The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 540

soul “longed to go forth unto Absalom; for he was comforted concerning
Amnon, seeing he was dead.” The poignancy of his grief having been
softened by time, his thoughts turned from the dead to the living son,
self-banished through fear of the just punishment of his crime. And
this is the evidence that the incestuous, drunken Amnon was at death
immediately transported to the abodes of bliss, there to be purified and
prepared for the companionship of sinless angels! A pleasing fable
indeed, well suited to gratify the carnal heart! This is Satan’s own
doctrine, and it does his work effectually. Should we be surprised that,
with such instruction, wickedness abounds?
The course pursued by this one false teacher illustrates that of many
others. A few words of Scripture are separated from the context, which
would in many cases show their meaning to be exactly opposite to the
interpretation put upon them; and such disjointed passages are perverted
and used in proof of doctrines that have no foundation in the word of
God. The testimony cited as evidence that the drunken Amnon is in
heaven is a mere inference directly contradicted by the plain and positive
statement of the Scriptures that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom
of God. 1 Corinthians 6:10. It is thus that doubters, unbelievers, and
skeptics turn the truth into a lie. And multitudes have been deceived by
their sophistry and rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security.
If it were true that the souls of all men passed directly to heaven at
the hour of dissolution, then we might well covet death rather than life.
Many have been led by this belief to put an end to their existence. When
overwhelmed with trouble, perplexity, and disappointment, it seems an
easy thing to break the brittle thread of life and soar away into the bliss
of the eternal world.
God has given in His word decisive evidence that He will punish the
transgressors of His law. Those who flatter

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