dear xchange...
you said: "Oh, I also have to right to dismiss vapid threats of some cataclysmic portending for daring to disbelieve the millions of versions of some indifferent supreme entity."...
of course...and atheists seem to believe that the idea of God as well as the theists you deal with are your enemy and that the whole "God thing" ought to be put to rest, permanently...let me just say that your biggest enemy isn't in the "free world". the day of vengeance that God talks about in the bible is not vengeance against those who listen to God through His word or are His children through His Son. No, the day of vengeance is against those who would hurt these.
The LORD has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God. (isaiah 52:10)
So shall He sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;
For what had not been told them they shall see,
And what they had not heard they shall consider. (isaiah 52:15)
According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay,
Fury to His adversaries,
Recompense to His enemies;
The coastlands He will fully repay.
So shall they fear
The name of the LORD from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. (isaiah 59:18-19)
“As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them(believers): My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.” (isaiah 59:21)...
in fact...Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles,
And their offspring among the people.
All who see them shall acknowledge them,
That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed.” (isaiah 61:9)
revelation 12:11
love michelle