations of the earth. Those who have received life from Christ, will be changed "from glory to glory" and made immortal. Those who have identified themselves with sin, will perish in the glory of that presence. That testing shall be forever. In the ultimate destruction, they would be consumed with the world, and with Satan all who have identified themselves with sin shall be burned up root and branch. Mal. 4: 1. The smoke shall go up forever, and we read in the 37th Psalm, that in that smoke shall they "consume away;" and that is all that is expressed in this text in the Revelation. Punishment will be final, that torment or testing shall be forever. God's truth and Word will be vindicated, and men will have received just what they have chosen, sin, and the ultimate, death.

7. HERE ARE THEY.—There is another class, those that we considered last week that stand on Mount Zion, having the Father's name and the name of the Son written in their foreheads. They are described by different words at the close of this threefold message: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In chapter 13: 10, in a prophecy of the Dark Ages of those who went down in the awful persecutions of that time, it is said, "Here is the patience and the

faith of the saints." They did not then understand all truth; they did not know all the commandments of God, yet God recognized their faith. But in the last development of God's work, when every truth of His Word shall be preached, the law observed by our Lord Jesus Christ will again shine forth. The great things of that law will be revealed; it will be seen that it is indeed honorable, as observed by our Lord Jesus Christ. It will be understood that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is so to change men's characters that they will love to observe His law; that faith demands obedience, and that the loving observance of God's commandments is indeed what the apostle calls it, the obedience of faith.

This great threefold message, calling for the worship of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, develops a class of people of whom it is said, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." They have patient endurance. They meet the scoffs and persecutions of this world, and still endure as seeing Him who is invisible. They keep the commandments of God, ALL of them — not nine tenths, or five tenths, but all of them, ALL "the commandments of God." But they are not Jews, for they have "the faith of Jesus" also; and it is the faith of Jesus which demands the keeping of the commandments of God. Jesus had faith, faith in the Father; and He could say, "I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." This class also have faith, the same faith that Jesus had; and they say, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous;" and at the same time they also echo with the same apostle, in the same connection, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

The next great event is the coming of the Son of Man to reap the harvest of the earth, but this we leave until our next number.