V. Full Justification for Sinner’s Ultimate Extinction

Mrs. White sets forth the sinner’s rejection of Christ’s perfect atonement on the cross of Calvary as complete justification for the “guilt and punishment” to be visited upon the incorrigible sinner:CFF2 726.4

“Every soul that refuses to become a partaker of the atonement provided at such a cost, must bear in his own person the guilt and punishment of transgression.” ^{4242) The Great Controversy, 540.}CFF2 726.5

1. RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE ACCORDS WITH GOD’S CHARACTER

The foundational “conditions” of life and immortality are “specified.” ^{4343) Ibid.} For rebellious refusal to accept them, the unrepentant sinner will be excluded from “right to the tree of life” in the coming kingdom (Revelation 22:14, 15), and cut off from life. ^{4444) The Great Controversy, 541.} God-CFF2 727.1

“‘will by no means clear the guilty.’ (Exodus 34:7.) ‘All the wicked will He destroy.’ ‘The transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.’ (Psalm 145:20; Psalm 37; Psalm 38.) The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being. God does not force the will or judgment of any.” ^{4545) Ibid.}CFF2 727.2

2. RETRIBUTION FOR GOOD BOTH OF UNIVERSE AND TRANSGRESSORS

God desires obedience on the basis of “an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and benevolence”—in “admiration of His attributes.” ^{4646) Ibid.} Thus it is that—CFF2 727.3

“God executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe, and even for the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited....CFF2 727.4

“The Lord bears long with their perversity; but the decisive hour will come at last, when their destiny is to be decided.” ^{4747) The Great Controversy, 541, 542.}CFF2 727.5

3. NO FORCED UNIVERSALISM IN DIVINE PLAN

But God will not “chain these rebels to His side.” He will not “force them to do His will.” They will not “enter heaven, to dwell forever with those whom they despised and hated on earth.” ^{4848) The Great Controversy, 542.} There is no universalism in the divine plan. “A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them [the wicked] for heaven.” They would be unhappy there. The “purity, holiness, and peace” of heaven “would be torture to them, the glory of God would be a consuming fire.” They would “welcome destruction.” ^{4949) The Great Controversy, 543.} So “the destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.” ^{5050) Ibid.}CFF2 727.6

Thus God’s “verdict,” based on their own actions, will call for the wicked to be “blotted out.” So, “in mercy to the universe” God “will finally destroy the rejecters of His grace. ^{5151) Ibid.}CFF2 727.7

4. CONTRASTING PRINCIPLES OF LIFE AND DEATH

Eternal life is a gift, whereas eternal death is something earned. The distinguishing principle involved is vital:CFF2 728.1

“‘The wages [something earned] of sin is death; but the gift [something bestowed] of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23.) While life is the inheritance of the righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. Moses declared to Israel, ‘I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.’ (Deuteronomy 30:15.) The death referred to in these scriptures is not that pronounced upon Adam, for all mankind suffer the penalty of his transgression. It is the ‘second death’ that is placed in contrast with everlasting life.” ^{5252) The Great Controversy, 544}CFF2 728.2

And the distinction between the “first” and the “second” death is basic:
“In consequence of Adam’s sin, death passed upon the whole human race. All alike go down into the grave. And through the provisions of the plan of salvation, all are to be brought forth from their graves. ‘There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust’ (Acts 24:15); ‘for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.’ (1 Corinthians 15:22.) But a distinction is made between the two classes that are brought forth. ‘All that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.’ (John 5:28, 29.) They who have been ‘accounted worthy’ of the resurrection of life, are ‘blessed and holy.’ ‘On such the second death hath no power.”’ (Revelation 20:6). ^{5353) Ibid.}CFF2 728.3

5. JUSTICE REQUIRES DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT

While the penalty of transgression is death, justice requires degrees of punishment for the guilty-ending in final extinction: ‘CFF2 728.4

“They [the wicked] suffer punishment varying in duration and intensity, ‘according to their works,’ but finally ending in the second death. Since it is impossible for God, consistently with His justice and mercy, to save the sinner in his sins, He deprives him of the existence which his transgressions have forfeited, and of which he has proved himself unworthy.” ^{5454) Ibid.}CFF2 728.5

6. ULTIMATE OBLITERATION OF SIN AND SINNERS

This execution of the judgment ends in the complete obliteration of sin and sinners:CFF2 729.1

“Says an inspired writer, ‘Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.’ And another declares, ‘They shall be as though they had not been.’ (Psalm 37:10; Obadiah 16.) Covered with infamy, they sink into hopeless, eternal oblivion.” ^{5555) The Great Controversy, 544, 545.}CFF2 729.2

And this destruction ends in a clean universe:
“Thus will be made an end of sin, with all the woe and ruin which have resulted from it. Says the psalmist: ‘Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Thou hast put out their name forever and ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end.’ (Psalm 9:5, 6.) John, in the Revelation, looking forward to the eternal state, hears a universal anthem of praise, undisturbed by one note of discord. Every creature in heaven and earth was heard ascribing glory to God. (Revelation 5:13.) There will then be no lost souls to blaspheme God, as they writhe in never-ending torment; no wretched beings in hell will mingle their shrieks with the songs of the saved.” ^{5656) The Great Controversy, 545.}CFF2 729.3

Justice and mercy are both now satisfied.CFF2 729.4