Let's also remember this (emphasis mine):

There are times when it fits God's purpose better to NOT protect someone from death.

FYI, I run a hospice. Death is a daily experience for me. And I can see many times when death is the better alternative over life. Few people prefer to live as a vegetable being continuously cared for by family, friends, and strangers alike. There is a good reason why God made death an integral part of the "sin package."

And as the one in charge, I also have the responsibility of determining who will or will not be employed by my hospice. Most people are not good fits for hospice work, so I need to find the ones that fit. And even if someone really wants to work for my hospice, I need to decide if continued employment is best for the employee, the organization, and our patients.

Consequently, due to the nature of my current life, I can easily relate to having to make and execute decisions that may go against my preference, but I must do it for the best of all involved. Similar to fatherhood, this has taught me a little bit about how God deals with us, given the sinful mess we are in.

Green being black and white again... Don't take things out of context... Saving Jesus from death would be a violation of His Character, WHY? Do you not understand WHY? Because it would have meant that sinners would have been lost and that God and Jesus were not self-sacrificing sustaining Satan's claim.s

Not at all. Thanks!

Now I understand better some of you comments.

So asygo - running a hospice, to you think that euthanasia is a good thing? Would you administer it? If not, why not? Is that not what you thing God does in the end?

Frankly, no. I do not understand your thinking on this point. Your concept here parallels what Elle has come to see as the truth lately.

You see, I believe Jesus willingly and voluntarily chose to sacrifice His life on our behalf. I do not believe that God was forced to do this. In fact, Mrs. White indicates as much, for she says...


It seems from the above passage that God had a CHOICE. Remember, APL, that CHOICE is a principle of God's government. That is, in essence, the opposite of FORCE which you have so adamantly claimed is not a part of God's government. Why, then, would you feel God was forced to let His Son die?

As a mortal and sinful human being without God's great wisdom, I personally feel more attracted to Jesus in thinking that He gave His life willingly. If I were to think He had been forced to do so, then the "love" aspect of it suddenly shrinks. No, I cannot accept that He was forced. Compelled by His own love, perhaps. But not forced against His will in any whit. Neither was God forced against His will to let Jesus die.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Shocking, but I agree that Jesus willingly laid down His life. Re-read what I wrote. Could Christ's death have been prevented? What was my answer? YES. But continue - what would have been the implications for sinners? They would have been lost. And God was not going to let them be lost, that would have been a violation of His character. Your quote from Early Writings sustains my view! It was not FORCE to let Jesus die. Sinners also do not die because of the exercise of FORCE. Without the death of Christ, sinners would have been lost. Saving Jesus would have been a contrary to THEIR character, which is others-center, self-sacrificial, non-arbitruary, loving, not exacting, not severe! Sparing Jesus's life, would have have sustained Satan's claims. Christ's sacrifice was not forced! It was voluntary, and if was spared from death, you would have died no matter what.

Perhaps you will be shocked again, but I agree that sinners will not be FORCED to die.

However, where we disagree is this: The time of their CHOICE.

The time was during their probation. Once their probation has closed, the result is no longer their CHOICE.

To illustrate, many people die who very much wish to live AFTER having chosen to die. For example, they choose to jump off a bridge. On their way down, they realize how foolish their choice was, but they are no longer in charge. A new law (gravity) propels them to their death, and they die.

Many of the wicked will wish desperately that they had made different choices in the time of their opportunity. Many who are in hell have thought they were serving God their entire lives...but of them God declares "I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity."

Once probation has closed, God will give each one the results of his or her choice. Some, to everlasting life, and others to everlasting ignominy and death. Hell will not be a happy time. It is only afterward that God wipes away every tear.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

The difference is you see the death of the wicked as execution by God, euthanasia, what ever. You do not see sin as the causative agent in the death of the wicked. I look to Jesus to see what really happens to the wicked in the end. Christ took on our sin, and it killed Him, He died the death of a sinner. He did not die of execution by God.

How did Jesus suffer God's wrath?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.