Introduction
TuHeE author of the following essay has asked me to furnish it with an introduction; and Iam very glad to do so, as I think it likely to prove a novel and suggestive contribution to meditation on the great theme with which it deals. There has been a strong reaction of late years against the mode of regarding eternal punishment, which has been dominant, though not universal, in the Christian Church from a very early age; on the ground that, when thought out, it would seem to be incompatible with the Christian conviction, not only of the love, but also of the justice of God; while the notion, that this particular form of doctrine was an essential article of the Christian faith, has been a fruitful source of unbelief in many minds. But, under the influence of this reaction, a vague kind of universalism has arisen, which equally contradicts our ethical instincts; by practically obliterating all distinction between the future of the righteous and the wicked, and thus depriving our moral probation in the present life of its significance.
Moreover, when we examine the teaching of the New Testament upon the subject, we find that, though far from affording any countenance to the latter opinion, it yet cannot be construed into an explicit statement of the former. Words have to be critically interpreted, ¥ vi INTRODUCTION phrases historically traced, and metaphors explained, before we can appreciate their scope; and even then it remains far from clear. There seems to be an intentional reserve about the question, which is in striking contrast to the outspoken description of such books as the Avesta and the Koran: and while a profound difference between the future consequences of good and evil is plainly indicated, its precise nature is veiled in an obscurity which baffles us, though at the same time it fills us with awe. Yet the subject is brought prominently before us, as one of which it concerns us to think ; and as we think of it ‘‘ obstinate questionings ” must needs arise in our minds. Any thoughtful and reverent attempt, therefore, to re-examine the language of Scripture upon the point, should be met with welcome; and such an attempt I take this essay to be. Without therefore professing to endorse or advocate any of the particular opinions maintained in this book, I am in thorough sympathy with its intention, and would willingly give it any assistance that my recommendation may be able to convey.
J. R. ILLINGWORTH.
Preface
I am venturing to publish this book, because I sincerely believe that, however faultily and inadequately, it points out a hitherto unobserved truth of Holy Scripture—that Book which the great Bishop Butler thought not improbably contained many truths as yet undiscovered, and discoverable ‘‘in the same way as natural knowledge is come at,” and which, if discovered, would tend to throw light on ‘‘the whole scheme of Scripture not yet understood.”
I have collected, in the course of many years, much material bearing on the subject, and I believe that I could, by delaying publication, make the confirmation of the truth more convincing; but the truth itself, if it is a truth, is of such transcendent importance, that I feel I should be wrong to keep it back for the sake of improving what is at best only an individual contribution to its establishment. If it is really a truth, the sooner, with a view to its confirmation, development, and application, it gets into abler hands than mine, the better.
What I hope to have effected in this treatise is the finding of a substantial scriptural foundation for many modern hopes and yearnings. At present these hopes and yearnings may be said to depend rather vil
Vill PREFACE on their own intrinsic probability, and on _ their seeming derivation ‘‘from what we have the likest God within the soul,” than on Holy Scripture. But if the extension and adaptation of the argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews be held to be legitimate and ungainsayable, then these hopes and yearnings have a solid ground of Scripture to rest upon.
I also believe that the correction of a grave misapprehension concerning one of the ‘‘first principles of Christ” (Heb. vi. 1, 2) cannot fail to have a far-reaching influence on other departments of theology, and to make a great and most important difference in the presentation of the Glad Tidings to the heathen, to unbelievers, and to children.
At first sight it is amazing that a truth which seems so simple, so obvious, and so important, should have remained so long unnoticed, but, as Mr Latham (‘Pastor Pastorum”) says, ‘‘the revelation of every age must be suited to the character of the age. Man must be educated up to it, or he cannot receive it”
. “An age must be ripe for the truth, and the truth must be ripe for the age, for the last to profit by the first.”
It is also instructive to see how slight a thing at the source will determine one way or the other the course of a mighty current of thought. As Oliver Wendell Holmes so beautifully says in his poem, The Two Streams, |
“Yon stream, whose sources run Turned by a pebble’s edge Is Athabasca, rolling toward the sun Through the cleft mountain-ledge.
PREFACE ix
And what has largely determined the bent of eschatological ideas, and channelled their course rather (in the concluding words of the poem) ‘to long darkness and the frozen tide” than ‘‘to the Peaceful Sea” has been the following of the forensic type of judge to the neglect of the décdécal; and also the conception of Christ’s Judgeship rather as temporary, than as continuous and life-long; and rather as exclusively belonging to the period of His Second Advent, than as lasting through the whole period of His Kingdom. These opinions, among others which might be mentioned, must have greatly influenced eschatological teaching.
To critics of this book I would say:
1. I earnestly hope that they will distinguish in the clearest possible manner between the hitherto unobserved scriptural truth, and my presentation of it. This latter is only a very humble individual contribution towards its establishment; but the truth itself is, I am firmly convinced, not only a truth, but one of the greatest importance. I do not hesitate to express my firm conviction of this; because I do not see how it can possibly be gainsaid that the central idea, the main contention of this book, is not only a legitimate but even necessary application or extension of —is indeed practically identical with—an argument which has always been regarded by the Church as inspired.
2. As regards the central idea of the book—the
D4 PREFACE
Eternal Saviour-Judgeship; the continuance of the saving element in the Eternal Judgment of Christ— I have strong reason for believing that this truth of Scripture has hitherto been unobserved. As regards other views, suggestions, and interpretations of Scripture, which may be found in this book, I am not learned enough, or sufficiently well read in theology, whether British or foreign, ancient or modern, to be able to form a trustworthy opinion as to whether they are new or not. And I am deeply sensible that in very many ways, both consciously and unconsciously, I have entered into other men’s labours.
3. This book is meant for the unlearned as well as for the learned. There is nothing, except a few notes and quotations, which any fairly instructed and intelligent Christian cannot understand: and I hope that critics will make allowance, if, in my anxiety to make myself clear to the many, I have tried the patience of the few.
The letters i.m. in a bracket, which will frequently be seen after italics in quotations, other than Scripture, mean that the z¢alzcs are mine, not the author’s.
Lastly, I desire to express my grateful thanks to the Rev. J. R. Illingworth, D.D., for the kind interest he has taken in my book, and for the Introduction with which he has honoured it.
I would also gratefully acknowledge the sympathy and encouragement I have received from _ personal friends, more especially from my friend the Rev. B. Seymour Tupholme, D.D., vicar of St Stephen’s, Ealing; and from the Rev. F. Rendall, late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
TABLE OF! CONTENTS
PAGE ETERNAL JUDGMENT A FOUNDATION DOCTRINE ‘ F : ‘ I DISORGANISATION OF THOUGHT RESPECTING IT ‘ : F : 2 SUBJECT PRACTICALLY SHELVED ; ; ; : : i Me 3 AUTHORITIES FAVOURING— 1. Reconsideration of the whole subject. (Sadler, Salmond, Church) ; : : : : ; ; : : 5 2. A large range of freedom for modest and self restrained opinion (Church, Gladstone, Illingworth) . : : 6 3. Probability of development of doctrine in general (Westcott, Latham, Salmon, Butler, Milligan, Bishop Gore) . : 6 4. Probability of progress in knowledge of the whole scheme of Scripture (Bishop Butler) . . : : ; ; 9 Panis’
THE TEACHING OF THE JUDGE-TYPE CHAPTER I THE MAIN PRINCIPLE OF THE BOOK THE APPLICATION OF A PRINCIPLE OF INTERPRETATION AS OLD AS CHRISTIANITY . : : : . ‘ ; , : : 16 The argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which shows from the type the nature of Christ’s Préesthood, is equally valid for, and illuminative of His Judgeship . ; ; : ’ ; ‘ 17 The typical significance of the Law. 7 ; ; ; ' : 18
Xii TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter II The Judges Of The Book Of Judges As Types Three Preliminary Remarks
JUDGES 1. 10, 11, DISCLOSES THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE APPOINTMENT AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL THESE JUDGES 1. They were, above all, savzours ; and saviours of the whole nation ; and decause of that, its judges 2. They remained judges all their days . ‘ ‘ ; 3. They did not cease to be saviours when they became judges 4. The deliverance of the nation was bound up in the life of the judge. 5. The judge’s personal ey aa ne aes in the fear of the Lord all his days. On his death they relapsed. 6. Their imperfections typical by contrast 7. The judge was also intercessor (¢.2., Samuel) 8. He was also an instructor .
All these particulars are typical of the Eternal eine ee Be
Chapter III The Judge-type As Shown In Moses
The particulars of this section, with their application to the antitype, follow much the same lines as Chapter ii.
THE SUB-JUDGES APPOINTED BY MOSES Typical of the saints in the world to come . 1. Moses himself was to choose them 2. They were to be men of tried character . 3. They had different degrees of authority . . 4. They were chosen by Moses, as a help to his weakness ; but the saints by Christ, as a reward. Yet also in some mysterious sense as a ‘‘help-meet”—‘‘ the Bride.” Instruments, indeed, of wrath ; but much more, of mercy
PAGE 20
22 23 23
25 26 26 28
32 32 32 32 33
TABLE OF CONTENTS Xiil
Chapter IV
FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL PAGE Emphasis is laid in Scripture on their duties as deliverers of the oppressed rather than as punishers of the guilty. This is typical 35
But whom is the Eternal Saviour-Judge to deliver? . ; : ; 36 And who is the oppressor? . : : : ; : : : : 36 First question answered later.
The answer to the second is, SATAN . ; ; ; ‘ : ‘ 36 Satan’s nature, hatred to, and oppression of man . : ‘ ’ 37
The judge-type leads us to expect that the Saviour will never ak over the race for which He died to His endless and hopeless dominion 46).
Chapter V Punishments By The Judges
Their typical value and teaching . - : : : ; : : 40 Future punishment not to be minimized é : 41 The death penalty under the Law has some antitype, but ete is aoe, to say . : . : . : , ‘ . , . 42 PUNISHMENT OF STRIPES (Deut. xxv. I, 2, 3) . : ; : : 42 Most strikingly illuminative of future punishment : ‘ : 42 Solves the great difficulty of Rev. xiv. 9,10 . : 4 : 43 Description of the procedure by Patrick. : : : 44 Luke xii. 45-49 and Psalm Ixxxix. 30, etc., donee : : 45 CHAPTER VI
THE PRIESTS AND PROPHETS AS JUDGES
. PRIESTS AS JUDGES . : : : 48 1. Individual instances from old Testament and New Pesta ment (Eli, Samuel, Caiaphas, Annas, etc.) . d ‘ 48 2. The priests generally . : : : : ; : 49 The type shows that the two offices are not sreasenilts : : : 50 ii, PROPHETS AS JUDGES. E ; F : ’ : : : 51 I. Some sort of judicial function attributed to them . é : 51
2. Individual instances of prophets actings as judges—(Moses, Samuel, Deborah) : : : ‘ E : : 51
X1V
CHAPTER VII THE KINGS AS JUDGES THE KINGS GENERALLY SOLOMON 4 The judge-type at on in Fix
3:
He considers judgment his most Sapenieat Gaicten
It is not a special gift for a euros occasion, but Brice and life-long :
He, the life-long judge, is es intercessor .
His prayer at the dedication of the Temple .
Queen of Sheba’s words typical .
pote First JUDGMENT
2: 3:
. He exercises the office af once
This suggests the question—Why should the niteroe delay for now nearly 2000 years ?
The delivering element prominent rather than the paastiee ; Striking parallel with Matt. xxv. 31-46
Chapter VIII Summary Of The Teaching Of The Type
Arguing in precisely the same way as the Epistle to the Hebrews, THE TYPE LEADS US TO EXPECT
I,
Lom ea)
A great Saviour-Judge, raised up by the love and pity of God to deliver the whole race
. One whose office continues all His ye nae a out short by death
. One who will not cease to He ait ania ae Hua He is Judge; nor yet to be Mediator and Intercessor . And note carefully that Mediation and Intercession are not needed for those on the right hand
. One who will exercise the punitive function where necessary ;
how severely we cannot say .
. One who will not cast out any that come to Yin . One who like, and much more than Moses, will all His ate be devoted to the interests of the race for whom He died
. One whose personal influence, infinitely more than that of the frail and imperfect judges who kept the people in the fear of the Lord, will lead the people in the ee of righteousness
. The relapses consequent on ae ‘deeth of ‘He does cannot happen in the Kingdom of Christ, who, being raised from the dead, dieth no more
. The saviour- Judges of Israel could only save ees the conseguences of sins: Christ saves from sis: was exalted ¢o give repentance a7
60 60 61
61 62
TABLE OF CONTENTS XV
Chapter IX The Ordinary Conception Of Christ’s Judgment
PAGE
Usual opinion stated . ; : : : : : 5: ; ; 64 Quotations confirming the correctness of this statement, from Pearson, Bishop Bull, Liddon, Cairns, E. White, Gladstone, Salmond ; 65 Are there few that be saved ? : : 3 ' : : ; , 67 PART II
SCRIPTURAL INQUIRY
IS THE TEACHING OF THE JUDGE-TVYPE IN HARMONY WITH THE REST OF SCRIPTURE?
Chapter I Preliminary Remarks
Principles on which the inquiry is conducted ; 73 CHAPTER II BRIEF STATEMENT OF CHIEF EXISTING VIEWS ON ESCHATOLOGY Dr Salmond, Mr Gladstone, and Dr Illingworth agree*that they are three in number, viz.— i. ENDLESS RETRIBUTION, ‘ : P ; 3 ; 76 ii, ANNIHILATION OR CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY ; ‘ 78 iii, UNIVERSALISM OR RESTORATIONISM ; ; : : 81
Each of these views stated by recent authorities.
XVi TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter III A Fourth View Possible
PA E RECONCILIATION : i ‘ ; y : ; ; : ; 85 Not the same as Restoration . , A ‘ : : 86 The difference explained and illustrated : : : 3 : 87 Also illustrated from instances in Scripture— Esau and Jacob, David and Saul, Parable of the Prodigal Son ; : . ; } : ; , : ; 87 Dr Edersheim on possibility of a fourth view . : : : OI
Dr Illingworth’s view. See Appendix I.
Chapter IV
RELATION OF THE THEORY OF ETERNAL JUDGMENT AS SET FORTH IN THIS BOOK TO THE ABOVE ESCHATO- LOGICAL VIEWS i. Its RELATION TO THE ORDINARY VIEW . : : ‘ : 93 I, What it has in common with the ordinary view
Seven points enumerated : ; : : 93
2. Twenty-five reasons why I am unable to accept the cue view. ; ‘ ; : : ; ; i ; 96 ii, ITS RELATION TO ANNIHILATION 3 : ‘ : A Sy DOE Must, at any rate, profoundly modify it. < , ‘ py OR Annihilation theory most unsatisfactory . ; ‘ : GS Dr Fairbairn quoted : : : ; ; : ‘ $= 1 LOR iil. ITs RELATION TO UNIVERSALISM . j : : Nye #4,
It does not prove Universal Restoration, nor even Universal Reconciliation; but it supplies what Mr Gladstone says Universalism lacks—a motive power and machinery competent to produce sucha result. ; ; EO
For a discussion as to whether Bishop ‘Batler a anywhere asserted that there is such a condition as absolute moral incapability, see Appendix II... } ‘ : : 2” 7348
Westcott quoted and commented on . : ‘ : J Ji 152
iv. Irs RELATION TO RECONCILIATION . ' 3 : : Ga) Ge Le It is practically identical with Reconciliation . 114
The Eternal Judgment of the Eternal Saviour is the process by which this may be brought about in the case of those whose reconciliation has not been accomplished in this life. eee
TABLE OF CONTENTS XVil
Chapter V
OTHER SCRIPTURE TYPES RAISING THE SAME EXPECTA- TIONS OF THE ETERNAL JUDGESHIP OF CHRIST AS DOES THE TYPE OF THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL
PAGE
1, Adam ; : : : ‘ j ‘ ; 5 ir TEC 2: Melchizedek _. : ‘ . srt LAD 3. The pleading of Abraham with God fot sentin : : pete 1s 4. Joseph’s Rule in Egypt. ‘ . Roane ie Summary of great principles of God's attitude Baia sinners disclosed in last two types. ; 136 5. The High Priest standing between the living and the beta 138 6. (1) The rainbow ; , : ‘ : ; é EAT 25 (2) The burning bush ; : ; F : j 140 7. Vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel . ; ‘ : a, Aa 8. The history of Jonah . : : d : ; : 2 RAs g. The inaugural cleansing of the Temple : 4 : Rap a) 10. The raising of Lazarus : ; : : : pepe Bae CHAPTER VI
THE THREE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE PLACED AT THE ; BEGINNING OF THE BOOK CONSIDERED
. Psalm xxv. 8, ‘* Gracious and pete: S55 Bis ‘ ree too
2. Heb. xiii. 8, ‘‘ Jesus Christ is the same,” ete. : 164 3. Isaiah xix. 20 (Septuagint), xplywy cace., ae He shall
save” , : ; : ‘ , i : of SOS
Chapter VII The Lord’s Prayer And Psalm LXXII. Considered
1. The Lord’s Prayer : : : ; ; ; : sau DOT: 2. Psalm Ixxii. F : ab eee For Bishop Butler’s picture of an ideal Ttalgur See hopes UES Nal aS es
XVill TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter VIII The Design And Effect Of The Divine Punishments
Important in its bearing on the subject in hand . : ; ‘ : "187 i. DESIGN OF Gop’s PUNISHMENTS ¢ ; : ; . / 888 I. In Old Testament . : , ; ; : ; Aes tes) 2. In New Testament . . : ; ; ; , i pleg ii, EFFECT OF Gop’s PUNISHMENTS : : ; ; ; «| £90 1. Old Testament ; ; : f : ‘ ‘ me eb 2. New Testament . : a : ; ¢ ; ee a Oe
ili, PASSAGES SHOWING BOTH DESIGN AND EFFECT OF Gon’s PUNISHMENTS. 5 ; ; d : : : : a Ree: 80 1. Old Testament : : : ‘ , : : - EOS 2. New Testament . 5 : F ‘ ‘ ‘ th od:
God’s unchangeableness a guarantee that their character will not change . : : : ; . . ; : : Wy LOO
iv. GoD PITIES THE PUNISHED AND HEARS AND ANSWERS THEIR ‘CRY... ¥ ; 4 5 : . : , GLO
v. BUT THERE ARE PASSAGES WHERE GOD SAYS THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR : : : A : : j : ; i) 08 vi. GoD’s PUNISHMENTS BEAR A PROPORTION TO THE SIN . Ara tee vii. NOTICE ALSO THE SELF-CORRECTIVE NATURE OF SIN . “2D
Chapter IX The Deliverance Element In Judgment
Why more emphasized in Old Testament than in New? 4 : hr 202 i. PASSAGES IN WHICH JUDGMENT AND MERCY ARE BLENDED . 205
(Correctness of Septuagint not assumed, but the translation is indicative of the opinions of the Seventy) : . 1) a8
ii. PASSAGES IN WHICH THE DELIVERANCE ELEMENT IS EMPHA- _ SIZED ‘ : ; ‘ : ‘ ; ; : ; aw y
iii, PASSAGES THAT GIVE THE IDEA OF GOD AS JUDGE DELIVER- ING FROM WRONG AND OPPRESSION . ; 3 ‘ st ROG iv. JUDGMENT INCLUDES INSTRUCTION . ; ‘ : é Bo 5. v. THE EFFECTS OF JUDGMENT . P : “ ‘ : AED eb vi, I. Judgment Part of the Glad Tidings . ; : ; : Ma ae es. 2. God’s Judgments are Matter for Rejoicing : ; ‘ fy yeaa
3. God loves Judgment : ; 4 ‘ / ; : ER 7.
TABLE OF CONTENTS X1X
Chapter X
ADDITIONAL REASONS FOR EXPECTING THE CONTINUANCE OF THE SAVING ELEMENT IN ETERNAL JUDGMENT i. GOD WORKS DELIVERANCE, NOT ONLY FOR THE SINNER’S ae SAKE, BUT 1. For His Name’s sake . ; ; d d ; ie 226 2. For the sake of the fathers. ; : ‘ ; a ae ii. GoD’s ANGER 1S NOT ENDLESS ; WHEREAS His MERCY ENDURES ; FOR EVER 3 231 iii. GOD’s COUNSEL STANDS FOR EVER; Spe Ss Dusiens COME TO NOUGHT . : ‘ ; , ‘ : ; : ; «235 Origin of Evil . ‘ : a: yaa iv. GopD’s PUNISHMENTS ARE NOT DESTRUCTIVE OF open vies wo 248 v. GOD WILL HIMSELF OBSERVE THE PRECEPTS HE GIVES TOUS 247
Chapter XI Is Repentance Possible After Death?
Prefatory remarks : : é ‘ ; s LAK ees Final impenitence. What I mean oe ae : : : Lo witess If there is such a thing, it does not affect the main contention of the
book : : : , ‘ ; : : ; : LV aaa Some remarks on Final Impenitence . - , ; : ; ia 254 Preliminary remarks on repentance after death. < sas Extracts from eminent writers—Butler, Littledale, Rabbi Sihber
Salmon, Charles, Page Hopps, Shakespeare . : . 2. 259 Proofs from Scripture that repentance is possible after death ‘ a 262 Passages seeming to imply the contrary considered : é : . 266
Chapter XII Future Judgment
FouR PRELIMINARY REMARKS— 1. Future Judgment considered only as regards Christians . 272
2. Sense in which the word ‘‘judgment” is used. : ens 3. My views are based on Holy Scripture 4 , ; eee 4. They are the merest summaries of a mass of material, condensed for want of space, and as being mostly nonessential to the main contention . 7 : : eR |
SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE ON FUTURE JUDGMENT— 1, All judgment is exercised by Christ . ; : : 274 2. There is no scriptural ground for delaying His assumption of office of Judge till the Second Advent . * 5 a
XX
16:
17. 18.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
There is a manifestation before His tribunal at death of all who ‘‘ sleep” before the Parousia .
. The worthy are exempted altogether from punitive judgment, and are Saviour-Judges under Christ in Hades
. The unworthy (addxior) pass to the penal side, and are subject to the punitive element
. A similar manifestation and consequent separation takes place in the case of those alive at Second Advent There are not two appearances of the same individual before Christ’s tribunal he ‘‘ Judgment” of each by Christ, we at ‘death or at the Parousia, is instantaneous, automatic
. As regards Judgment there is no Intermediate State. This does away with a great difficulty
. This life determines our state on eztrance into next world, but we need not remain always in that state .
. Intermediate State not prior to Judgment but subsequent . Intermediate State not one of stagnation but of progress . There are few that be saved.
. Two kinds of salvation in Scripture
(1.) Salvation with eternal glory (2.) Salvation with loss It is salvation with eternal glory which is now offered to all believers’. : : ‘ . ‘ : : : The antithesis to this salvation is Judgment, z.e., the continuation of the punitive element God is working out His great plan by stages : The present is the stage in which He is forming His ‘Ringe: This life is the only opportunity for attaining to this rank The parable of the leaven, not less than that of the wheat and tares, a parable of Eternal Judgment
CHAPTER XIII THE ANTINOMIES OF SCRIPTURE “‘Tt is written,” and also, ‘‘It is written again”
Business of interpreter is to strive after the reconciling point of view
Westcott’s statement of the eschatological antinomy
Illustrated from our Lord’s Temptation ‘ é :
The ruling idea in the eschatological antinomy is a final Divine unity
See Appendix IV., Prof. A. B. Davidson on the ‘‘ Antinomies of Scripture”
279 279 281 281 282
283 284 284 285
287 287 288 289 290
TABLE OF CONTENTS XXi
Chapter XIV
St. MATT. XXV. 31-46 CONSIDERED
PAGE Perhaps the central stronghold of usual view : ; : ; st pk 202 The usual views taken of that scene. : ‘ : at 22 If they are right, my main contention must be eer But are they warranted by Scripture? | 1. That scene is not, strictly speaking, a judgment, but a separation consequent on a previous judgment. Christ’s own are not judged at all : ‘ ; ‘ Ape 3 (Beware of false connotations in calling it an assdze : oe a05 2. It is not strictly a trial : ‘ : : ; ; 2-206 Contrast it with scene described in Rev. xx. 11-14, Pearson quoted and criticized . : : : : ey 200 3. It is not a judgment according to ie except as contrasted with empty professions . Z ' : : E di 207 4. Who are gathered before the throne? . ‘ é : Stee No unanimity of opinion : 298
My belief is that they are Christians, and ae a ties at the Parousia. The dead have been ‘‘ Manifested ” already . : ah 206 And probably not all living Christians are yond but only the elect (Matt. xxiv. 31; Mark xiii, 27); both those who have made their calling and election sure, and those who have not . ; : arerrage 5. It is not the ‘* Zast” Judgment, but rather the First. ; st. 308 It is the inaugural Judgment of the visible Kingdom a ORE 8
It is judgment ‘‘ beginning at the house of God”; the inaugural judgment and separation of the saints (Psalm 1.) . . . < ‘ : : of. 1303
As in case of Dives and Lazarus in intermediate state, so here also ¢he first step of Eternal Judgment is alone disclosed . ; , ; 304
6. The sentence on the lost not final and REDE Se eee as regards full restoration : : : : : 304 Meaning and force of word zeonian (aldvios) . : S300
No cogency in argument derived from use of same word for both saved and lost. ; F , : o.Ho 3OF
Even assuming that the sentence on the lost sounds hopeless, there are numerous passages of Scripture equally
XXil TABLE OF CONTENTS hopeless-sounding, and yet followed by restoration or promises of restoration. A few out of many quoted . How are we to explain this?
The scoffer’s explanation not admissible It is an axiom of Scripture that unrepented sin is alone unpardonable ; é J : God Himself explains, though the explanation is a mystery . : . . . : : .
We may well pause, then, before asserting the hopeless finality of the doom of the lost 7 and 8. These features of usual view are taken together What is the ‘‘ Day” of Judgment? The whole period, not one scene. Christ is Judge as long as He is King... : ; é ; ; : : : White gloves presented to a judge are typical of St Paul’s great prediction, which cannot mean that sin will be ended by annihilation of sinners .
Chapter XV
REASONS FOR NOT DISCUSSING OTHER PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE WHICH MIGHT. BE THOUGHT UN-
FAVOURABLE
Want of space—Many of strongest passages on both sides already dealt with—I know of none that overthrow the main contention— That can only be done by refuting the argument, not by quoting one side of an admitted antinomy , ‘ ‘
Chapter XVI Results Of Acceptance Of The Main Contention
OF THIS TREATISE
If true, results too wide and far-reaching to anticipate—I have set down some which have occurred tome .
APPENDICES
PAGE I. Reconciliation, while something more blessed than peaceful acquiescence in punishments, yet falls short of full restoration 345
II. Did Bishop Butler assert absolute incapability of amendment? . 348 III. Bishop Butler’s description of an Ideal Kingdom . : ; Pee 8,
IV. Professor A, B. Davidson on the Antinomies of Scripture. eR
PSALM xxv. 8 (Prayer Book version)—‘‘ Gracious and righteous is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.”
The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.
Loading the full text…
The end
You’ve reached the end of The eternal saviour-judge.
