But what of Revelation 20:10 about the Devil’s being “tormented day and night for ever and ever”? In Jesus’ time jailers were called “tormenters.” So when the Scripture says he will be “tormented day and night for ever and ever” in the “lake of fire,” it means that the Devil will be restrained in a never-ending detention of destruction. Indeed, it will be “for ever and ever.”

The Bible has answered our question. It has shown that Hades, Sheol or hell is the common grave of mankind. At the resurrection hell gives up its dead. Jehovah destroys hell, for it is cast into the “lake of fire.” Gehenna represents the state of destruction that lasts forever and ever. There is no hope of a resurrection for those in Gehenna. So the fiery hells are only pagan hells. The Bible hell (Sheol-Hades) is not hot, but is the dark, silent grave.

The Unchristian Caste System

TO MANY persons the term “caste” at once calls to mind the land of India, where the caste system has been a curse for for so many centuries. However, this subject of caste is not merely of theoretical or academic interest to those residing outside India. On the contrary, when considered in all its ramifications, it will prove to be most pertinent to all who would be guided by God’s Word, the Bible.

The English word “caste” comes from the Portuguese word casta, meaning “race,” and, by implication, unmixed or pure race. According to Webster’s Dictionary it is “a more or less separate order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves, the separation being based on such things as difference of wealth, hereditary rank or privileges, profession, occupation, etc.” It really is a false principle of social divisions into selfishly exclusive groups of persons (cliques), according to supposed social rank of persons having the same status or possessing common characteristics. Manifestations of the caste system would therefore include racial discrimination, the clergy-laity distinction, any clannishness because of “blood,” wealth, learning, etc., as well as any favoritism shown because of having in common an admiration for certain human leaders, or sectarianism, or because of belonging to certain age groups.

The caste system appears to have had its origin at the time the ruling and priestly classes were organized at Babel following the Deluge, when dynasties were developed as a subversion of the patriarchal family divisions authorized by Jehovah God and also illustrated in the family of Noah and the descendants of Jacob. In India the caste system goes back to more than a thousand years before Christ, instituted, it appears, by the light-skinned Aryan invaders to keep themselves as a superior class. This is borne out by the Indian word for “caste,” varna, which means “color.”

The caste system is unjust, incompatible with Christ’s rule to ‘do to others as we want them to do to us.’ It is a failure to “love your neighbor as yourself.” It deprives persons of their dues in fields political, economic, religious and social. Additionally, it shackles its victims with an inferiority complex.—Matt. 7:12; Mark 12:31, NW.

The caste system works harm not only to those it oppresses but also to those advantaged by it, for it exalts them; it breeds pride and prejudice, and “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Since God is said to dwell with the lowly and contrite ones, he must be far removed from the haughty and proud, for such are prone to say, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”—Prov. 16:18, AS; John 1:46, NW; Isa. 57:15.

NO CASTE SYSTEM AMONG ISRAELITES

God’s Word allows for no caste distinctions because of race, nationality or color, for, as the apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars Hill, all can trace their origin to the one father, Adam. God “made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth.” And as Elihu pointed out to Job, God “shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.”—Acts 17:26, NW; Job 34:19, RS.

Instead of any caste distinction it is righteousness that counts with Jehovah, a point Peter so well made at the time the holy spirit was bestowed upon Cornelius: “God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.” And such was true not only after the appointed “seventy weeks” of special favor to the Israelites came to an end but also long before then. In fact, twice the entire nation of Israel came near to being destroyed by Jehovah because of their rebellious course, first because of their idolatry in making the golden calf while Moses was in the mount, and second, because of their rebellion at hearing the unfavorable report of ten of the spies.—Acts 10:34, 35, NW.

Yes, time and again the natural descendants of Abraham were allowed to go into captivity and suffer death by pestilence, etc., because of their unfaithfulness. On the other hand, Gentiles who exercised faith were blessed by Jehovah. For a few examples, note the mixed multitude that followed the Israelites out of Egypt, Rahab, the Gibeonites, Ruth, the widow of Zarephath, the leper Naaman. Because Jesus called some of these unflattering facts to the attention of the Jews in his day they endeavored to kill him.—Luke 4:25-30.

While the Israelites were shown special favors, such was not because of their being a superior caste but because of the faith of their forefathers, because of Jehovah’s love for them, and for the sake of his name. They were commanded to treat the non-Israelites in their midst justly and lovingly: “The temporary resident who resides for a while with you should become to you like a native of yours, and you must love him as yourself.” “There should prove to be one law and one judicial decision for you and for the temporary resident who is residing for a while with you.”—Lev. 19:34; Num. 15:16, NW.

The fact that the Israelites were not permitted to intermarry with the pagans round about them was not because of caste but to keep Jehovah’s worship pure, for which reason also they were commissioned to act as executioners of the grossly immoral pagan worshipers of Canaan. Nor did they have any caste system based on tribal distinctions. While Judah was the royal tribe and Levi the priestly