Objection:
It is revolting to the Christian idea of love to believe that Christ will come as a destroyer and wreak vengeance on the world.
Answer:
It seems strange that this objection should be presented because, almost without exception, it comes from those who hold the quite widely accepted doctrine that the wicked go into hell-fire at death, there to stay through the ceaseless ages of eternity. If it seems to the objector more in harmony with the Christian idea of love to believe in never-ending torment as the portion of the wicked, rather than speedy destruction connected with the Second Advent of Christ, then we must confess our inability to follow such reasoning, and close the discussion. But with the matter set forth in this definite way, we doubt very much whether the objector or anyone else would think of affirming that the endless tortures of hell indicate greater love than by the consuming of the wicked in connection with the Second Advent.
Everyone who holds to the primary doctrine that there is a difference between right and wrong and that there is a judgment day when God will reward men according to their deeds must believe that there is a punishment for the wicked and a reward for the righteous. This is too evident for dispute by any believer in the Bible.
The believers in the literal Second Advent of Christ are not unique in holding that the wicked will suffer. Surely the consuming fires of the Second Advent could burn no more fiercely than those pictured in the hell-fire of the creeds of many denominations. How can it conceivably be argued that it is in harmony with the Christian idea of love to take the wicked to some distant place for punishment by eternal torment, while it is revolting to the Christian concept of love to punish them by death right here on the earth, where they sinned?
God does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked (See Ezekiel 18:32). It is not because God hates men that He finally destroys the wicked. There is simply no other alternative left if He is to blot out sin from the universe. Sin is something found only in connection with moral beings, possessed of free will. The germs of sin can only thrive as they burrow deep into the very mind and heart. Thus the destruction of sin necessitates the destruction of those determined to hold on to their sins.
God has ever been of too pure eyes to behold iniquity. It has never been possible for sinful man to gaze upon the face of God. It is the pure in heart who will finally see God. When Moses in the mount sought to see God’s face, his plea was denied. The Lord placed him in a “cleft of the rock,” that he might be hidden from divine glory as God passed by (See Exodus 33 and 34).
From the account mentioned above, we may learn a spiritual lesson. We as poor sinners may also be hidden in the cleft of the rock, the rock Christ Jesus. The opportunity is offered to all to avail themselves of this protection. When hid in Christ, our sins are forgiven; His holy life covers us. We thus stand unafraid in the day when the glory of God is revealed from heaven at the Second Advent. The same awful brilliance envelops all, the righteous as well as the wicked. The difference is that the righteous are protected by the covering of Christ’s righteousness, while the wicked stand spiritually naked. They must cry for the literal rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him that sits on the throne. They have brought death upon themselves by the course they have willfully taken throughout their lives.
