第12章 不能进天国的人
§1
第12章 不能进天国的人
§2
Chap. 12—Some Who Will Not Be There
§3
该隐——该隐的罪虽然该受死刑的判决，但慈悲的创造主仍旧饶了他的性命，并给他悔改的机会。可惜该隐硬着心肠，去鼓动反抗上帝权威的精神，他就成了一族厚颜无耻，肆无忌惮之罪人的魁首。这一个离道叛教的人，受了撒但的迷惑，竟成了试探别人的工具；而且他的榜样和影响发出腐化的力量，以致世界败坏，满了强暴，到了必须毁灭的地步。（PP 78）{Hvn 106.1}[1]
§4
Cain—Notwithstanding that Cain had by his crimes merited the sentence of death, a merciful Creator still spared his life, and granted him opportunity for repentance. But Cain lived only to harden his heart, to encourage rebellion against the divine authority, and to become the head of a line of bold, abandoned sinners. This one apostate, led on by Satan, became a tempter to others; and his example and influence exerted their demoralizing power, until the earth became so corrupt and filled with violence as to call for its destruction.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 78.?{Hvn 106.1}[1]
§5
罗得的妻子——如果罗得本人毫不犹豫地顺从了天使的警告，赶紧逃到山上去，没有一句要求或异议，那么，他的妻子也必能逃脱这一次的灾难。罗得榜样的影响就可以救她脱离那决定她厄运的罪。可是罗得的犹豫和耽搁，使他妻子轻看上帝的警告。她的身体虽然在平原上，但她的心却依恋着所多玛，以致她就与所多玛同归于尽。她怨恨上帝，因为上帝的刑罚把她的财产和儿女都卷入毁灭之中了。虽然她蒙了那么大的恩，被召脱离这邪恶的城，但她总觉得上帝苦待了她，因为多年积攒起来的财富必须留在那里被火焚毁。她非但没有以感谢的心接受救恩，反而擅敢回头恋慕那些拒绝上帝警告之人的生活。她的罪显明她不配得生命，因为上帝虽然保全了她的生命，她却没有表示多少感激的心。（PP 161，162）?{Hvn 106.2}[2]
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Lot’s Wife—If Lot himself had manifested no hesitancy to obey the angels’ warning, but had earnestly fled toward the mountains, without one word of pleading or remonstrance, his wife also would have made her escape. The influence of his example would have saved her from?the sin that sealed her doom. But his hesitancy and delay caused her to lightly regard the divine warning. While her body was upon the plain, her heart clung to Sodom, and she perished with it. She rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions and her children in the ruin. Although so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with, because the wealth that it had taken years to accumulate must be left to destruction. Instead of thankfully accepting deliverance, she presumptuously looked back to desire the life of those who had rejected the divine warning. Her sin showed her to be unworthy of life, for the preservation of which she felt so little gratitude.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 161, 162.?{Hvn 106.2}[2]
§7
扫罗王——扫罗知道这次去求问隐多珥女巫的垂死之举，切断了他与上帝最后联系。他知道即使他以前没有故意与上帝绝交，这个举动也最后确定了与上帝的分离。他已经与死亡和地狱立了约。他的恶贯已经满盈了。（1SP 376，377）{Hvn 107.1}[3]
§8
King Saul—Saul knew that in this last act, of consulting the witch of Endor, he cut the last shred which held him to God. He knew that if he had not before willfully separated himself from God, this act sealed that separation, and made it final. He had made an agreement with death, and a covenant with hell. The cup of his iniquity was full.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:376, 377.?{Hvn 107.1}[3]
§9
犹大——上帝已经设立了种种方法，只要我们殷勤而虔诚地加以运用，我们的船只就不会失事，反而能驶过狂风逆浪，最后停泊在幸福的海港。但我们如果藐视并忽略这些方法与特权，上帝就不会行什么神迹来救我们任何人。我们就会象犹大和撒但那样沉沦。（TM 453）{Hvn 107.2}[4]
§10
Judas—God has appointed means, if we will use them diligently and prayerfully, that no vessel shall be shipwrecked, but outride the tempest and storm, and anchor in the haven of bliss at last. But if we despise and neglect these appointments and privileges, God will not work a miracle to save any of us, and we will be lost as were Judas and Satan.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 453.?{Hvn 107.2}[4]
§11
希律，希罗底，彼拉多和直接参与钉死耶稣的人——在这波动的人山人海之前，出现最后的几幕景象，──那位忍耐的“受难者”踏上髑髅地的刑场；天庭之君竟被挂在十字架之上；骄傲的祭司和讥诮的暴徒在那里嘲笑祂临终的痛苦。那超乎自然的黑暗、那震动的地面、崩裂的岩石、敞开的坟墓，都是世界救赎主牺牲性命之时的显著事件。{Hvn 108.1}[5]
§12
Herod, Herodias, Pilate, and Individuals Directly Involved in Jesus’ Crucifixion—And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding His expiring agony; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world’s Redeemer yielded up His life.?{Hvn 108.1}[5]
§13
这残怖的情景要原原本本地出现。撒但，他的使者和他的百姓不能不看这暴露他们罪行的描绘。其中的每一分子都要回想自己所充当的角色。那曾经屠杀伯利恒无辜婴孩，妄想藉此除灭以色列之君的希律；和卑鄙下贱，心术邪恶，染了施洗约翰之血的希罗底；还有那懦弱无能，随波逐流的彼拉多；和那些讥诮戏弄救主的兵丁、祭司、官长，以及疯狂乱喊“祂的血归到我们，和我们的子孙身上”的群众，──这些人都看出自己罪恶的严重性。他们妄想藏身躲避救主那比日头远为辉煌的神圣威严。同时，得救的群众却要摘下自己的冠冕，置于救主的脚前，喊叫说，“祂为我而死！”（GC 667）{Hvn 108.2}[6]
§14
The awful spectacle appears just as it was. Satan, his angels, and his subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work. Each actor recalls the part which he performed. Herod, who slew the innocent children of Bethlehem that he might destroy the King of Israel; the base Herodias, upon whose guilty soul rests the blood of John the Baptist; the weak, timeserving Pilate; the mocking soldiers; the priests and rulers and the maddened throng who cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children!”all behold the enormity of their guilt. They vainly seek to hide from the divine majesty of His countenance, outshining the glory of the sun, while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet, exclaiming: “He died for me!”—The Great Controversy, 667.?{Hvn 108.2}[6]
§15
那些嘲笑祂自称为上帝儿子的人，这时都哑口无言了。那里有傲慢的希律，他曾讥诮耶稣的尊名，并吩咐轻慢的兵丁将冠冕戴在祂头上。那里也有那些曾用亵渎的手把紫袍穿在祂身上，把荆棘冠冕戴在祂圣洁的额上，把假的王圭放在祂毫无抵抗的手中，并跪在祂面前用亵慢的话讽刺祂的人。那些曾经击打祂，吐唾沫在生命之君脸上的人，此时要设法逃避祂那锐利的目光，并逃避祂面前压倒一切的荣耀。那些曾用钉钉祂的手和脚的人，和那刺祂肋旁的兵丁，都要看见这些痕迹，而倍感惊惶与悔恨。?{Hvn 108.3}[7]
§16
Those who derided His claim to be the Son of God are speechless now. There is the haughty Herod who jeered at His royal title and bade the mocking soldiers crown Him king. There are the very men who with impious hands placed upon His form the purple robe, upon His sacred brow the thorny crown, and in His unresisting hand?the mimic scepter, and bowed before Him in blasphemous mockery. The men who smote and spit upon the Prince of life now turn from His piercing gaze and seek to flee from the overpowering glory of His presence. Those who drove the nails through His hands and feet, the soldier who pierced His side, behold these marks with terror and remorse.?{Hvn 108.3}[7]
§17
祭司与官长们都能极清楚地回忆当年髑髅地的情形。他们要战栗恐惧地想起自己曾如何以狰狞的笑脸，摇头说，“祂救了别人，不能救自己，祂是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信祂。祂倚靠上帝，上帝若喜悦祂，现在可以救祂”（太27:42,43）。{Hvn 109.1}[8]
§18
With awful distinctness do priests and rulers recall the events of Calvary. With shuddering horror they remember how, wagging their heads in satanic exultation, they exclaimed: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him.”?Matthew 27:42, 43.?{Hvn 109.1}[8]
§19
他们很清楚地回忆救主的比喻，论到园户怎样拒绝将果子交给主人，而还要打伤他的仆人，杀死他的儿子。他们也记起自己所作的判决，说那葡萄园的主人“要下毒手除灭那些恶人。”在这不忠心之园户的罪恶和刑罚上，祭司和长老们要看出自己的作风和应受的报应。此时他们要发出一阵非常痛苦的呼号。这惨怖绝望的哀声，要比那从前在耶路撒冷街上所喊叫“钉他在十字架上！钉他在十字架上”的声音更大，说：“祂是上帝的儿子！祂是真弥赛亚！”他们急欲逃避这万王之王的面。他们妄想逃到地的深处，就是那因自然的变动而裂开的地面，在那里藏身。（GC 643，644）{Hvn 109.2}[9]
§20
Vividly they recall the Saviour’s parable of the husbandmen who refused to render to their lord the fruit of the vineyard, who abused his servants and slew his son. They remember, too, the sentence which they themselves pronounced: The lord of the vineyard “will miserably destroy those wicked men.” In the sin and punishment of those unfaithful men the priests and elders see their own course and their own just doom. And now there rises a cry of mortal agony. Louder than the shout, “Crucify Him, crucify Him,” which rang through the streets of Jerusalem, swells the awful, despairing wail, “He is the Son of God! He is the true Messiah!” They seek to flee from the presence of the King of kings. In the deep caverns of the earth, rent asunder by the warring of the elements, they vainly attempt to hide.—The Great Controversy, 643, 644.?{Hvn 109.2}[9]
§21
尼禄和他的母亲，罗马教的神父和主教们——在得赎的群众之中，有基督的众使徒，有英勇的保罗，热心的彼得，蒙爱而又爱人的约翰，以及他们许多忠诚的弟兄，还有大群的殉道者和他们站在一起；同时，那些曾经逼迫他们，囚禁他们，杀害他们的恶人，联同一切污秽可憎之物，却都关在圣城的墙外。其中有那残忍行恶的暴君尼禄皇帝。他曾逼迫圣徒，并以他们所受的痛苦为快。现在他却要看见他们得享欢乐与尊荣。他的母亲也在那里。她要亲眼看到自己行为的后果，看出她品格的邪恶怎样遗传给自己的儿子；她的感化力和榜样曾助长她儿子的邪情私欲，以致结出罪恶的果子，使全世界为之战栗。{Hvn 110.1}[10]
§22
Nero and His Mother; Papal Priests and Pontiffs—Amid the ransomed throng are the apostles of Christ, the heroic Paul, the ardent Peter, the loved and loving John, and their truehearted brethren, and with them the vast host of martyrs; while outside the walls, with every vile and abominable thing, are those by whom they were persecuted, imprisoned, and slain. There is Nero, that monster of cruelty and vice, beholding the joy and exaltation of those whom he once tortured, and in whose extremest anguish he found satanic delight. His mother is there to witness the result of her own work; to see how the evil stamp of character transmitted to her son, the passions encouraged and developed by her influence and example, have borne fruit in crimes that caused the world to shudder.?{Hvn 110.1}[10]
§23
在那里还有罗马教的神父和主教们。他们曾自命为基督的使者，却想用拷问台、牢狱和火刑柱等来统制上帝圣民的良心。那里有傲慢的教皇，他们曾抬举自己高过上帝，并擅敢改变至高者的律法。那些虚伪的神父终必向上帝作交代。这乃是他们巴不得可以逃避的。他们那时才会看出：全能者是严格执行自己律法的，而且决不以有罪的为无罪，可是他们悔已晚矣。他们现在才明白基督是与祂受难之子民同受苦难的。他们这时也感到了主所说的这一句话的力量：“这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是作在我身上了”（太25:40）。（GC667，668）{Hvn 110.2}[11]
§24
There are papist priests and prelates, who claimed to be Christ’s ambassadors, yet employed the rack, the dungeon, and the stake to control the consciences of His people. There are the proud pontiffs who exalted themselves above God and presumed to change the law of the Most High. Those pretended fathers of the church have an account to render to God from which they would fain be excused. Too late they are made to see that the Omniscient One is jealous of His law and that He will in no wise clear the guilty. They learn now that Christ identifies His interest with that of His suffering people; and they feel the force of His own words: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”?Matthew 25:40.—The Great Controversy, 667, 668.?{Hvn 110.2}[11]
§25
各世代的恶人——耶稣以可怕的威严叫死了的恶人复活。他们便从长眠中醒来。那是多么可怕的醒来啊！他们看到上帝的儿子在祂极度的威严和辉煌的荣耀中。他们一看到祂，便都知道祂就是被钉十字架的主，祂曾受死要救他们，却被他们藐视和拒绝了。他们的人数象海边的沙那样多。在第一次复活时,所有的人都带着不朽的完美出来。但在第二次复活时,在所有人身上都带着诅咒的痕迹。他们从前进入坟墓的时候怎样，现在出来时还是怎样。?{Hvn 110.3}[12]
§26
Some Who Not Will Be There?The Wicked of All Generations—In fearful majesty He [Jesus] calls forth the wicked dead. They are wakened from their long sleep. What a dreadful waking! They behold the Son of God in His stern majesty and resplendent glory. All, as soon as they behold Him, know that He is the crucified one who died to save them, whom they had despised and rejected. They are in number like the sand upon the sea shore. At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal bloom, but at the second, the marks of the curse are visible upon all. All come up as they went down into their graves.?{Hvn 110.3}[12]
§27
洪水以前的人带着巨人般的身材出来了。他们的高度是现代人的两倍，而且十分匀称。洪水以后的人则矮小多了。从后续的世代直到最后生活在世上的人，身材是在不断减小的。生活在世上的第一批恶人和最后一批恶人的反差是很大的。第一批恶人身材雄伟高大而且很匀称，最后一批恶人则象他们蹲下来一样，矮小、软弱、畸形。（3SG 84）{Hvn 111.1}[13]
§28
Those who lived before the flood, come forth with their giant-like stature, more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and well proportioned. The generations after the flood were less in stature. There was a continual decrease through successive generations, down to the last that lived upon the earth. The contrast between the first wicked men who lived upon the earth, and those of the last generation, was very great. The first were of lofty height and well proportioned—the last came up as they went down, a dwarfed, feeble, deformed race.—Spiritual Gifts 3:84.?{Hvn 111.1}[13]
§29
他（撒但）满面狞笑，洋洋自得，指着那从死里复活的无数群众，宣称自己作为他们的首领，足能攻陷圣城，并收复他的宝座和国度。{Hvn 111.2}[14]
§30
With fiendish exultation he [Satan] points to the unnumbered millions who have been raised from the dead and declares that as their leader he is well able to overthrow the city and regain his throne and his kingdom.?{Hvn 111.2}[14]
§31
在这广大的群众中，有许多是洪水以前寿命很长的人种。他们身材魁梧，智力卓越。他们曾服从那些堕落了的天使的管辖，竭尽心机来高抬自己。他们曾创作精巧的艺术品，令世人崇拜他们的天才，但同时他们的残酷和许多邪恶的发明却污秽了全地，并毁损了上帝的形像，以致祂必须将他们从地上除灭。在这次复活的人中还有许多曾经征服列国，百战百胜的君王和将领。他们都是英勇无比，野心勃勃的战士，平生声势煊赫，所向无敌。他们在死亡之中并没有经受任何的改变，所以他们临死时所想的是什么，从坟墓中出来时所想的还是什么。那在他们生前激动他们去征服世界的欲望，此时又在他们心中发作了。（GC 663，664）?{Hvn 111.3}[15]
§32
In that vast throng are multitudes of the long-lived race that existed before the Flood; men of lofty stature and giant intellect, who, yielding to the control of fallen angels, devoted all their skill and knowledge to the exaltation of?themselves; men whose wonderful works of art led the world to idolize their genius, but whose cruelty and evil inventions, defiling the earth and defacing the image of God, caused Him to blot them from the face of His creation. There are kings and generals who conquered nations, valiant men who never lost a battle, proud, ambitious warriors whose approach made kingdoms tremble. In death these experienced no change. As they come up from the grave, they resume the current of their thoughts just where it ceased. They are actuated by the same desire to conquer that ruled them when they fell.—The Great Controversy, 663, 664.?{Hvn 111.3}[15]
§33
度自私生活的人——人切莫以为自己在度自私的生活，满足自己的利益之后，依然可以进去享受主人的快乐。他们决不可能分享无私之爱的快乐，也不能适应天国的环境。他们无法欣赏那弥漫天国的仁爱纯洁的气氛。天使的歌声和琴声不能使他们满足。天国的科学在他们心中乃是不解之谜。（COL 364，365）{Hvn 112.1}[16]
§34
Those Living a Life of Selfishness—Let none suppose that they can live a life of selfishness, and then, having served their own interests, enter into the joy of their Lord. In the joy of unselfish love they could not participate. They would not be fitted for the heavenly courts. They could not appreciate the pure atmosphere of love that pervades heaven. The voices of the angels and the music of their harps would not satisfy them. To their minds the science of heaven would be as an enigma.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 364, 365.?{Hvn 112.1}[16]
§35
属灵上麻木的人——青年人为自己的宗教所忍受的，所克己的，真是何其少啊！他们之中简直没有想到牺牲那一回事，他们在这一方面，也没效法那“模范”。我见到从他们的生活上所发出的口气，乃是必须满足自己，必须任性高傲。他们忘记了那个“多受痛苦，常经忧患”的人。耶稣在客西马尼园中所受的痛苦，象大滴的血一般的汗，以及祂神圣额头上的荆棘冠冕，这些都不能感动他们的心。他们已经麻木了。他们的感觉力迟钝了，毫不觉得那为他们所作的至大牺牲。他们虽能坐下倾听十字架的故事，听那铁钉怎样残忍地钉穿上帝圣子的手和脚，可是他们心灵的深处，却不受感动。{Hvn 112.2}[17]
§36
The Spiritually Benumbed—How little do the young suffer, or deny self, for their religion! To sacrifice is scarcely thought of among them. They entirely fail of imitating the Pattern in this respect. I saw that the language of their lives is: Self must be gratified, pride must be indulged. They forget the Man of Sorrows, who was acquainted with grief. The sufferings of Jesus in Gethsemane, His sweating as it were great drops of blood in the garden, the platted crown?of thorns that pierced His holy brow, do not move them. They have become benumbed. Their sensibilities are blunted, and they have lost all sense of the great sacrifice made for them. They can sit and listen to the story of the cross, hear how the cruel nails were driven through the hands and feet of the Son of God, and it does not stir the depths of the soul.?{Hvn 112.2}[17]
§37
天使说：“如果把这等人招待到上帝圣城之中，告诉他们，那里的一切丰厚荣美之福都是他们可以永远享受的，他们也不会觉得这为他们买来的产业所付的代价是何等的重大。他们永不会明白救主的爱是何等的深厚无比。他们没有喝过主所喝的杯，也没有受过主所受的洗。如果这等人要住在天国，天国就受其害了。因此，只有那些曾与上帝圣子同受过苦，从大患难中出来，曾用羔羊的血把衣裳洗白净了的人，才能享受这形容不出的荣耀，以及天国无比的荣美。” （1T 155）{Hvn 113.1}[18]
§38
Said the angel: “If such should be ushered into the city of God, and told that all its rich beauty and glory was theirs to enjoy eternally, they would have no sense of how dearly that inheritance was purchased for them. They would never realize the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love. They have not drunk of the cup, nor been baptized with the baptism. Heaven would be marred if such should dwell there. Those only who have partaken of the sufferings of the Son of God, and have come up through great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, can enjoy the indescribable glory and unsurpassed beauty of heaven.”Testimonies for the Church 1:155.?{Hvn 113.1}[18]
§39
我见到一位天使站着，手里拿着天平，衡量上帝子民──尤其是青年人──的心思及志趣。在天平的一端，放着向天的心思和志趣，另一端放着向地的心思和志趣。在这秤盘上放着一切的小说读物，时髦服装之念，虚荣，骄傲等等。这真是何等严肃的时刻啊！上帝的使者拿着天平站着，要衡量一切自命为上帝儿女的人──就是那些口称向世界死而向上帝活之人──的心思意念。在那放着属世意念，虚荣，骄傲的秤盘上，虽有重物一再滚出了秤盘，但这秤盘还是很快地向下坠。当天平的这一端下坠时，那另一端放着向天之意念及志趣的秤盘，却很快地升高起来，它是何等地轻飘啊！在我见到天使拿着天平，衡量上帝子民的意念及志趣之时，我心中所感受的严肃生动之印象，实在是形容不出的；我现在所能述说的，只是所见到的情形而已。天使说：“这等人能进天国么？不行，不行，这是断乎不行的！你告诉他们吧，他们现存的希望乃是徒然的，除非他们赶快悔改，获得救恩，他们是必要灭亡的。”（1T 124，125）?{Hvn 113.2}[19]
§40
I have seen an angel standing with scales in his hands weighing the thoughts and interest of the people of God, especially the young. In one scale were the thoughts and interest tending heavenward; in the other were the thoughts and interest tending to earth. And in this scale were thrown all the reading of storybooks, thoughts of dress and show, vanity, pride, etc. Oh, what a solemn moment! the angels of God standing with scales, weighing the thoughts of His professed children—those who claim to be dead to the world and alive to God. The scale filled with thoughts of?earth, vanity, and pride quickly went down, notwithstanding weight after weight rolled from the scale. The one with the thoughts and interest tending to heaven went quickly up as the other went down, and oh, how light it was! I can relate this as I saw it; but never can I give the solemn and vivid impression stamped upon my mind, as I saw the angel with the scales weighing the thoughts and interest of the people of God. Said the angel: “Can such enter heaven? No, no, never. Tell them the hope they now possess is vain, and unless they speedily repent, and obtain salvation, they must perish.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:124, 125.?{Hvn 113.2}[19]
§41
放纵和助长罪恶的人——由于罪，撒但被逐出天庭；没有人可因放纵和助长罪恶，得以进入天国；若能，撒但将再立足天庭。（4T 346）{Hvn 114.1}[20]
§42
Those Who Indulge and Foster Sin—Because of sin, Satan was thrust out of heaven; and no man indulging and fostering sin can go to heaven, for then Satan would again have a foothold there.—Testimonies for the Church 4:346.?{Hvn 114.1}[20]
§43
天国对于悖逆的人是痛苦的——难道那些一生反抗上帝的人能立即变化升天，眼见那里常存着崇高、圣洁、完美的景象吗？──那里人人心中充满着爱，个个脸上焕发着喜乐的光辉，又有美妙的音乐颂赞上帝和羔羊。坐宝座者的圣颜不断放射荣光在得救者的身上，──难道那些满心恨恶上帝，恨恶真理和圣洁的人们，能够混杂在天庭群众之中，并同声歌唱赞美吗？他们见到上帝与羔羊的荣耀，能忍受得住吗？──断乎不能。上帝已经赐给他们许多年的恩典时期，使他们可以造就合乎天庭的品格，他们却一直没有训练自己去爱慕纯洁，一直没有学习天国的语言，此时是悔之晚矣。他们那种反抗上帝的人生，使他们不配居住天上。那里的纯全，圣洁与和平只能使他们坐立不安，极端苦恼，在他们，上帝的荣耀要成为可怕的烈火。他们要速速逃离那圣洁的地方。他们要欢迎灭亡，以便逃避那为救赎他们而舍命的主。恶人的命运乃是出于他们自己的选择。他们的远离天庭乃是出于他们的自愿；在上帝一方面，这也是公正而慈悲的。（GC 542，543）?{Hvn 114.2}[21]
§44
Heaven Would Be Torture to the Rebellious—Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be suddenly transported to heaven and witness the high, the holy state of perfection that ever exists there,—every soul filled with love, every countenance beaming with joy, enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in honor of God and the Lamb, and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the redeemed from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne,—could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and join their songs of praise? Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters?for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. 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.—The Great Controversy, 542, 543.?{Hvn 114.2}[21]