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As I have said, there are those who teach that Satan will be ultimately
extinguished. And they lay down that theory with great positiveness.
While there are some hints to that effect in the Word of God, it does
not seem to me that they are clear enough to warrant us in being
positive. We would hardly expect so much. It is not our business to know
much of "other world" affairs for the present.
So far as we may judge, it would appear instead that Satan's long
continuance in sin gives some hope of his ultimate Restoration. For the
question will naturally arise: Why should God spare him so long, if He
foresees that he must be extinguished at last? Why not extinguish him at
once, and thus avoid so much temptation to evil? I am by no means
curious on such a question. I merely cite these possibilities to show
that the subject is utterly beyond us.
It really comes to this, that on such high topics it is wise to be
reverently silent. But with the fact that we do not know, we ally the
privilege of eternal hope. So we would say with Tennyson:
"Behold, we know not anything;
We can but trust that good shall fall,
At last far off, at last to all;
And every winter change to spring."
If you dissent from some of the views I have advanced, I would ask you
not to be hasty in forming conclusions.
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