Where , in the pages of God ' s word , is such teaching to be found ? Will the redeemed in heaven be lost to all emotions of pity and compassion , and even to feelings of common humanity ? Are these to be exchanged for the indifference of the stoic or the cruelty of the savage ? No , no ; such is not the teaching of the Book of God . Those who present the views expressed in the quotations given above may be learned and even honest men , but they are deluded by the sophistry of Satan . He leads them to misconstrue strong expressions of Scripture , giving to the language the coloring of bitterness and malignity which pertains to himself , but not to our Creator . " As I live , saith the Lord God , I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye , turn ye from your evil ways ; for why will ye die ?" Ezekiel 33:11 .
What would be gained to God should we admit that He delights in witnessing unceasing tortures ; that He is regaled with the groans and shrieks and imprecations of the suffering creatures whom He holds in the flames of hell ? Can these horrid sounds be music in the ear of Infinite Love ? It is urged that the infliction of endless misery upon the wicked would show God ' s hatred of sin as an evil which is ruinous to the peace and order of the universe . Oh , dreadful blasphemy ! As if God ' s hatred of sin is the reason why it is perpetuated . For , according to the teachings of these theologians , continued torture without hope of mercy maddens its wretched victims , and as they pour out their rage in curses and blasphemy , they are forever augmenting their load of guilt . God ' s glory is not enhanced by thus perpetuating continually increasing sin through ceaseless ages .
It is beyond the power of the human mind to estimate the evil which has been wrought by the heresy of eternal torment . The religion of the Bible , full of love and goodness , and abounding in compassion , is darkened by superstition and clothed with terror . When we consider in what false colors Satan has painted the character of God , can we wonder that our merciful Creator is feared , dreaded , and even hated ? The appalling views of God which have spread over the world from the teachings of the pulpit have made thousands , yes , millions , of skeptics and infidels .
The theory of eternal torment is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abomination of Babylon , of which she makes all nations drink . Revelation 14:8 ; 17:2 . That ministers of Christ should have accepted this heresy and proclaimed it from the sacred desk is indeed a mystery . They received it from Rome , as they received the false sabbath . True , it has been taught by great and good men ; but the light on this subject had not come to them as it has come to us . They were responsible only for the light which shone in their time ; we are accountable for that which shines in our day . If we turn from the testimony of God ' s word , and
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