The Israelites and Sin

[teresaq]

the israelites had a long history, of how many years?

how long did each act of "violence" serve as a deterrent in keeping the israelites from sinning?

the first time was

Quote:

Exo 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Exo 32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

Exo 32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

how long did their repentance last before they were sinning against the Lord again?

[John317]

how long did their repentance last before they were sinning against the Lord again?

Only a very short time. In that way, though, they were no worse than spiritual Israel. In fact, as a church we bear more responsibility than literal Israel because spiritual Israel sins against far greater and much clearer light and knowledge. Ancient Israel sinned on the borders of the Jordan, wandering in the wilderness for 40 years on account of unbelief and rebellion, whereas the modern church has been in rebellion for more than 120 years against God and against His prophet on the very borders of eternity. Ancient Israel had the five books of Moses; but we have the entire 66 books of the Bible, including the Gospels, plus about 2,000 visions and dreams God gave Ellen White.

[John317]

the israelites had a long history, of how many years?

how long did each act of "violence" serve as a deterrent in keeping the israelites from sinning?

Punishment of sin and of criminals is not done only because it's a deterrent. Crime must be punished whether it's a deterrent or not, simply because it is just.

Punishment of sin and crime is a moral imperative because it is based on God's righteous character, as shown by the following biblical testimony:

Hebrews 1:9

"You [Christ] have loved righteousness and hated wickedness..."

2 Thes. 1:6

... it is a righteous thing with God to repay with affliction those who afflict you.

Isaiah 5:22-23

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,

and valiant men in mixing strong drink,

[23] who acquit the guilty for a bribe,

and deprive the innocent of his right!

Isaiah 11:3-5

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

[4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

[5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Isaiah 13:9-11

Behold, the day of the Lord comes,

cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,

to make the land a desolation

and to destroy its sinners from it.

[10] For the stars of the heavens and their constellations

will not give their light;

the sun will be dark at its rising,

and the moon will not shed its light.

[11] I will punish the world for its evil,

and the wicked for their iniquity;

I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,

and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Jude 1:14-15

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, [15] to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

Rev. 19:11-21

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[17] Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, [18] to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." [19] And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. [20] And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. [21] And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

[John317]

Muchas gracias, amigo mio.

[teresaq]

john, thank you for your thoughts but you are off-topic. perhaps you would like to start a thread touching on those thoughts.?