God’s love in the fate of the unsaved

By an anonymous author.

Does God want His unsaved children to die? 

I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways for why should you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11

The Lord preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked He will destroyPsalms 145:20

What kills the wicked?

They are utterly consumed with terrors. Psalms 73:19

And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. Jeremiah 24:10

For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever….Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalms 37:28, 34-38

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 1:6

As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation…The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. Proverbs 10:5, 28-30

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be…. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.… But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Psalms 37:9-22

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66:24

Before the literal fire purifies the earth, in what state are the wicked?

They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. Jeremiah 16:4

And they (God’s redeemed) shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched. And they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66:24

‘For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven. And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up,’ saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1

And in the greatness of Thine excellency Thou hast overthrown them that rose up against Thee: Thou sent forth Thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. Exodus 15:7 (Stubble is dead).

How are the wicked destroy? 

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. Their own way have I recompensed upon their heads,’ saith the Lord God. Ezek 22:31

For evildoers shall be cut off: …. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.… the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Ps. 37:9-22 (Lambs were dead when their fat was consumed). 

What causes the eternal death of the unsaved?

 After all has been done that God could do to save men, if they show by their lives that they slight Jesus’ offered mercy, death will be their portion, and it will be dearly purchased. It will be a dreadful death; for they will have to feel the agony that Christ felt upon the cross to purchase for them the redemption which they have refused. And they will then realize what they have lost–eternal life and the immortal inheritance. 1 Testimonies for the Church, page 124.

What caused Christ’s death? 

How cruel for the disciples to permit sleep to close their eyes, and slumber to chain their senses, while their divine Lord was enduring such inexpressible mental anguish! 2 Testimonies for the Church, page 205, paragraph 3.

Never before had the Saviour visited the spot with his heart so full of sorrow. It was not bodily suffering from which the Son of God shrank, and which wrung from his lips in the presence of his disciples these mournful words: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. “Tarry ye here,” said he, “and watch with me.” He was bowed to the earth with mental anguish, and in an agony he prayed to his Heavenly Father. He felt the iniquity of sin, and the wrath of God against the violators of His Holy Law. Signs of the Times, August 14, 1879 paragraph 2.

Christ was amazed with the horror of darkness which enclosed him. The temptations of Satan were almost overpowering. These words, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” were borne upon the sympathizing air, to his disciples, in tones of startling agony. The sins of a lost world were upon him, and a sense of his Father’s anger in consequence of sin was crushing him.

O pitiful, loving Saviour; amid all His physical pain and mental anguish, He had a thoughtful care for His mother! The Desire of Ages, page 752, paragraph 2.

But it was not the spear thrust, it was not the pain of the cross that caused the death of Jesus. That cry, uttered “with a loud voice” (Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46), at the moment of death, the stream of blood and water that flowed from His side, declared that He died of a broken heart. His heart was broken by mental anguish. He was slain by the sin of the world. The Desire of Ages, page 772, paragraph 2.

The wicked man does deceptive work but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. As righteousness leads to life so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:18-21

Your eternal destiny is in your hands for it is choice: not chance that determines your destiny. It’s your decision.

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