3015.— Pleasure in Punishment
By Editor
A friend takes exception to Rev. 14:10 as being foreign in its sentiment to the character of a God of love as shown in 1 John 4:10; John 3:16, etc. She asks, How can a loving Father take pleasure in witnessing the punishment of His children? We refer our inquirer to tract No. 111, “Bible Student’s Library,” entitled “Tormented Forever and Ever.” If the friend will read this she will look upon the text in a different light. We have only space to say here that the text does not teach eternal torment. The word “torment” from the Greek word basanos simply means a testing, and that testing is forever. Those who have utterly rejected God will have to endure His burning glory when He comes. They have claimed themselves divine, have said by rejecting God that they themselves are sufficient; they must witness the presence of the Master at His coming. That coming is to His own possession, the earth, and to His own children who have received Him. He comes to take them home. The glory of that coming will immortalize all those who love Him. Those who do not, will under that final testing perish in His presence. In that perishing He gets no pleasure; for “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze. 33:11. That is God’s feeling concerning those who will not have life.