Isn't it exactly for this reason that the Bible speaks about the "strange work" of God?

The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked has emboldened men in transgression; but their punishment will be none the less certain and terrible for being long delayed. "The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act." To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. Yet He will "by no means clear the guilty." By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The very fact of His reluctance to execute justice, testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments, and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor. {ST, January 25, 1910 par. 16}

The "strange work" of God is when God uses things which in general only pertain to Satan's government? Usually they pertain to Satan's government, but occasionally God makes use of them?

Are there any other principles that are examples of this? That is, principles which generally pertain to Satan's government, but that occasionally God makes use of?

She makes the same point in GC 35-37, doesn't she? That is:



This is exactly the same principle, isn't it? That is, if we consider the final judgment:



This looks like the same principle to me.

Death, whether inflicted or permitted, pertains to Satan's government, not to God's. Even if you attribute a passive role to God, I don't think you believe that watching people die and doing nothing to save them (having the power to do so) is a principle of God's government.

[quote=Rosangela:T:The "strange work" of God is when God uses things which in general only pertain to Satan's government? Usually they pertain to Satan's government, but occasionally God makes use of them?

Are there any other principles that are examples of this? That is, principles which generally pertain to Satan's government, but that occasionally God makes use of?

R:Death, whether inflicted or permitted, pertains to Satan's government, not to God's. Even if you attribute a passive role to God, I don't think you believe that watching people die and doing nothing to save them (having the power to do so) is a principle of God's government.[/quote]

I'm not following how this is responding to my questions. I asked:

1.The "strange work" of God is when God uses things which in general only pertain to Satan's government? Usually they pertain to Satan's government, but occasionally God makes use of them?

2.Are there any other principles that are examples of this? That is, principles which generally pertain to Satan's government, but that occasionally God makes use of?

Were you responding to question 1, or question 2? Or both? And how does your response answer these questions?

I'll take a stab at it. It sounds like you're answering question two, and skipping question one. It sounds like you're saying, "Here's an example of a principle which generally pertains to Satan's government, but also to God's, doing nothing to save one from dying when you have the power to save them." Is this correct?

And the point of this argument is that if this example is a valid one, of a principle existing in God's government that naturally pertains to Satan's, then it can also be the case that while causing death and destruction in general pertains to Satan's government, God can make use of these principles. This is the general argument?

Tom, in the past you have cited the humane hunter parable to explain why Jesus "commanded" godly people like Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Elijah, etc to "utterly destroy" every man, woman, child, and infant, to "spare not". I seem to recall you saying Jesus was willing to run the risk of being accused of being in favor of what He commanded. Do you think Jesus was incorporating the principles of Satan's kingdom?

No. I've got no clue as to why you would think this.

Yes, although there is a fundamental difference between God and Satan, which is their motivation.

I'm shocked at your response. Are you certain Jesus commanding His chosen leaders to kill women and infants isn't representative of Satan's kingdom? Or, do you think it's reflective of God's kingdom? Did Jesus ever command anyone to kill someone while He was here in the flesh?

PS - Please show me respect by addressing each one of my questions. Thank you.

Really? Shocked? You ask me if I think Jesus Christ was incorporating the principles of Satan's kingdom immediately after I explained that I thought the two kingdoms are completely different, and I couldn't think of any examples where God uses any of the principles of Satan's kingdom, and you're "shocked" that I would answer your question "no"? Why? Do you think I'm not aware of the implications of what I had said? I would think you should be "shocked" if I answered "yes," as that would contradict what I had explained. My agreeing with what I had said doesn't seem like it should cause you to be "shocked."



I don't know what questions you're referring to. If you feel I haven't addressed a question adequately, you're free to re-ask it, but please do so in the context of my response. That is, quote your question, quote my response, and respond to my response.

Regarding your question here, yes, I've used the father hunter illustration, as that's the best one I've come across. However, I think it's rather hopeless to discuss this without first having in place a foundation for what God is like. Otherwise, we'll simply be interpreting things in accordance with our false picture of God.