A Discussion of the Cause of the Flood

[pnattmbtc]

Originally Posted By: pnattmbtc

No answer. Well, I don't blame you. It's not a very tenable position.[/quote']

Please realize that posters cannot always stay online and they may have problems with their computers, such I have had for the last few days. It goes off periodically and I need to get it repaired. So be patient and your questions will all be answered. Don't assume that because you don't get an immediate answer, the person can't answer, etc. People have families and many other things they must do. :-)

This isn't what I was saying. I asked Richard a question, but he chose not to answer it. He responded, but didn't answer the question. I was saying I wasn't surprised with his lack of response, as the position you laid out (I was asking him if he agreed with your position regarding not being able to sentence your loved ones to be burned alive because you don't hate sin enough) was not very tenable.

I wasn't saying anything about my question not being responded to. If people don't answer my questions, and I want them responded to, I just repost them.

[Guest]

I did answer your question. You either trust that God knows what he's doing or you don't. You didn't answer my question, so I'll ask it again:

When you find out that God does what he says, will you still want to go to heaven?

[Guest]

Is she arguing against judgment here?

But fire from God out of heaven is rained upon them, and the great men, and mighty men, the noble, the poor and miserable, are all consumed together. I saw that some were quickly destroyed, while others suffered longer. They were punished according to the deeds done in the body. {EW 294}

[Guest]

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

It absolutely does.

Rev 20:9 And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and encircled the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

These people encircling the the beloved city are not dead.

Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Neither were these men dead when this happened. So you see the Lord has already burned up people that were alive. What makes you think he won't do what he says on that day?

[pnattmbtc]

Quote:

I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then, if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course, independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan's decided attacks upon them. It is Satan's power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey.--14MR 3 (1883). {LDE 242.2}

Richard:She's talking about everyday type judgements here, that happen during ones life. She is not talking about the final judgment.

The quote continues:

Quote:

It is Satan's power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress, and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey. And storm and tempest both by sea and land will be, for Satan has come down in great wrath. He is at work. He knows his time is short and, if he is not restrained, we shall see more terrible manifestations of his power than we have ever dreamed of.

These aren't "every day type judgments" but judgments related to Satan's knowing his time is short. Here's a similar statement:

Quote:

When (Christ) leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God's long-suffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. (GC 614)

This brings out the same principles, and there's no question this is dealing with the final judgments.

[Guest]

WRONG!! when Satan plunges them into one last time of trouble is not the final judgment. It's getting close, but not there yet.

[pnattmbtc]

I did answer your question.

[Guest]

The same way you can construe my answer not to be one.

[pnattmbtc]

Originally Posted By: pnattmbtc

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

It absolutely does.

Rev 20:9 And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and encircled the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

These people encircling the the beloved city are not dead.

Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Neither were these men dead when this happened. So you see the Lord has already burned up people that were alive. What makes you think he won't do what he says on that day?

[Guest]

The disciples of Christ had read these passages of Scriptures just like us today and their understanding had been obcsured by tradition and misterpretation and the result was that they had seen God in a false light. So when they asked Jesus if they could call fire from heaven to fall upon a village of the Samaritans for refusing to lodge them for the night, Jesus rebuked them and told them they did not know by what spirit they were actuacted.

Would not Jesus have to rebuke us today in the same manner for seeing Him as a God that answereth by fire? sky

No we would not be rebuked for believing the book of Revelation. And that's not what they were guilty of. They thought Jesus had come to set up his kingdom, but it wasn't time for that yet. He didn't make that trip to burn people up. But the Bible and EGW plainly state that on the next trip he most certainly will.

And no they had not read the book of Revelation!

[pnattmbtc]

The same way you can construe my answer not to be one.

It's not the same. You know the answer to my question. I don't know the answer to mine. I have no idea whether you agree with John or not. You haven't said.

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: Richard Holbrook

It absolutely does.

Rev 20:9 And they went up over the breadth of the earth' date=' and encircled the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

These people encircling the the beloved city are not dead.

Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Neither were these men dead when this happened. So you see the Lord has already burned up people that were alive. What makes you think he won't do what he says on that day?

This seems like deja vu. I think I already responded to the first one, pointing out it doesn't say that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed. The second one isn't even dealing with the subject.

What I said was

Quote:

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.[/quote']

A statement from Scripture, to contradict my assertion here, would have to have to include three things:

1.People are burned alive.

2.The purpose for their being burned alive is to make them suffer.

3.The purpose of making the suffer is to pay for their sins.

Also, the context is the final judgment, which is after the resurrection.

Read the text. Those people aren't dead when the fire comes.

All three of those things are confirmed with the Bible AND the SOP, you just don't want to believe it. You sound like somebody making excuses against saturday being the Sabbath.

[Twilight]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

John, I too take the Bible very seriously, as it reads, but I always want to make sure I am letting God explain Himself. The Lord has, in the Bible and in the Testimonies, showed us one example after another as to how we are to interpret His words; for example the words of God to Moses were He says "I will harden Pharaoh's heart;" we now know that God did not directly harden Pharaoh's heart but that He sent him light to correct his errors and to lead him in safe paths. It was by the rejection of that light that his eyes were blinded and his heart hardened. And then the Holy Spirit goes on to say that "When one ray of light is disregarded there is a partial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions and the second revealing is less clearly discerned." (D.A.322)

This is true, but the Bible itself also says that Pharaoh "hardened his heart." So in this case, there are Scriptures that explain clearly what took place. In the case of the destruction of the wicked, however, there is no text which explains that fire does not actually come from God out of heaven but that it comes from the wicked.

Upon what valid basis of interpretation can we say that the fire does not come from God out of heaven?

Where did the fire come from that destroyed the alters made by Elijah?

Where in Scripture do we have something said to come from God out of heaven when it actually came from a human source? Do we have one unquestionable example?

Quote:

And then we read that "What Pharaoh has done will be done again and again by men until the close of probation. God destroys no man; but when a man stifles conviction, when he turns from evidence, he is sowing unbelief and will reap as he has sown." RH, Vol.6, p.285.

There is no question that the wicked won't be able to blame God and make the claim that God was the One who destroyed them. People are destroyed by their own choices. But we are wrong to make that statement signify that God does not send fire out of heaven to burn up the wicked. God is not at fault when He does that. The wicked are reaping what they've sown. I don't see God's destroying the wicked as contradicting the statement that God destroys no man. What happens BEFORE the close of human probation is different from what happens AFTER the close of probation and AFTER the Great White Throne Judgment.

When we take everything the Bible and SOP have to say on the subject, and when we put those passages in their proper context, it is plain to me that her statement that "God destroys no man" is referring to the fact that the wicked cause their own destruction by choosing to reject God. This obviously refers to what occurs prior to the Judgment described in Rev. 20: 11, 12.

Quote:

Then we have read that "God slew Saul;" but we know from the Bible itself that Saul killed himself by falling on his sword. 1 Chron.10:14,4. Saul lost God's protection and he was "left with no power to control the evil passions of the soul and with no protection against the malice and enmity of Satan;" (G.C.36)

Then we discussed the case of when God said to David ....(P.P.739)

Then we read about the case of those who do not have the love of the truth;.... (G.C.431)

Then we read that when parents and rulers neglect the duty of punishing iniquity,....(P.P.728)

All of these passages of Scriptures, just to mention these, have been graciously explained to us by the Holy Spirit and yet these ministrations of the Holy Spirit have been ridiculed, spoken against, if not totally ignored or brushed aside as mere figments of man's imaginations;

I don't know who has ridiculed or brushed them aside. They are all true and certainly are not mere figments of man's imaginations.

Where you and I differ is that you believe that they signify that God does not destroy the wicked at the end of the 1000 years, whereas I take them to mean just what the Bible and Ellen White say: that God withdraws His protection from those who disobey Him and they suffer the results of their sins. You believe that this applies to the time of retributive justice after the Great White Throne Judgment, and I do not. God's destruction of the wicked at the end comes after they have already destroyed themselves by their choices and made themselves unfit for heaven.

Quote:

thus these inspired commentaries have absolutely no weight with those who wish to cling to the same old traditional understanding which sees God as directly punishing or destroying those who do not appreciate His work or act contrary to His ideas. (D.A.487)

I don't think this is true. I myself do give them weight but I don't draw the same conclusion that you do about them. I don't see them as signifying that fire does not come from God.

DA 487 is not referring to the events that take place after the Great White Throne Judgment. It is speaking of the purpose of Christ's first coming and of His intention to save.

After the close of human probation, Christ will no longer be attempting to save the wicked. At that point, Christ will have ceased His work of High Priest and He will then become King and Judge. That makes a big difference. The difference is that the wicked then must reap the consequences of [or punishment for] their deeds. This is the clear view of both Scripture and the Spirit of prophecy.

Very good points.

Mark :-)

[Twilight]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

Mrs. White was shown that this battle will be like no other, so much so that all the battles of the past combined will pale in comparison. And let us not forget that she was also shown that time will have been given them to build powerful implements of war in order to take the City but now these weapons will be employed to destroy Satan and his angels.

In the midst of this titanic struggle to stay alive fire will erupt from the midst of them, possibly from their own weapons. Fire will come down from the sky upon them as volcanoes will explode and the earth will open as it will be mightily shaken and fire from the abyss will finally engulf the earth until it is like a sea of fire.

Please show references from Ellen White where she speaks of the greatest battle at this time. Also quote where she says fire will erupt from the midst of them. Are you referring to GC 672?

There is no question that the wicked want to destroy Satan but as far as I can determine, Ellen White gives no indication that Satan dies at the hands of the wicked. If you know where she says this, please give the reference or quote.

Here are Ellen White's clear words, "[God] will destroy them [the wicked] utterly and cause them to be as if they had not been; then His justice will be satisfied."

Here God causes them to die, and He is portrayed in revelation as being the source of the fire which destroys the wicked.

The messenger of the Lord also says, "He formed man out of the dust of the earth, and the disobedient and unholy will be consumed by fire and return to dust again. I saw that the benevolence and compassion of God in this matter should lead all to admire His character and to adore His holy name. After the wicked are destroyed from off the earth, all the heavenly host will say, 'Amen.'" EW 221.

Clearly Ellen White is implying that the God who made us from dust has the right to return us to the dust. I completely agree with that. Romans 9: 21-23 makes the same argument under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

I take those words just as they read, and I do admire His character and adore His holy name, believing that He will do precisely what Ellen White describes here in plain English. If God literally formed man of the dust of earth, then there is no reason that I can see to say that God will not literally "cause [the wicked} to be as if they had not been" by "consuming them with fire" and "destroying them from off the earth."

Why did Ellen White write this if she did not mean it? Certainly she knew how her words would be understood. Having studied her, I know that she was very concerned that her writings be understood clearly. She never returned to them in order to make any changes about the destruction of the wicked, and she never told people they were misunderstanding her meaning on that subject. On the contrary she repeated the same words and the same idea over and over again.

Amen.

[skyblue888]

The statements about that last great battle have already been shown and also it has already been shown from chapter 28 of Ezekiel that the fire will come from the midst of them and it will fall upon them. So that fire will not come directly out from the Lord upon them. The Lord will not interpose, that's all.

Mrs. White has already explained the language of the Bible but we choose to close our eyes and shut our ears as the Jews stifled conviction and turned away from evidence in the days of Christ, sowing the seeds of unbelief.

Mrs White did not have to return to her writings to make any changes. In her writings are found the keys by which to understand the language of the Bible especially in regard to the work of destruction.

The Bible does say that "fire came from God out of heaven to consume them."

But here is how we read these words: "fire came directly from God out of heaven to consume them"...

It does not say that the fire comes directly out from the Lord...

"I was shown that His judgments would not come directly out from the Lord upon them but in this way--they place themselves beyond His protection." MR 14, 3.1.

"How readest thou?" Jesus

sky

[Gail]

EGW also says this:

Quote:

The Boundary of Divine Forebearance- God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish; but His forbearance has a limit, and when the boundary is past, there is no second probation. His wrath will go forth and He will destroy without remedy.

When men, being in power, oppress and spoil their fellow men, and no earthly tribunal can be found to do justice, God will interpose in behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. He will punish for every act of oppression. No earthly wisdom can secure wrongdoers against the judgments of heaven. And when men put their trust in earthly powers instead of their maker, when they become lifted up in pride and self-confidence, God will in His own time make them to be despised. (Letter 122, 1900)

When I first read this I thought it might have been written early in her life, when her ideas about God were not as developed. But this was written close to the end of her life.

She does say that there will be a point when God DOES destroy. And like John, I believe that at that point in time He will bring about the end to sin that the victims of it through all ages have suffered.

[pnattmbtc]

Originally Posted By: pnattmbtc

This seems like deja vu. I think I already responded to the first one, pointing out it doesn't say that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed. The second one isn't even dealing with the subject.

What I said was

Quote:

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

A statement from Scripture, to contradict my assertion here, would have to have to include three things:

1.People are burned alive.

2.The purpose for their being burned alive is to make them suffer.

3.The purpose of making the suffer is to pay for their sins.

Also, the context is the final judgment, which is after the resurrection.[/quote']

Read the text. Those people aren't dead when the fire comes.

All three of those things are confirmed with the Bible AND the SOP, you just don't want to believe it. You sound like somebody making excuses against saturday being the Sabbath.

If all three of these things are confirmed with the Bible, you certainly haven't presented any evidence of this being the case. You are making a claim, but not presenting evidence to support it. Here again is my assertion:

Quote:

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

If you wish to contest this, please present evidence from Scripture that these three points

1.People are burned alive.

2.The purpose for their being burned alive is to make them suffer.

3.The purpose of making the suffer is to pay for their sins.

As I've pointed out, many SDA's have not interpreted Rev. 20:9 as you are, for example, Jones and Waggoner. Actually, I'm not aware of any pioneers that did (but I haven't studied the subject like Kevin H. has, whom I'm hoping will weigh in here).

[pnattmbtc]

The idea seems to be being expressed, by those who believe that God will burn the wicked alive, that because they have made others suffer, they should be made to suffer in kind. So God will burn them alive, in order to make them suffer, as they made others to suffer. Is this correct?

[Twilight]

The statements about that last great battle have already been shown and also it has already been shown from chapter 28 of Ezekiel that the fire will come from the midst of them and it will fall upon them. So that fire will not come directly out from the Lord upon them. The Lord will not interpose, that's all.

Mrs. White has already explained the language of the Bible but we choose to close our eyes and shut our ears as the Jews stifled conviction and turned away from evidence in the days of Christ, sowing the seeds of unbelief.

Mrs White did not have to return to her writings to make any changes. In her writings are found the keys by which to understand the language of the Bible especially in regard to the work of destruction.

The Bible does say that "fire came from God out of heaven to consume them."

But here is how we read these words: "fire came directly from God out of heaven to consume them"...

It does not say that the fire comes directly out from the Lord...

"I was shown that His judgments would not come directly out from the Lord upon them but in this way--they place themselves beyond His protection." MR 14, 3.1.

"How readest thou?" Jesus

sky

The "it does not mean what is says" argument. :-)

[John317]

What I said was

Quote:

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

Study GC 672-673.

You will find Bible evidence as well as SOP evidence to support the fact that the wicked will will burned alive and made to suffer for their sins. Their suffering and death is punishment for their sins.

Quote:

..... "The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter." "Upon the wicked He shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup." Isaiah 9:5; 34:2; Psalm 11:6, margin. Fire comes down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth's surface seems one molten mass--a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men--"the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion." Isaiah 34:8.

The wicked receive their recompense in the earth. Proverbs 11:31. They "shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 4:1. Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished "according to their deeds." The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch--Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah.

Satan's work of ruin is forever ended.

Also be sure to study EW 52-53, 290-291. It says clearly that the portion the wicked must suffer for their sins is determined by Jesus and the saints during the 1000 years at which time the lives of the wicked will be studied closely.

[pnattmbtc]

Me:What I said was

Quote:

The Bible never says that people will be burned alive in order to make them suffer for the sins they have committed.

Study GC 672-673.

[Twilight]

We never discussed the assumptions that were in Skys very first post.

About the "breach" being the "flood"...

Mark

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

The statements about that last great battle have already been shown and also it has already been shown from chapter 28 of Ezekiel that the fire will come from the midst of them and it will fall upon them. So that fire will not come directly out from the Lord upon them. The Lord will not interpose, that's all.

Mrs. White has already explained the language of the Bible but we choose to close our eyes and shut our ears as the Jews stifled conviction and turned away from evidence in the days of Christ, sowing the seeds of unbelief.

Mrs White did not have to return to her writings to make any changes. In her writings are found the keys by which to understand the language of the Bible especially in regard to the work of destruction.

The Bible does say that "fire came from God out of heaven to consume them."

But here is how we read these words: "fire came directly from God out of heaven to consume them"...

It does not say that the fire comes directly out from the Lord...

"I was shown that His judgments would not come directly out from the Lord upon them but in this way--they place themselves beyond His protection." MR 14, 3.1.

"How readest thou?" Jesus

sky

The "it does not mean what is says" argument. :-)

Not exactly, the prophet was shown that this is how we are to read the Bible when referring to God's judgments no matter what form they take. "I was shown that His judgments would not come directly out from the Lord upon them but in this way--they place themselves beyond His protection." MR 14, 3.1

After one thousand years during which there will not be a living soul upon this earth apart from the devil and his evil angels, the wicked of every generation will be raised up for the final showdown. They come up resuming "the current of their thoughts just where it ceased. They are actuated by the same desire to conquer that ruled them when they fell." The Great Controversy, 664.

Satan is astir at once and marshalls the mighty hosts into the most prodigious, prestigious army ever to tramp the earth. It will be a most impressive sight as they drill and train day after day. How long a time will be involved in this mammoth preparation we are not told. According to the principle of freedom which the Lord extends to all, they will be given as much time as they wish to take. Satan knows this and, while he is anxious to see the struggle over, at the same time he knows that it will be a titanic struggle. Therefore, he will direct that the preparations be as thorough as possible.

They do not intend to advance to the hoped-for conquest of the city with bare hands. "Skilful artisans construct implements of war." ibid. Just how sophisticated those weapons will be, we are not told. It is possible that they will be as highly technical as the scientific men can assemble. The atomic scientists will be there, remembering all that they learned while still living on this earth. They will think in terms of conducting nuclear warfare against the city so that, if it is at all possible to prepare such tools of destruction, they certainly will do it. The advancing hordes will carry such weaponry with them as they move up to the snowy walls.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

But no battle ensues. It has been suggested that the battle of Armageddon begins before Christ's coming and is completed around the New Jerusalem. A little careful thought will show that there is no battle in the end. The struggle between God and His people on one side, and Satan and his on the other, will all end before Christ comes the second time. At the end of the thousand years, God will have at His command the revelations of the principles of righteousness as embodied in His character, which have been provided firstly by the life and teachings of Christ upon this earth and secondly by the witness of the translated saints as given during the time of Jacob's trouble.

This witness will be unfolded before the multitudes who have been halted in their advance. As scene after scene passes before them, they will see the great controversy in its true light. They will realize just what God stands for. They will see the true nature of Satan's rebellion against Him. They will recognize that His law was provided for them as a life-preserver; that disregard of the divine precepts did not bring them release from an arduous bondage, but opened the flood gates of woe upon them. They will understand at last, that every woe and trouble they have experienced has been the result of their own course of action. They will know that they have abused the gift of freedom to their own miserable hurt. See The Great Controversy, 666-668.

They will see things as they have never seen them before and as the devil was determined that they should never see them. As soon as they do, all intent to continue the rebellion against God is ended. The point was made that when a misrepresentation of God's character begins, rebellion against God likewise begins. So when the character of God is fully revealed for what it is, rebellion against God then comes to its end.

This is precisely why there is no war between evil men and God over the New Jerusalem. In the beginning of the great controversy, God did not have so clear a manifestation of His character as would settle the problem right there and then. But at the end of the thousand years, He will have such revelations, which He will use, not only to ensure that there is no war, but to bring, from the least person to Satan himself, the frank and open confession that they have held wrong concepts of God, that they have been responsible for rejecting His salvation and that their doom is deserved.

The picture is so clear. The wicked see things exactly as they are and instead of rushing in to attack the city, they fall "prostrate" and "worship the Prince of life." The Great Controversy, 669.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Satan also sees it all. His mind travels back over the full span of his life. He sees again those days when he was the covering cherub. He remembers the first thoughts of doubt and then the open rebellion. He surveys the long centuries in between, comparing the loving patience and forgiving power of the Eternal in contrast to his own mean, destructive spirit.

"Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down, and confesses the justice of his sentence." G.C. 670.

The great moment has come. There is not a single intelligent being in the universe whose mind has the slightest question remaining as to the perfect righteousness of God's character. Even the arch-rebel himself has bowed down to acknowledge the truth of God's ways and the falsity of every other system.

"'Who shall not fear Thee, 0 Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.' Revelation 15:4. Every question of truth and error in the longstanding controversy has now been made plain. The results of rebellion, the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes, have been laid open to the view of all created intelligences. The working out of Satan's rule in contrast with the government of God, has been presented to the whole universe. Satan's own works have condemned him. God's wisdom, His justice, and His goodness stand fully vindicated. It is seen that all His dealings in the great controversy have been conducted with respect to the eternal good of His people, and the good of all the worlds that He has created. 'All Thy works shall praise Thee, 0 Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee.' Psalm 145:10.

The history of sin will stand to all eternity as a witness that with the existence of God's law is bound up the happiness of all the beings He has created. With all the facts of the great controversy in view, the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, with one accord declare, 'Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.' " ibid., 670, 671.

Once Satan and his followers have been brought to acknowledge the justice and righteousness of God, the stage is set for the final act of the drama--earth's and heaven's actual purification from the stain and presence of sin. This will be accomplished by fire. The Scripture says, "... and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them... And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever... And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:9, 10, 14, 15.

to be continued