Why are we still here?

Why hasn't the 2nd Coming happened yet?

Because people still do not know and understand God. The gospel, the Good News, the everlasting Good News about God, has not yet been proclaimed to the whole world.

We are still here because God's character has not yet been perfected in His people.



Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Is the character of God even yet understood properly by His people? His character needs to be understood.

We are not to associate the character of God with that which is stern and severe. See RH, May 30, 1871.

His mission to the world was to reveal to men the character of God, and by the revelation of his love win men to the Father. {ST, October 24, 1892 par. 7}

If Christ revealed everything we can know about God, then why do we not believe that? Why do we think there is more to how God will deal with sinners that we do not see in the cross?

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.

What is the "gospel". That Christ came and paid the legal penalty for sin so we can be set legally free? Consider the following scripture, the setting is that Christ was preaching the gospel, and He was yet to select His disciples. He had not died. But He was preaching the GOOD NEWS. What is the GOOD NEWS? Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel. We are to have the 3 angels messages. Revelation 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," What is the GOOD NEWS? EGW: When the object of his mission was attained,--the revelation of God to the world,--the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. {ST, January 20, 1890 par. 9}. The GOOD NEWS is what kind of God, God really is. That is the Gospel. His character can not be reproduced in those that reject the gospel.

APL,

The third angel's message must be properly preached. How does it start?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

"the hour of his judgment is come". He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. The hour of HIS judgment. The hour that GOD IS JUDGED. Romans 3:4 God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged. God is on trial.

In the day of final judgment, every lost soul will understand the nature of his own rejection of truth. The cross will be presented, and its real bearing will be seen by every mind that has been blinded by transgression. Before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim, sinners will stand condemned. Every lying excuse will be swept away. Human apostasy will appear in its heinous character. Men will see what their choice has been. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain. In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be demonstrated that the divine decrees are not accessory to sin. There was no defect in God's government, no cause for disaffection. When the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed, both the loyal and the rebellious will unite in declaring, "Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? . . . for Thy judgments are made manifest." Revelation 15:3, 4. {DA 58.1}

That's not the third angel's message. That's the first angel's message.

I'll help you.



You cannot attribute this "judgment" to being "God's judgment" (God on trial). God will not be tormented in hell for worshiping the beast, and much less so will He be tormented by His own wrath.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

you are right - I read your question an read "the three angels messages", not the "third angel's message". Though my mistake brings to light the question that needs to be answers, what is God like? You have Him being exactly what EGW says so many times He is not! The Bible repeated said, "do not be afraid".

The third message warns all against receiving the mark of the beast. The Advent movement makes it the burden of its work to show what the mark of the beast is, and to warn against is reception. To quote Smith: "It is the more solicitous to do this, because this unchristian power has worked so cunningly that the majority are deceived into making unconscious concessions to its authority. The Roman power was paganism." The idea that God will raise and torture is pagan.

There is no religious enterprise extant today except that of the Seventh-day Adventists which claims to be a fulfillment of the third angel's message. And I think I now see what the omega of apostasy that EGW warned about is. We have brought paganism right into our movement. It is stunning.

The wrath of God will fall on those that follow Satan. And the Bible defines what God's wrath is. See the opening post HERE

APL,

As usual, you have taken us off-topic. Daryl started this thread, so I'll let him moderate its contents. In another thread or two or three, you have been unable to suggest a proper reason why God raises people after they die. Which death is their punishment of sin? Both? Why must a sinner die twice? You're not "pagan" if you believe in two deaths, are you?

I understand that you are calling some of us "pagan" on this forum because we believe in the resurrection, just punishment, and second/third death of the wicked. Is this true? If so, I must say that...getting back to topic....

...there are plenty of pagans where I live. I expect you've never seen so many in your life. They worship idols. They have no such belief as you claim is "pagan." Many have never heard of Jesus in their entire life.

THAT is part of why we are still here.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Yes, I started this thread and I want us to stay on topic.

I do not want a discussion on the 2nd death, judgement, torment, punishment, etc. in this thread.

Why are we still here - we are here because we are not understanding the truth and so cannot represent God right. The truth about God and such things as 2nd death and judgment. The Gospel will go the the whole earth, then the end will come. How many of the SDAs will be in that number? 1 in 20? 1 in 100? Why such a low number if we have the truth?

I am not calling anyone anything. I'm calling the ideas of the 2nd death pagan. That God will raise the dead, then torture them, but only as long as they deserve, that is pagan. Yet, most here hold that belief. And it was this week my exposure to SDA theologian Carsten Johnsen which nailed the problem in my mind. This is the omega of apostacy. Kellogg's rebellion was subtle, that was the alpha. The omega is just like it, but also subtle.

Listen to EGW - same though is in GC starting page 569. Here it is in 4SP

　
So why are we still here? I think we know the answer now.

It is so important that we get a complete picture of God and why His treatment of sinners and saints affects His timing.

Cutting these truths down to fractures does no justice to God. What should be wrong with dealing with the total picture at the same time? What do we have to hide?

You are on the right track, however, there are more reasons why He hasn't come the 2nd time yet.

What are those other reasons?

Daryl,

We desperately need more missionaries. Will anyone here be encouraged to leave their comfort zones and go to the ends of the earth?

The Gospel Commission has yet to be fulfilled. Christ gave His disciples a very distinct commission. Who is following it?

The end will not come before the mission is complete.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I believe that as SDAs we've pretty much heard enough truth to convert the world. The problem is that we are not applying the truth to our lives and we dilute it by word and example. This all leads to weakness and the inability to make disciples because we are to concerned about our own salvation, seeing we are not assured due to the above mentioned.

Can you elaborate further?