p. 197 | Queries by John Nevins Andrews

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 15, 1864

Queries.

By John Nevins Andrews

It is written, Ps. cxlv, 20, "The Lord PRESERVETH all them that love him: but all the wicked will be DE-STROY."

If the wicked exist as long as the righteous is there any propriety in the foregoing statement?

It is written, Rev. iv, 11, "Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created."

Does not this language imply that all created beings exist for the pleasure of the Creator in rendering to him glory and honor? And hence does it not imply that those who are sinful beings when their probation closes mnst be destroyed and cease to exist, because they have forfeited the only condition on which existence is granted?

It is written, Rev. v, 13, "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."

Does not this language show that the time will come when not a wicked being shall exist in the universe? If the Judge of all the earth should preserve his people by giving them eternal life, and destroy his enemies with the second death, would not the result be a universe of holy beings?

J. N. A.