Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The August 26, 1978 issue of the Dayton Journal Herald carried an article written by John Dart which discussed the tendency of people today to either disbelieve in or to disregard the Bible passages pertaining to hell. The following statistics were cited in this article:

* A study by priest-sociologist Andrew Greeley showed that while 70 percent of the Catholics surveyed believe in life after death only one-third of the sampling said they believe in hell.

* A Gallup poll in February found that 54 percent of those polled believe in angels and 39 percent in devils. Most significantly, religion analyst Martin Marty says, studies show that “only one in eight who believes in hell believes it is a threat to him.”

* A Christian psychotherapist says he sees 20 persons a week in group or individual sessions who often discuss their thoughts on death. “I don’t remember a single one of them relating their death anxiety to a fear of how they’re going to face the judgment,” says Neil Warren, dean of Fuller Seminary’s graduate school of psychology.

* Hell suffers from inattention in liberal-to-moderate churches, which say they’re more concerned about justice and morality in this life.

* A common view, held by Christian Science and Religious Science and believers of various stripes, is that the only “hell” that exists is created during one’s lifetime by personal attitudes or actions. Evangelist Ruth Carter Stapleton, quoted to that effect by a religious magazine last year but under criticism currently for alleged unorthodoxy, recently said she believes that persons can experience hell “even before they die.”

I guess that I should not have been surprised to read something to this effect in print. People are not living like they believe that there is a place of everlasting punishment. They do not act like they fear facing the judgment throne of God and being cast into a place of everlasting torment. Yet, somehow reading these statements in the daily newspaper startled me.

Perhaps the reason that I was startled was because they raised the question in my own mind about what people in the Lord’s churches believe and what we are preaching. How long has it been since you heard a sermon on hell, heaven, and the judgment day? How long has it been since you heard someone appeal to hell as a reason for obeying the gospel?

There Is A Hell

Contrary to what many modern religions teach, there is a hell. Jesus Himself spoke more about Gehenna than any other person in the New Testament. Notice some of His teaching regarding the subject:

(1) It is better to go into heaven maimed than into hell fire whole. Here is a sample of what He said along that line: “And if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:29-30; cf. 18:9; Mk. 9:43, 45, 47).

(2) God will cast both the soul and body of the wicked into hell. In a passage in which Jesus was teaching His disciples not to fear men, He told them that they should rather fear God. His reason for reminding them of this was that man only has the ability to destroy the body whereas God has the ability to destroy both body and soul. He said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28; Lk. 12:5). Hence, Jesus revealed that there is a place of eternal punishment that exists beyond the mere destruction of one’s body.

(3) The wicked cannot escape this eternal punishment. In His scathing rebuke of the hypocrisy of the Jews in His day, Jesus asked, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33). The wicked cannot escape the righteous judgment of God.

Yes, my friend, there is a hell. Modern theology might scoff at the idea, all men might remove it from their minds, and we all might hope that there is no such place but none of these will change the fact that God has prepared a place of everlasting punishment for those who are wicked and refuse to obey His will.

What Is Hell Like?

Most of us are able to see that the descriptions of hell contain figures of speech to describe a punishment much too horrible for us to imagine. Yet, these figures of speech need to be continually impressed in our minds. Here are some of them:

(1) Wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 13:50). The pain would be so great the men and women would be crying aloud and grinding their teeth.

(2) Everlasting fire (Matt. 18:8). It is a place where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die. To burn with fire is horrible pain even when it lasts but for the moment. Hell, however; is described as everlasting fire!

(3) Outer darkness (Matt. 22:13). The darkness is horrible because it represents total separation from God who is the Light.

(4) Worse than death without mercy (Heh 10:28-29). There is not much which can be conceived of in this life which is worse than death without mercy as a form of punishment. To imagine someone putting another person to death in as agonizing a fashion as possible is one of the most horrible things imaginable. Yet, He who refuses to submit to the Son of God faces something worse than death without mercy.

These figures of speech impress our minds with the fact that there is some kind of horrible punishment awaiting those who will not submit voluntarily in this life to the Son of God. We might wish that there was no such place as hell but the revelation of God through Jesus Christ reveals that there is a place of everlasting punishment. The same revelation which shows the extent of God’s love toward man in the cross of Christ also testifies to the justice of God which punishes the wicked.

Notice these passages which show that there is an everlasting punishment awaiting the wicked:

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power . . . (2 Thess. 1:6-9).

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile (Rom. 2:8-9).

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are ~ kept in store, reserved unto , fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Pet. 3:7).

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 14, 15).

The testimony of God’s revelation is quite clear regarding the matter of a place of everlasting punishment for those who are disobedient to the will of God. God’s justice demands that those who are not cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus be cast into hell. How can our holy God be morally pure and close His eyes to the sinfulness and rebellion of man? God can only be just when the price for sin is paid by the blood of Christ and applied to the souls of man.

Let us not allow our minds to be contaminated by this doctrine which is so popular today which treats God as some kind of sugar coated candy. The present doctrine of God visualizes God as being so gentle and kind that He could not do harm to anyone. The God whom we worship is the same God who destroyed the world with water, destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire, visited wrath upon the Israelites several times for their wickedness, and otherwise showed His willingness to punish the wicked.

Furthermore, let us not be persuaded to believe that hell is right here on this earth. The other side of that coin, you know, is that heaven is right here on this earth. Are you prepared to accept the idea that the only thing that you will receive from God is your present earthly life, being blessed as it now is? If not, you must believe that there is something beyond the things which you suffer in this life prepared for the wicked.

Conclusion

The awareness of death, the judgment, heaven and hell should never be too far removed from our thoughts on a day-by-day basis. Peter said, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Pet. 4:17-18). There is a hell! We must act now in obedience to God our Father in order to be able to escape everlasting punishment and receive everlasting life. It might be considered old-fashioned to believe in and preach about hell. If that be the case, let us be content to be considered old fashioned!

Truth Magazine XXII: 49, pp. 787-789
December 14, 1978

By Daniel L. Tam

The clouds of a very severe storm appeared to be gathering, as Marcus Alftwst left the house on Sunday morning, though he paid little attention to them. He had arisen at 6 A.M., fixed breakfast, read the paper, washed last night’s and this morning’s dishes, watched a usual weekend T.V. program and then prepared, as he had done for the last 23 years, to attend worship services.

A little rain will not stop me, he amused, as he drove the seven and four tenths miles to the medium sized wooden building, already nearly filled with morning worshipers. A little flutter of exasperation nagged his mind, as he noticed Harris Tubid’s old Pontiac parked in his space. Harris only comes to church about once a month, he thought, and then he gets my space. He always does that. Well, some people just do not care. With that, Marcus pulled to the end of the lot, and considered that he might get wet if the rain hit before the end of the service. Maybe he should send Tubid his cleaning bill. Oh well!

Ronald Audie was already making the morning announcements, when Marcus, after convincing an entire row of people to scoot down, was able to get his seat. If we had our names on our seats, he thought, then maybe everybody and his brother would not plop down in them . . . people just do not care . . . they just do not! Marcus wished that Ronald Audie would not attempt to make announcements. He had pointed out to two or three others that Audie never wears a tie. A bright sport shirt with the collar on the outside of his coat, that is Audie’s speed. Alright for the local diner perhaps, but taking part in public worship? He really did not know why they kept asking Brother Audie to participate.

“Oh No! Al Chrisper is going to lead singing this morning. If there is anyone that knows less about singing than Al, I’ve not met him.” Marcus did not like anything about Brother Chrisper’s leading. He sings too fast and too low; he does not use his hand to lead; and, of all things, he actually pats his foot. How anyone could sing under those conditions, he did not know. Besides, Chrisper does not even write the song numbers on the blackboard. Marcus had decided a long time ago, when “big Al” leads, “big Mark” does not sing.

James Smar led the opening prayer. Kind of pushy, for a fellow who has only been a member of the church a few months, and not a very good prayer either, Marcus thought. Probably be a good idea if they just used Brother Smar on Wednesday evenings.

The Lord’s supper was passed and Marcus partook of both the bread and the fruit of the vine. He felt a little guilty that at no time during that part of the service, did he actually even think of the Lord, let alone the great sacrifice. Elva NuKild’s baby was crying, and he had spent the entire time of the supper, considering how wonderful it would be, if babies were born with enough sense to behave during services.

Marcus was aware of the contribution. He had decided about two months ago, that it was time for the preacher to move on. It was not that he was doing too bad a job, but the preacher had been here three years . . . and well . . . the fellow was not that good a preacher. He had that irritating habit of licking his lips during a sermon. One time last year, he had licked his lips 32 times in the course of that long, one hour and thirteen minute sermon. Marcus took a small note-pad from his shirt pocket, added the jots, and noted that the preacher had licked his lips nine times today. Anyway, he had decided not to contribute so much as a thin dime to the church till they got rid of him.

Harris Tubid’s son, Ronnie, led the closing prayer. Marcus wondered if God would hear the prayer of a person whose dad would steal another man’s parking space?

It was raining as Marcus Alftwst left the building. But then, he thought, did not God say that the rain would fall on the just?

Truth Magazine XXII: 50, p. 802
December 21, 1978

By William Y. Beasley

Do you have eternal life? Would you like to know? You can know: “These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). This should be not only an interesting study (everyone has a vital, personal interest in it), but also a profitable one (we can change our condition). As we continue our study of 1 John together, ask yourself, Do I know, from God’s standard, that I have eternal life?”

“We Love The Brethren” (1 John 3:13-18)

This section is based on what has proceeded: The murder of Abel by Cain (3:12). Being hated is to be expected (“Marvel not . . . “-3:13). Such is the way of the world. When one passes from death to life in Jesus, he will love his brethren: “We know we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren”(3:14). According to R. C. H. Lenski, “This is the same perfect tense that was used in 2:29 and 3:9, and it has full present connotation” (Interpretation of Peter, John, Jude, pp. 468-469). In fact, Lenski translated a part of the verse: “. . . because we are loving the brothers” (Ibid.). Have you passed from death to life? Do you have eternal life? Do you love (are you loving) the brothers? The above is not three, but one question.

Lest we misunderstand the full significance of loving the brethren, the reverse is also stated: “He that loveth not abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and we know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (3:14-15). John said that this was something that “ye know”-perhaps because of the teachings of Jesus as recorded in Matt. 5:22 and John 8:44.

To know what love is we need but look to the example of Jesus Christ who “laid down his life for us” (3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; John 10:11, 17, 18). We are to love one another that much: “. . . we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (3:16). This is the same thing that Jesus preached: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). The new thing about the commandment of Jesus was its degree or intensity-“even as I have loved you.” I pray God that I misjudge my brethren, but right here each of us needs to work on our love. We might pick and choose some for whom we would die, but what about the others? There is no question that some would not “lay down his life for the brethren” (3:16) if needed because they will not or have not shown compassion for them in benevolence. They “love in word . . . with the tongue” but not “in deed and truth” (3:18).

An Un-Condemning Heart (1 John 3:19-24)

The immediate, textual application of this section is to love the brethren (benevolence). The heart, perhaps what we call conscience, is 100% accurate only in showing condemnation. A clean conscience does not in itself prove righteousness because “God is greater than our hearts” (3:20). Our hearts may or may not be properly taught, may or may not be spiritually inclined at all. Our hearts tend to forget, but God “knoweth all things” (3:20). We are limited, we are finite. God is infinite and unforgetting.

An uncondemning heart gives us “boldness toward God” (3:21). It is all too possible that the uncondemning heart should be condemning. Many of us have heard statements like, “I’m satisfied with my baptism or marriage” and we know that they ought not be satisfied. One should have an uncondemning heart when and only when it is “because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight” (3:22). This is limited only by the things which Jesus has commanded. One cannot “believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ” and reject the Son’s authority. The second commandment is to “love one another” (3:23). When we keep His commandments (plural), we abide in Him (God) and He in us (3:24). We know that God abides in us “by the Spirit which He gave us” (3:24). Is this speaking of a personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Is it even speaking of the Holy Spirit? It is speaking, we are convinced, not of the Holy Spirit, but of the same idea we found earlier in 1 John 2:24 and 3:9, i.e., seed is equal to word of God which is to abide in us.

Conclusion

Do you know you have eternal life? Do you love the brethren? Are you right now loving the brothers? Do you love to the degree, with the intensity that you should? God, help each of us. Are you benevolent to your brother and sister in the Lord? Do you have an uncondemning heart? Do you “keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight” (3:22)?

Truth Magazine XXII: 49, p. 793
December 14, 1978

By Mike Willis

With this issue, Volume XXII of Truth Magazine is completed. There will not be an issue of the paper published next week in accordance with our agreement with the post office. Consequently, our next issue will be the special issue on the book of Romans-a 32 page special study which I can guarantee you will want to treasure up for future study and reference. We have several specials in mind for the coming year, so I am certain that you will want to stay with us through our twenty-third year and to tell others about Truth Magazine.

I would like to announce that our next issue will begin a new arrangement with a new printer. We have decided to move Truth Magazine from our printer in Berne, Indiana to a new printer in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. This change is being made in order to get your paper to you on time. Our present printer has put out quality work but has not honored our printing dates despite our repeated efforts to keep the magazine on schedule. Consequently, we have reached the point at which we must change printers to try to keep Truth Magazine on schedule. We hope that this transition can be made as smoothly as possible, although I am sure that we will run into some unforeseen difficulties.

With the change in printers, some of the changes in our previous announcements regarding the format changes of the paper are necessary. It was with a great deal of reluctance that we previously announced the change from our previous format. We had announced that our paper would be printed on the same quality of paper as Searching the Scriptures and would be one color printing. We are not able to avoid these changes because of our change in printers. We shall keep color on our front cover. This will mean that our front cover will stay virtually the same; it will have color on front and back and retain the picture on the cover. Hence, this change in printers should do several things for us. We will keep the quality of paper which we are presently publishing and will keep it on schedule, the United States Post Office cooperating.

The schedule which we will labor to maintain for mailing is to have the paper in the mail two weeks prior to the date printed on the cover. We have sought to do this ever since I began editing the paper. I have turned in copies of Truth Magazine four to six weeks in advance of the time when they were to be mailed. Frequently, this material has set in the hands of our printers and was not mailed until two weeks after the date on the cover. When one adds to this the delay caused by the poor mail service, you can understand why you have been getting your paper late. When I finally got thoroughly disgusted with the service we were getting, I would complain to the owners of the printing establishment. They would resolve to get the paper back on schedule. Then, before too long, they would lag again and we would be behind schedule once more. We finally decided that something had to be done to get better service from our printer. Hence, the change in printers was arranged.

As we look forward to the coming year and Volume XXIII of Truth Magazine, we are excited about the possibility of serving you better than we have in the past. Yet, let me take a few moments of your time to publicly express gratitude to those to whom it is due.

I would like to thank our writers for their contributions for the last year. We have had three special studies in this volume of Truth Magazine. They were as follows: (1) The Lord’s Day and Other “Holy” Days, (2) “Go Ye Into All The World,” and (3) An Assault on Modernism. In addition to these special studies, we have had a special series of articles on home and family life written by Leslie Diestelkamp as one of the highlights of our publishing year. These and other works make Volume XXII a volume which I know that you will want to keep in your library. Be sure to order your bound volume early. We only save 200 bound volumes and when these are gone, there will be no more printed. So, if you want this special year of Truth Magazine, send in your order now.

We would like to also thank our readers for their cooperation in circulating Truth Magazine. Our circulation has grown exceedingly well this year. Already we are within five hundred subscriptions of having a circulation which is as large as it has ever been at anytime in the past. We say think you for your help.

As is our customary practice, the final issue of each year contains our index to the articles which have appeared throughout the year. This index is produced in an effort to make the fine material written by our authors as easily assessible as is possible. Those who keep the bound volumes of Truth Magazine use the material for future reference. This index makes the articles easily found whether they are remembered by author or by subject matter.

We think that Truth Magazine is one good way of spreading the word of God. Whatever amount of good which we are presently doing could be increased by the simple increase in circulation. I wish that every one of our readers would take the time to kindly recommend that one of their friends subscribe to the paper. Many of our friends do not even know that a paper such as Truth Magazine even exists. They would be delighted to receive one if someone would take the time to show it to them and recommend it to them. Will you help us to increase our circulation by telling one of your friends about it?

As this year comes to a close, we are reminded that the days of our lives are quickly slipping by. We are, indeed, one step closer to the judgment of God and the crown of life laid up for us than we were yesterday. A time such as this to look backward over a year’s work and to assess our work is worthwhile. It reminds us to put God first in our lives, to work to do His will, and to encourage others to do the same. As we move into 1979, let us each resolve to labor in His kingdom with all of the ability which we have.

The staff of Truth Magazine and Cogdill Foundation hope that 1978 was a pleasant year for you. We are looking forward to serving you in 1979.

Truth Magazine XXII: 50, pp. 803-804
December 21, 1978