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Some readers complain of our "dogmatism" and of "rudeness." Much as we would
desire to consider the susceptibilities of all believers, much as we would ever remember
how insignificant we are in comparison with the teachers whose doctrines we deny, yet
we would rather be liable to the charge of rudeness than of unfaithfulness. Paul treated
those who were his fellow-labourers with courtesy and respect, yet in his defence of the
"truth of the gospel" he did not hesitate to speak of the "Somewhats" at the Conference at
Jerusalem, when he championed, by grace, the cause of Christian liberty (Gal. 2:). "We
use great plainness of speech," he wrote upon another occasion; so would we also.
Greek philosophy rather than the written Word of God permeates and dominates the
theology concerning the soul, death, the intermediate state and hell.
Sheol is never described except under the imagery of terror, and is always regarded as
an evil. Never do we find it likened to the portal of heaven, or the passport to immediate
bliss. It is described as an awful abyss and a land of darkness and forgetfulness. The
parallels used in relation to sheol (such as destruction, corruption, &100:) confirm the
teaching that has already been advanced in the previous papers, that the wages of sin is
death (destruction--perishing) and that the dogma of eternal conscious suffering is a libel
and a lie.
While dealing with sheol we would draw attention to another word, Tophet. The
derivation of this word is somewhat doubtful. It is a name given to a part of the valley of
the children of Hinnom which was outside the city of Jerusalem. The idolastrous worship
of Molech had been practised in this place and had rendered it odious. When Josiah was
raised up to stamp out, for the time, the idolatry of Israel, we read:--
"He defiled Topeth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might
make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech" (II Kings 23: 10).
This fearful practice is mentioned and prohibited in Lev. 18: 21:--
"Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech."
The disgusting idolatry seems to have had a powerful hold over the people, for in
Jer. 7: 31 we read:--
"And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of
Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not,
neither came into My heart."
The diabolical institution that inflicted the agonies of the fire for a few moments is
repudiated in a manner worthy of our attention. Not only does the Lord say that He did
not command such practices, but that they never came into His heart. If this be the case,
and analogy be allowed any place, what shall the Lord say of that doctrine so tenaciously
held by thousands, of not merely temporary suffering as in the worship of Molech, but an
eternal Tophet where the victims writhe and groan in never-ending agonies? The Lord
overturns the worship of Molech and says that He will use Tophet as a burying place
(Jer. 7: 32), speaking of it as a place of defilement (Jer. 19: 13).