Message from John, the Apostle, in The Gospel of God’s Love, on page 290.
“I was with you, and heard the sermon on hell; I was sorry that the preacher could not tell his people more of the truth as to what hell is, and what the punishment of those who will be so unfortunate as to go there, 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 many others.
“Their knowledge is based upon what they consider to be truth of the Bible. In many respects what they say is justified by the teachings of this book, but in other instances their understandings of truth is in error. In either case, they are teaching things which are not true; The harm accomplished is just as baneful as if they were aware that their teachings were 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.
“I have no doubt that the preacher believes what he declared to be the truth (and some things he said were true). Yet the fact that he believes these doctrines to be true will not palliate in any way his resonsibility, so far as the effect of these errors on his hearers are concerned; for their suffering in 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. While the preacher is not a willful deceiver, yet he will, when he comes to the spirit world and learns the truth, have regrets and sufferings which always flow from the spreading of falsehood and deception.
“Error works its own punishment. But it may be of some consolation to know that such punishment will not be everlasting; and that God is not a God of wrath or vindictiveness. His Justice never demands more than necessary for the removing of error and the establishment of spiritual truths. God’s justice would not be justice if error was permitted to continue and prevent recovery, on the part of humans or spirits.
“Continue to pray for God’s Love and have faith, and the time will come when you will enjoy redemption from all sin and error.” Amen