A biblical puzler for a claerer mind than mine to sort out

[rwc109]

Does God destroy the righteous or the wicked, or both or neither?


Job 9:22
"He destoyeth the perfect and the wicked."

Ec.7:15
"All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness."

Ezek.21:3
"Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am againsth thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked."

---- BUT ... :-

Ezek.18:8-9
"He that ... hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; his is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord."

Ezek.18:19-20:
"When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Ezek.33:18-19
"When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."

 

[Colossians]

God does everything that is done.

 

[ZiSunka]

rwc109, were you aware that this is a Christian's only area? JW theology can be discussed in the "Unorthodox" area.

 

[Mounts]

RWC, You're post is in the correct place.

First off, let's look at each verse in context:

Job 9:22
"He destoyeth the perfect and the wicked."

Understand what Job is talking about here. Job does not understand why he is being punished because Job was sure he was righteous in God's eyes and was confident that he had not sinned against God's law. Job was correct in his assumption. He did not understand why such a terrible thing happened to him.

The beginning of Job explains the story: The devil was trying to prove Job would curse God in the midst of tribulation; however, Satan failed in his accusation. Job is here, talking about himself. He saying, "God must destroy the perfect and the wicked since I, a righteous man, am being punished so terribly." However, that's only half of Job's heart, he wasn't claiming to be sinnless or God unjust. But one will just have to read Job to understand Job's words.

Ec.7:15
"All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness."

Solomon is simply talking about physical life and death, not salvation and judgment. He's saying a righteous man may die early in his life, and yet a wicked man may live to be very old on earth.

In the end the righteous man receives eternal life and lives forever, while the wicked man is cast into an eternity of death and torment.

Ezek.21:3
"Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am againsth thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked."

Here in context, Israel has rebelled against God. They have commited harlotry and adultery. They have become idoletrous. Israel had become wicked in God's sight and He is simply revealing them the judgment that will come their way lest they repent.

Ezek.18:8-9
"He that ... hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; his is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord."

Ezek.18:19-20:
"When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Ezek.33:18-19
"When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby."

Here in context Isreal is being warned of the wrath of God comming their way for their idolatry I explained earlier. God, however, always remembers those who fear Him and obey His law in the time of judgment (Malachi 3:16-18). God always gives the sinner a chance to repent before judgment. Those that do will be saved from His great and terrible wrath!

---

Often when the Bible makes a reference that a righteous man will live, it is talking about eternal life in heaven. Same thing when it speaks of wicked man dying, it means he will be condemed to eternal death and darkness. However, we have to understand that God may allow a righteous man to die an early physically death in much pain and along with allowing a wicked man to live a happy and prosperous life on earth, but their time will come to an end while the righteous man will continue in life with his holy God.

 

[rwc109]

dear Mounts,
I like this exposition alot, all bar the fact that I believe that only the Universalist viewpoint is supportable if one takes into account all swcripture.... [see my thread on all are saved ,Universlaism in scripture or
http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/univ3.html ]

 

[rwc109]

God does everything that is done.

Agreed!

 

[revelationjunkie]

i think its how u interpret the verses... um im thinking that the verses that say the righteous will live is referring to heaven... but im not too sure so dont go to your pastor bout this... im no expert

 

[rwc109]

QUOTE=revelationjunkie]i think its how u interpret the verses... um im thinking that the verses that say the righteous will live is referring to heaven... but im not too sure so dont go to your pastor bout this... im no expert[/QUOTE]
Not much point going to heaven when God is not there but in the new Jeruslaem in the enw earth...


Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

[McCravey]

I think most of those verses that are talking about destroying the rightesous are propesying about Christ.