when did God stop destroying nations and peoples?

[dolfan]

This is not just a response to you, FQ, but an observation in general. I'm not picking back at you or prolonging the question.

I read this and think it significant in light of the whole world seemingly going wholly topsy-turvy nuts.

Romans 8:19-22 reads, "The earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

A few things are obvious, but I am motivated to notice them.

1. The creation waits for God's people to be revealed. The natural world is in mind here. Isaiah 55:12 says, "The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands." What is that "manifestation"? Perhaps it is the final end of all things, perhaps it is also the intermediate presence and activity of God's people until that end. I can't say with certainty. What is clear is that the creation was "made subject to vanity .... by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope." God has a reason for the vanities of all .... this. He has subjected it to vanity "in hope". Paul labels that hope "the manifestation of the sons of God."

2. There is, indeed, hope. Creation will be delivered from the present bondage of corruption and into the glorious liberty of those manifested sons of God. There is a hope for the earth and for God's children. That hope is deliverance from this present corruption.

3. The pain is shared. We hope, even creation itself "hopes". There is pain among people. There is "pain" or travail and groaning, etc., in the creation itself. The things of creation groan in want and pain and the futility of the corruption that is, but all in hope of the glory that will be, and we who are His groan with them. These events, whatever else they may or may not be, are demonstrably that which Paul described here. What I want to emphasize is not whether God had one particular purpose or another in mind which I have no knowledge of, but rather that God still commends His love toward us, including the people of Japan as much as the people struck by disasters of every sort elsewhere.

[one love]

well here is a NUT job for ya!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-sSeqPywI

this is not aimed at the discussion accept to show how far people can get carried away and show no love, so sad.

[Pastor Gary]

well here is a NUT job for ya!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-sSeqPywI

this is not aimed at the discussion accept to show how far people can get carried away and show no love, so sad.

She is a YouTube TROLL who posts outrageous, provocative videos just to get a reaction. (She has a video that admits this.)

[Full Quiver]

Psalm 103

1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Heathens and atheists don't fear the Lord. Again you criticize the atheist in America and say God's punishment is coming but then you say the unbelieving in Japan are free from God's jealousy, vengeance, and punishment. No fear = no mercy!

[justsam]

Luke 13: 1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

[Full Quiver]

But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

So Jesus said as has been quoted twice before in this thread that unless they repent they too will perish.

[scooter]

I know this has taken quite a few turns but couldn't God have stopped anything bad that has ever happened?

That's why many don't believe, the classic , "How could a loving God allow x".

If there is still a great and terrible day coming God hasn't stopped doing anything.

I'm not saying God destroyed this coastline as a result of judgment.

I am saying He could have stopped it.

I think we put too much emphasis on the temporary.

God still gives and takes away. Blessed be His name.

[RamboPreacher]

Luke 13: 1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

:) i already quoted that - to no avail.

[RamboPreacher]

But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

So Jesus said as has been quoted twice before in this thread that unless they repent they too will perish.

to those that were still around. it wasn't about god destroying the non-believers. it was about stuff happening to everyone, and the survivors recognizing that as a sign towards repentance.

[Full Quiver]

I wonder why I think of Rob Bell when I read some of your responses?

[dolfan]

I wonder why I think of Rob Bell when I read some of your responses?

I don't know. A fixation on rectangular glasses? Otherwise I can't fathom why you would.

[justsam]

Matthew 7: 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

[Mole_J]

well here is a NUT job for ya!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-sSeqPywI

this is not aimed at the discussion accept to show how far people can get carried away and show no love, so sad.

She is a YouTube TROLL who posts outrageous, provocative videos just to get a reaction. (She has a video that admits this.)

I saw this a few days after the earthquake when someone posted in on Facebook. I watched a few of her other videos and was dumbfounded to hear what she was saying.

As PG said she is a troll. Here is an interview with her:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technolo ... out/35887/

Have to admit she is very good at trolling.