Now, Mountain Man; don't be such a literalist about Phil N. D'Blanc. It's a good French family, name, non?

Or your new "name" can be taken as "a man composed of the same material as mountains....rocks!"

It's a real affinity among some to take some things that they wish to be so as literal, and to cast away what requires a change in outlook from the normal human definition.

I noticed that you have ignored the "Bob's Shed" illustration....too simplistic for your tastes or not grisly enough?

A very important reading John, which I had not noticed before! Thanks!

I will refrain from answering your question in order to allow room for others to come to their own conclusions or take the Word's answer.

R:Tom,

No. But I also believe that removing life is not always an act of force; it can perfectly be an act of mercy.


T: I agree with this.

Tom,

If you agree, what's the problem you have with attributing the flood, the destruction of Sodom and other OT episodes to God? Is the problem that you can't see these episodes as acts of mercy?

If I recall correctly, I have explained that I have no interest in discussing either the flood or Sodom and Gemorrah here some 12 or 15 times, and have pointed out repeatedly that all of my comments have been directed towards the judgment of the wicked. So I don't understand your question.

Tom,

I have discussed with Maxwell's followers who believe God kills now but won't kill after the millennium, and have discussed with Maxwell's followers who don't believe God kills either now or after the millennium. But all of them were frank about their positions.

You said you agree that removing life can be an act of mercy, but I don't see how you agree with this.

God's glory kills sinners instantly - this is demonstrated by what happens at Christ's second coming. However, at the final day God's glory won't kill sinners instantly - it will be partially veiled until the wicked face judgment, and then, when God does unveil His glory, the wicked won't be immediately destroyed - their punishment will vary, not only in intensity but also in duration. This shows that their destruction is a deliberate (although reluctant) act on the part of God. God will destroy the wicked in mercy to them - to put an end to their miserable existence - and in mercy to the universe.

[ May 09, 2005, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: Rosangela ]

I would like to say that all this talk about destruction is prevalent in many threads here under any other topic name, but "destruction of the wicked".

I propose that this discussion here has nothing to do with "beholding the Lamb"

John: The light of the glory of God, which gives life to the righteous, slays the wicked. The light of the glory of God is "beholding the Lamb," isn't it?

Roseangela: Of course the destruction of the wicked is a deliberate act of God. To deny this would be to say that it is accidental.

The wicked suffer in proportion to how well they knew the truth. The more truth they knew, the more painful beholding the lamb will be.

You can't expect to be able to completely extrapolate what will happen in the judgment of the wicked from what happens to the wicked here. The corporate forensic justification of Christ comes into play in this life.

The best way to understand the death and judgement of the wicked is by studying the death of Christ (beholding the Lamb!).