This should read:

Regarding #128382, your response was completely unresponsive. Please read my post and respond to the question I asked.

Regarding your question, "Also, what is the relationship between sinning and being burned alive? How is it not arbitrary?" the principle involved, according to what I understand, is, as I've explained, precisely that of GC 36. So if GC 36 is not arbitrary, than neither is this.

That's OK, if this is understood to include the last plagues. The last plagues are "last," which is the same as "final." You can't have a "final trouble" happening before the "last" plagues, or the "final trouble" wouldn't be "final." It would be "before final," or "not final."



"Human passion" isn't the context of the passage. The passage is talking about what happens when Christ stops interceding in the Most Holy Place. The Seven Last Plagues happen.



What? What kind of question is this?



I think it's a warning from God. It's not literal. God won't literally laugh and mock the lost. I hope this isn't what you think.

I had asked, why do you find this as being a "Strange Act". Could you help me understand how this answers that question?

Are you saying you don't agree with me? "To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act." Of course, I realize you interpret this to mean anytime circumstances force God to withdraw His protection and permit sinners to reap what they have sown it is a "strange act". In other words, the "strange act", the "act of punishment" is God ceasing preventing sinners from reaping what they have sown.

Ellen specifically says "human passion". But she doesn't specifically say "seven last plagues". During the great, final, time of trouble Jesus will permit evil angels to influence evil men and work through their inflamed evil passions to persecute SDAs. At the same time, Jesus will command holy angels to cause the death and destruction portrayed by the seven last plagues.

Ellen also specifically says the seven last plagues resemble the plagues of Egypt. Nowhere, however, does she say something similar to the plagues of Egypt happened in 70 AD. But you seem convinced the death of Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD is very similar to what will happen when human probation closes. I also believe there are similarities. Just as evil angels worked through the inflamed evil passions of Jew and Gentile, so too, evil angels will work through the inflamed evil passions of evil men and persecute SDAs.

Holy angels will praise God as evil men, women, and children suffer and die as a result of the outpouring of the seven last plagues. "Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments." But I hear you saying it is evil angels who will execute the righteous judgments of God. If so, then in reality the holy angels will express thanks and praise for what the evil angels will do.

Also, it sounds like you believe God saying He will laugh at and mock evil men, women, and children as they suffer and die during the outpouring of the plagues cannot be taken literally. And you also seem to shudder at the thought of anyone taking God at His word as if God doesn't mean what He says.

"To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act."

Tom, in the past you said God works to supernaturally prevent sinners from immediately reaping what they sow. Do you still believe this is true?

Yes, I disagree with you, in regards to what the "act of punishment" is. As you've defined the "act of punishment" here, I agree.

She says specifically "final trouble," and that this is what Satan will plunge the world into.



You didn't respond to my point about how, if God did this, He would be using the means of Satan's government as opposed to His own, did you?



Sure, that's easy. By the transitive law of equality, if A=B and B=C, then A=C. She says the last plagues (aka "final trouble" Satan plunges the world into) is like the destruction of Jerusalem, and the last plagues are like the ones in Egypt, so there you have it: A=B, B=C, so therefore A=C.



Not necessarily SDA's, although SDA's (faithful ones) will be included. Many SDA's will be shaken out, and many non-SDA's will respond favorably to the final message which reveals God's character of love.



I think you're taking something literally which shouldn't be. There are many examples of this in Scripture, such as the text you just quoted yesterday, which speak of God's laughing at and mocking the lost. I think some effort should be made to consider what point is trying to be made, and to consider what God's character, as revealed by Jesus Christ, is, and if a literal interpretation lends itself to agreement of the character which Jesus Christ revealed.

Also, I've made the point that for God to do what you are suggesting would have Him use the means of Satan's government, rather than His own.



Of course. This is obvious.



I shudder at the thought of people confusing God with Satan, in terms of His character, and the principles of His government.