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Re: does God punish?
[Re: Rosangela]
#154177
07/16/13 02:20 PM
07/16/13 02:20 PM
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SDA Active Member 2021
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,003
The Orient
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Who inflicts suffering? God? NO. It is Satan! APL, Let me ask you a question. Who killed the Egyptians at the Red Sea? God withdrew His protection and the sea parted for them to enter it! (Oh...that's right, the Israelites entered it first...hmmm....) Blessings, Green Cochoa.
We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We can discern the character of God, and accept Christ by faith, only as we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. And to all who do this, the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him." [Colossians 2:9, 10.] {GW 57.1} -- Ellen White.
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: Rosangela]
#154182
07/16/13 05:03 PM
07/16/13 05:03 PM
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SDA Active Member 2020
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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Who inflicts suffering? God? NO. It is Satan! APL, Let me ask you a question. Who killed the Egyptians at the Red Sea? Back up in time a little more, who killed the first born? Is God the destroyer? [quote=EGW]All who failed to heed the Lord's directions would lose their first-born by the hand of the destroyer. {PP 278.2}
But no dwelling of Israel was visited by the death-dealing angel. The sign of blood--the sign of a Saviour's protection--was on their doors, and the destroyer entered not. {PP 279.3}
All the first-born in the land, "from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle" had been smitten by the destroyer. {PP 279.4} WHO IS THE DESTROYER? Satan is the destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord's restraining power is not exercised. {6T 388.3} So why did the Egyptians drown in the sea? Who is the destroyer? Why was the sea no longer held back?
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: APL]
#154190
07/17/13 12:00 AM
07/17/13 12:00 AM
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Who parted the Red Sea and unparted it again?
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: Daryl]
#154192
07/17/13 12:21 AM
07/17/13 12:21 AM
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SDA Active Member 2020
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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Who parted the Red Sea and unparted it again? Is God the destroyer? Is that what you are saying? Have you read PP pages 278 and 279 (or course, read the whole chapter!) Have you read Deuteronomy 32 recently? WHO was bring on all the disaster spoken of? And how did it happen? The verse is very clear. Why did the Egyptians die in the Red Sea? It is the same reason!
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: Daryl]
#154193
07/17/13 12:51 AM
07/17/13 12:51 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,705
Canada
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Wow 95 pages. Obviously everyone is set in their understanding, and the arguing is only confirming each in their viewpoint.
Remember God is the author and sustainer of life. We only have this earthly life because Christ died for our sins, thus we have a short probationary time to accept Christ and His gift eternal life.
Every minute of life is a gift from God, yet this debate seems to think this life is our RIGHT and that God has no right to remove that life from us.
This temporary life is only a probationary period. We as humans have NO RIGHT to shorten that probationary period by taking life, but God who in His great love gave us this probationary period in order that we have the chance to choose eternal life through Jesus, has every right to end the probationary period when He sees the choice for or against eternal life has been made.
Thus God will not only at times remove the incurable evil ones who are destroying the chances of curable sinners to come to Christ, but at times He will even lay the righteous into the grave because they are in a saved condition and He knows they cannot bear the trials in the future and would lose eternal life if they had to live through those trials.
Understanding the character of God isn't about making Him into someone who can't remove the gift of this meager earthly life, but rather how he is in ultimate control in saving for eternity just as many as possible.
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: dedication]
#154194
07/17/13 01:33 AM
07/17/13 01:33 AM
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SDA Active Member 2020
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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The history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy. But Israel did not understand the lesson. The same error for which God had reproved the friends of Job was repeated by the Jews in their rejection of Christ. {DA 471.3} Do we understand this? All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1} Dedication - where in your testimony above is it demonstrated in the life of Christ? Show me so I can be satisfied.
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: APL]
#154195
07/17/13 02:36 AM
07/17/13 02:36 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,705
Canada
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Do you believe the only picture of Christ is in the gospels? In the gospels Christ walked as a man upon earth, an example of how we (as humans) are to walk. But He is also the Creator and Sustainer of creation. (Heb. 1:2,3) In the Old Testament He was the One in the pillar of cloud and in the pillar of fire that lead the Israelites. In the Revelation He is the One that comes to deliver His people from their enemies. Let's not limit the Son of God to His 33 years on earth. The Son of God is God revealed throughout HIS WORD -- the entire Bible. For in the beginning was THE WORD, who was with God and was God. I think it is satan's false presentation to say that God is a "destroyer" if He doesn't sustain life at all times. Satan will twist things so God's justice in removing His gift of life, will sound like injustice. Satan himself only has life because God is giving him life till he has revealed his full malice. It is Satan's cry that God has no right to remove life from him, after all satan was blaspheming God during the flood as well. "Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. He had delighted to control so powerful a race, and desired them to live to practice their abominations and continue their rebellion against the Ruler of heaven. He now uttered imprecations against God, charging Him with injustice and cruelty. {PP 100} Just remember -- there would be no life for any human (or fallen angel for that matter) if God was not giving it minute by minute. Mankind would not have the short probationary time in which one can make a choice for eternal life through Jesus Christ, if our Saviour had not stepped in and stayed the death sentence till sin could reveal itself and Adam and Eve and all their descendants could have a chance to choose life eternal through Jesus. Remember Christ is our Creator -- He is the One that breathed LIFE into dust, and He has every right to take that breath away again. Instead of crying when justice is finally carried out, be thankful for the wonderful gift of life offered so mankind can choose eternal life -- that they are GIVEN A CHANCE FOR LIFE eternal. The Egyptians died in the Red Sea because they were set on killing God's people, they had passed the point of no return -- they died because God did not hold the walls of water up for them -- God released the water after the Israelites had crossed on dry ground. Even more -- the pillar of cloud (Christ's presence) moved between the Israelites and Egyptians and became a pillar of fire with lightening and thunder and poured water on them, causing their wheels to fall off, so they couldn't catch up to the Israelites before they were all across. "And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians. And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily" This mighty deliverance by the hand of God resulted in the "Song of Moses" Do we believe in deliverance? Will we sing the song of Moses and Lamb someday?
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: dedication]
#154196
07/17/13 02:45 AM
07/17/13 02:45 AM
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SDA Active Member 2021
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,003
The Orient
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I think it is satan's false presentation to say that God is a "destroyer" if He doesn't sustain life at all times. Satan will twist things so God's justice in removing His gift of life, will sound like injustice. Satan himself only has life because God is giving him life till he has revealed his full malice. It is Satan's cry that God has no right to remove life from him, after all satan was blaspheming God during the flood as well. Dedication, well spoken, especially that quote above. APL is set in his opinion. I think he will have to witness the final events with his own eyes before understanding this, and it is likely not worth discussing with him any further. I have, personally, spent too much time and energy trying to combat these errors, to no avail. Both sides, righteous and wicked, will understand fully God's justice in doing what He does before that final judgment is meted. All will acknowledge God's fairness and righteousness in it. APL will also understand at that time, whether he wishes to or not. Hopefully, he will be on the right side of the divide. Blessings, Green Cochoa.
Last edited by Green Cochoa; 07/17/13 02:47 AM. Reason: Added a bit more
We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We can discern the character of God, and accept Christ by faith, only as we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. And to all who do this, the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him." [Colossians 2:9, 10.] {GW 57.1} -- Ellen White.
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: dedication]
#154197
07/17/13 02:52 AM
07/17/13 02:52 AM
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SDA Active Member 2020
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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Let's not limit the Son of God to His 33 years on earth. All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1} Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: John 14:9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?Yes, I interpret EVERYTHING by looking the the Son. If there is any confusion, then Jesus is the answer. Look at Jesus. God is EXACTLY like Jesus.
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: does God punish?
[Re: dedication]
#154198
07/17/13 02:52 AM
07/17/13 02:52 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,705
Canada
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A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians, and filled the land with mourning. When David offended against God by numbering the people, one angel caused that terrible destruction by which his sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when he permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation everywhere. {GC88 614.2} There are two sides to this equation -- APL's argument limits things to only one side.
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