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November 19th, 1916
Received by James Padgett
Washington D.C.
I am here, John.
I was with you tonight and heard the sermon on hell, and was so
sorry that the preacher (Dr Ratcliff) could not tell his people
more of the truths as to what hell is, and the punishment of those
who will be so unfortunate as to go to that place will be. It is
pitiable that these leaders of the people are so blinded and without
knowledge as to what the truth is in regard to this subject - as
well as to many others, that they so erroneously declare to their
congregations. Of course, their knowledge is based upon what they
consider to be the truths of the Bible, and in many respects what
they say is justified by the teachings of the Book; but in many
cases their teachings are erroneous because of the wrong construction
that they place upon many of the declarations of the Bible. In either
case they are teaching, for the truth, those things that are not
true, and the harm accomplished is just as baneful as if their beliefs
and teachings were the result of what they realized to be untrue.
Untruth is untruth, no matter whether it arises from honest conviction
or known error, and the harm done is the same in each instance.
The preacher, I have no doubt, believes what he declared to be
the truth, and some things he said were true, yet the fact that
he believed these doctrines to be true will not palliate in any
way his responsibility, so far as the effect of these errors on
his hearers are concerned. For their sufferings and darkness, which
will certainly follow their beliefs in these erroneous teachings,
will be no less because the preacher was honest in his declarations
of what he supposed to be the truth. The source of error does not
in any way modify or affect the results that flow from its acceptance
and following, and the preacher, while not in such cases a willful
deceiver, yet when he comes to the spirit world, and learns the
truth, he will have the regrets and the sufferings which always
flow from the spreading of falsehood and deception.
Error works its own punishment, but it may be of some consolation,
and will be to those who preach, and to those who accept falsehood
as truth, to know that such punishment will not be everlasting,
and that God is not a God of wrath or of vindictiveness, and that
His justice never demands more than is necessary for the removing
of error, and the establishment of His truths. Why, His justice
would not be justice if He permitted error to continue, and prevented
recovery on the part of man or spirits of the truth, just for the
purpose of having those who had been disobedient suffer and be separated
from Him for all eternity. I merely wanted to say this much on the
sermon, and sometime I will come and write you a full explanation
of what hell is, its purpose and work, and how long it continues.
Let all of you continue to pray to the Father for this Love and
have faith, and the time will soon come (when) that faith will become
as real and existing as the sun which you so much enjoyed today.
So my brother, with all my love and blessings I will say good night.
Your brother in Christ,
John
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