LoaP: can you point out a specific verse or declaration that says that believers will be drooling over the charred remains of their brothers and sisters?
Your words, not mine. I have only said things consistent with the message of the scriptures. I
do rejoice in the day that the enemies of God and the Saints will be swept from the earth, and the King of Kings will assume his throne.
Like most, I am weak and flawed. But I fear God, and I rejoice in His goodness, might, and glory. And I would sooner die a thousand horrible deaths than ever deny or betray Him.
Psalm 102:11-16
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
Psalm 97:8
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Read all of Revelation 18, which details the judgments of God falling upon Babylon and all who choose to remain in her. Then the first few verses of chapter 19:
Rev. 19:1-9
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Yes, all who are preserved at that day will rejoice at the destruction of Babylon and her minions and the redemtption of Zion. Until then we are to bear all in meekness. But in that day – and in the hope of that day - we can and ought to rejoice, for the arm of the Almighty God will be revealed to administer mercy
and judgment to the inhabitants of the earth. I look forward to that day, and to the opportunity to shout Alleluia! when Babylon and her hosts are utterly destroyed from off the face of the earth, and Zion – finally! – receives her King.
Those who confuse the obligation to have charity with some vague idea of bland tolerance for the enemies of God are completely clueless about the nature and personality of that God who rules in the heavens above. He is the supreme example of charity, mercy, loving kindness, fatherly tenderness, and perfect love. But that does not make him endlessly and unconditionally tolerant of those who mock him, his laws, his Saints, and his promise to eventually render judgment upon the wicked. The same God who, while suffering on the cross, spoke the immortal words: ‘Father, forgive them …’ is also the same being who said this:
I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me; and I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.
He who has ‘trodden the wine-press alone’
deserves this day as much as those who will be trampled in his fury. And the world has never seen such fury as He will unleash in that day. Yes, he is the God of Love, but he is also the God of Battles, and the shock and awe he will unleash upon the wicked in that day will eclipse anything ever known in the history of mankind. Those who would begrudge him his vengeance, or feel not to rejoice in his day of glory, are not worthy of him nor his kingdom.
I do hope that at least one among you will ultimately come to see the error of your ways, and return to God with full purpose of heart before it is too late. Despite my inclination to rejoice at the thought of the final well-deserved destruction of Babylon, my soul still aches for the many former Saints who have hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes to the glorious truths of the restored gospel, and who have become lost in the mists of darkness or the pride of the great and spacious building. Such a waste! But I continue to believe that there are among you some few – or even one – whose fate is not yet sealed.
And with that lingering hope, I bid you all farewell.
(I just wanted to use that smiley, really) Of course they would ban you for that.