THE TERRIBLE STORM!

UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES

IS "WRATH" EVER USED

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,

IN RELATION TO GOD?

"And when He looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand."Mark 3:5.

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."Romans 2:5.

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."Romans 5:9.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."Romans 1:18.

"And (the wicked) said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"Revelation 6:16-17 (cf. Rom 4:15; 9:22; Rev 11:18).

"Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. Would we know how Christ regards it? . . How would a father and mother feel, did they know that their child, lost in the cold and the snow, had been passed by, and left to perish, by those who might have saved it? . . Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears, intense as their love? The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of Gods child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb."Desire of Ages, 825.

Here are examples of this word, thumos, in the New Testament:

"And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God."Rev

HAVING TO TAKE THE KNIFE

Calvary brings infinite good to all the universe, without exception. But it cost an infinite sacrifice, by the Godhead, in order to make this possible. It cost them an agony that none else will ever be able to fully grasp.

And, as it were, the Fathers knife was raised to slay His own Son. For He took the part of Judge and gave the cup of wrath to His Son to drink. Although Abrahams hand was stayed, the Godhead went all the way through with the agony to the end, which was the death of the Son and later the death of those who reject Him.

Thank God for such a wonderful love, a love that for our sakes goes through this most difficult experience, all the way to the end.

THE LAST MESSAGE OF MERCY

Repeatedly, we are told that the threefold message of the angels is the final message to mankind. And, in a parallel passage, we are told that the last message of mercy to a dying world is a message of Gods love.

The warning message may seem severe; but He has to give it in order to wake us up, that we may return and not be lost. And as repentant souls all over the world learn of this message, they reply, "God loves me enough to send me a warning. It breaks me down to think of it. He loves me enough to warn me before it is too late. I shall respond to His love by coming back to Him." Precious souls for whom Christ died see the love in the warning. They see that it was given in mercy. The last message is a message of mercya message of love. Read it: Revelation 14:6-12.

THE JUDGE WILL EXECUTE THE JUDGMENT

He who went through this experience in order to save man is the One who has been appointed to finally give that cup of wrath, unmixed with mercy, to the finally impenitent wicked (read GC 621). They were previously offered a way outan escape from eternal deathbut they consistently refused it. And the One who offered them the mercy is the One assigned to give them the cup of wrath. This is the fairness of God. A fairness without equal.

The work of Judgment belongs to the Lord alone (AA 216) . . and is the responsibility of Christ alone to carry out (COL 74). Christ took humanity that He might become mans Judge (9T 185). It should be understood that man is not the judge (DA 314) and neither are the angels (9T 185). Only 

Christ can be mans Judge (9T 185), and He alone has been appointed to execute the Judgment upon the wicked (DA 210; GC 666; SR 422).

In the Investigative Judgment, God the Father presides (GC 421) while Jesus appears as our High Priest, our Advocate, and the One to individually perform the work of examination and passing of judgment upon the life of each of His professed followers (GC 419-480). He does not become Supreme Judge until His priestly work in the Sanctuary is completed (7BC 989).

In the Executive Judgment, God the Father will not be mans Judge; Jesus has been assigned this work (9T 185). Christ has been appointed to execute the Judgment (DA 210). Satans part in this Judgment will be exposed; and he will suffer as a result of Christs act of Judgment (GC 669; PP 338-339). Satan will not "assist" in the work of Judgment; only God who is perfectly fair and honest as a judge will do this work. Satan, the liar from the beginning, could do nothing fairly. Christ is the Judge during the millennium (EW 290; GC 660-661) and at the close of the millennium (EW 52-54; 291294; GC 666-673; SR 421-4291).

The responsibility for the destruction of the impenitent sinner lies at his own door. God will execute the sentence of death upon the wicked. He will carry it out; but those who die are responsible for their own deaths. By his persistent refusal to repent, the sinner destroys himself (COL 84-85). God arbitrarily destroys no man; it was the choice of that man himself. Heaven, in mercy, gave him what he had spent a lifetime asking for.

Every transgression brings punishment (1 SM 235). This punishment is proportional to the amount of light that has been received and rejected (PK 425; 4T 165). The sinner brings punishment upon himself (1 SM 235; 6BC 1110). For this reason, some of the wicked will receive more punishment than others (EW 294; GC 673); and Satan will receive the most (EW 294-295; GC 613).

In this probationay life, God often permits sin to be punished with sin (PP 728); but the final punishment of the wicked is a definite act of God Himself ((they will not kill themselves). It is Gods strange act (PP 628). God frequently uses natural laws as His instruments (PP 114); but the final destruction of sin will be His direct actby His igniting of the fire, sending it down from heaven, and then drawing up burning fossil fuels from beneath the earth to its surface (7BC 946-947; PP 108-110; EW 54; 52; 294; GC 672-673; 3BC 1142).

There are reasons why God did not immediately destroy sin as soon as it began (COL 72; DA 759; Ed 308; GC 498-499; PP 41-43; 1 SM 341). And there are reasons why the existence of sin has been continued since Christs death (DA 161, 164). But God will not always be mocked (5T 234). He only gives so much time. The day is coming when He will step in and cut things short. As in all ages, when matters come to a crisis, God will interpose (COL 178).

A careful reading of Great Controversy will reveal that these judgments from God are greatly intensified after the close of probation; and truly, as we are told, they are "unmixed with mercy" (GC 629, 621). Vengeance and retributive judgments immediately begin to be poured out. The storm has then begun in full fury. God does not wait until later to initiate it.

To say it another way: In a very definite sense, Gods final judgments against sin begin as soon as human probation ends. It is at that time that the Battle of Armageddon begins, a battle between God and Satan and his followers. The millennium provides an interlude during which the Sentencing Judgment take place. Then the wicked are raised, the Executive Judgment occurs, and the battle is forever ended.

At the close of probation, Jesus ceases His ministry as our High Priest, Advocate, and Examiner of the entries in the Book of Life (GC 613-614); and He puts off His priestly robes and clothes Himself in His garments of vengeance (EW 280-281). He is at that time appointed the Supreme Judge by the Father (7BC 989). Throughout most of human history, His judgments have been mingled with mercy; for they have been sent to awaken men to repent and flee from the wrath to come. But after probation closes, His judgments upon the wicked are no longer mingled with mercy (GC 629).

This wrath is especially shown in the seven last plagues that are poured out upon the wicked after probation ceases (GC 627); and, in the destructions that occur, His voice sounds, delivering His people (GC 636-638). Again, this wrath is evidenced at His Second Coming to earth (PP 338341). And, finally, it will be manifest in the Final Execution of the

Judgment at the close of the millennium, when He rains fire from heaven upon the wicked.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF

IS A CONSUMING FIRE TO THE WICKED

"The whole earth shall be ablaze with the terrible light of His presence."Patriarchs and Prophets, 339.

"God is a consuming fire."Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 4:24.

"Our God shall come and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him."Psalms 50:3.

"For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire."Isaiah 66:15.

"A fire goeth before Him and burneth up His enemies round about."Psalm 97:3.

"Judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."Hebrews 10:27.

"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming."2 Thessalonians 2:8.

SODOM WAS DESTROYED

BY FIRE FROM HEAVEN

Angels drew near on their mission of destruction (PP 157). Compare these striking passages: The destruction of Sodom (PP 156-170) was sudden and unexpected (PP 162); but, when God destroyed it, it was an act of mercy (GC 543). The destruction was caused by fire from heaven (EW 45; GC 431; GW 126; PK 297) and fire and brimstone rained from heaven (PP 162; TM 75; 1 SM 63). This destructive act of the God of Heaven was called fiery blasts (7T 89) and balls of fire (5BC 1122), and it stands as a warning to future generations that it will happen again (PP 162-165; 5T 232-233). It was an example of how the wicked will finally be destroyed (Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6; cf. 2:4-9). Consider the vivid statements in GC 543 and TM 75. The world today is fast becoming a Sodom and preparing for a like destruction from God (4BC 1144, 1161; CH 112; Ed 228; DA 122; FE 286, 317; GW 125-126; PP 167; 5T 218; 8T 49: 9T 43; TM 457). In the outpouring of His wrath, balls of fire will again fall (Ev 29; 9T 28; Ev 43; WM 136-137).

THE DAY OF GODS VENGEANCE

God takes no delight in vengeance (PP 139; 628); the day is near when it shall come (GC 48; 673). But it is for God to take vengeance, not man (2BC 1022; Ed 257). Christ shall put off His priestly robes and put on His garments of vengeance at the close of His Sanctuary ministry, when human probation ends (5T 690).

GODS STRANGE WORK

It will be the outpouring of His wrath on the wicked (2 SM 373). The work of destruction, by God, is a strange act to Him; it is not the usual way He works, but it must be done (COL 190). A careful reading of the Spirit of Prophecy indicates that Gods strange work includes more than the final destruction of the wicked. It appears that all of His judgments, unmingled with mercy, are part of this strange act (GC 627the seven last plagues; PP 628destruction of the Amalekites; PP 139the destruction of Sodom). A large number of such acts begin at the close of probation (GC 629; 627; 2 SM 372-373)and that is not very far off! We have a warning to give!

This strange act is also called "the day of wrath" (Rom 2:5); "judgment and fiery indignation" (Heb 10:27); "vengeance . . wrath . . indignation . . anger . . fury" (Nahum 1:2, 3, 5-6); "repayment" (Deut 7:9-10); the "time of thy visitation" (Luke 19:44),

THE DAY OF VISITATION

RETRIBUTIVE JUDGMENT

THE WAGES OF SIN

THE FINAL REWARDS

The righteous receive their reward at the Second Coming of Christ (6T 305-306). It will be eternal life (SL 76). But the sinners reward will be the second death (1 SM 220); and it will be received after the millennium (7BC 986-987; EW 290-291; GC 666-673).

[1] Sufferings (EW 294; GC 673) and terrible pains (5T 620).

[2] Consumed by the fire (EW 52-54; 294-295; GC 485-486).

[3] Deprived of existence by it (GC 544).

[4] Sink into hopeless and eternal oblivion (GC 544-545).

Satan and his followers will die an everlasting death (EW 295).

And, equally important [5], Sin will never arise a second time anywhere in the universe (GC 504).

WHEN MERCY CEASES

HE SENDS OUT HIS FIRE

AND DESTROYS

As has been earlier mentioned, the destruction of Sodom and the cities of the plain (Gen 19:24-29) are an example to us of the final destruction of the wicked (2 Peter 2:4-9; Jude 7). "The flames that consumed the cities of the plain shed their warning light down even to our time" (PP 162). And the cities of the earth today are fast becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah (Ev 30).

But there are other incidents when God sent fire from the skies, or from heaven, and destroyed the wicked in Bible times. Do not forget the judgments of God against Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10; PP 359). Then there is the judgment on Korahs company (Num 16:35; PP 401). Fire flashing from the cloud consumed 250 men (PP 401).

We are told that judgments such as these are just and that they will come again. Because of this, we are not to express sympathy.

"The Lord would teach His people to acknowledge the justice of His corrections, that others may fear. There are those in Israel whom the warning of this terrible judgment might save from presuming upon Gods forbearance . . It is the duty of Christs servants to show the erring ones their peril.

"Those who destroy the effect of the warning by blinding the eyes of sinners to the real character and results of sin often flatter themselves that they thus give evidence of their charity; but they are working directly to oppose and hinder the work of Gods Holy Spirit; they are lulling the sinner to rest on the brink of destruction;

Then there were the judgments on the wicked men who sought Elijah (2 Kgs 1:10, 12; PP 208). The wrath of God fell upon them in judgment (PP 208).

Here are six other instances in which God sent fire, usually from heaven or from the skies, and destroyed the wicked: Patriarchs and Prophets, 71, 348, 359; and Prophets and Kings, 37, 45, 153, 335. In the case of four of these, "the fire came down from heaven" (PP 71; PK 37, 45, 153, 335).

IN THIS TIME OF PROBATION,

GOD USES FIRE

AS A WARNING JUDGMENT

CAN SATAN BRING DOWN FIRE?

We have seen many examples of the fact that God, Himself, uses fire as a warning and as a punishmentin past ages, in our day, and in the final windup of earths history that is just ahead. But to what degree can Satan produce fire and send it upon people?

(1) On his own, Satan may be able to cause fires to break out, as God permits. These are natural fires. But because Satan can do this, we cannot sidestep the fact that God has also done it in the past, is doing it now, and will do it again in the future.

(2) Satan can miraculously produce fire. What is this fire and how does he produce it? The prophecy of Revelation 13:13 is applied to Satan several times. We are told that he and his agents will "bring fire down from heaven"; the context explains what this means. This fire will not be real fire, but a "lying wonder" in imitation of the genuine, in every case in which it is described in the Spirit of Prophecy. Consider the following passages:

"Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will [during the Loud Cry] hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand."Great Controversy, 612.

"Satan also workswith lying wonderseven bringing down fire." The fire he brings down is only in their sight; it can be seen, like the magicians serpents in Egypt. But that is all, for it is not real.

"I saw that soon it would be considered blasphemy to speak against the rapping [manifestations of spiritualism], and that it would spread more and more, that Satans power would increase and some of his devoted followers would have power to work miracles and even to bring down fire from heaven in the sight of men."

Then we are told how Satan does these various miracles: by an appearance only.

"I was shown that by the rapping and mesmerism these modern magicians would yet account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God when on earth were accomplished by this same power. I was pointed back to the time of Moses and saw the signs and wonders which God wrought through him before Pharaoh, most of which were imitated by the magicians of Egypt; and that just before the filial deliverance of the saints, God would work powerfully for His people, and these modern magicians would be permitted to imitate the work of God. That time will soon come, and we shall have to keep hold of the strong arm of Jehovah; for all these great signs and mighty wonders of the devil are designed to deceive Gods people and overthrow them. Our minds must be stayed upon God."Early Writings, 59-60.

"The most specious temptations of the enemy are coming in, and they are coming in on the highest, most elevated plane. These spiritualize the doctrines of present truth until there is no distinction between the substance and the shadow. You know that Satan will come in to deceive if possible the very elect. He claims to be Christ, and he is coming in, pretending to be the great medical missionary. He will cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men, to prove that he is God. We must stand barricaded by the truths of the Bible. The canopy of truth is the only canopy under which we can stand safely."Medical Ministry, 87-88.

Only Bible truth will enable us not to be deceived by the lying wonders, when they occur.

You may recall that the children at Lourdes, France, who claimed to have seen an apparition (vision) of the Virgin Mary, also said they saw the sun dancing in the sky.

"Be not drawn from the voice of God in His Word. Let nothing divert the mind. The wonderful, the marvelous, will be represented and presented. Through satanic delusions, wonderful miracles, the claims of human agents [of Satan!] will be urged. Beware of all this."2 Selected Messages, 49.

"There is to be among Gods people no spiritual stupidity. Evil spirits are actively engaged in seeking to control the minds of human beings . . Those who discard Christ and His righteousness will accept the sophistry that is flooding the world . . Men under the influence of evil spirits will work miracles. They will make people sick by casting their spell upon them, and will then remove the spell, leading others to say that those who were sick have been wonderfully healed. This Satan has done again and again. We need not be deceived. Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will be closely connected, will soon take place. Gods Word declares that Satan will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed. These [are] works of apparent healing."2 Selected Messages, 53.

"On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver. He is a transgressor of the moral law, and employs every device that he can master to blind men to its true character. We are warned that in the last days he will work with signs and lying wonders. And he will continue these wonders until the close of probation."2 Selected Messages, 51.

"We are coming right upon the time when Satan is to work with all manner of bewitching influences, and those who are charmed with them now, or give them the least countenance now, will be all ready to be swept right in to act a part with the devil then. Evil angels are working all the time upon the hearts of men. Satan is working with everyone who is not under the control of the Spirit of God. It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take the world captive, and he will cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men. He is to work miracles; and this wonderful, miracle-working power is to sweep in the whole world."2 Selected Messages, 51.

"The man who makes the working of miracles the test of his faith will find that Satan can, through a species of deceptions, perform wonders that will appear to be genuine miracles. It was this [that] he hoped to make a test question with the Israelites at the time of their deliverance from Egypt."2 Selected Messages, 52.

Those deceived by Satanthose not remaining by the Word of God-are the ones most likely to witness these counterfeit miracles.

"If we accept not the truth in the love of it, we may be among the number who will see the miracles wrought by Satan in these last days, and believe them. Many strange things will appear as wonderful miracles, which should be regarded as deceptions manufactured by the father of lies."2 Selected Messages, 53.

In the next paragraph, we are told that false Adventists will bring down some of this imitation fire.

"The enemy [Satan] will work through his agents who have departed from the faith, and they will seemingly work miracles, even to the bringing down of fire out of heaven in the sight of men. By means of lying wonders Satan would deceive, if possible, the very elect."2 Selected Messages, 54.

In summary, then, we see that (1) Satan will be permitted to bring down "fire from heaven"; but it is an imitation fire that cannot hurt or injure anyone. (2) This is the kind of fire that is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation 13:13. (3) This fire is brought down directly by Satan or through his agents. (4) This fire is brought down, not as a destructive power, but to charm and captivate the peoples attention. We are not once told that this satanic "fire from heaven" will be able to damage, maim, or destroy. This is not the purpose in bringing it down. Indeed, it could not injure, anyway; for it is only magic fire (apparent fire), nothing more.

Satans "fire from heaven" cannot destroy because it is not real; but he can bring disaster and destruction in other ways: When God permits, Satan can bring disease, disaster, accidents, fire setting, storms, floods, tidal waves, earthquakes, and pestilence. He is doing this now; and he will do it at the time he appears on earth, in personation of Christ (GC 589-590). After the close of probation, Satan will bring destructive acts in a still 

more intensified form (GC 614).

In a passage separate to the one referred to above, describing Satans disasters, we are told of the seven last plagues (GC 627-630); they will come as a direct judgment from God. We are never told, anywhere, that the seven last plagues will come through the power or instrumentality of Satan. On the contrary, we are told that (1) God will use the forces of nature in this work (PP 509), (2) the plagues will unveil Satans deceptions (EW 266), and that (3) the wrath of God is revealed in them (GC 627; EW 289, 64). The wrath of God and His Strange Act against the wicked begin on a massive scale at the close of probation, when Christs ministry in the Sanctuary is completed (GC 629; 627). This wrath will end at the time of their final destructionthe day of the Lords vengeance (GC 672-673; SR 428-429), when the wicked are finally blotted out. At that time His justice will be fully satisfied. You and I know little of the terrible wickedness that men and devils have done against Gods innocent ones for thousands of years. It will require their death to satisfy Gods justice in this matter.

For more on Gods responsibility in sending the seven last plagues, read Revelation 15:3-16:21.

A key point in all of this is what and who is responsible for the death of the wicked in the last days. Is it God or Satan or wicked men? And most specifically, who causes the death of the wicked at the Second Advent of Christ and, again, when the wicked are finally blotted out of existence after the millennium? Here is a suggestive analysis of what is ahead:

Before the Close of Probation: Judgments of God are sent as retribution to the wicked for the terrible injuries they bring to the righteous (7BC 946). Warning judgments are also sent to bring men back to Him (PK 278; LS 412-414); but these usually result only in the loss of property, not death. Natural disasters sent as judgments from God would include lesser disasters before the close of probation (PK 278; 7BC 946; 9T 97) and major disasters before and after the close of probation (MYP 89:2-90; Ev 27).

Intensified disasters from Satan (GC 614-615; 623) and the seven last plagues from God (GC 627-630; EW 289; COL 286-287). Natural disasters from God will occur when He delivers His people by the Voice of God sounding from heaven (GC 635-638) and afterward, till the Second Advent.

Natural destructions will be sent as judgments by God (COL 286-287; PP 109); both passages also refer to earlier events and continuation of the plagues).

Savage fighting among men (EW 289-290; GC 655657).

Lightnings which He sends from heaven, uniting with fire in the earth, will cause volcanoes, explosions, and earthquakes (7BC 946; probably beginning at the Voice of God).

Some deaths occurred as a result of fighting by the wicked against one another (GC 655657). But we would not consider that a disaster. This fighting, which began at the Voice of God (EW 289-290), ceases as they see the Son of Man drawing near to the earth. Seeing it, their silence changes to intense fear and a crying to the rocks to cover them and hide them from His presence (GC 642). They are too frightened by His presence to return to their bickering and anger with one another.

There are convulsions of nature which are caused by the Second Advent (PP 340-341; GC 641). Some of these may cause death.

The brightness of Christs presence is a devouring fire before Him and appears to be the primary event destroying the wicked before the millennium (PP 338-340; GC 642).

Just before the second coming of Christ and the end of the world, God will send lightnings from heaven which will kindle fossil fuel fires that will cover the earth (PP 109-110). This event is referred 

to in GC 638 and possibly 637 and 639; thus it may also be occurring, to a partial degree, a little before the Second Advent.

The following listing includes actual causes of the death of the wicked after the millennium, as well as some earlier judgments against the wicked:

Christs death brings Satans death knell (GC 503-504; EW 158).

A sea of fire caused by God (COL 179; EW 54).

Lightning from heaven will unite with fire that God will draw from the earth (7BC 946-947).

Fire breathed from God (EW 54; Rev 20:9).

Destruction from God (PP 341).

Death is caused, not by battle and bloodshed but, by fire fuel (GC 672; Isa 9:5).

Destruction from the Lord (GC 672; PP 341).

God as a consuming fire (GC 673; SR 429).

Fire from God out of heaven (EW 294; SR 428).

Quick-burning coals rained from God (GC 672).

Utterly destroyed by the indignation and fury of the Lord (GC 672).

They will be burned with unquenchable fire (Matt 3:12; Luke 3:17).

His mercy is a terrible power to punish sin (7BC 935-936).

It is the wrath of God and the lamb that causes the destruction of the wicked (EW 52).

Destruction without remedy from God (7BC 946).

The angel of death is from God (Eze 9:6).

The angels of God are all-powerful (DA 700; GC 511-512; 3BC 1127; PP 748; PK 37; GC 614; DA 500; PP 157; SR 78-79; DA 51; PP 279-280; SD 227; SR 118-119; 1T 265; 4T 20-21; 5T 505; AA 151-152; PP 269; PP 748; 7BC 983; 9T 93; 3T 364; TM 431).

Devouring fire from Him (PP 338-340).

He will send fire, earthquake, tempest, and death (COL 286-287).

Wicked destroyed by lightnings, volcanoes, and earthquakes from God (PP 108-110).

He will cause fire from heaven to unite with fire from under the earth (7BC 946-947).

Consumed by the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory (GC 657).

Cast by His angels into a furnace of fire (COL 75).

He will cleanse the earth by a sea of fire (COL 179).

Great stones cast down upon them (PP 509).

By plagues from God (3SG 82).

1. Prior to both, the wicked try to blot the righteous from existence, but without success.

2. SC (Second Coming): At the Voice of God, the wicked give up the attempt and realize the truth of the situation. FD (Final Death of the Wicked): At the appearance of Christ above the City, a final clear understanding of their undone condition is given to the wicked.

3. SC: The wicked then turn in fierce anger upon one another, and especially upon the religious leaders. This results in death to an untold number. FD: When the wicked then turn upon their religious leaders, and especially upon Satan, we are not told that there is any loss of life by this action. All of the issues in the great controversy are now settled and understood; so the fire immediately falls. It is the fire that slays them, not combat. And the amount of punishment, in this fire, that each would receive will be carefully determined in the sentencing judgment during the millennium.

4. SC: God executes the judgment by sending fire from heaven that kindles fossil fuel on earth; the wicked are slain amid a sheet of flame covering the earth and the brightness of Christs glorious presence. Satan and his angels are permitted to remain alive through this event. FD: The issues in the great controversy are then understood, the fire falls from heaven and unites with fire from beneath the earth, and each wicked creature suffers only a just amount and no more. This fire then purifies the earth.

"The angels of heaven witnessed every movement made against their loved Commander [at His trial before Annas]. They longed to deliver Christ. Under God the angels are all-powerful. On one occasion, in obedience to the command of Christ, they slew of the Assyrian army in one night one hundred and eighty-five thousand men. How easily could the angels, beholding the shameful scene of the trial of Christ, have testified their indignation by consuming the adversaries of God!"Desire of Ages, 700.

Christ and the loyal angels fought in this battle and won it: DA 119, 490; MH 94; SR 19; 1T 626; EW 145-146; 7BC 973.

As a result of this battle, Satan and his angels were expelled from heaven: GC 499-500, 513, 582; PP 42; 1 SM 222, 316; SR 19; 1T 294, 440; 3T 114-115; TM 145; 4BC 1143; 6BC 119; 7BC 973; CT 32, 205; DA 490, 761.

"Concerning the popular system of interpreting or misinterpreting, the Scriptures, Wolff wrote: The greater part of the Christian church have swerved from the plain sense of Scripture, and have turned to the phantomizing system of the Buddhists, who believe that the future happiness of mankind will consist in moving about in the air, and suppose that when they are reading Jews they must understand Gentiles, when they read Jerusalem, they must understand the church; and if it is said earth, it means sky; and for the coming of the Lord they must understand the progress of the missionary societies, and going up to the mountain of the Lords house, signifies a grand class meeting of Methodists. "Great Controversy, 360.

Some of the advocates of this strange theory teach that Adam and Eve were not driven out of Eden. They decided they didnt like it there anymore. Abraham did not fight in that battle of Genesis 14:12-23. He merely encouraged Mamre and Eshcol and Aner to do it on his behalf. Satan brought that water out of the skies and out of the groundand then got so much coming that he feared for his life amid the warring elements? God did not kill Korah, Dathan, and Abiram by having the earth open from beneath them and swallowing them. It was caused by a sudden, unexpected, and totally accidental earthquake! The children of Israel did not go out to war against their enemies at the command of God, as we are told in Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and Chronicles. Because He slew no one at His First Advent, therefore Christ cannot slay anyone by the brightness of His coming at His Second Advent. The words wrath, kill, slay, fight against, destroy, burn up, and consume do not mean that, whenever applied to acts of God in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy. Such are the twistings of Scripture needed to support this error.

It is utter blasphemy to attribute the power of God to Satan! Fred Wright dared to say that, not Gods direct act but, an accidental earthquake opened up the ground and caused the death of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. But read this:

"God had given overwhelming evidence that He was leading Israel. But Korah and his companions rejected light until they became so blinded that the most striking manifestations of His power were not sufficient to convince them; they attributed them all to human or satanic agency. The same thing was done by the people, who the day after the destruction of Korah and his company came to Moses and Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord. Notwithstanding they had the most convincing evidence of Gods displeasure at their course, in the destruction of the men who had deceived them, they dared to attribute His judgments to Satan, declaring that through the power of the evil one, Moses and Aaron had caused the death of good and holy men. It was this act that sealed their doom. They committed the sin against the Holy Spirit, a sin by which mans heart is effectually hardened against the influence of divine grace."Patriarchs and Prophets, 405 (see 3 Testimonies, 358).

TAKING THE BLAME

Scripture. Clearly then, "God does not kill the wicked," because the Bible cannot be trusted to say what it means. In proof of this, some teachers of this error try to locate places in the Bible where God or Christ or the angels liedas proof that the Bible does not really mean what it says! Then, when you ask them why the Bible does not mean what it says, some, like Mike Clute, will reply that "God always takes the blame." Well, that seems simple enough. He is just so good and kindly that when Satan kills 185,000 men in one nightGod covers for him and says "No, dont blame him! I did it; blame Me! I dont want you to think badly of him."

"Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there . . For I will defend this city, to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant Davids sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."2 Kings 19:32, 34-35 (read 2 Kgs 19 and Isa 37).

Now, that may sound good and kindly for God to say that He did it when Satan really did it; but would such a cover-up really be goodness and kindliness or even honesty?

For example, Mr. Jones tells the police that he burned down his neighbors house, when in reality another man living nearby did itbecause he enjoys burning down peoples houses. "Oh," someone will say, "he was just being nice; he takes the blame!" Down here on earth, we are all quite used to deception; but the pure and truthful God of heaven does not use such tactics. He always tells the truth. Do you believe that? I do.

The issues in the great controversy demand honesty on the part of God. It will not be solved by confusing people as to what is taking place and lying about circumstances and events. Covering for a criminal is something that fellow criminals donot good men or the police or the courts of law. But we live in a time when it is culturally good to cover for criminals. Dont arrest them; dont sentence them; dont punish them. Kindness demands that we soften the entire experience for them. Child-raising experts and adult psychologists say that punishment is not psychologically beneficial.

What kind of goodness and kindness do we think God has? We think He is altogether too much like ourselves. We live in a generation that disbelieves in obedience to law and punishment of sinand even preaches it from the pulpits of the land. But God is not as we are.

Do you believe that God is a liar? The basic issue in the "He always takes the blame" excuse is that some people would rather believe that God lies about criminals than that He will punish them!

As for me and my house: We reject the "God will not punish the wicked" teaching as wrong, unscriptural, illogical, and dangerous. Anyone who accepts this teaching is imperiled by it; erelong he may dabble with other errors, simply because "they seem nice to me." He has opened the door to the most profound heresies. He needs only time before he walks all the way in.

Well, is it? Our Western culture is leaning heavily toward the concept that it is wrong to punish criminals. This is the basic issue in the "God does not kill the wicked" concept. Is it wrong for God to punish criminals?

Our source of guidance to truth is Scripture. The Bible teaches that it is not wrong to punish criminals. It is not wrong for God to do it; it was not wrong for Israel to do it at His command; it was not wrong for their court system to do it. He even told them what acts to kill criminals for and how to do it. (See the section, Capital Punishment in the Bible, given earlier in this study.)

God instructed His people to search out the criminal and put him to death in a certain way. And sometimes God stepped in (especially when no one else would do it or, because the job was so immense, no one else could) and killed the criminals Himself.

The United States is becoming overrun with criminals because they receive little or no punishment. The police cannot effectively apprehend them because of Supreme Court regulations; the courts often free them or give them only light sentences. In California only the worst crimes receive over six years prison sentenceby action of the California State Legislaturesimply because the prisons are so overcrowded that offenders must be turned out quickly, to make room for more. We have come to the time, now in California, when the criminals are going in and out so fast, that the majority are outside and have little fear of conviction or heavy sentencing, even if caught. So they warn the prison guards by phone that, if they are not careful with their friends, their families will be given special treatment while they are at work. Our nation is becoming demoralized because it is not nice to punish criminals who are murdering our neighbors, lying in wait for our friends, raping their wives, and selling dope to the children. And now it is becoming part of our religion. People think that God must not hurt the criminals either, or He is not "good and kind" to the people on earth or to the heavenly universe.

CAN THE DEVIL

BE ENTRUSTED WITH HELL?

Amazing Facts has as one of its twelve Amazing Facts Information Folders, a study on the punishment and death of the wicked. That which it teaches is regular Adventist doctrinal belief. However, the title is something worth our attention: Is the Devil in Charge of Hell? Can he be trusted to be impartial?" (Information Folder B) Emblazoned behind these vivid words is a color sketch of a devil with smaller-sized people suffering as they stand and cry in flame in the open palms of his hands. Thus, the title and picture is pointing out the Roman Catholic view that the devil is in charge of hellfire. Inside the folder, of course, the reader is presented with the correct view of the matter.

By the way, here is the opening paragraph of the Amazing Facts tract, mentioned above: "Well, what about it? Is the devil in charge of hell? Does God keep such a crooked, sneaky, lowdown demon on His payroll . . and trust him with that important positionGeneral Superintendent of Hell? The very reputation of God is involved in the answer to this question."

Now, think about that a moment. Do you see the implications? The "God will not kill the wicked" advocates teach that God is not in charge of hellfireSatan is! They suggest that he starts the fire and then burns up the people. God has nothing to do with the affair; but, rather, he stands afar off while Satan has the whole procedure in his own control. God does not start it; God does not stop it. For however long that he may decide to let it drag out, Satan is in charge of the whole thing.

How much different is that from the Roman Catholic error? Not much. Only the length of time varies. The Second Angel warns us to flee from Roman Catholic error. The Third Angel solemnly tells us what will happen if we dont.

The love of God is a mature lovea love that pleads, warns, and protects. And it is a love that can act and stop. It is a deep and genuine love.

THE CATHOLIC VIEW OF HELL