Well, right now I wasn't talking about nature being or not being self-acting. I was talking about Iranians. Actually, not the Iranians, but the nuclear destructive power they want to use. Do you think they are self-acting to the limits Jesus permits? If so, then If Iran were to be allowed to use centrifuges for producing nuclear bombs and missiles, would you say they would be making use of the same destructive power as Japan did by failing to have a backup plan for their nuclear reactors resulting in all kinds of death and destruction?

Not addressing that right now.
Not talking about nature, not talking about it acting on it's own accord. What I'm talking about are the Iranians.

Do you think Iranians are self-acting to the limits Jesus permits? Or is this what you were trying to say, that Iranians cannot act within the limits that Jesus permits? That they cannot act on their own?

Then I would have to ask you something similar to what ProdigalOne asked about free will.

Kland, it doesn't matter what the Iranians do or don't do with nuclear material. What matters is what Jesus does or doesn't do about it. Even if Iran owned all the weaponized nuclear material in the world, it wouldn't matter because Jesus is in control. If Iran were to launch nuclear bombs, whether or not they explode and inflict casualties is up to Jesus. He can intervene and prevent them from causing harm. Or, He can choose to allow them to spread death far and wide. The responsibility rests with Jesus - not Iran, not evil angels.

If death, destruction, and misery are His choice, if "the responsibility rests with Jesus", then how can the Lord hold anyone guilty of breaking the Commandments?

This line of reasoning would appear to lay responsibility for sin upon God?

APL, the sin has already been committed. Sinners are free to sin. Jesus doesn't intervene and prevent sinners from choosing to sin. Instead, Jesus is free to intervene and prevent the consequences of their sinful choices from playing out negatively. Or, He can permit it to play out this way or that way however He sees fit. The responsibility of how things play out rests with Jesus.

Yes it does.

Oops! This post was written in response to Prodigal One's post (not APL):

The responsibility rests with Jesus. The only reason terrible things happen is because Jesus chooses not to intervene and prevent it. However, it is more accurate to say He is sometimes forced to permit things to play out in terrible ways. Why? Because of the Great Controversy. The rules of engagement dictate how things can play out. Jesus is not at liberty to allow things to happen that are not best for the Great Controversy. Because He can do no wrong, Jesus will always do the right and best thing under the circumstances. Sometimes that means causing or commanding terrible things to happen. And sometimes it means permitting evil men and evil angels to do terrible things. Either way, Jesus is in control. Humans are free to think and do; and Jesus is free to manage the outcome of their actions and choices. Nothing happens without His permission. The responsibility rests with Jesus.

The planet destroying things blamed on Global Warming are happening because Jesus is choosing not to intervene and prevent them. Why? Why is Jesus allowing natural and man-made death, disease, and disasters to happen so frequently, so devastatingly? What purpose does it serve? What is His end goal?

I believe you have hit the nail on the head, Mountain Man.
The point is not who is doing it, but what is happening and why?

Surely, the increasing troubles on planet Earth should be directing our thoughts to God, and to the state of our own souls: are we as a Church and as individuals, prepared for the momentous events we can see are soon to occur? Assuming we have accepted His forgiveness, are we actively cooperating with the Holy Spirit's work of purification in our hearts and minds, so that we may overcome and be ready to stand with our Lord through the coming time of darkness?

Of course we must be constantly on the lookout for the signs Jesus gave us through the Bible and the Spirit of Prophesy. We must be vigilant, faithful, Watchmen. A thread such as this should be for us to compare notes and observations. The city of God has walls facing the four corners of the Earth. One guard alone cannot see in every direction. We should be giving the warning to each other as well as the world. We must become "of one accord".

The Devil instigates times of trouble to frighten and confuse us, to divide us, to "sift us like flour". The Lord God permits Times of Trouble to increase our faith, to refine us like gold, to pull back the curtain and open our eyes, to unite us as one righteous body prepared for His coming!

Are we constantly engaging in fruitless arguments over details that cannot help our holy work? Let us turn away from the Devil's diversions. Let us join ourselves together in brotherhood, in the Love of Christ. Let us raise our voices in harmony, a chorus of prayer for the Spirit of God to sanctify His Body. Together, let us seek the strength to deliver the Final Warning and hasten the coming of our Mighty King!

In Jesus name, let it be!

My hands are lifted up and I'm shouting, Yes. Be it.