Truth Magazine

By Johnie Paul Edwards

Solomon, to whom God gave wisdom, said, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Solomon learned the value of righteous living. He came to recognize that only in God can a man find real significance and lasting satisfaction. This is the legacy that Solomon wished to leave behind to subsequent generations who earnestly search for life’s highest good. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s conclusion was, “Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

What Is Righteousness?

The word “righteousness” is translated from dikaiosune and is defined as “the character or quality of being right or just; it was formerly spelled `rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning. Righteousness embraces the idea of the right knowledge in the mind, leading to the right action in life” (W.F. Vine). Hence, righteousness is doing right and refers to the state of one who is such as he ought to be before God and man.

We can know what is right, know what we ought to be and do, only as God reveals in his inspired Word. Paul taught that God’s plan for making a man righteous is revealed in the Gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). Peter taught that “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35). The Psalmist revealed that God’s “commandments are righteousness” (Psa. 119:12).

The Value of Righteous Living to Noah

Noah was “a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). Noah’s righteous con-duct, amidst wickedness (Gen. 6:5), caused him to find “grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). Noah’s righteousness is demonstrated in the fact that he did “all that God commanded him” (Gen. 6:22). While every living substance was destroyed upon the face of the ground, righteous Noah and his family were saved (1 Pet. 3:20).

The Value of Righteous Living to Abraham

The Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (Jas. 2:23). Abraham was justified by his works and by works his faith was made perfect (Jas. 2:21-22). Abraham’s supreme test of righteousness came during his mature life in his willingness to offer up Isaac, his only son, whom he loved passionately and in whom all his expectations centered (Gen. 22:1-10; Heb. 11:17-18). Righteousness is seldom easy, but through Abraham’s faith and righteousness he became the friend of God and the one through whom Jesus, the Savior, came (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 3:16).

The Value of Righteous Living to the City of Sodom

The value of righteous living can be seen when you consider that ten righteous souls would have delivered the ancient city of Sodom (Gen. 18:23-32). Since less than ten righteous people could be counted, two angels went to Sodom to visit and warn Lot of the impending destruction (Gen. 19:lff). “The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire . . . and he overthrew those cities” (Gen. 19:24-28). Sodom’s wickedness and moral depravity even became proverbial (Rom. 9:29; Rev. 11:8). Righteous living would have spared the now “lost” city of Sodom!

The Value of Righteous Living To Israel of Old

Righteousness had the power to strengthen and exalt the nation of Israel. As long as Israel was righteous, no power could overthrow them, and other nations would say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deut. 4:6). God watched over Israel (Deut. 32:10) and assured those living righteously of his blessing (Deut. 11:26-28).

Righteousness was the basis of God’s dealing with other nations (Jer. 18:1-10). Where are the ancient nations? Where are the great empires of Assyria, Babylon and Persia? Their sin and unrighteousness worked their ruin!

The Value of Righteous Living Today

As demonstrated in the past, righteous living is still of great value. The value of righteousness today is seen in the fact that:

Righteousness gives us access to God. When we do right, or live according to the Gospel of Christ, God’s eyes are over us; his ears are open to our prayers (1 Pet. 3:12; Prov. 15:9).

Righteousness bears good fruit (Prov. 11:30). Righteous living is not only profitable to you, but to others. You can win others to Christ through righteous living. Jesus taught that his disciples are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14). Further, the work of the righteous is peace (Isa. 32:17). No money on earth can buy true peace. True peace comes only to the righteous!

3. Righteousness will be crowned. Since Paul “kept the faith” there was laid up for him a “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8). The righteous can “look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death” (Prov. 12:28).

Are you numbered among God’s righteous? Righteous living, amidst wickedness, is the only thing that will mean anything eternally! You will either die the death of the righteous or the death of the wicked (Num. 23:10; Ezek. 33:11). The choice is yours. Please, for your sake and the sake of all future generations, do what the Bible says and be what it makes you, living righteously!

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 10-11
May 6, 1993

By Mark Mayberry

Those who preach the whole counsel of God, must not only emphasize divine love, but also divine wrath. The splendor of heaven should be proclaimed, as well as the repugnance of hell. The horrors of eternal punishment must be clearly communicated, so that we will realize the urgency of obeying God.

Many would deny the reality of hell. Materialists, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, reject the biblical doctrine of eternal punishment. They claim that hell is nothing more than the grave. Notice the following quotation from the Watch-tower Society literature: “The doctrine of a burning hell where the wicked are tortured eternally after death cannot be true, mainly for four reasons: (1) because it is wholly unscriptural; (2) because it is unreasonable; (3) because it is contrary to God’s love; and (4) because it is repugnant to justice.”‘

Is the concept of hell contrary to God’s love? Remembering that God’s ways are infinitely superior to ours, let us not force our thinking on him (Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 10:23). To say that eternal punishment is incompatible with the love of God is to play God ourselves. God is love, but he is also just. If there is a paradise for the righteous, there must also be a punishment for the wicked. This is guaranteed by the justice of God. Hell reveals the terribleness of sin! Jesus taught that sin will lead to eternal punishment (Matt. 10:28). The inspired apostles also emphasized the same truth (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Those who deny the reality of hell reject the word of God!

There are three distinct Greek words which are translated “hell” in the KJV. Recognizing the different meanings and usage of these terms will eliminate the confusion that exists on this subject. As we shall see, the concept of a place of suffering and punishment beyond the grave is clearly taught in the Bible.

Sheol

The Old Testament word for “hell” is sheol. This Hebrew word occurs 64 times. In the KJV, it is translated “grave” 31 times, “hell” 30 times, and “pit” 3 times. The NASV translates all of these passages as “Sheol.”

The word is used in two senses: First, it refers to the state of death, the grave, the final resting place of all men. Second, it also describes the realm of the dead, the place of conscious existence after death.’ Gesenius defines this word as “a subterranean place, full of thick darkness (Job 10:21-22), in which the shades of the dead are gathered together.”‘

Sheol is used with reference to the righteous (Psa. 16:10; 30:3; etc.) and also the wicked (Job 24:19; Psa. 9:17; etc.). While the Old Testament describes the afterlife much less clearly than does the New, it does indicate that there will be punishment for the wicked beyond the grave (Isa. 33:14; 66:24; Dan. 12:2; etc.).

Hades

The Greek word Hades appears 11 times in the New Testament (Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Lk. 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27,31; 1 Cor. 15:55; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13-14). In the KJV, it is rendered “hell” in every case except in 1 Corinthians 15:55, where it is translated “grave.” More recent versions substitute “Hades” for “hell” in these passages, and use the word “hell” as a translation for the Greek word Gehenna (RSV, ASV, NASV, NIV).

As the New Testament equivalent of Sheol, its meaning and significance are quite similar. Hades refers to the grave, the underworld, the region of departed spirits, the unseen world of the dead. In ancient Greek literature, this word was originally the proper name of Hades, or Pluto, the god of the lower regions and the under-world. Thayer defines Hades as “the netherworld, the realm of the dead . . . the common receptacle of disembodied spirits.”0 Arndt and Gingrich define this Greek word as “the underworld as the place of the dead.”‘

Hades is the intermediate state where departed souls go to await the resurrection and the judgment. Ac-cording to God’s Word, Hades is composed of two realms: Paradise and Torment. While the body of Jesus lay in the tomb, his soul went temporarily to Hades (Acts 2:27,31), or more specifically Paradise (Lk. 23:43). We understand this place to be distinct from heaven because of the statement of Jesus that is recorded in John 20:17. The resurrected Christ said unto Mary, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father… ” Hades is a place of bliss for the righteous, but a place of torment for the wicked. In Luke 16:19-31, the rich man died and went to Hades where he was tormented in flame (vv. 23, 25, 28). When Lazarus died, he was carried to Abraham’s bosom (v. 23) where he was comforted (v. 25). Notice also that both men continued to have a conscious existence beyond the grave, although neither could cross into the other realm (v. 26).

Gehenna

This Greek word gehenna appears 12 times in the New Testament and is uniformly translated “hell” (Matt. 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mk. 9:43,45,47; Lk. 12:5; Jas. 3:6). The word is a transliteration from the Hebrew “Valley of Hinnom.” The name is derived from the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom, which refers to a ravine which lay south and east of Jerusalem, spoken of in Scripture as “the valley of the son of Hinnom” (Josh. 15:8; 18:16; etc.).

This valley had once been the site of idol worship. During the darkest days of their apostasy, the Israelites had sacrificed their children to the idol Molech in this place (Jer. 32:35). The cries of infants echoed through this valley as they were thrown into the fiery arms of Molech, an idol which had the form of a bull. King Ahaz and Manasseh both engaged in the horrid practice of child sacrifice (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6). Because of the atrocities committed in the valley of Hinnom, Jeremiah prophesied that the wrath of God would fall there (Jer. 7:28-34).

After good king Josiah desecrated and destroyed this idolatrous site, it became a place of abomination (2 Kgs. 23:10-14). The Jews developed such an abhorrence for the place that “they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but even the dead bodies of animals and of unburied criminals who had been executed.”` “Later the valley seems to have been used for burning the corpses of criminals and animals, and indeed refuse of any sort.”‘ Over time the valley of Hinnom became a garbage dump where fires were constantly burning. That the rubbish and refuse of Jerusalem was collected there only helped make the valley of Hinnom synonymous with extreme defilement. In time the place came to symbolize terrible wickedness, filth and rottenness, pain, anguish and loathsomeness. Understandably, the Jews came to believe that the final judgment would occur at that site. Because of the horrible history associated with this valley, its name became a symbol of that place where the wicked after death suffer eternal punishment.’

The distinction between Hades and Gehenna is important. The former refers to that intermediate state between death and the resurrection, while the latter refers to that place of eternal punishment. Ultimately, death and Hades shall be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. And anyone whose name is not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). Jesus urged his disciples to avoid the fires of Gehenna at all costs (Mk. 9:43-47).

Tartarus

Tartarus occurs only in 2 Peter 2:4. It is also referred to in Jude 6 though not mentioned by name. It stands for the place of punishment for fallen angels. There are angels that sinned who are “reserved unto judgment.” This region is referred to as “pits of darkness” (NASV). According to Greek mythology, the departed spirits of the extremely wicked men were punished in this place. Similar ideas were found in Jewish apocalyptic literature as well. Strong defines Tartarus as “the deepest abyss of Hades.’ Arndt & Gingrich say that Tartarus was thought of by the Greeks as “a subterranean place lower than Hades where divine punishment was meted out.”

Thayer says that it is “the name of a subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; it answers to Gehenna of the Jews.””

Conclusion

Christ said, “And these (i.e., the wicked) shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25:46). However, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation says, “And these will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”

Words such as “destroy” (Matt. 10:28) and “destruction” (2 Thess. 1:7-9), do not imply “annihilation” as Witnesses claim. Rather, the thought is one of total loss and ruin. Thayer defines these words as “to devote or give over to eternal misery” and “the loss of a life of blessedness after death, future misery.”” Those who are lost in hell are cut off from God, with no hope, no joy, no love, no goodness, or blessings of any sort.

Hell might be tolerated if it lasted a day, a week or a year. Not so! Hell is eternal. Finite minds can hardly conceive of eternity, and yet hell is a place of everlasting punishment and destruction (Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9). The Greek word aionios, which is translated “eternal” or “everlasting,” occurs 71 times in the New Testament. It describes both heaven and hell (Matt. 25:46), God the Father (Rom. 16:16), the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14), etc. Hell will last just as long as heaven. Hell will endure as long as God endures: Forever and ever!

Without doubt, the Bible plainly teaches that there is a place of eternal punishment. Thankfully, we can escape this horrible fate through faithful obedience to Christ. Are you ready to face the judgment? (Heb. 9:27; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10-11)

Footnotes

‘Let God Be True (The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society), p. 80.

‘Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), s.v. “Hell: Sheol” (H7585).

‘H.W.F. Gesenius, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, translated by Samuel P. Tregelles (1847; Apt. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979), s.v. “sheol” (H7585).

‘Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, s.v. “Hades” (686).

`William F. Arndt, F. Wilbur Gingrich & Frederick W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979), s.v. “Hades” (G86).

‘Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Tesatment, s.v. “Gehenna” (G1067).

‘The New Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Hinnom, Valley of.”

‘Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, s.v. “Gehenna” (G1067).

`James Strong, Dictionary of the Greek Testament, s.v. “Tartaroo” (G5020).

0William F. Arndt, F. Wilbur Gingrich & Frederick W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979), s.v. “Tartaroo” (G5020).

“Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, rev. ed., (Wheaton, IL: Evangel Publishing Co., 1974), s.v. “Tartaroo” (G5020).

‘”Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, s.v. “Apollumi” (G622).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8, p. 5-6
April 15, 1993

By Ron Halbrook

Introduction

The Church in West Columbia, Texas has a newspaper column called “New Testament Christianity.” We ran the following article to let people know that we are ready to help them. An honest Jehovah’s Witness would agree to the proposed study and the proposal helps people get dishonest Jehovah’s Witnesses off their doorsteps.

When talking with a “Jehovah’s Witness” at your door or anywhere else, be kind, considerate and courteous. Treat them as you wish to be treated (Matt. 7:12). Do not curse at them or persecute them in any way. Losing control of your temper or tongue only rein-forces prejudice in their heart. “Let your speech be always with grace” (Col. 4:6). “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men” (Gal. 6:10). Remember with compassion that the “Jehovah’s Witness” has an eternal soul, though his doctrine denies it, and that he will spend eternity in heaven or hell (Matt. 25:46).

Give them this article to explain a proposal for a fair and balanced study. Dear friend of the “Jehovah’s Witness” religion, the person handing you this article wants to study with you in a format of open discussion. Ron Halbrook will be invited into our home to share in the study sessions. He will be present at each study with the representatives of the “Jehovah’s Witness” religion, so that both sides of each subject or issue can be fairly presented. Ron Halbrook and the “Jehovah’s Witness” representatives must agree to conduct each study directly from the Bible, rather than studying the literature of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Everyone agrees to be patient and courteous in these studies.

The subjects for study are: (1) The full deity of “the word” who came in the flesh as Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-14; Heb. 1:1-14). (2) Did God give his people in the gospel age the name “Christian” or “Jehovah’s Witness”? (Acts 11:26) (3) Is God’s only name “Jehovah”? (Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:19) (4) What must I do to be saved? (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38) (5) Does the soul or spirit survive death? (Matt. 10:28; Lk. 16:19-31) (6) Will all Christians go to heaven or must some stay on earth forever, and is punishment in hell eternal? (Matt. 25:46; 1 Pet. 1:1-5) (7) Did God ordain the “Jehovah Witness” organization and has it made false prophecies? (Deut. 18:21-22; Phil. 1:1)

When the true prophets of God pled, “Come now, and let us reason together,” they invited their opponents, “produce your arguments” (Isa. 1:18; 41:21, NWT). God’s true people are interested in the same open study today.

Dear friend of the “Jehovah’s Witness” religion, the person handing you this article believes it would be fair and helpful if a public discussion could be held on the subjects listed above. Such public study is approved by Elijah, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul and Ron Halbrook (1 Kgs. 18; Isa. 43:9; Matt. 22; Acts 17:17; 1 Pet. 3:15).

If the “Jehovah’s Witness” wants to leave some literature, say you will take it if he will be fair enough to read something you have. If our readers will contact us now, we will supply them with tracts to keep on hand to exchange with a “Jehovah’s Witness.” If he wants you to pay or make a donation for his literature, point out that you are not asking any pay or donation for what you are offering in ex-change. If they offer a larger book and want money on that basis, tell them to come back later and you will make an even exchange. Let us know and we will supply what you need.

If they refuse this clipping, refuse a private study of both sides, refuse public discussion, and refuse to exchange literature, kindly close the conversation and gently close the door. You have done what is right and fair, your conscience is clear. You will know they are unfair and dishonest in asking you to examine your beliefs because they will not ex-amine theirs. “The legs of the lame are not equal” (Prov. 26:7; Rom. 2:21).

Clip and save this article for future use. Make copies — distribute them far and wide. Contact us for free tapes and tracts on “Jehovah’s Witness” doctrine.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 8, p. 3-4
April 15, 1993

By Terry F. Sanders

On the morning of February 27, the kind and gentle spirit of Goldie May Plum left its tabernacle of flesh to return to God after a sudden illness. Sister Plum was a faithful member of the Marrtown Road church in Parkersburg. She spent the majority of her 92 years in faithful service to God in every capacity.

She was born December 14, 1900 in Gilmer County, the daughter of Charles and Frances Bell Henderson. In 1917, she was married to the much beloved faithful gospel preacher Chaflen Dewey (CD.) Plum who preceded her in death in 1977. To this union were born three children: Wilma, who became Mrs. Cad Parsons and who passed away in 1965; Russell, now 71, who is crippled due to an illness in his youth and still lives at home; and Charles, who passed away in 1976 and was a faithful gospel preacher and the Chief of Police in Parkersburg at the time of his death. Sister Plum also leaves behind five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. A sister, Mildred Kreaps, survives and lives in Perrysville, OH. I should also mention that her son Charles’ widow, Lillian, has lived with Sister Plum since Charles’ death and has helped with the care of Russell and with other duties that age slowly prevented sister Goldie from being able to do. I have often thought that not only did sister Goldie serve as a splendid example of all that a Christian, wife and mother should be, hut that also sister Lillian has served as a “Ruth to her Naomi.” Two more excellent examples of womanhood would be hard to find in our present society.

The funeral services were conducted by this writer at the Lambert Tatman Funeral Home on March 2, 1993. 1 spoke of how sister Plum had mirrored the words of Proverbs 31:10-31 in being devoted to God, husband and children. Sister Plum served her God soberly, righteously and faithfully. She cared for her husband and children in their illnesses without complaint. The manner in which she went about caring for her family in this quite and humble fashion gained the respect of all who truly knew of it. The loving care this fine lady has given in her lifetime is a monument to her and speaks well of the lady that sister Plum was. Her kind is rare and we are fortunate to have been blessed by being acquainted with her for even a short period of time. It is my wish that her tribe might increase.

Her body was placed to await the resurrection by the side of her husband and son in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum, Sunset Gardens, Parkersburg.

Friends may send cards and letters to Lillian Plum, 2503 Liberty Street,

Parkersburg, WV 26101.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 7, p. 20
April 1, 1993