Guest Commentator - David Weber
Beloved, everything that God does is in accordance with His Divine Law. His Law is perfect. Grace sets us free, not from the Divine Law itself, but free to come to God so that His righteous ways can be carved on our hearts and on our minds through righteous judgments. Without the Law there can be no righteous judgments. Without the Law, there cannot even be grace!
The righteous judgments of God are soon going to flood the earth in an unprecedented way, and this will have a profound effect on all of the inhabitants of the earth. These judgments will all be made in accordance with the Divine Law of God.
His Law is perfect, and so are His judgments. The legal process of divine judgment IS the fiery stream which flows from God's Holy Throne. His Law is His FIRE, and it is something that is administered to sinners to set them free ... not to torture them! Those who teach that God's fire is to be used for the purpose of torturing and tormenting sinners, don't know the heart of God, nor do they understand His Law, nor do they understand the purpose for His judgments.
When the Son visited the earth in the form of a man, He made clear His desire to kindle a FIRE on the earth. In that statement, the Son was not expressing a wish to bring people into the torture of "hell-fire" - as many understand it, but He wished to restore the earth by means of GOD'S LAWFUL JUDGMENTS.
This process of restoration through judgment was seen by the prophet Daniel as a river of fire, and was seen by John as a lake of fire. In vision form, these two prophets were both shown God's PROCESS for the full restoration of His creation man, but each prophet saw this PROCESS at different stages.
To share just briefly here on "the lake of fire" that was seen by John; IT IS A PICTURE OF THE END PROCESS OF GOD'S LAWFUL JUDGMENTS! The "lake of fire" is not a specific judgment in and of itself, but rather it is a prophetic description of a process which consists of many different types of judgment, all which fit the specific crimes committed. At the Great White Throne Judgment the dead will be raised to be judged according to their "deeds." Despite what religious Babylon teaches about the lake of fire, those cast into this "lake" do not all receive the same judgment, for how could they if they are each "judged according to their deeds"? Again I say, "the lake of fire" is a prophetic picture of a PROCESS of judgment. It is not a specific judgment in and of itself!
In regard to the punishments of God, they are, and shall be meted out in degrees, and can be short in duration, or they can last for many ages. But be assured, they are "eonian," which means that they have a distinct beginning and a definite end! Punishment itself would be meted out by tormenting sinners forever - but JUSTICE would not be served! The Lord God is a JUST AND LOVING GOD! His punishments are benevolent and constructive they are NOT vindictive and retaliatory! God's fire is that which consumes all of the wood, hay, and stubble of man's carnality. It is NOT a literal fire, and it sure as heck is NOT an "eternal" one!
Beloved ones, our Father has a wondrous and benevolent plan that will eventually be wrought out to the full restoration of His entire creation. Unfortunately though, many people (even most Christians) have not yet vision for this, mostly because they've been blinded by their religion and the erroneous traditions and teachings of men. To most of you here though, I believe that it has been granted for you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Keep your hearts as little children.
Bless you ... D
