The prophet Isaiah described the final destruction of the wicked as being
God's "STRANGE WORK," "HIS STRANGE ACT" -- [ ISA 28:21-22 ]
God is, by nature, merciful to those who ask, gracious, and long-suffering
[ EXO 34:6-7; EZE 18:23,32; EZE 33:11; 2 PET 3:9 ] -- It is alien to His
character to inflict pain and suffering, punishment and death, upon His
creatures.
But at the same time He will "by no means clear the guilty." [ EXO 34:7 ]
"I have NO PLEASURE in the death of the wicked..." [ EZE 33:11 ]
Think of it: God created the whole universe in beauty and perfection. SIN
was not His doing. But He gave His intelligent beings FREE WILL... they could
OBEY, or they could DISOBEY. Somehow, the concept of DISOBEYING and REBELLION
connotate FREEDOM. Freedom from rules, perhaps for a brief moment -- but they
imprision one there after. God has never put forth a rule that wasn't to
protect or promote enjoyment of free-willed life.
One way, obedience, leads to life, a rich life, the other way leads to a
shallow existance ending in death.
"He will make an utter end: affliction shall NOT rise up the SECOND TIME."
[ NAHUM 1:9 ] This example we are living is so strong, that we are assured
for the rest of eternity that IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
"Sin" shall NEVER AGAIN rise up in God's NEW EARTH. Never again shall God
need to offer His Son to atone for sin. Here's the FINAL FEW Bible texts
offered for your consideration.
"Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it." [ MATT 7:13-14 ] God is telling us there is
a specific set of things we need to do to be saved, not that saved people
are going to be limited. All the other "methods of being saved" won't cut
the mustard.
What a sobering thought. Jesus Himself told us that most people will NOT
succeed in finding that un-worldly "narow" path that leads to heaven. the bulk
of mankind, even MANY PROFESSSED CHRISTIANS will face god's wrath in the fires
of Hell. [ MATT 7:21 ]
How can this be avoided? What is the straight path? Revelation 14:12
holds the key for every Christian to know how to survive the perilous last
days... "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that KEEP THE
COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and THE FAITH OF JESUS" [ REV 14:12 ]
YOU CAN'T GO WRONG if you hold to this in the last days. You'll avoid taking
the MARK OF THE BEAST, and you'll avoid God's wrath in the Lake of Fire --
And please notice that it says the commandments CAN BE KEPT, so realize that
this will be a condition of God's true REMNANT people. [ REV 12:17; ROM 2:13 ]
Keep your eyes on Jesus, and God's true ten commandments [ EXO 20:3-17 ], and
you shall be saved by his grace.