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Latest revision as of 22:39, 17 May 2019
Chapter 14 The 144,000 and the Victorious Judgment of the Lamb
The enormity of the reprobate Earth dwellers' rejection of the True Christ for the Substitute Christ is measured by the "smoke of their torment [that] ascendeth up for ever and ever" (14:11). "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:28). Because man has such a low estimation of the value of God's Law, they would necessarily esteem His Judgments as nonsense or excessive; but, the Judge of All the Earth "will render to every man according to his deeds" (2:6). "8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile"(2:8, 9).
Those who "have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name" (14:11), are reprobated by God for their foreseen iniquities from which the Omniscient God knows they will never repent.
"Do you ask how I know that the reason why God does not make you willing is, that he sees that it would be unwise in him to do so? I answer, that it is an irresistible inference, from these two facts, that he is infinitely benevolent, and that he does not actually make you willing. I do not believe that God would neglect anything that he saw to be wise and benevolent, in the great matter of man's salvation. Who can believe that he could give his only-begotten and well-beloved Son to die for sinners, and then neglect any wise and benevolent means for their salvation? No, sinner, if you are a reprobate, it is because God foresaw that you would do just as you are doing; that you would be so wicked as to defeat all the efforts that he could wisely, make for your salvation. What a variety of means he has used with you. At one time he has thrown you into the furnace of affliction; and when this has not softened you, he has turned round and loaded you with favours. He has sent you his word, he has striven by his Spirit, he has allured you by the cross; he has tried to melt you by the groanings of Calvary; and tried to drive you back from the way to death, by rolling in your ears the thunders of damnation. At one time clouds and darkness have been round about you; the heavens have thundered over your head; divine vengeance has hung out, all around your horizon, the portentous clouds of coming wrath. At another time mercy has smiled upon you from above like the noon-day sun, breaking through an ocean of storms. He urges every motive; he lays heaven, earth and hell, under perpetual contributions for considerations to move your stony heart. But you deafen your ears, and close your eyes, and harden your heart, and say, 'Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us[Isaiah 30:11].' And what is the inference from all this? How must all this end? 'Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord has rejected them [Jeremiah 6:30]'"
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- "12 Here is the patience of the Saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."