There is exposed the secret of the whole matter. "He could not find in the
Bible the opinions he had adopted." What were those opinions? He was
"enchanted by the charms of the Platonic philosophy." And that was the
immortality of the soul. Now in Plato's discussion of the nature of the soul, he
maintains that it is imperishable, indestructible, immortal, deathless, etc., etc. But
the Bible, speaking of wicked men, says they shall "die," "they shall utterly
perish," their "end is destruction," that man is "mortal," etc. It is not at all strange,
therefore, that Origen could not find in the Bible the opinions he had adopted,
because those opinions, and the statements of the Bible, are as entirely
opposites as it is possible for things to be. And so, not finding any support in the
Scriptures for this doctrine, he invented a scheme by which he could find not only
that, but whatever he wanted. That is, to give a meaning to the Bible language
directly opposite to what it says. And Origen's method of interpretation is
perpetuated to this day by those who attempt to maintain, by the Scriptures, the
immortality of the soul, and the consequent eternal life of the wicked. However,
this is not strange, because, as the doctrine was dependent wholly upon this
scheme of interpretation for its birth into the Christian church, so, without that
scheme, it could not live there for a day.
The Bible taken as it is, therefore, is clear on the question, "What shall the
end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" The word of God says, their
"end is destruction." That word says, they "shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" and
"neither shall there by any more pain, for the former things are passed away."
J.
"The Financial Results of that Paper Carnival" The Signs of the Times
13, 1 , pp. 7, 8.
THAT "Paper Carnival" venture of the Church of the Advent, San Francisco,
which we mentioned in the SIGNS of November 18, and upon which we made
some estimates, did not pan out as well in money as was expected. There were
several items of expenses that were not in our count, because then the carnival
was in its full tide of revelry, and the official statement of its receipts and
expenditures had not been made, and of course could not be till the carnival was
over. So far as was then known, the estimates were that more than 800 persons
had spent three months in preparation, and $10,000 had been paid for "dresses,
costumes, etc." For the 800 persons we allowed 25 cents a day for 75 working
days, which amounts to $15,000, which, with the $10,000 for costumes, dresses,
costumes, etc. make $25,000. Now the official financial statement has been
published, and to this $25,000 we find there must be added a "dancing master's
salary, $152.75;" stage manager's salary, $120; rent of pavilion, gas, music,
calcium lights, erecting and papering booths, fitting up stage, and payment of
stage hands–in all amounting to $3,806.50. Thus the expense, "at a low
estimate," was $28,806.50.
The expectation was to raise $15,000 by the carnival, but the gross receipts
were only $10,202.48. So there was $28,806.50 spent to get a return of
$10,202.48. But as the $3,806.50 had to come out of the $10,202.48, there was
left a net income of only $6,305.98, while "it is thought that enough more will
come from ladies who sold small quantities of tickets, to raise the sum to $6,500."
Allowing this full amount of $6,500, it then appears that there was an investment
of $25,000 to get a return of $6,500. In other words, $18,500 was paid for sheer
revelry to help the Church of the Advent. But the "good work" did not stop at that.
The official report is that "several wealthy parishioners are so well pleased at the
result of the carnivalThere is exposed the secret of the whole matter. "He could not find in the
Bible the opinions he had adopted." What were those opinions? He was
"enchanted by the charms of the Platonic philosophy." And that was the
immortality of the soul. Now in Plato's discussion of the nature of the soul, he
maintains that it is imperishable, indestructible, immortal, deathless, etc., etc. But
the Bible, speaking of wicked men, says they shall "die," "they shall utterly
perish," their "end is destruction," that man is "mortal," etc. It is not at all strange,
therefore, that Origen could not find in the Bible the opinions he had adopted,
because those opinions, and the statements of the Bible, are as entirely
opposites as it is possible for things to be. And so, not finding any support in the
Scriptures for this doctrine, he invented a scheme by which he could find not only
that, but whatever he wanted. That is, to give a meaning to the Bible language
directly opposite to what it says. And Origen's method of interpretation is
perpetuated to this day by those who attempt to maintain, by the Scriptures, the
immortality of the soul, and the consequent eternal life of the wicked. However,
this is not strange, because, as the doctrine was dependent wholly upon this
scheme of interpretation for its birth into the Christian church, so, without that
scheme, it could not live there for a day.
The Bible taken as it is, therefore, is clear on the question, "What shall the
end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" The word of God says, their
"end is destruction." That word says, they "shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" and
"neither shall there by any more pain, for the former things are passed away."
J.
"The Financial Results of that Paper Carnival" The Signs of the Times
13, 1 , pp. 7, 8.
THAT "Paper Carnival" venture of the Church of the Advent, San Francisco,
which we mentioned in the SIGNS of November 18, and upon which we made
some estimates, did not pan out as well in money as was expected. There were
several items of expenses that were not in our count, because then the carnival
was in its full tide of revelry, and the official statement of its receipts and
expenditures had not been made, and of course could not be till the carnival was
over. So far as was then known, the estimates were that more than 800 persons
had spent three months in preparation, and $10,000 had been paid for "dresses,
costumes, etc." For the 800 persons we allowed 25 cents a day for 75 working
days, which amounts to $15,000, which, with the $10,000 for costumes, dresses,
costumes, etc. make $25,000. Now the official financial statement has been
published, and to this $25,000 we find there must be added a "dancing master's
salary, $152.75;" stage manager's salary, $120; rent of pavilion, gas, music,
calcium lights, erecting and papering booths, fitting up stage, and payment of
stage hands–in all amounting to $3,806.50. Thus the expense, "at a low
estimate," was $28,806.50.
The expectation was to raise $15,000 by the carnival, but the gross receipts
were only $10,202.48. So there was $28,806.50 spent to get a return of
$10,202.48. But as the $3,806.50 had to come out of the $10,202.48, there was
left a net income of only $6,305.98, while "it is thought that enough more will
come from ladies who sold small quantities of tickets, to raise the sum to $6,500."
Allowing this full amount of $6,500, it then appears that there was an investment
of $25,000 to get a return of $6,500. In other words, $18,500 was paid for sheer
revelry to help the Church of the Advent. But the "good work" did not stop at that.
The official report is that "several wealthy parishioners are so well pleased at the
result of the carnival that they have promised contributions, which, added to the
carnival proceeds, will reduce the debt to about $5,000." We should think they
ought to be "pleased" with a piece of fun that cost $18,500. But we are at a loss
to know how the Church of the Advent is ever going to pay the remaining $5,000
of its debt. For now a carnival would be no novelty, and therefore another
carnival would hardly prove such a grand success as this one proved. It is highlibutions, which, added to the
carnival proceeds, will reduce the debt to about $5,000." We should think they
ought to be "pleased" with a piece of fun that cost $18,500. But we are at a loss
to know how the Church of the Advent is ever going to pay the remaining $5,000
of its debt. For now a carnival would be no novelty, and therefore another
carnival would hardly prove such a grand success as this one proved. It is highl
