“Nobody, then, is assaulting the Bible, for the simple reason that the Bible as such has never made any claim.  The Bible does not claim to be inspired; it does not claim to be infallible.  No writer of one book is authorized to speak for the author of any other book.  One verse is sometimes referred to as meaning something.  The writer of the last book in the Bible utters a curse against anybody who should presume to add to or take from the words of that book.  He does not say that the book is infallible; he simple curses anybody that interferes with it, as Shakespeare uttered a curse against anybody who interfered with his bones.  I suppose that God might have given us an infallible book, if he had chosen, and if he had given us such a book he would have made us sure that it was infallible.”

“If I were compelled to believe that God holds me responsible for Adam’s sin and that the immense majority of the world is doomed to everlasting torment, and that only a selected few here and there are to enter eternal felicity, I might bow my head and accept it, but I could not rejoice in it.  It is barbarous.  Men who try to make us accept such dogmas are the real infidels of the world, and it is infidelity which they are creating—­infidelity a hundred times worse than that which they call by the name.  If you would blot out every Bible in the world to-day you would not even endanger its life, nor would you destroy religion.”  From The Toledo News-Bee, May 14, 1904.

All these allied powers of wickedness in conflict with the few of God’s saints who serve him acceptably, constitute the battle of Armageddon—­that battle of the last great day.  It is not a literal collecting of armies nor a literal conflict, but a fierce battle between truth and error.  The outward indications are that the enemies of God will triumph; but let us remember that it is destined to “end in the victory of Him unto whom triumph belongs.”  Fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them.  This symbol is doubtless taken from the circumstance of Elijah where he commanded fire to come down and destroy his enemies; and it will be as with such an overthrow that the powers of wickedness shall meet their doom in that last great day of God Almighty.

    11.  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
    whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
    found no place for them.

12.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

    13.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
    hell delivered up the dead which were in them:  and they were
    judged every man according to their works.

    14.  And death and hell were cast, into the lake of fire.  This is
    the second death.