1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

the world per year, which would, wethink, be a very small number, probablyfar below the average, then as a resultthere is not only no increase, but thereis a positive falling off. We have quotedthese Scriptures and applied them withno uncharitable or unkind feeling toanybody, but in a spirit of love, that wemight confirm the faith of some, andthat we might, if possible, awaken othersto the signs of the times as confirmingthe words of prophecy.S. O. BLUNDEN.====================R719 : page 8AIONION--EVERLASTING.New Jersey, Jan. 6th, 1885.DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--May Itake the liberty to express my surpriseon reading some of your remarks in answeringquestions relating to "Sheepand Goats?"Answering the question does the wordeverlasting in verse 46 (Matt. 25.) indicatethat the punishment will last forever?You say "It certainly does," andadd, "When some one told you that theGreek word aionion here rendered everlasting,had no such meaning, but ALWAYSmeant a limited period of time,they misinformed you, and merely applieda definition common to a sectcalled "Adventists," but nevertheless anerror." And further on you say:--"IfAdventists and Universalists claim thataionion here always means a limitedperiod, they should, to be consistent,hope only for a life of limited durationfor the righteous, since the same Greekword is used in reference to both.The surprise is that you should saysuch things of the "Adventists." I haveknown them, and was among them, one