firstly let a list be made of what some would call counter-statements. In reality they are not and cannot be counter-statements for there is no such thing as a contradiction in God’s Word. Here are some examples of such statements: “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious [holy, K.J.V. ] in all His works.” “Your testimonies [commandments or laws] which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful.” Psalms 145:17; 119:138.
The Lord is righteous and the law is righteous. Therefore God is what the law is. It is the “transcript of His own character,” Christ’s Object Lessons, 315, and that law declares “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13. Therefore, if it is not in the law to kill, it is not in the character of God to kill. So, “God destroys no man. Everyone who is destroyed will have destroyed himself.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 84.“God destroys no one.” Testimonies 5:120.
“God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejecters of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown, which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan.”
Great Controversy, 36.
“Satan is the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord’s restraining power is not exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God. Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest.” Testimonies 6:388, 389.
“This earth has almost reached the place where God will permit the destroyer to work his will upon it.” Testimonies 7:141.
“God keeps a reckoning with the nations. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. Those who work evil toward their fellow men, saying, How doth God know? will one day be called upon to meet long-deferred vengeance. In this age a more than common contempt is shown to God. Men have reached a point in insolence and disobedience which shows that their cup of iniquity is almost full. Many have well-nigh passed the boundary of mercy. Soon God will show that He is indeed the living God. He will say to the angels, ‘No longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy. Let him work out his malignity upon the children of disobedience; for the cup of their iniquity is full. They have advanced from one degree of wickedness to another, adding daily to their lawlessness. I will no longer interfere to prevent the destroyer from doing his work.’”
The Review and Herald, September 17, 1901.
When Jesus was asked to destroy the Samaritans who had re- jected Him, He replied to His disciples, “‘You do not know whatmanner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” Luke 9:55, 56.
“There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.”
The Desire of Ages, 487.
“Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan’s government. The Lord’s principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God’s government is moral, and truth and love are to be the pre-vailing power.” The Desire of Ages, 759.
“The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority.” The Desire of Ages,
22.We know that God does nothing that is contrary to the principles of His government. Therefore, He does not use force. “Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.” The Ministry of Healing, 113.
Here is a compilation of statements, emphatic and clear, asserting that God is not an executioner, does not punish, and destroys no one.
1 comment:
Very Good. It seems to me that if God IS the executioner, and frequently has killed, and will kill His enemies, then the people of the Inquisition represented God rather well.
Many of God's people today, reading the Desire of Ages quote that "the exercise of FORCE is contrary to the principles of God’s government" must read it as something entirely dependent on circumstances. At times it suits His government NOT to exercise force; but at other times He must exercise force. So it seems. But if God operates that way, then surely His children should be doing the same kind of thing [forcing, pushing, over-ruling, etc.] in our little spheres.
What a fearful prospect that is!
Many read [as they believe] of God's expressed intent of killing EVERYONE who has ever opposed Him, in a vast public execution, namely, in the "lake of fire".
A great number of people will suffer "many days" in that fire... in no way can that be called a "mercy killing"!
Post a Comment