The End of Sin

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 15, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 32.

1. Has God promised a clean universe in which there will not be one particle of sin?

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Rev. 5: 13.

2. Have other prophets foretold a time when this earth will be entirely rid of sin?

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isa. 11: 9.

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Hab. 2: 14.

3. How is this cleansing of the world from sin accomplished?

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6: 23.

When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1: 15.

NOTE.—Sin has produced everything that is wrong in all this world. Hence God has decreed that sin may run its course, so that all may have the opportunity for themselves of seeing what are the awful results of disobedience to the just and right laws of Jehovah. Then the only right thing that can be done is to visit death upon sin, and any one can see that this must bring death to the sinner also if he persists in clinging to his sins. God has provided a complete and sure remedy for sin, but those who absolutely refuse to accept it will have to go down in the end with all their load of sin upon them.

4. What Old Testament scripture plainly tells of the destruction of the wicked by death?

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. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts. Mal. 4: 1-3.

5. What New Testament scripture makes a similar statement to this text quoted from the Old?

The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. . . But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3: 7, 10.

NOTE.—The Scriptures in numerous passages and under various figures and forms of expression tell clearly of the utter destruction of sin, and the utter destruction of the finally incorrigibly wicked. As one studies the subject, it becomes more and more clear that it is the only just thing that could be done. Before the wisest and most humane tribunals of men it is recognized that it is absolutely necessary to punish crimes in order to make it possible for the well-meaning person to live at all. And hence God has decreed that those who refuse to do the right, and insist on making this world a place of crime and misery, shall finally be destroyed. And then we will have a clean universe, and the "earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

6. Then to whom, and to whom only, is eternal life promised?

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3: 36.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5: 11, 12.