GC:It is clear from this quote, however, that God's judgments are not arbitrary--but rather those who receive them know wherein they have erred.

Their sins were of a "heinous character" and they knew it. God also has given an opportunity to escape, but at some point it is too late.

....You believe the “lethal effects of sin” is emotional anguish ending in death, that it will cause the wicked to suffer in proportion and in duration to their sinfulness eventually ending in death. But the inspired record does not support this idea. Since the wicked are sin-hardened they are incapable of feeling guilt and shame, thus they are incapable of emotional anguish ending in death....

mm how have you reconciled these quotes with your understanding?

…In their conscious guilt, feeling themselves still under the divine displeasure, they could not endure the heavenly light, which, had they been obedient to God, would have filled them with joy. There is fear in guilt. The soul that is free from sin will not wish to hide from the light of heaven. {PP 329.5}

The enemies of God's law, from the ministers down to the least among them, have a new conception of truth and duty. {GC 640.1}

His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched his children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless? Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke. Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand, my grace is sufficient for you. At this, our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart…{ExV 11.1}

The men who smote and spit upon the Prince of life now turn from His piercing gaze and seek to flee from the overpowering glory of His presence. Those who drove the nails through His hands and feet, the soldier who pierced His side, behold these marks with terror and remorse. {GC 643.2}

In the lives of all who reject truth there are moments when conscience awakens, when memory presents the torturing recollection of a life of hypocrisy and the soul is harassed with vain regrets. But what are these compared with the remorse of that day when "fear cometh as desolation," when "destruction cometh as a whirlwind"! Proverbs 1:27. . {GC 644.1}

The setting aside of the divine precepts gave rise to thousands of springs of evil, discord, hatred, iniquity, until the earth became one vast field of strife, one sink of corruption.

This is the view that now appears to those who rejected truth and chose to cherish error. No language can express the longing which the disobedient and disloyal feel for that which they have lost forever--eternal life. Men whom the world has worshiped for their talents and eloquence now see these things in their true light....{GC 655.3}


They seek to flee from the presence of the King of kings. In the deep caverns of the earth, rent asunder by the warring of the elements, they vainly attempt to hide. {GC 643.4}

and what about this one that states that adam suffered the penalty for his transgression?

With patient humility he bore, for nearly a thousand years, the penalty of transgression. Faithfully did he repent of his sin and trust in the merits of the promised Saviour, and he died in the hope of a resurrection. The Son of God redeemed man's failure and fall; and now, through the work of the atonement, Adam is reinstated in his first dominion. {GC 647.3}

and this one that states that Christ felt what the eternally lost will feel? Christ [on the cross] felt much as sinners will feel when the vials of God's wrath shall be poured out upon them. Black despair like the pall of death will gather about their guilty souls, and then they will realize to the fullest extent the sinfulness of sin. {Mar 271.2}

t:and this one that states that Christ felt what the eternally lost will feel? EGW:Christ [on the cross] felt much as sinners will feel when the vials of God's wrath shall be poured out upon them. Black despair like the pall of death will gather about their guilty souls, and then they will realize to the fullest extent the sinfulness of sin. {Mar 271.2}

Tom, I am unwilling to "flatter" myself and think God is too kind and loving to execute retributive justice. The wrath of God is love.

"God's love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love. {DA 762.3} I believe this view represents the truth and is, therefore, the best picture we have of God as it pertains to the execution of justice and judgment at the end of time.

God gives them existence for a time that they may develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of their own choice.

Had Satan and his host then been left to reap the full result of their sin, they would have perished.

M:I do not believe God withdraws and leaves the work of justice to another.

Regarding sin not being a sentient being you have posted mixed messages. For example, above you wrote, the "inevitable result of sin is death, meaning that sin causes death . . ." If you do not intend for me to think you believe "sin causes death" you shouldn't say so.

...Adam did not suffer what the wicked will suffer at the end of time. It is impossible.

And, none of the wicked will suffer in the same way or for the same reasons Jesus did.

MM, you say none of the quotes say the wicked will suffer in the same way Jesus did, but that's not true:

GC:You are saying despair will kill the wicked?

GC:Jesus died under the weight of sins of the entire world. The wicked will each have but their own sins to bear.

We should not try to lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God's estimate of sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. If we had to bear our own guilt, it would crush us. (MB 116)

GC:I agree with Mike in this one.

No one ever has or ever will suffer the same as Jesus did. Suffer, yes. The same way, no. Die, yes. The same way, no.

Our sins killed the Savior. It is nothing to take lightly, nor to belittle by making it appear a common thing which others also will bear.