The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

413How repugnant to every emotion of love and mercy, and even to our senseof justice, is the doctrine that the wicked dead are tormented with fire andbrimstone in an eternally burning hell; that for the sins of a brief earthly lifethey are to suffer torture as long as God shall live. Yet this doctrine hasbeen widely taught and is still embodied in many of the creeds ofChristendom. Said a learned doctor of divinity: "The sight of hell tormentswill exalt the happiness of the saints forever. When they see others who areof the same nature and born under the same circumstances, plunged in suchmisery, and they so distinguished, it will make them sensible of how happythey are." Another used these words: "While the decree of reprobation iseternally executing on the vessels of wrath, the smoke of their torment willbe eternally ascending in view of the vessels of mercy, who, instead oftaking the part of these miserable objects, will say, Amen, Alleluia! praiseye the Lord!"Where, in the pages of God's word, is such teaching to be found? Will theredeemed in heaven be lost to all emotions of pity and compassion, andeven to feelings of common humanity? Are these to be exchanged for theindifference of the stoic or the cruelty of the savage? No, no; such is not theteaching of the Book of God. Those who present the views expressed in thequotations given above may be learned and even honest men, but they aredeluded by the sophistry of Satan. He leads them to misconstrue strongexpressions of Scripture, giving to the language the coloring of bitternessand malignity which pertains to himself, but not to our Creator. "As I live,saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but thatthe wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11.What would be gained to God should we admit that He delights inwitnessing unceasing tortures; that He is regaled with the groans and shrieksand imprecations of the suffering creatures whom He holds in the flames ofhell? Can these horrid sounds be music in the ear of Infinite Love? It isurged that the infliction of endless misery upon the wicked would showGod's hatred of sin as an evil which is ruinous to the peace and order of theuniverse. Oh, dreadful blasphemy! As if God's hatred of sin is the reasonwhy it is perpetuated. For, according to the teachings of these theologians,continued torture without hope of mercy maddens its wretched victims, andas they pour out their rage in curses and blasphemy, they are foreveraugmenting their load of guilt. God's glory is not enhanced by thusperpetuating continually increasing sin through ceaseless ages.