Annihilation, divine love, judgment, and the cross are topics, today. The immensity of divine righteousness is revealed by GOD’s use of the Lake of Fire to effect the second death. There is no contradiction, or annulment of divine love. The same balance, impartiality, mercy and thoroughness present throughout investigative judgment appears in sentencing, and carrying out necessary sanctions against sin. The first resurrection that comes into view for those that are received by the Savior as the harvest from his plantings upon the earth also appears for the accomplishment of tribunal, where those alleged to be “the wicked” and “the accused” are privileged to appear, and answer the record of their deeds written within the Books of Life. Neither Christ nor Satan appear as an accuser. The consequence (not punishment) that we call “hell”, in fact, is the final undoing of flesh and spirit matter that no longer responds to admonition, calling, eternal purpose, and divine will. The use of sacred fire suggests torment and torture, however, the agony to the wicked is only in proportion to their own cruelty and violence. Consider again the following Scriptures, and the presentation below:
James 2: 12-13, King James Version (KJV): 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Leviticus 26: 15-19, KJV: 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
Psalms 1: 1-6, KJV: 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
2nd Samuel 22: 26-29, KJV: 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
Again, one of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no required profile information shared) posted the following:
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: 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 I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 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: 6-15, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Love From The Cross? (04/08/2016); Punishment To Show Love? (11/29/2015); Flammable? (05/25/2015); No Sorrow in Heaven? (11/11/2014); Will Truth Destroy Joy? (11/10/2014)
“Anonymous”, the full revelation of GOD to mankind requires both hell and the cross. For mature Christian believers, GOD who appeared in flesh to die on the cross for mankind is also the Creator of divine law, and sacred judgment whereby his Creation is cleansed, healed, purified, reconciled to Deity, and established as eternal. In the same way the atoning, sacrificial death of the Son expresses the fullness of commitment and union with Creation, the final, irreversible destruction of all that blocks, opposes, and threatens to end the universe also is the expression of profound and measureless love. Hell—more correctly understood as the second death and annihilation within the Lake of Fire—is a further blessing (we also say, gift) from divinity to created beings and living creatures who, being born again and released from their own sin would have no freedom from the sin of others without the provisions of GOD for eternal life, justice, sanctification, and separation. Consider how this is stated using language from the Bible:
(1.) Nahum 1: 2-3, King James Version (KJV): 2 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. 3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
(2.) Nahum 1: 7-10, KJV: 7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. 9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. 10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
(3.) Revelation 21: 7-8, KJV: 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 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.
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Hebrews 12: 28-29, KJV: 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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