THE wicked will be destroyed from the earth for the same reason that the persistent, incorrigible anarchist is deemed worthy of death by an earthly government, namely, their continued existence is a constant menace to good order. God's purpose is a clean universe, and to this end there must be a government of righteousness in the earth. His promise is that such a government will be established, but in order to do so it will be necessary to destroy the consequences of sin. This will be done by purging the present earth by fire, and transforming it into a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13. A government of righteousness can only be conducted by the Lord Himself, and this can not be until He sets up His personal kingdom in the new earth. Being heir to the throne of David, He carries the throne over to the new earth. "The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:32, 33. And of His reign David says: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." Ps. 45:6, 7. It is not because of any desire of God to see the wicked perish; for He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He would delight to see them turn unto Him and live. Eze. 33:11. For that very purpose He has exercised long patience. 2 Peter 3:9. But as it was in the days of Noah, when it is manifest that no more will yield allegiance to the King of righteousness in response to the overtures of His Gospel, then the day of the Lord will come. In the eternal purpose of the Creator of the universe, the kingdom of righteousness must have supreme jurisdiction in the earth, and all that will not yield to its benign influence must necessarily perish before it. There is no other way. They simply can not stand in the presence of the Lord when He comes in His glory. Ps. 68:2, 3; 2 Thess. 2:8. And even if they could stand, it would not do them any good; they would continue to be disloyal and disorderly. Isa. 26:10. Hence the folly as well as the impossibility of that post-mortem probation of which we hear so much in recent years.