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If we look at God ultimate act of judgment is exacting justice as punishing and destroying evil we are more likely to rush to judgment now and feel a need to lend Him a helping hand before the time is ripe for judgment. Reading those statements by EGW she points out that by do so by our acts of criticism, condemnation and unwisely rebuking others, we foreclose souls hope and opportunity of redemption, pushing those most in need away from the One who can restore them. But if we recognize that God's justice and mercy are one and the same that Divine justice is about setting things right, fixing what is broken, healing the sick and wounded, and creating all things new again, redemption takes on a whole new hue of grace which we are to become dispensers of. Extending grace builds up, uplifts and draws all toward the One who restores the victims of sin to full life as He meant it to be. We are all victims of sin in need of the same restoration.

A rebuke is most effective when a person has a positive relationship with the person. The Internet, such as Club Adventist does not always lend itself to building such.

Why: There is no one answer that fits all. 1) Some believe that it is their Christian duty to battle with others for their soul. After all, if the watchman fail to sound the alarm, the watchman will be guilty. They operate in the name, so they believe, of the Holy Spirit. 2) Some cannot differentiate between sin and the sinner. To them, the sinner is sin personified. On that basis, while they may not acknowledge so, they must hate the sinner. 3) Some feel a great load of guilt. They cannot believe that their sins were expunged at the cross. They still feel guilty today. They accommodate by entering into an action in which they can compare and show to themselves that they are more righteous than the other person. 4) Some like the spiritual power that it gives them. 5) Some people have no idea as to how to treat others and as to how they present themselves to others. 6) Some act in the same manner that others have treated them. 7) Some do not understand righteousness by faith and practice a modified righteous righteousness by works. 8) Some believe that they are the Biblical Rod that should be used to beat others into submission. I have not exhausted the answers. Perhaps none of the above will fit some of the people here? Perhaps some of the above will fit some? I Do not know. But, the above are some answers.

My guess is that angels started using video cameras about 100 years ago! Why write a narritve when you can actually have it on "tape". Wouldn't mind seeing that heavenly data center.

An acquired taste, certainly: and believe it or not, the lyrics are quite discernable with experience. I guess my point was just to broaden the range of what is considered musically 'acceptable' beyond just the cultural tastes of a very narrow group in a very narrow window of time. My music is not for most of you. But that's OK, because your music is every bit as much not for me. (and that doesn't prove your tastes are divine and mine are otherwise - or indeed vice versa. It just shows our tastes are different - and that's OK)

Greetings again 8thdaypriest, I have presented numerous scriptures in the thread “Prophetic Framework Acts 3, Isaiah 2, Daniel 2” that show that there are remnants of the nations left after the Coming of Christ and the judgements at that time. These nations will then become the mortal inhabitants when Christ rules from the throne of David in Jerusalem for the 1000 years. I accept the fact that you reject this view. There will not be any vestige of the kingdoms of men, because they will be fully replaced by the Kingdom of God. The image as a whole represents the kingdoms of men, but the various metals (and beasts of Daniel 7) represent the various phases of the kingdom. Babylon, then Medo-Persia, then Greece, then Rome became dominant, but it was only a continuation of the ONE kingdom of men. I assume you mean “dual prophecy” rather than “duel prophecy”, even though we seem to be continually “dueling” on this issue. I do not consider Daniel 2 (and 7) to be a dual prophecy, rather it has one overall teaching with many parts. Ezekiel 38 and Zechariah 14 give an expanded version of Daniel 2 at the time of Christ’s replacement of the Kingdoms of men with the Kingdom of God that at that time “fills the earth” Daniel 2:35,44, not 1000 years later. Both Ezekiel 38, Zechariah 14, Micah 4 and Isaiah 2 reveal the mortal inhabitants of the 1000 year reign of Christ. Kind regards Trevor

I have found that encouragement to those who are open enough to talk to me about their problems (sins?) works much better than rebuke or criticism. I respect people that have the guts to talk to me about "bad" stuff in their lives. I have enough bad stuff in my own life - who am I to criticize? Sometimes just a smile and/or a hand on the shoulder and/or a short prayer (if you know they are believers) is all you need to comfort them. I don't ever remember Jesus rebuking someone who came to Him with a "problem".

This discussion needs more real, earnest, quality Christian music.

1. We do NOT believe apart from Christ's work in us. Who do think is "drawing" us to Himself ? It's just that we are given the freedom to "resist" the drawing of the Spirit. And God has set things up so that humans must have information upon which to base this acceptance of Christ. It does not happen in a vacuum - without the intake of information - whether from an angel visitor, an appeance of Christ Himself, or a gospel message from other humans. 2. If we were already "in Christ", we would not have to be drawn to Him. Jesus said, "I will draw all men unto me." TRUE - but most men will resist that drawing, or conviction. 3. Colossians 2:13-14 is talking about those who "were dead" who have now been made "alive". Paul is writing to believers - not to those who are still "dead". In most of your Scripture passages the "us" or the "we" includes only those who have responded with belief. The "we" or "us" in those passages does not include the majority of human beings who resist the Spirit of Christ. 4. The letter to the Roman church is speaking to those who "were enemies" (past tense), who have now been "reconciled to God". Non-believers have NOT been reconciled to God. Why would Paul write that we are sent as ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). There would be no need to implore if "all" have already been "reconciled to God". 5. Romans 5:10 is explaining the process. How we were changed from "enemies" to "reconciled". We heard about the "death of His Son." That is the HOW. We were drawn to God by that realization - that God gave His Son for us. God needed no reconcilliation. He already love us. God does not change. Only humans are reconciled - in heart - to God. 6. The gift of grace, and salvation HAPPENED when God pledged/promised His only Begotten for the human race. It is in that sense only, that grace was given to us "before the creation of the world." Whether we allow/embrace/and open to the drawing of the Spirit or resist to our eternal destruction, happens one person at a time - as the "message of reconciliation" is delivered to each one individually. Blessings, Rachel Cory Prophecy Viewpoint

Do a digital search of EGW's writings just using the 3 key words "criticism" "condemnation" and "Christ" Read each passage carefully. The quote above is the first of a dozen like it.

Sometimes, I think people who are not satisfied with their own personal spiritual walk take comfort is saying "at least I'm not as much of an infidel/heretic/sinner/hipocryte (choose one) as THAT person". They highlight another's issues in an appempt to take the spotlight off of themselves. Sometimes when people cannot effectively respond to a challengs, they feel justified in personally attacking another rather than sticking to the issues. Anyone who thinks differently than me is an idiot.