Selfishness is the root of all sinning. Jesus set the standard. The law reflects it. Jesus employs fire and water to kill sinners. He also commands holy angels and righteous people to kill criminals and combatants. He even uses His enemies to kill sinners.

Thus, burning people to death and drowning them is not an evil act. Got it! GOOD NEWS. Illuminating!

The crystal sea (lake of fire)

The brightness of His presence fills the City of God, and flows out beyond the gates, flooding the whole earth with its radiance. {GC 665.1}

Murder makes the crystal sea become the lake of fire

“Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” “The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter.” “Upon the wicked He shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Isaiah 9:5; Isaiah 34:2; Psalms 11:6, margin. Fire comes down from God out of heaven [APL: All natural protective laws have been rejected by the mob] . The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth’s surface seems one molten mass—a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men—“the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Isaiah 34:8. {GC 672.2}

Thus, burning people to death and drowning them is not an evil act. Got it! GOOD NEWS. Illuminating!

The Babel builders had indulged the spirit of murmuring against God. Instead of gratefully remembering His mercy to Adam and His gracious covenant with Noah, they had complained of His severity in expelling the first pair from Eden and destroying the world by a flood. But while they murmured against God as arbitrary and severe, they were accepting the rule of the cruelest of tyrants. Satan was seeking to bring contempt upon the sacrificial offerings that prefigured the death of Christ; and as the minds of the people were darkened by idolatry, he led them to counterfeit these offerings and sacrifice their own children upon the altars of their gods. As men turned away from God, the divine attributes--justice, purity, and love--were supplanted by oppression, violence, and brutality. {PP 120.3}

Kland, please answer the following questions:

1. A man withdraws his protection and permits his snakes to bite and kill men, women, and children. Is his act right or wrong? I believe it is wrong. Do you agree?

2. Jesus withdraws His protection and permits snakes to bite and kill men, women, and children. Is His act right or wrong? I believe it is right. Do you agree?

PS - I am absolutely certain you agree with me on both accounts. However, I am also pretty certain you are going to dodge answering these two questions.