needs of their own horrible traditions. The very ones who emphasize the eternal

punishment of Matt. 25: are among the first to condemn a gospel of works, and yet such

are the terms for obtaining eternal life in the self-same chapter. Are not such guilty of

We have not finished with this passage, however; let us thrash the matter out. What is

this word "punishment"? Does the word mean "torment," "torture," "suffering"? Yes,

say some, all this and more. The word translated "punishment" is kolasis, defined as

"restraint" in Dr. Young's Analytical Concordance, and means literally "cutting off," as

in the pruning of a tree. This meaning of the word is further emphasized by a parallel

passage of the Old Testament (Psalm 37: 22):--

"Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit

"Such  as  be  blessed  of  Him

the kingdom.

shall inherit the earth;

Depart from Me, ye cursed. . . . into

and they that be cursed of Him

everlasting punishment" (cutting off).

shall be cut off."

There are not a few who tell us that the passage should read everlasting punishing." Let

us apply the rule which guides them, to such a passage as Heb. 9: 12, "Having obtained

eternal redemption." This should read, if the above is true, "everlasting redeeming." The

work of redemption according to this is never finished; all through eternity we are being

redeemed, a doctrine flatly contradicted by both the Scriptures, and by the very same

preachers who, to suit their purpose, read "punishing" for "punishment" in Matt. 25:

The punishment here spoken of, both in Psalm 37: and Matthew 25:, is to be

"eternally cut off." To deprive of life and all that conscious existence means is the

highest form of punishment that this world knows, and it is called "capital punishment."

It is the punishment prescribed by God to Noah (Gen. 9:), a reflection of the judgment

reserved by God Himself for the finally impenitent. How many there are who turn to

Rev. 20: 10 as a proof text for eternal torment:--

First let us notice who they are that are tormented. Three persons:

THE DEVIL. . . . THE BEAST. . . . AND THE FALSE PROPHET.

That these three are supernatural beings is not difficult to prove (cf. Rev. 16: 13 and 17:

8), yet punishment of these three awful beings is indiscriminately meted out to all of

every race and age among the unsaved. But a further consideration is necessary, the

words are "unto the ages of the ages" (rendered "for ever and ever"). "Unto" does not

mean "throughout"; these are punished "unto" the dawning of the "ages of the ages," but

not "throughout" those ages. We also have an indication, that the period covered by this

judgment shall come to an end, by the added words "day and night." Day and night mark

the dispensations that lead through from Gen. 1: to Rev. 21:, but there comes a time when