Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 1.

ANOTHER YEAR

Review and Herald

Jan 2, 1908

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 2, 1908

ANOTHER YEAR

By Worthie Harris Holden

Worthie Harris Holden
Scarce dreamed we that so many a snow Should crown the earth, or wintry blow Sweep wild o'er sea and land, e'er He Should rule the earth in majesty, And winter's havoc cease, and bring For cold and heat perpetual spring,
But now inured to wintry woe, Too prone are we to dream that slow Will turn Time's hour-glass, e'er the night Shall break, and dawn shall burst to light, The midnight hour is past. The day Is almost here. See, while you may, The streaks of dawn across the sky, Awake! Arouse! Thy King is nigh, Bestir thyself. Thy lethargy Hath almost cost thy soul,
But he Who, robed and ready greets his King, Must make the gospel trumpet ring This warning cry, "Prepare thy God To meet. In judgment sits thy Lord, Lift high the ensign of God's seal; His judgment court hath no appeal." Then may'st thou claim the King thy Lord, And share fore'er His great reward, And through the ages dwell for aye Mid spring-time's bloom in cloudless day.
Portland, Ore.

Life and Health

for January

This number of Life and Health is now ready, and is filled with that which practising physicians consider most essential for the public at this season of the year. It deals principally with the diseases most prevalent during the cold season, and dwells particularly upon colds and the diseases resulting from them. It will bring some very practical instruction presented by experienced writers. Something of the nature of this number may be obtained from the following outline of contents:—
“Influenza and Its Rational Treatment.” A very common disease, not of itself generally fatal, but paves the way for fatal diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
“Health,”—man's greatest possession, yet generally jeopardized through lack of the simple knowledge of the science of hygiene and sanitary living.
Dr. Leadsworth, in his “consulting-room experiences,” prescribes detailed treatment for persons who have a constant tendency to catch cold,—these continued colds that interfere with the normal functions of the body, and lay the foundation for pneumonia, bronchitis, typhoid fever, and a long list of other serious diseases.
Mrs. Bainbridge, in a few paragraphs, presents the power of peace in healing. Few realize the power of the mind over the body, but Christ, the Great Physician, knowing the interrelation of the mind and body, gave us his message of peace as one important factor in the restoration and preservation of man.
Mrs. Fitch, who is a recognized practical, hygienic cook, gives in this number twelve seasonable recipes, every one of which has been tested and generally liked.
Mrs. Wilcox favors the girls with a talk on “Thin Waists for January,”—often causing poor health and resulting in fatal diseases.
Dr. Lauretta Kress, of the Washington Sanitarium, gives the readers the benefit of the sanitarium home treatment for a cold. This one article is worth far more than the price of the journal for a full year.
The Current Comment Department is replete with good thoughts and valuable suggestions associated with the discussion of such subjects as: The Indoor Habit; Open-Air Treatment of Pneumonia; Treatment of Colds; Overcoats and Health; The Plague; The Rat and Disease; Bubonic Plague; Temperance Instruction; Intercollegiate Athletics; What Happens When You Smoke; Viavi Treatment; Cause of Alcoholism; A Laboratory Doctor; Better Days Coming, etc.
The editor has given some excellent thoughts upon The Early Treatment of a Cold; Sunlight for Consumptives; The Bubonic Plague in San Francisco; Pneumonia from Mice; Drugs and Disease, etc.

Prices

Single copy, 10 cents; 2 to 25 copies, 5 cents a copy; 25 to 500 copies, 4 cents a copy. Annual subscription, beginning January 1, 75 cents. Order of any State tract society, or direct from Life and Health, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.

Start the New Year Right

A Few Suggestions for this Year's Reading and Study

A New Bible

Perhaps the Bible which you have been using is pretty badly worn, or is not just what you want; then let us make a practical suggestion. We have just received a new supply of the famous Oxford Bibles in pearl, minion, and brevier bold-face type, printed on India paper, and bound in the usual Oxford styles.
No. 1388X Is a Minion Bold-face bound in Sealskin, calf lined, silk sewed, etc., and sells for only . . . . . $6.50
No. 1368X Same as the above, but bound in Alaska Seal . . . 4.25
Both Bibles are printed on the well-known Oxford India paper, and have references and maps.

A Pocket Bible that Any One Can Read

The new pearl bold-face reference Bible has all the advantages of the larger Bibles, and still is easily read. The size is only 5⅛ inches by 3⅜ inches, and fits easily into the coat pocket.
Ask for—
No. 03025X Bound in French morocco, leather lined to edge, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.15
No. 03030X Bound in full Levant, calf lined, silk sewed, red under gold edges, round corners, India paper. The finest pocket Bible we have ever seen. Price, only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00
Printed on India paper, making the Bible only 5/8 of an inch thick.

A Good Concordance

Next to a Bible a good concordance is one of the most essential parts of the equipment of every Bible student. At a reasonable price we know of nothing better than Cruden's. It is fully up to the requirements as a handy text finder. Bound neatly in brown cloth.
Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.00

About the Reading Course

Fearing lest many of our young people have not yet availed themselves of the opportunity offered in the Missionary Volunteer Reading Course, we take this opportunity of again announcing these grand books.

Special Edition of “Early Writings.”

To place this important book within the reach of every Seventh-day Adventist, we have just issued a paper-bound thin edition of “Early Writings.” The book will fit nicely into the coat pocket or traveling case, and is of a convenient size to carry with you.
The text of this book should be studied over and over again, for the experiences described are taking place before our eyes. Soon will come the final chapter of this world's history—“God's People Delivered.”
PRICES: Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .35
Cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.25

The Other Books

A new supply of “PASTOR HSI,” in the combined form, at $1.25, has just been received. We are sure that our young people will appreciate the enlarged book the most, as it gives the early history of Pastor Hsi, and the experiences which led up to his conversion. Remember that in this book you really get two complete books for the price of one.
Sent, post-paid, for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.25
We still have the other style in the paper at 65 cents, and the cloth at $1, post-paid.
“INTO ALL THE WORLD” has been out of print for some time, and we have had considerable trouble filling orders. A new supply of the cloth-bound books has just come, and we expect to have the paper-bound book by the time this paper reaches you. Those who have not secured this book yet, will do well to send for it at once.
Cloth, post-paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .57
Paper, post-paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
“THE MAP” is meeting with a hearty reception everywhere, on account of its convenient size and clear print. It shows the prevailing religions of the world to-day in colors, and the dark heathen portions make a mute appeal to all who study it.
Price, post-paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ .50
“OUTLINE OF MISSIONS,” with the new revisions bringing it thoroughly up-to-date, sent free with order for the other supplies.
REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSN.
TAKOMA PARK STATION                                 WASHINGTON, D. C.

Our Heavenly Father’s Care

A SINGLE word in the Scriptures often carries a large meaning with it. Jesus said, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” It is “your Heavenly Father,” not their Heavenly Father, who feeds them. The fowls of the air have a Creator, but not a Father in any such sense as we have who are children of God through faith in Christ, and yet our Father’s care extends even to them, so that he opens his hand and they are filled with good. Will not he who thus provides for the needs of the lesser remember also the greater, his own children? It is in view of such providential care that Jesus further said: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
“Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?” It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.
“Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; Thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!”

Sixty Years of Progress in Publishing the Third Angel's Message

UNDER this title the secretary of the Publishing Department of the General Conference has prepared an interesting summary of the growth of our publishing work, including with it some statistics concerning other parts of our work. On the first and second pages of the leaflet containing this information there is printed a facsimile of the first two pages of the first paper ever published by Seventh-day Adventists, The Present Truth, issued at Middletown, Conn., in July, 1849, nearly sixty years ago. These two pages we reproduce on pages 4 and 5 of this number of the REVIEW, in connection with the matter which accompanied them. They will be interesting souvenirs of early days, and the article on the time of the institution of the Sabbath is “the present truth” now, just as it was when it first appeared.
We commend this record of remarkable growth to the consideration of any who may have been harassed by the fear that the trying experiences through which we have been passing during the past five years has tended to paralyze our aggressive efforts in the spread of the message. It is an assuring testimony to the vitality of this advent movement that during the very time when it has been struggling to free itself from a teaching, which, if given the opportunity, would have perverted this message into an evangel of the New Theology, the most gratifying results have been attained in establishing upon a sure foundation the original truths as opposed to a spiritualistic philosophy, and in planting these truths in many hitherto unentered fields. The record of this experience, so far as it pertains to the publishing work, is given in the leaflet already mentioned, and runs as follows:—
Reports of progress are healthful tonics. The story of God's providences is one of the mainsprings of courage and enthusiasm. The history of the rise and progress of our publishing work is an inspiring story. Let it be told over and over again.

The First Tract

Our publishing work may be said to have had its beginning only a few months after the great advent movement of 1843-44. In the spring of 1845 Elder Joseph Bates published a tract, containing about forty-five pages, on the Sabbath question. The pioneer workers were greatly assisted during the first two or three years of their work by this tract, which they distributed through the mails, and wherever they could find persons who would read.

The First Paper

The periodical work began in July, 1849, when Elder James White published, at Middletown, Conn., the first number of The Present Truth. The story of that earnest, devoted effort by Elder and Mrs. White to publish the truth is thus told in a letter by Mrs. White:—
“My husband then began to publish a small sheet, at Middletown, eight miles from Rocky Hill, Conn., and often walked this distance and back again, although he was then lame. When he brought the first number from the printing-office, we all bowed around it, asking the Lord, with humble hearts and many tears, to let his blessing rest upon the feeble efforts of his servant. He then directed the paper to all those who he thought would read it, and carried it to the post-office in a carpet-bag. Every number was taken from Middletown to Rocky Hill, and always before preparing them for the post-office they were spread before the Lord, and earnest prayers mingled with tears were offered to God that his blessings would attend the silent messengers.”
Six months later, in November, 1850, the first number of the Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald was printed. This took the place of The Present Truth, just described. The publishing committee was composed of four persons—Joseph Bates, S. W. Rhodes, J. N. Andrews, and James White. Below the title was inscribed that scripture so familiar and so precious to every Seventh-day Adventist, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The First Effort to Sell Our Literature

Previous to the year 1855, all publications printed in behalf of the third angel's message were paid for by donations, and the tracts and pamphlets were given away to interested persons. It was not supposed, up to that time, that it would be possible to sell to the general public literature dealing with a question so unpopular as the third angel's message.
In the year 1855, Elder J. N. Loughborough, while holding a short series of tent-meetings in Rochester, N. Y., conceived the idea that our publicationscould be sold. The total retail value of a copy of all the tracts and pamphlets published up to that time was thirty-five cents. Elder Loughborough was rather ridiculed by some for attempting to sell literature dealing with the third angel's message, but he believed it could be done, and made the attempt. Many things can be accomplished if we only believe. He secured a supply of what tracts and pamphlets were then published, did them up in thirty-five-cent packages, and at the close of his meetings on each of three successive Sundays, offered them for sale, and sold fifty dollars' worth each day.
From 1855 to 1879 our publishing work consisted largely of publishing and distributing tracts and pamphlets. Those that were sold were chiefly handled by ministers from the desk, and by our people in their home missionary work. In 1879 the sales totaled for the year approximately thirty-two thousand dollars for the entire denominational work.

The First Subscription Book

In the year 1879 the word of the Lord came to the leaders in this movement, through Mrs. E. G. White, stating that the time had come for advance steps to be taken in the publication of the message; that larger books should be prepared, illustrated, and put up in popular form; and that they should be sold from house to house by agents.
Two years later, in 1881, at a camp-meeting held in the State of New York, plans for the development of the subscription-book business were arranged by Brother George King, our pioneer canvasser, who recently fell with the harness on in New York City. Elder J. N. Loughborough tells of having seen this dear brother going from one to another on the camp-ground, with two little black cloth-covered books under his arm. They were the first copies of “Thoughts on Daniel” and “Thoughts on the Revelation,” by Elder Uriah Smith, as they were first bound up separately and sold as trade books. Brother King urged that these two books be bound together in one volume, and illustrated, and sold from house to house by agents; and he guaranteed, or offered to guarantee, to sell five thousand copies of the work, if the Review and Herald Publishing Association would undertake the enterprise. Elders White and Loughborough heartily co-operated with Brother King, and the Review and Herald undertook the work of publishing our first subscription book. That was only twenty-five years ago. It is not probable that these men, although they were men of faith and prayer, imagined what a world-wide work would develop from this humble beginning.

What Hath God Wrought

During the past sixty years, since Elder Joseph Bates issued the first tract on the Sabbath question, the publishing work has been the great pioneer means of the gospel for this time in carrying the truth around the world, and to nearly every nation under heaven. There are now twenty-two Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses, in which are employed between four and five hundred persons, devoting their entire time to the manufacture of our literature.
According to the latest statistics, we now have 697 tracts, containing 8,042 pages; 99 periodicals; 174 pamphlets, containing 15,212 pages; and 215 bound books, containing a total of 69,167 pages.
These publications are printed in fifty-one languages; namely, Bengali, Bohemian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Danish-Norwegian, Dutch, English, Esthonian, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Laplandish, Lettonian, Livonian, Mandarin (China), Polish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Russian, Santali, Servian, Slovakian, Spanish, Swedish, Urdu, Welsh, Zulu, Fijian, Icelandic, Japanese, Rarotongan, Tahitian, Arabic, Basuto, Armenian Greek, Cantonese (China), Amoy dialect (China), Greek, Hawaiian, Kaffir, Maori, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, Tongan, Turkish-Armenian, and Yiddish.
Best of all, there are now more than one thousand persons devoting their entire time to the sale of this literature, and they are making the publishing work self-supporting, thus leaving the tithes for the support of the gospel ministry.
During a period of about thirty-seven years, from the time Elder Bates published his first tract, in 1845, until the beginning of the subscription-book work, in 1882, the total sale of our publications amounted to three hundred thousand dollars.
As an illustration of how rapidly this cause is spreading and growing, as it works its way among the many nations of the world, note carefully the following figures, showing the expansion of the work for the past seven years: The total sale of publications during the year 1901 alone amounted to about $300,000, or anamount equal to the total sale of publications during the first thirty-seven years of our work. During 1902 the sales were $430,027.71; in 1903, $477,714.98; in 1904, $436,600.68; in 1905, $547,067.03; and in 1906, $824,027.69. During the year 1907 the sales will doubtless total more than a million dollars.
The strong hand of our God has been working with similar manifestations of power in the other departments of his cause, as will be seen from the following facts:—
Of educational institutions there are fifty-eight colleges, academies, and intermediate schools, with an enrolment of 4,123, and 255 teachers employed; there are 434 primary schools, having an enrolment of 7,784, and employing 498 teachers.
There are about sixty-six sanitariums and about fifty treatment rooms. The total assets of all denominational institutions engaged in the three lines mentioned aggregate $3,754,440.58.
The last quarterly summary of our Sabbath-schools shows that we have in the United States and Canada 2,332 schools, with a membership of 52,224. In foreign fields we have 1,063 schools, with a membership of 24,507. Total number of schools in the world, 3,395; total membership, 76,731. For the quarter ending June 30, 1907, our Sabbath-schools gave to missions $17,805.43. The past year they gave $57,915.71—more than $1,000 a week—for the work in foreign lands. During the past twenty years, $513,849.35 has been given by our Sabbath-schools for missionary work. Most all our schools are working toward the plan of giving all their donations to missions.
These statistics are not given in any spirit of boasting, but as items of information and encouragement to the reader. To the Lord belongeth praise, for through him has this work been wrought.

Editorial

By Editor

We were created in the image of God, to reveal his character. There can be no higher or more worthy ambition than the desire to attain, through faith in the crucified and risen Redeemer, to that same image, “to the praise of the glory of his grace.” The honor, the exalted place and the emoluments of this world, attained through strife and struggle, and often at the expense of character, are but transitory trifles, like the toys of childhood, while the Christian graces both adorn and preserve the life through eternal ages. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

No Text Provided

THE PRESENT TRUTH.

Jews, or Christians; but the whole human race. The Sabbath was made for man, for the whole race of man. Adam, Noah, and Abraham were men, therefore the Sabbath was made for them, as well as for Moses, and the Jews. We are men, and the Sabbath is made for us.
God has given the following reason in the decalogue, why man should keep his holy Sabbath—“FOR in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord BLESSED the seventh day and HALLOWED it.” Ex. xx: 11.
Here our minds are directed back more than twenty-five hundred years, to the creation and holy rest in Eden, for the origin of the Sabbath. This plain fact every candid mind must see. God did not bless and hallow the Sabbath day at Sinai—no, no. This he had done in Eden twenty-five hundred years before.
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: Gen. ii : 3.
The Sabbath was marked and guarded with miracles by Jehovah and kept by Israel in the wilderness of Sin, thirty days before they came to Sinai.
“And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man; to-morrow is the rest of the Holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over, lay up for you to be kept until the morning.”
“And Moses said, eat that to-day, for to-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord: to-day ye shall not find in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.”
And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws! See, for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath. So the people rested on the seventh day.” See Ex. xvi. : 22—30.
The children of Israel departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month, and came to the wilderness of Sin on the fifteenth day of the second month. Here God gives them bread from heaven, and reminds them of the Sabbath. From the wilderness of Sin they journeyed to Rephidim, and from Rephidim they came to the desert of Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the third month. Mark this. God gives them manna, reminds them of his Sabbath, and guards it with miracles thirty days before they saw Mount Sinai, and thirty-two days before God spake from the smoking mount, the ten commandments.
We frequently hear the assertion, that the Sabbath is not mentioned in the Bible, till after the law was given from Mount Sinai; therefore, the seventh day Sabbath is the Sabbath of the old Jews, and is abolished. Not long since a second advent preacher made this false statement to me. Another person repeated this statement to me not two weeks since. Now, I hope all who are laboring under this mistaken view will look again. Please read the history of the journey of Israel from Egypt to Mount Sinai, found in Exodus.
The Lord said to Moses, thirty-two days before he gave the law of commandments, “How long refuse ye to keep MY COMMANDMENTS and MY LAWS? See, for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is not mentioned here as a new institution, but an old one, that they had not kept while in bondage to the Egyptians. God brought Israel out of the house of bondage to prove them, and see if they would keep his commandments. They had been from Egypt but thirty days when God reminded them of his Sabbath.
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no.” Deut viii : 2
They could not keep his Sabbath in Egypt. They could not keep it; neither can we keep it when bound by sectarian creeds. Therefore God has brought us out of the churches to prove us, to try us, to know what is in our hearts, whether we will keep his commandments.

The Sabbath a perpetual Weekly Memorial.

“Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth SANCTIFY you.” “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a PERPETUAL covenant.”
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel FOREVER: FOR in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” Ex. xxxi. : 13—17.
FACSIMILE OF THE SECOND PAGE OF THE FIRST PAPER PUBLISHED BY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

After the Resurrection

By C. M. S.

The resurrection of the righteous does not complete God’s purpose concerning this world and those who have inhabited it. It is the purpose of God to rid the universe of sin. The time will come when sin, sinners, and the originator of sin, Satan, will be no more. The prophet Malachi reveals to us the coming of a time when there will be nothing left of the wicked but ashes. He says:—
“For, 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. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 4: 1-3.
There is no intimation here that hell is an institution, presided over by Satan, in which he is given carte blanche to torment those committed to that region to the utmost limit of his ingenuity; no intimation that Satan is God’s agent to see that all sinners are properly punished. But the teaching is plain that every being who is practising wickedness when that day comes, or who died unrepentant and unforgiven, is literally burned up, consumed, and exists no more. Now, it is evident that this includes Satan and all his hosts, as well as those who have yielded to his deceits. The Lord tells us through the psalmist: “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.” Ps. 37: 10. How could it be said that “the wicked shall not be,” if he is actually in existence in torment, and being tormented by the chiefest of all wicked, the instigator of all crime?
Satan has nothing to do with the infliction of punishment upon the impenitent wicked, but receives his punishment with them, and is destroyed with them. The Word plainly declares this, in speakingof the work of Satan after his release from his imprisonment of a thousand years immediately following the second coming of Christ. He gathers his deceived ones together, and then it is said of them: “They went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” Rev. 20: 9, 10. If that did not end their existence, Inspiration would not have used a word that indicates to us a complete cessation of existence. The original word from which “devoured” is translated is katefagen, and means, ate up. The Emphatic Diaglott renders it “consumed.” It is therefore certain that there remains nothing of those upon whom falls that fire from heaven. Satan does not rain that fire upon those who are rejected of God; but it is rained from heaven upon him and upon them together.
Of the end of Satan’s existence we read in another place: “All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.” Eze. 28: 19. We learn who it is that is thus addressed by reading verses 13-19. How could even Inspiration speak more plainly than this in declaring the complete end of the author of sin?
Notwithstanding these plain teachings of the Word of God, even religious teachers are slow to learn. Not long ago we read in one of our religious exchanges these words:—
The silly, deluded devotees of such superstition, such idolatry, must all in the end, unless they repent in sackcloth and ashes, make their way down the slippery steps of time, and take their final leap at last into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the old devil will take special delight to wrap them around his fingers, gouge their eyes out, and toss them like a rubber ball around the black walls of the dark, dismal pandemonium, the sport of demoniacal millions, while the ages of oncoming eternities roll up from the dark realms below.
Now, all this is purely human imagination run wild. There is no word in all the Bible concerning any such fiendish transactions as those described in that quotation; not a word to indicate that Satan has anything whatever to do with the punishment of the wicked; that he is God’s agent in any sense to execute judgment upon the impenitent. Such language reproaches our Saviour, perverts the teachings of his Word, and even debases the idea of religion in the minds of thoughtful men and women. It is a plain contradiction of all God has said concerning the destiny of the wicked.
God will have a clean universe, not a universe marred by the eternal tortures of the lost, but a praising universe. “And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more.” Rev. 21: 4. That is absolute. If there were to be a never-ending hell, this text could not be true; for then there would be pain, there would be crying, there would be mourning—such as men and women have never done in this world. Neither could the following text of Scripture be true if the wicked were to be tormented eternally: “And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever.” Rev. 5: 13. How could there be an unending torment going on anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Almighty, and that text of Scripture be true?
When God has made an end of sin, every creature that is left in the universe will be praising him. The universe will be swept clean of everything that has ever brought pain upon men and sorrow to the heart of our loving Heavenly Father. No more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, no more sickness, no more sin, no more death! What a blessed place for the occupancy of the redeemed! No ever-burning hell where our friends, our parents, or our children writhe in agony untold. That conception is a child of paganism and superstition born under the blighting influences of the Dark Ages. It is not true. In that better land will be only joy and peace and praise. Blessed country! What a glorious privilege it will be to dwell therein!
C. M. S.
Continue reading: To the Fields in 1907