Page 16 - Our God of Love, Mercy, and Justice

At this time immense forests were buried. These have since been changed to coal,
forming the extensive coal beds that now exist, and also yielding large quantities of
oil. The coal and oil frequently ignite and burn beneath the surface of the earth. Thus
rocks are heated, limestone is burned, and iron ore melted. The action of the water
upon the lime adds fury to the intense heat, and causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and

fiery issues. . . . These wonderful manifestations will be more and more frequent and
terrible just before the second coming of Christ and the end of the world, as signs of
its speedy destruction.
The depths of the earth are the Lord's arsenal, whence were drawn weapons to be
employed in the destruction of the old world. Waters gushing from the earth united
with the waters from heaven to accomplish the work of desolation. Since the Flood,

fire as well as water has been God's agent to destroy very wicked cities. These
judgments are sent that those who lightly regard God's law and trample upon His
authority may be led to tremble before His power and to confess His just sovereignty.
As men have beheld burning mountains pouring forth fire and flames and torrents of
melted ore, drying up rivers, overwhelming populous cities, and everywhere
spreading ruin and desolation, the stoutest heart has been filled with terror and
infidels and blasphemers have been constrained to acknowledge the infinite power of

God. . . .
"The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the
dust of His feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers."
Nahum 1:3, 4. PP 107-109.

The Tower of Babel
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass,
as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they
dwelt there. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may
reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the
face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which
the children of men builded. Genesis 11:1,2,4,5.
The men of Babel had determined to establish a government that should be

independent of God. There were some among them, however, who feared the Lord,
but who had been deceived by the pretensions of the ungodly and drawn into their
schemes. For the sake of these faithful ones the Lord delayed His judgments and gave
the people time to reveal their true character. As this was developed, the sons of God
labored to turn them from their purpose; but the people were fully united in their

Heaven-daring undertaking. Had they gone on unchecked, they would have
demoralized the world in its infancy. Their confederacy was founded in rebellion; a
kingdom established for self-exaltation, but in which God was to have no rule or
honor. Had this confederacy been permitted, a mighty power would have borne sway

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