Your ShelfYour Projects

ANNIHILATION

13%

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 21, 1856

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 7, No. 21.

Read the full edition

ANNIHILATION.

By John Dorcas Jr.

MR. EDITOR:—Having been furnished, by a brother of mine, with the Review and Herald, I see you advocate, and try to prove the entire consumption of the wicked at the day of Judgment, together with several other things which to me appear contrary to the word of God, which I will not notice in this communication.
As it regards the present subject I would remark that it is a doctrine that the wicked, and unbelieving world have longed, and earnestly desired might be true. Interrogate the Infidel on the subject and he glories in the idea, that death is an eternal sleep; and even common sinners that make no pretensions to scientific infidelity, would rejoice if the doctrine were true; and me thinks it will be a matter of rejoicing to a large portion of the wicked, if you can prove this to be a Bible doctrine; for they care not for the glories of heaven so they can but revel in sin here in all its delusive pleasures, and carnal indulgences. They will say let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die.
This is not merely theory; but it is the experience of thousands; and some of this very class when brought to grapple with the grim monster Death, have exclaimed, Dying is nothing, but Oh! eternity! the future! I am going to hell! and other expressions of similar import. Now I ask, Why all this fearful foreboding, if there be no future punishment of the wicked, but simply a state of unconsciousness till the Judgment, at which time they will be raised in order that they may die the second death which you say is to be an everlasting state of unconsciousness. If this be the unmistakable doctrine of the Bible, plainly taught, why do not those persons be calm in the hour of dissolution, and trust to what they all their life time hoped might be true; I can't solve the question.
It is said, [Luke. xx, 47.] of a certain class of persons, "And these shall receive greater damnation." I would like to know how this can be if all the wicked are to be utterly destroyed, or consumed, to be burned up root and branch. How can it be said with any propriety that some will receive greater damnation than others, if this be the correct understanding of those texts in reference to the wicked.
Another idea: Can insensible matter be said to suffer, or endure punishment. It is said of the wicked, that they shall go away into everlasting punishment and other scriptures conveying the same idea would naturally convey to the mind, the idea of a sensitive being, instead of one that is destroyed, consumed, or annihilated.
'Tis true there has been a great amount of Scriptures quoted to substantiate the doctrine in question but I have seen nothing that fully satisfies my mind on the subject; I have been considering the subject for some time but thus far have not been satisfied that yours is the Bible doctrine on this as well as some other subjects of which I shall not speak now.
Yours in view of the truth. JOHN DORCAS Jr.