I'm going to make this very simple but thorough. Whenever it is absolutely necessary. And I am certain, whenever God has done everything possible to reach a person’s heart and this includes and does not exclude Christians. And when we leave God absolutely no choice. In some cases, God uses the DEATH PENALTY to enforce His judgment. Anyone who tells you that God does not or will not ever use such a method of judgment if He chooses is a liar and twisting the Scriptures for their own personal gain. back it with the scriptureSNow, many of y'all know, I back what I say with the Scriptures. God knows before I post anything He puts in my spirit to share. I always ask Him for Scriptures to support what He wants me to share if He doesn't volunteer it. So, let's back my previous post that I posted yesterday (October 20) after 9 p.m., titled, “if you read it, I will reveal it.” I think it's important that I do a follow up concerning that blog post because it seemed to break the internet after we posted it. It caused quite a few people too, how can I say it? Forget certain aspects that exist in the Bible. So, let’s revisit the Scriptures. Here's the Scriptural support we want to give to this question. Does God exercise His right to use the death penalty against people, particularly against Christians, when He sees it justifiable? Biblical Account The first example that comes to my mind involves Korah who came up against God's chosen vessel Moses. God anointed and hand-picked Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land. Korah didn't agree with nor like God's choice and so he challenged Moses for the right to lead and direct God's people. What a foolish mistake. The account is given to us at Numbers chapter 16. But the verses I want us to zoom our attention to are verses 3, 5, 11, 16, and 19 through 21. (You must read that on your own time). At verse 21, it sets the stage for us. Here, God does not speak directly to the people, the congregation, Christians who have rebelled against Him. Nor does He speak directly to Korah, who wants Moses’ divinely given position. God speaks directly to Moses and Aaron to set the stage up concerning what He was about to do. What was the LORD about to do? He said, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment (Numbers 16:21). Okay, wait a minute. What was God about to do? Let's find out. At verse 24, God gives the people another warning – another opportunity to switch their disposition and loyalty. He's told them THROUGH MOSES that He was about to destroy them for their rebellion. ["Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment (Numbers 16:21)]. And then God warns them again before He actually follows through. Did he follow through? We see at verse 26, He warns all the people once more through Moses. God is still only speaking through Moses, not Korah. At this point, some people heed Moses' warning in verse 27 and take immediate action. In verse 28, Moses confirms His apostolic authority and anointing. And then in verses 29 through 35, we see the final blow. God acts against these rebellious people, whom some, if not the majority were Christians, by enacting His right to administrate the death penalty. Some died because God opened up the ground under them, while others were consumed by God's fire. Another example can be found at 1 Kings chapter 18. Noticed what God’s prophet said to the people at 1 Kings chapter 18, verse 21. "Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.” Among the 850 false prophets and King Ahab, who came up against God's chosen, where an assembly of God's people - Christians. As you read the account, you see a confrontation that took place between Elijah and these 850 false prophets in order to prove whose god is the true and Almighty God. The 850 prophets lose and were killed by God's mighty hand. (Read the entire chapter). What spared the people, the other Christians who had also assembled there and didn’t say anything in God’s defense against the 850 prophets and the governmental authority that was backing them, is stated in verse 39. Verse 39 tells us. "When all the people saw it, (saw Elijah’s God proved to be the Almighty God through a miraculous act). They fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39) Why in this case were the people spared and not killed along with all the other prophets whom throughout the book of 1 Kings, the people seemed to support in some way? It is because they did finally relent and repented. Here’s another example. Do I really need to recount The Flood during Noah's day? (See Genesis chapters 6 and 7). Many of those individuals who drown professed to be Christians. And what about the many accounts that have occurred in the book of Jeremiah? My goodness. If you take the time and read and study that entire book, there are quite a few incidents where God enacted the death penalty, which is clearly stated. To name a few, Pashhur the priest at Jeremiah 20:6. Hananiah the prophet at Jeremiah 28:15-17. Please note, these were leaders in God’s house. And yes, the death penalty does not have to be enacted immediately. God reserves the right to set it for a future date if He chooses. We also have to be mindful that there are occurrences in both the New Testament and the Old Testament where men, women, and children lost their lives because they choose to follow behind poor or bad Christian leadership. As a result, when judgment fell upon that leader or the house he oversaw, the people were destroyed right along with that leader. When leaders choose to lie, manIPULate, and misleaDSo, don't lie to the people and act as if this is not an option that God does have and won't choose to use. Does He want to? Certainly not! This is why He states what He does at 2 Peter 3:9. (Paraphrasing) – I AM patient with you because I do not desire any of you to die. None. But God is not passive. As in unresponsive to the mismanagement of our lives. He calls all of us to be Holy because He is holy. And when we don't measure up to His expectations. And this may be a little different for each one of us, although moral laws are always consistent for everyone. God does reach a point where He is known to say concerning man. I regret making man.
If we the people, do not have men and women, leaders, like Abraham to intercede on our behalf, God has THE RIGHT not only to judge. But to enact the death penalty IF HE SEES FIT. And if you think you have the right to say that God won't consider that as an option if He chooses. Then you are a liar. And there is a prescription for that in His word. We never want to declare something God won't do when the Scriptures support such possibility. None of us should never lie on God, especially about what He can, cannot, or will, will not do. None of us have the authority to decide for God or what He can or cannot, or will or will not do. All we can do is speak thus saith the LORD, on His behalf, if He really called us to speak on His behalf.
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