1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

torture, the case would be different: No excuse could be offeredto justify the perpetuation in misery of the existence of anycreature, however wicked. Extinction (death, without hope ofresurrection) is certainly a just penalty upon those who arewillfully wicked, after they had full knowledge of good as wellas evil, and the results of each. But the second death is an enemyto none of the righteously disposed; to them it is a blessing. Theutter destruction of such as are proved unfit to have life, isneedful to the harmony of God's kingdom and the peace andhappiness of such as love righteousness. And this is thetestimony of God's word concerning his plan: "All the wickedwill he destroy." He will "destroy those that corrupt the earth.These are the symbolic "goats" of Matt. 25:41,46, also called theangels, messengers or servants of Satan, and the symbolic "fire"destroys them. The second death will be proportionately as greata blessing, in ridding the earth of the evil-disposed incorrigible,as the Adamic death was an enemy, destroying the welldisposedwith the evil-doers and the ignorant.====================R1107 : page 6A MISAPPREHENSION.Some seem to get the impression, that for the Lord to finallydestroy some of his creatures--Satan, and such as have his spiritof opposition to righteousness,-- would imply a failure of thedivine plan. Such ask, Is it not written that "All his purposesshall be accomplished?" and, Cannot God melt the hardesthearts? and will not Christ subdue all things unto himself andreign until he has put down all enemies?Yes, we answer; God's plan will be fully accomplished, but itdoes not follow that every human plan is the divine one.Nowhere has God declared it to be his plan to preserveeverlastingly every creature he has made, and to force all suchinto obedience. To suppose such pride on the part of theAlmighty would be to accuse him of folly. And if such a prideof workmanship related to man would it not extend to all of hiscreation and insure the resurrection to everlasting life, of everyanimal, fowl, fish and insect that ever lived?But such is not God's declared plan. On the contrary, while theScriptures declare that God takes no pleasure in the death of anyof the human family, but would or is willing that all should turnunto him and live, and has made abundant provision in harmonywith this, his will, through Christ's sacrifice and comingMillennial reign, yet he declares clearly, that as sin in Edenbrought death (from which we were redeemed by Christ's death,because it was not the penalty of our own wilful sin) so wheneach stands trial for himself the penalty will be no different; forGod and his law have not changed. "The wages of sin is death,"