The Wrath of God - The Second Death

Since finite creatures are absolutely dependent on the Infinite Creator for

existence, then the Infinite Creator would have to do everything necessary

to maintain the life and well-being of finite creatures. If the Infinite Creator

leaves His creatures alone they will perish; they must perish.

To think that God must use some other method than withdrawal to get rid of

sin is to insult His power, wisdom and love; it is because He is infinite and

creatures are finite that His creatures need Him and cannot survive without

Him.

So when people say that God must do something, other than withdraw, to get

rid of Satan, sinners and sin, they are insulting God and showing their

ignorance of the issues in the Great Conflict between right and wrong.

If God has to do anything at all to destroy the sinner other than leave the

sinner alone then His power is less than infinite, He is less than God. The

proof that He is God, and no one else, is that just by His doing nothing

everything else would perish!

"And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the

earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall

perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a

garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be

changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."

Hebrews 1:10-12

"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens

are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure:

yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou

change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and

thy years shall have no end." Psalm 102:25-27.

The proof of the Infinite God is that He has to do everything to keep finite

creatures alive. If God should do nothing, i.e. withdraw his maintaining,

upholding power, creatures will perish, Col. 1:17. Since all things hold

together in Him when He lets go things fall apart. (Psalm 121)

To suggest that sinful creatures can survive when fully and ultimately

separated from God or that God has to do something else to destroy the

sinner other than complete separation is to suggest that creatures can survive

without God and that sin is harmless. This is a heresy as old as the Devil!

On the contrary God says:

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that

hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36

The Wrath of God -The Second Death Part 1

Our God, YAHWEH or JEHOVAH, has made it abundantly clear that He is

the One and only true God and His way is the only way of perfect life. The

Godhead (The Father, His Son and their Holy Spirit) is infinite in power,

wisdom, righteousness, truth and Agapé love.

"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I

girded thee, though thou hast not known me." Isaiah 45:5.

For any being to be God that being must be absolutely eternal (beginningless

and endless), self-existent and completely independent of anyone or anything

for life.

Now remember, YAHWEH God tells us there are no other Gods, He knows

of none.

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time,

and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God

beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8.

Satan claims that creatures can have their own way, in opposition to God's

way, and NOT die. In fact he claims that such persons will be as gods.

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For

God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be

opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis

3:4,5.

Whoever claims to be a god must (ultimately) be able to maintain himself

and his government without outside aid, must be able to have his own way,

must be able to maintain his freedom to assert his godhood and to prove his

godhood.

Satan contends that each creature can have his own way, the way of self, and

it will work.

When the creature's self becomes a god, the attitude is to reject the true God.

Job 22:15-18 (Notice verse 17).

Sin is putting one's own way before God's way, it is putting self before God.

Sin is the transgression of God's law, of God's way, 1John 3:4; Isaiah 53:6; 2

Cor. 5:15.

God has a very simple foolproof way of dealing with those who claim to be

gods, those who want their own way. Yes, He has a very simple way of

testing any so-called better way than His way. All He has to do is to leave

the person alone to his/her own way, and if they continue to exist on their

own, then that person would have to be a real god with a right way, but if

the person and the person's way collapse to destruction it would prove after

all, that the person was only a creature who needed God and God's way for

survival.

Will God Slay the Wicked?

Objective Number Eleven

Whatever may be the mechanism of destruction before the end of the world,

the final destruction will be personally inflicted by a direct act of God

because the Bible says that fire will come down from God out of heaven and

burn up Satan, his angels and all unrepentant sinners.

Answer

The state ment in Revelation 20:9 reads

"and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

To conclude that this statement means a direct and personal act of God to

send fire from heaven, is to ignore correct principles of exegesis or analytical

interpretation.

The term "the fire of God fallen from heaven" is also found in Job 1:16 and

the mechanism by which God "sent" that fire from "heaven" was the removal

of His protective hedge and allowing the sin-perverted forces of nature to

breakout into a destructive holocaust. That fire was obviously a massive

storm of thunder and lightning which struck when God's restraint was

removed. In fact the Today's English Version translates it as "lightning"

Job 1:16 (TEV).

Now what about the final fires of Revelation. 20:9?

When the final fires "come down from God out of heaven" at the end of the

millennial 1000-year reign, God will be in the Holy City New Jerusalem on

earth. And no fire will come out of the Holy City. As a matter of fact the

Holy City with the Godhead, the angels and all the saints will be untouched

by the fire and will neither be the source nor the victim of the fiery

destruction!

According to Peter and Ezekiel the fire will have three (3) sources. Fire from

the skies (called heaven); fire from within the earth; and fire from within

Satan.

Not only will God's protection and restraint be withdrawn, His life sustaining

grace will also be withdrawn.

That will be the ultimate and total separation from God which sin, whenever

it is finished, causes and it will produce the irreversible destruction of sinners

in the second death.

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water,

perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same

word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment

and perdition of ungodly men... But the day of the Lord will come as

a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a

great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth

also and the works th at are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then

that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons

ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 2Peter

3:6,7,10,11

"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine

iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a

fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee

to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee."

Ezekiel 28:18

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when

it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the

proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day

that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall

leave them neither root nor branch." Malachi 4:1

There are other passages in the Bible which describe the final destruction.

"Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be

desolate." Psalm 34:21

"And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them

off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them

off." Psalm 94:23

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that

hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36

(See also chapter 21).

By rejecting the righteousness of God in Christ, the unsaved will cut

themselves off from God Who is the only Source of Life.

(Dr. Elliot Douglin)

Wonderful Truths

 The Jews had forged their own fetters; they had filled for themselves the cup of vengeance. In the utter destruction that befell them as a nation, and in all the woes that followed them in their dispersion, they were but reaping the harvest which their own hands had sown. Says the prophet: "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself;" "for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Hosea 13:9; 14:1. Their sufferings are often represented as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work. By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was permitted to rule them according to his will. The horrible cruelties enacted in the [BEGIN P.36] destruction of Jerusalem are a demonstration of Satan's vindictive power over those who yield to his control. {GC 35.3}

We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God's mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors 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. The destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers of divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy.

 Would that I could make plain to your beclouded senses, my brethren, the great peril you are in. Every action, good or bad, prepares the way for its repetition. How was it in the case of Pharaoh? The statement in Holy Writ is that God hardened his heart, and at every repetition of light in the manifestation of God's power the statement is repeated. Every time he refused to submit to God's will his heart became harder and less impressible by the Spirit of God. He sowed the seed of obstinacy, and God left it to vegetate. He might have prevented it by a miracle, but that was not His plan. He allowed it to grow and produce a harvest of its own kind, thus, proving the truthfulness of the scripture: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." When a man plants doubts, he will reap doubts. By rejecting the first light and every following ray, Pharaoh went from one degree of hardness of heart to another, until the cold, dead [BEGIN P.120] forms of the first-born only checked his unbelief and obstinacy for a moment. And then, determined not to yield to God's way, he continued his willful course until overwhelmed by the waters of the Red Sea. {5T 119.2}

This case is placed on record for our benefit. Just what took place in Pharaoh's heart will take place in every soul that neglects to cherish the light and walk promptly in its rays. God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his own impenitence. When a person once neglects to heed the invitations, reproofs, and warnings of the Spirit of God, his conscience becomes seared, and the next time he is admonished, it will be more difficult to yield obedience than before. And thus with every repetition. Conscience is the voice of God, heard amid the conflict of human passions; when it is resisted, the Spirit of God is grieved. {5T 120.1}

We want all to understand how the soul is destroyed. It is not that God sends out a decree that man shall not be saved. He does not throw a darkness before the eyes which cannot be penetrated. But man at first resists a motion of the Spirit of God, and, having once resisted, it is less difficult to do so the second time, less the third, and far less the fourth. Then comes the harvest to be reaped from the seed of unbelief and resistance. Oh what a harvest of sinful indulgences is preparing for the sickle! {5T 120.2}

God's Ways 2

These three are obvious alternatives, but there is another possibility

which is normally overlooked. Herein, the Lord recognizes

that He has failed to save them from taking the wrong turn,

and that therefore, the work calculated to save them from that is

now valueless. Because they have not yet tasted the bitter experience

of the consequences of their apostasy, they are not disposed

to come back. But they have not gone beyond the possibility of restoration.

So God, in His infinite love, will not abandon them and

thus cut off their opportunity to rectify their misdemeanors.

If no saving help is provided to draw them back from going into

the worst effects of their choice, then they would not survive

long enough to ever return to God. Therefore, the Lord works to

save them from those evil results both to make their sufferings

as mild as possible, and to extend the time in which they may

learn and repent. It is because this aspect of God's working has

not been understood that He has been so seriously misjudged in

the Old Testament.

God's Ways

When the Israelites took the sword, thus rejecting God's way

in favor of their own, the Lord was faced with several possible

courses.

Firstly, He could have simply abandoned them to their own devices.

This would have been perfectly just and righteous on His

part, though it would have been justice without mercy. The result

would have been the speedy disappearance of the household of Israel

from the face of the earth. Their enemies were multitudinous,

highly skilled, and well equipped in the business of war. Satan desired

nothing so much as the extermination of Israel, and he

would have quickly seized upon the opportunity.

Secondly, God had the physical power to force the Israelites to

continue in His way, but He could not do this from the moral point

of view. He had given them, along with the remainder of humanity,

the freedom to choose. Therefore, under no circumstances,

would He attempt to insist on His way in preference to theirs. It

was for them to choose how it would be, and when they made that

choice, God could do nothing except respect it, which He did.

Thirdly, God could have simply ignored the sin, pretended that

it did not exist. To do this would be to condone it, and this God

cannot do.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD

It is a principle of faith that belief in God's words must be maintained

in the face of evidences which declare the contrary is true.

Thus in the Old Testament, God's actions seem to say that He did

use compelling power to achieve His righteous ends, that He did

resort to force to put down rebellion, and that He did make an example

of some by crushing them with terrible punishments that

were often fatal.

The choice of belief between the declarations of God and the appearances

of what God did in the human arena, is before every person.

The greater proportion choose to believe what they think they

see rather than what God has said. Therefore, the almost universal

belief is that God does use force, that He exterminates whole

nations who have utterly rejected Him, and that He relies on compelling

power to put down rebellion.

But the true child of God will believe what God said despite any

evidences which at least appear to be contrary. God said that He

does not use force or compelling power, so he believes that, even

though he cannot rightly understand what God really did in those

Old Testament incidents. He will simply admit to the challenger

of his faith that he does not yet understand just what God did, nor

does he have to necessarily. In the meantime, he will assure the

doubting questioner that he has the plain utterances of the Word

of God, so that he can be assured that, even though he cannot explain

it in detail, God does not do what He appears to do. 

This is the way faith works. It is based on the Word of God, not on appearances.

In due time such a faithful one will discover, under God's

wise tutelage, just what God actually did in each varied incident.

When he does, he will find that God did not once act contrary to

His principles, but only in perfect harmony with them.

Behold your God (F.T.Wright)

The Constitution of the Government of God As It Was Before the Entrance of Sin.

"Such a study is an essential introduction to understanding God's government as it

was after the entrance of rebellion. While such an investigation is

proceeding, continually keep in mind "that tradition and misinterpretation

have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning the

character of God, the nature of His government, and the principles

of His dealing with sin." The Great Controversy, 492.

Every one of these traditions and misinterpretations of God have

been authored by Satan. This explains why, when Christ came to

the earth, the representation of God which He gave was totally opposite

from that given by Satan, as it is written, "He presented to

men that which was exactly contrary to the representations of the

enemy in regard to the character of God .. ." Fundamentals of

Christian Education, 177.

Therefore, if we find the truth on this question as that truth is

written in the Holy Scriptures, then we will find that which is exactly

contrary to what is generally believed. This means we would

enter into a set of wholly revised and reversed concepts of God's

government and character. At the same time, there would be the

continual pressure of traditionally held theories seeking to drag

the mind back to the old ways again—a pressure which must be

consciously resisted in order to arrive at the pure truth

The Wrath of God Part 4

To suggest that sinful creatures can survive when fully and ultimately 

separated from God or that God has to do something else to destroy the 

sinner other than complete separation is to suggest that creatures can survive 

without God and that sin is harmless.  This is a heresy as old as the Devil!

On the contrary God says:

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that 

hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36"O Lord, the hope of Israel,  all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, 

and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because 

they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters." Jeremiah 

17:13

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."

Hosea 13:9

Since God is without beginning or end, then His way must be the only 

absolute way of life; the only absolutely right way.  When creatures reject 

God's way they are rejecting God's righteousness and therefore rejecting life.  

God has made us free to choose and He will respect our choice.  Ultimately 

those who reject God will be left alone to the gods of their choosing –

"ownwayness" is death!

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but 

they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be 

carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and 

peace." Rom. 8:5,6

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that 

believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth 

on him." John 3:36

To reject God's righteousness in any area or detail of our lives is to tell God 

that we can handle that area of our lives without Him.  It is to tell Him to 

leave us alone in that area. It is to tell Him that we are gods in that area of 

our lives.  (James 2:8-12).  Full surrender to God's will is eternal life.  (John 

5:30).   To sow the wind will be to reap the whirlwind.  Hosea 8:7.

In mercy God pleads with us to change our minds, to accept all of His 

righteousness in Christ.  Since God's righteousness is a whole unit, to reject 

any small part is to eventually reject all.  James 2:10.  If we persist in having 

our own way God will eventually have to say "Ephraim is joined to His idols 

leave him alone ."  Hosea 4:17.

Any sin which we do not overcome will eventually overcome us and work 

our own ruin by separating us from God.  

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, 

that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the 

flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the 

Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for 

in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:7-9.

When men choose their own way, they place themselves in controversy with 

God.  They will have no place in the kingdom of heaven, for they are at war 

with the very principles of heaven.  In disregarding the will of God, they are 

placing themselves on the side of Satan, the enemy of God and man.  Not by 

one word, not by many words, but by every word that God has spoken, shall 

man live.  We cannot disregard one word, however trifling it may seem to us, and be safe.  

There is not a commandment of the law that is not for the good 

and happiness of man, both in this life and in the life to come.  In obedience 

to God's law, man is surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil.  He 

who breaks down this divinely erected barrier at any point has destroyed its 

power to protect him; for he has opened a way by which the enemy can enter 

to waste and ruin.

And remember, only in Christ is the righteousness of the law fulfilled in the 

believer's character through faith which works by love.

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor 

uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians 5:6

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk 

not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:4

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and 

his commandments are not grievous." 1John 5:3

The Wrath Of God; Part 3 - Absolute Principles

Our God, YAHWEH or JEHOVAH, has made it abundantly clear that He is 

the One and only true God and His way is the only way of perfect life.  The 

Godhead (The Father, His Son and their Holy Spirit) is infinite in power, 

wisdom, righteousness, truth and Agapé love.

"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I 

girded thee, though thou hast not known me." Isaiah 45:5.

For any being to be God that being must be absolutely eternal (beginningless 

and endless), self-existent and completely independent of anyone or anything 

for life.

Now remember, YAHWEH God tells us there are no other Gods, He knows 

of none.

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, 

and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God 

beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8.

Satan claims that creatures can have their own way, in opposition to God's 

way, and NOT die.  In fact he claims that such persons will be as gods.

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For 

God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be 

opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."  Genesis 

3:4,5.

Whoever claims to be a god must (ultimately) be able to maintain himself 

and his government without outside aid, must be able to have his own way, 

must be able to maintain his freedom to assert his godhood and to prove his 

godhood.

Satan contends that each creature can have his own way, the way of self, and 

it will work.

When the creature's self becomes a god, the attitude is to reject the true God. 

Job 22:15-18 (Notice verse 17).

Sin is putting one's own way before God's way, it is putting self before God.  

Sin is the transgression of God's law, of God's way, 1John 3:4; Isaiah 53:6; 2 

Cor. 5:15.

God has a very simple foolproof way of dealing with those who claim to be 

gods, those who want their own way.  Yes, He has a very simple way of 

testing any so-called better way than His way.  All He has to do is to leave 

the person  alone to his/her  own way, and if they continue to exist on their 

own, then that person would have to be a  real god with a  right way, but if 

the person and the  person's way collapse to destruction it would prove after 

all, that the person was only a creature who needed God and God's way for 

survival.

Since finite creatures are absolutely dependent on the Infinite Creator for 

existence, then the Infinite Creator would have to do  everything necessary

to maintain the life and well-being of finite creatures.  If the Infinite Creator 

leaves His creatures alone they will perish; they must perish.

To think that God must use some other method than withdrawal to get rid of

sin is to insult His power, wisdom and love; it is because He is infinite and 

creatures are finite that His creatures need Him and cannot survive without 

Him.

So when people say that God must do something, other than withdraw, to get 

rid of Satan, sinners and sin, they are insulting God and showing their 

ignorance of the issues in the Great Conflict between right and wrong.

If God has to do anything at all to destroy the sinner other than leave the 

sinner alone then His power is less than infinite, He is less than God.  The 

proof that  He is God, and  no one else, is that just by His doing nothing 

everything else would perish! 

"And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the 

earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall 

perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a 

garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be 

changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."

Hebrews 1:10-12

"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the  earth: and the heavens 

are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: 

yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou 

change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and 

thy years shall have no end." Psalm 102:25-27.

The proof of the Infinite God is that He has to do everything to keep finite 

creatures alive.  If God should do nothing, i.e. withdraw his maintaining, 

upholding power,  creatures will perish, Col. 1:17.  Since all things hold 

together in Him when He lets go things fall apart. (Psalm 121)

The Wrath of God Part 2

And remember Isaiah 59:2 and 54:8 which explain that God's wrath is the 

hiding of His face caused by sin.  It is the terrible separation, caused by sin, which produces destruction according to the principles of Jeremiah 17:13 and 

James 1:13-15.

Another term employed in scripture to describe  wrath is the term HE 

SPARED NOT.  Consider 2 Peter 2 verses 4,5,6.

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to 

hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto 

judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth 

person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the 

world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha 

into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an 

ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" 2Peter 2:4,5,6.

We now come to a crucial point.  Jesus suffered the wrath of God for us.  

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we 

might be made the righteousness of God in him."2 Cor. 5:21

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can 

be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up 

for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Romans 8:31, 32

God spared not the angels who sinned.

God spared not the pre-flood world.

God spared not the cities of the plain: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim.

God spared not His Son!

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we 

did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was 

wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we 

are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every 

one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us 

all." Isaiah 53:4-6.

Now the critical question.

Will He spare us? Yes, but  only in Christ!

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we 

have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken 

by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a 

just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great 

salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was

confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" Heb. 2:1-3

The Wrath of God Part 1

The Bible leaves us in no doubt that God hates sin, and He abhors evil.  It 

also leaves us in no doubt that God is not the source or cause of evil.  There 

is no evil in God.  In fact God so hates sin that He cannot even look at it.

"Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, 

even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy 

fellows." Hebrews 1:9

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God

cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every 

man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it 

is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh 

down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning." James 1:13-17

"The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." 

Psa. 145:17

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare 

unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say 

that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and 

do not the truth:" 1John 1 :5,6

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the 

beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he 

might destroy the works of the devil… In this the children of God are 

manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not

righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

1John 3 :8,10.

Why does God hate sin?  God hates sin because sin separates His creatures 

from Him and thereby destroys them.

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and 

your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 

59:2

"Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be 

desolate." Psalm 34:21

"For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the 

ungodly shall perish." Psalm 1:6

Sin is telling God to depart.  And God knows, and we need to know too, that 

when He departs the end-result is destruction.

"Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown 

with a flood: Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can 

the Almighty do for them?" Job. 22:15-17

"O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, 

and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because 

they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters." Jer. 

17:13

"And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be 

together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed." Isaiah 

1:28

Going back now to Isaiah 59:2 we see clearly that sin  separates between 

creature and Creator and hides His face from His creatures.

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have 

separated between you and  your God, and your sins have hid his 

face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:1,2

Furthermore Isaiah 54:7,8 defines the mechanism of wrath as the  hiding of 

God's face.

"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with 

everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy 

Redeemer." Isaiah 54:8

"How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath 

burn like fire?" Psalm 89:46

"Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: 

thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of 

my salvation." Psalm 27:9

"Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: 

thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled." Psalm 30:7

"Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from 

me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit." Psalm 143:7

Now how does God exercise His wrath?

Perhaps the clearest New Testament answer (other than the Sacrifice of Jesus 

Christ) was given by Paul in Romans Chapter One.  

In Romans 1:18 Paul states clearly that the wrath of God is revealed from 

Heaven against all sin.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all

ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in

unrighteousness;" Rom. 1:18

In Romans 1:19-23 Paul shows that there is no excuse for sin or

godlessnesss.  Then in verse 24 he also explains how God exercises wrath.  

Paul states in Romans 1:24.

"WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP .…"

Paul repeats this explanation in verse 26 

"FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP.…"

And in verse 28

"… GOD GAVE THEM OVER…."

Paul is clear in Romans 1:18-28 that God excercises His wrath by  "giving 

up" the sinner to reap the consequences of sin.

But where did Paul get this explanation from?  

The only scriptures available in his day were the scriptures of the Old Testament.

Can we find this explanation in the Old Testament?

Yes!

Wrath, in all its various linguistic descriptions, was inflicted upon Israel and 

Judah with frequent regularity in the Old Testament Era.

In Deuteronomy chapter 28, God, through Moses, had given to the Israelites 

a list of the  blessings of obedience (Deut. 28:1-15), and a very much longer 

list of the curses of disobedience (Deut. 28:15-68).

Let us now examine the language used to describe the curses, as we examine 

some of the verses in Deut. 28:15-68.

Consider these verses.

"The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all 

that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, 

and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy

doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.The Lord shall make the 

pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the 

land, whither thou goest to possess it. The Lord shall smite thee with 

a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with 

an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with 

mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the 

emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not 

be healed. The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, 

and astonishment of heart:

Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of 

thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore 

sicknesses, and of long continuance. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they 

shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which 

is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon 

thee, until thou be destroyed." Deut. 28:20,21,22,27,28,59,60,61.

Each of these texts describes Israel's punishment as striking them by a direct 

decree or a direct act of God.

But wait a minute!

Let us turn in our Bibles to Deuteronomy Chapter 31 verses 16-18.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy 

fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods 

of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and 

will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with 

them. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I 

will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall 

be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that 

they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because 

our God is not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day 

for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are 

turned unto other gods." Deut. 31:16-18.

Verse 17 explains very clearly the meaning and mechanism of wrath.  When 

the Israelites forsook God by rejecting His loving invitations and warnings, 

He forsook them, His  face was hid from them and all the evils which befell 

them happened because God was not among them.

It is very clear then that the mechanism of God's wrath is the  separation

caused by sin.  It is this separation between God and sinners that produces 

the  "punishment."

For futher confirmation refer to the following texts:

"Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be 

desolate." Psalm 34:21

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and 

your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 

59:2

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God 

cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every 

man is tempted,

when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust 

hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, 

bringeth forth death." James 1:13-15

"Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will 

forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they 

will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our 

God is not among us?" Deut. 31:17

The punishments do  not come by the direct decreee or direct infliction by 

God.  NO!  The punishments come from sin itself as it separates from God.  

The problem with us is that we try to understand God's wrath in terms of 

human wrath, but this is one thing we should never do.  The reason is written 

down in James 1:20.

"For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

James 1:20

Human wrath transgresses God's law and therefore is sin.  God's wrath is 

righteous it does not act contrary to God's law of love.  God exercises His 

wrath by  giving up those who reject Him.  This "giving up" may be partial 

or complete as we shall learn from later studies.

To further clarify this point, consider Hosea 11:7,8,9.

"And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called 

them to the most High, none at all would exalt him. How shall I give 

thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make 

thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned 

within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the 

fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I 

am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will 

not enter into the city." Hosea 11:7,8,9.

God asked His ancient people a question in Hosea 11:8.  "HOW SHALL I 

GIVE THEE UP, EPHRAIM? How shall I deliver thee Israel?"

And notice (in verse 8) that in giving them up He would be making them as 

Admah and Zeboim, cities of the plain, which were destroyed with Sodom 

and Gomorrah (See Genesis 14:2; 19:24, 25).  This principle in these verses 

will be important in our understanding of the flood and who/what brought 

about the flood.

But understand from verse 9 that His giving them up was equivalent to:

(i) executing the fierceness of His anger and

(ii) destroying them.

Hosea chapter 11 verse 7,8,9 then, establishes the following identity of 

meanings:

GOD'S WRATH = HIS GIVING THEM UP = THE EXECUTION OF HIS 

FIERCE ANGER = HIS DESTROYING THEM

The Nature of Sin

It is the nature of sin to separate us from God, to hide God's face from us.

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have 

separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his 

face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:1,2.

Sin is, in fact, asking God to leave us alone, to depart from us.

"Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty 

do for them?" Job. 22:17.

Since sin separates creature from Creator it produces death.

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when 

it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1Cor. 

15:56

Because God is the fountain of life separation from God by sin produces 

death.

"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." 

Psalm 36:9

"O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, 

and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because 

they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters."  Jer. 

17:13

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the 

fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken

cisterns, that can hold no water." Jer. 2:13

Sin, then, is malignant, it produces destruction and death because it separates 

every detail of the structure and function of the affected part of creation from 

God's righteousness. The Holy Spirit must apply God's wisdom and

Righteousness in Christ to every detail of the structure and function of 

creation in order for created things to be maintained in perfect structural and 

functional integrity. Sin separates from God and produces destruction and 

death.

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when 

it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15

"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there 

is no death." Prov. 12:28

"For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the 

Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they 

that hate me love death."  Prov. 8:35,36.

(Gods Character by Dr. Elliot Douglin)

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work:

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor

thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that

is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus

20:8-11.

I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the

Lord that sanctify them. Ezekiel 20:12.

“The importance of the Sabbath as a memorial of creation is that it keeps ever present the true

reason why worship is due to God,”-because He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. “The Sabbath,

therefore, lies at the very foundation of divine worship; for it teaches this great truth in the most impressive

manner, and no other institution does this. The true ground of divine worship,

not of that on the seventh day merely, but of all worship, is found in the distinction

between the Creator and His creatures. This great fact can never become obsolete, and must never be forgotten.”

- J. N. Andrews, “History of the Sabbath,” chapter 27.

It was to keep this truth ever before the minds of men, that God instituted the Sabbath in Eden.

And so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues to be a reason why we should worship Him, so

long the Sabbath will continue as its sign and memorial. Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man's

thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and

there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of

loyalty to the true God, “Him that made heaven; and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It

follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His commandments, will

especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment.” - The Great Controversy, page 438.

The Sabbath is ever the sign that distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient. With masterly

power Satan has worked to make null and void the fourth commandment, that the sign of God may be lost

sight of. The Christian world have trodden underfoot the Sabbath of the Lord, and observe a Sabbath

instituted by the enemy. But God has a people who are loyal to Him. His work is to be carried forward in

right lines. The people who bear His sign are to establish churches and institutions as memorials to Him.

These memorials, however humble in appearance, will constantly bear witness against the false Sabbath

instituted by Satan, and in favor of the Sabbath instituted by the Lord in Eden, when the morning stars sang

together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” - Testimonies, Volume VII, P. 105.

A PART OF THE TEN-COMMANDMENT LAW

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work:

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor

thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that

is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus

20:8-11.

In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of stone, which

folded together like a book. Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with

the finger of God. On one table were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter

than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was

set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious-a halo of glory was all

around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross. If it was, the other nine

commandments were; and we are at liberty to break them all, as well as to break the fourth. I saw that God

had not changed the Sabbath, for He never changes. But the pope had changed it from the seventh to the

first day of the week; for he was to change times and laws.

And I saw that if God had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, He would have

changed the writing of the Sabbath commandment, written on the tables of stone, which are now in the ark

in the most holy place of the temple in heaven. And it would read thus: The first day is the Sabbath of the

Lord thy God. But I saw that it read the same as when written on the tables of stone by the finger of God,

and delivered to Moses on Sinai, "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." I saw that the

holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that

the Sabbath is the great question, to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints." - Early Writings, pages

32, 33.

Be patient, friend, and run with fortitude The race that God before thee sets.

Though tossed and harried, oft misunderstood, Remember,

long continuance begets Unbending strength; And joy, at length,

Will crown the labors of the true and tried

Who walked in faith beside the Crucified.

Maintain thy hope, thy confidence retain,

Nor dim the trust that soon thy, Lord,

In loving mercy, will return again, in strange fulfillment of His word.

For ripe the hour When in His power

The King must stand and put a timely end

To hate and greed, that o'er this earth contend.

Gird up thy loins, to your appointed task

Lend well thy hand, and gladly run

The errands of the Lord, nor deign to ask

Wherefore, when be thy mission done.

Thus will thy light Be burning bright,

As with the gospel of the kingdom shod,

All unashamed thou waits for thy God

THE SABBATH A MEMORIAL OF CREATION

THE SABBATH A MEMORIAL OF CREATION

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh

day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work

which He had made. Genesis 2:1,2.

After resting upon the seventh day, God sanctified it, or set it apart, as a day of rest for man.

Following the example of the Creator, man was to rest upon this sacred day, that as he should look upon

the heavens and the earth, he might reflect upon God's great work of creation. And that as he should behold

the evidences of God's wisdom and goodness, his heart might be filled with love and reverence for his

Maker.

In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the

seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human

family. Its observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part of all who should dwell

upon the earth, that God was their Creator and their rightful Sovereign; that they were the work of His

hands, and the subjects of His authority. Thus the institution was wholly commemorative, and given to all

mankind. There was nothing in it shadowy, or of restricted application to any people.

God saw that a Sabbath was essential for man, even in Paradise. He needed to lay aside his own

interests and pursuits for one day of the seven, that he might more fully contemplate the works of God, and

meditate upon His power and goodness. He needed a Sabbath to remind him more vividly of God, and to

awaken gratitude because all that he enjoyed and possessed came from the beneficent hand of the Creator."

- Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 47, 48.

Great blessings are enfolded in the observance of the Sabbath, and God desires that the Sabbath

day shall be to us a day of joy. There was joy at the institution of the Sabbath. God looked with satisfaction

upon the work of His hands. All things that He had made He pronounced -very good." Genesis 1:31.

Heaven and earth were filled with rejoicing. "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God

shouted for joy." Job. 38:7.

Though sin has entered the world to mar His perfect work, God still gives to us the Sabbath as a

witness that One omnipotent, infinite in goodness and mercy, created all things. Our heavenly Father

desires through the observance of the Sabbath to preserve among men a knowledge of Himself. He desires

that the Sabbath shall direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him

we may have life and peace." - Testimonies, Volume VI, page 349.

Let those who are content with morality and uprightness of conduct, and are indifferent to

religious duty, be assured that there is an unearthly peace, a heavenly joy, a blessedness like that of the

angels, for every every one who has learned the happy secret of dwelling in the light of the divine presence.

Why is the Sabbath Important? Part 1

 The Sabbath is one of the most important aspects of the believer's life when it is rightfully set in its place in the Christian's understanding of the Character of God. Satan has accused God of being serve (Matthew 25: 24) and unjust and requiring a law that His creatures cannot keep.


The command to keep the Sabbath is found in Exodus 20:8 - 11, it is embedded in the moral law of God, and it reads


"[Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates.


For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes]." (Exodus 20:8-11 AMP)

Firstly, The Sabbath command is a commandment. It is as eternal as God[1] It calls the Christian to remember the seventh day Sabbath to keep it holy. A day or any other of God's requirements cannot be kept, let alone kept holy apart from God doing it in and through us because we are sold out to sin[2]. The promise given to Israel was

 "For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:45)

Holiness is because God is holy. God's very presence makes wherever He is holy by His very nature, oh praise the Lord! Therefore, keeping the Sabbath holy meant keeping Jesus Christ in the believer's heart to make the command effective. So from all eternity the principle of Sabbath rest was kept by God indwelling all His creatures by His Holy Spirit, making and giving rest.

---

[1] Psalms 111:7, 8

[2] Romans 7:14, Romans 8:7, Jeremiah 13:23, Ephesians 2:1

The Question of the Sabbath

Many persons are perplexed about the Sabbath, and rightly so. Popular religious teachings say "the Sabbath is abolished," or " We are no longer under Law but under grace" still another will say "the Sabbath is an old Jewish relic, it was for the Jews and Sunday is for Christians." Among all these discordant voices who is the sincere child of God to believe? Human tradition, religious reasonings of learned men? The plain word of God must be brought to bear on the question and by the guidance of His Spirit the weight of evidence must decide. Isaiah says "And when the people [instead of putting their trust in God] shall say to you, Consult for direction mediums and wizards who chirp and mutter, should not a people seek and consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isaiah 8:19 AMP)To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20 KJV)"

So let us consider what the word of God says on this issue. 

Is Hell Real part 3?

The Greek word “geenna” translated hell, as we outlined before is used to be a place of punishment. This word has falsely been used to establish the notion of an ever-burning hell. Let us see how this word is used in scripture.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:41, 46) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

In addition to these texts, others often quote "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire… And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell… And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30)

As well as “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (luke 9:47, 48) And “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”(Isaiah 66:24)

These passages of scripture, rather than prove the existence of “hell” each refer to the final destruction of the wicked or the “second death.” It is in this sense that “geenna” is used to show the separation that sin causes. Isaiah says “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1, 2)

Sin separates us from our loving heavenly Father. He is the fountain of living waters. Why oh why should anyone choose other than to submit, be forgiven and cleansed and be prepared by going “… on unto perfection [of character]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (1 Corinthians 6:1) for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Christ.

Is Hell real? Part 2

Where is Hell? Do souls really burn forever?

The thought of"Hell" has made many a person a legalistic Christian. That is, they serve God from fear of punishment rather than an intelligent appreciation of His unfathomable love. Hell is said to be a place of torture for disembodied souls. Let us candidly examine this claim by the word of God.

What causes death? The bible makes it clear that "For the wages of sin is death; …" (Romans 6:23) and further "… when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1: 16). Again, "… as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

Our lord and Saviour has redeemed humanity by His infinite sacrifice on the cross of calvary giving our world a second chance at life. Scripture says "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

It is clear that sin causes death and the "gift of God" is life. But what about the doctrine of hell? Does our all wise and everloving God burn His creatures who exercise their choice against Him. Is this the character of our God?

Let us examine the words for hell in the bible. "[Heb. she'ôl; [1]Gr. hadēs and geenna; the Greek verb tartaroō, "to cast (down) to hell," occurs once (2 Pe 2:4).] The word "hades' refers a place of death and the greek "geenna" refers to a place of punishment. Since our English word hell refers to a place of disembodied spirited being tormented in fire there is some confusion that occurs.

"Everlasting fire" and "eternal fire" are also used by some to establish the never-ending nature of the flames of hell. We have already seen that the words translated hell simply mean the grave and "geenna" is a place of punishment, let us look closer at the words translated 'everlasting" and "eternal" they are "olam "in the old testament and "anionios."

The scripture says "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7) Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by "olam" or eternal fire but that fire turned"...the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" (2Peter 2:6)

Moreover, the fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah rather quickly. "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."(Lamentations 4:6)  


In fact, the same eternal or everlasting fire will destroy the wicked, ""For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts."(Malachi 4:1-3.) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." (Psalms 37:20)

The wicked will be as though they had never been. "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been." (Obadiah 16) "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 104:35.)

The second death is the final destruction of unrepentant sinners. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."( Rev. 21:7,8)

The gift of God is eternal life and conversely sin when it is finished produces eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)


 Therefore, from our study the bible makes it clear that these words are used to describe the length of time that lasts as long as the subject lasts.

In our next study we will examine the use of "geenna."