Why are the enemies of God destroyed?

[Reddogs]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

How would you feel/react if someone stole your land?

 

[shittim]

What would it look like if the hateful satan worshiping murders were removed from the neighboring land that had previously been given them to live in peace?

 

[GWH]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

Certainly! God's wrath is meant to teach the need for repentance from doing wrong.
Those who do not learn this lesson on earth will be destroyed in hell after justice is attained
per the following passages:

John 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

Romans 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”

Galatians 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”

Philippians 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”

2Thessalonians 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”

2Peter 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

 

[LightBearer316]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

Yes — the principle absolutely still applies today.

While the specific commands of judgment given to Israel in Deuteronomy 20:16–18 were unique to their conquest of Canaan (a divine act of justice against nations steeped in generational wickedness, idolatry, and child sacrifice), the moral and spiritual truth behind it remains timeless:

Sin corrupts and destroys nations.​

Repentance brings mercy.​

The same God who commanded judgment in Deuteronomy is the same God who withheld it in Jonah 3:10, when Nineveh — a violent and idolatrous city — genuinely repented.

God’s character hasn’t changed:

“For I am the LORD, I change not.” — Malachi 3:6 KJV​

“The LORD is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 KJV​

When people or nations turn from evil and humble themselves before God, He responds with mercy. That’s the clear pattern throughout Scripture — from Nineveh to King Hezekiah, from David’s repentance to the promise in:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)​

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”​

So yes — God still relents when people repent.
But when sin persists, judgment eventually follows. The world we see today, with its moral decay and bloodshed, reflects what happens when societies harden their hearts like ancient Canaan, rather than humble themselves like Nineveh.

Grace and Peace

 

[rrcn]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.


Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

From your post:
Can that happen today?

It must happen that way for every person who comes to Jesus. There are no 2nd generation Christians.

Jhn 3:3 KJV - 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The current population of the earth is 8.2 billion, per AI (the ai is a great research assistant but is not capable of understanding spiritual principles).

Every living sinner on the face of the earth today should recognize that he/she can be saved by the grace of Jesus.
Rom 3:23 KJV - 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God:
Rom 1:17 KJV - 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

This is an Old Testament doctrine as well as the New Testament. Forgive me if I am a little verbose, I believe this is one of the most significant statements in the Bible, faithfully presented by Paul to the glory of God.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ...
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. ...
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. ...
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son], ... 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 KJV - 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ...
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. ...
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Jon 3:
5-10 KJV - 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands. 9 Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

Mat 12:41 KJV - 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here.

In the end there are only two groups:

The saved:
Rev 14:7 KJV - 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
and the lost
Rev 13:8 KJV - 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 16:9 KJV - 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

The issue has always been worship!
1Jo 5:21 KJV - 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

[Falconn007]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Can that happen today?

I would strongly suggest a study of the names and the names of the nations you claim as : "a destruction of people"

In Spirit you will See and Hear, that their names are but flaws in their character and not a specific race or person/people.

In truth it is a destruction of stumbling blocks-flaws, bad habits, carnal-ideologies, false beliefs, Lies, deceits etc... that are destroyed and those flaws are named specifically.

***Can that happen today?
Most certainly, in forms of miracle cures, remission of diseases, waking from comas, walking away from devastating accidents, a runn away saved from sex trafficking, prostitutes and drug addicts reformed, homeless being sheltered and fed.

Ever walk down a sidewalk with some type of food in your hands , come across some one asking for food , giving them your food and just walk away not looking for any recognition from them.... ?!?

 

[tablet123]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

Any time salvation is available to the world a nation or individual can turn to the Lord and escape judgment.

For many individuals it is a reality.

But at this point in time for the nations governments it is not a reality for the Bible says all nations will come together to work for peace on earth.

And establish a religious system that exalts people based on the occult and evolution.

Which the New Age Christ/ antichrist has power over all nations, kindreds, and tongues.

This causes the world to rebel against God and His operation on earth so He ends sin on earth.

As long as one nation's government allows the truth to be preached in their nation this day would not come.

But all the nations governments are in agreement to work for peace and stop the preaching of the Gospel and the belief in a personal God on a world wide level.

Rev 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Rev 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Rev 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The 6 trumpets are warnings to the world to get right with God but they did not repent of their evil deeds, and continued on with their plan to establish peace by their own efforts, and a religious system that exalts people and there is no personal God.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Which is the falling away first when the transgressors have come to the full.

Which God gives the world the antichrist to rule over them.

These 6 trumpets are not the wrath of God but the doing of people.

An example is WW1, set up League of Nations to work for peace, did not turn to God.

WW2, set up United Nations to work for peace, did not turn to God.

And that pattern will continue all the way to when Jesus defeats the world and ends sin on earth.

So for the nation's governments it is not a reality they repent and turn to the Lord including America.

When the New Age Christ starts working in the world he will push the agenda of the new age interpretation of the Bible and religions as reality and things will change drastically.

Which America and the Pope and Vatican will be given over to it.

Which it is easy to believe for America for their system that causes high selfishness, and arrogance, and teaches evolution, and allows all religions to be practiced there including Satanism, new age, and the occult.

And the Roman Catholic Church foundation of paganism and the occult.

They will be given over to the New Age Christ's great swelling words, and a man understanding dark sentences and speaking like no other person they have heard.

And will believe his reality of the new age interpretation of the Bible and religions that they will evolve to be spiritual, and greater,

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Like Satan has always been trying to get people to believe for if he can get them to exalt themselves they will not want to obey authority.

Like the 1960's counter culture movement with do your own thing, and rebelling against all authority including parents.

Which you could see the new age theme in there.

Age of Aquarius

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!

Which the new age calls the Age of Peace.

 

[Me_Clay]

We see it over and over, a destruction of people much like we see even today, with Hamas in Gaza. But why, the Bible gives a hint.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

And yet we also see this..

Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Can that happen today?

Is He alive today?

 

[GWH]

Yes — the principle absolutely still applies today.

While the specific commands of judgment given to Israel in Deuteronomy 20:16–18 were unique to their conquest of Canaan (a divine act of justice against nations steeped in generational wickedness, idolatry, and child sacrifice), the moral and spiritual truth behind it remains timeless:

Sin corrupts and destroys nations.​

Repentance brings mercy.​

The same God who commanded judgment in Deuteronomy is the same God who withheld it in Jonah 3:10, when Nineveh — a violent and idolatrous city — genuinely repented.

God’s character hasn’t changed:

“For I am the LORD, I change not.” — Malachi 3:6 KJV​

“The LORD is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 KJV​

When people or nations turn from evil and humble themselves before God, He responds with mercy. That’s the clear pattern throughout Scripture — from Nineveh to King Hezekiah, from David’s repentance to the promise in:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)​

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”​

So yes — God still relents when people repent.
But when sin persists, judgment eventually follows. The world we see today, with its moral decay and bloodshed, reflects what happens when societies harden their hearts like ancient Canaan, rather than humble themselves like Nineveh.

Grace and Peace

Yes, and your approximate rhyme prompts me to look for a place on the website to say "God relents when a sinner repents."

 

[GWH]

Any time salvation is available to the world a nation or individual can turn to the Lord and escape judgment.

For many individuals it is a reality.

But at this point in time for the nations governments it is not a reality for the Bible says all nations will come together to work for peace on earth.

And establish a religious system that exalts people based on the occult and evolution.

Which the New Age Christ/ antichrist has power over all nations, kindreds, and tongues.

This causes the world to rebel against God and His operation on earth so He ends sin on earth.

As long as one nation's government allows the truth to be preached in their nation this day would not come.

But all the nations governments are in agreement to work for peace and stop the preaching of the Gospel and the belief in a personal God on a world wide level.

Rev 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Rev 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Rev 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The 6 trumpets are warnings to the world to get right with God but they did not repent of their evil deeds, and continued on with their plan to establish peace by their own efforts, and a religious system that exalts people and there is no personal God.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Which is the falling away first when the transgressors have come to the full.

Which God gives the world the antichrist to rule over them.

These 6 trumpets are not the wrath of God but the doing of people.

An example is WW1, set up League of Nations to work for peace, did not turn to God.

WW2, set up United Nations to work for peace, did not turn to God.

And that pattern will continue all the way to when Jesus defeats the world and ends sin on earth.

So for the nation's governments it is not a reality they repent and turn to the Lord including America.

When the New Age Christ starts working in the world he will push the agenda of the new age interpretation of the Bible and religions as reality and things will change drastically.

Which America and the Pope and Vatican will be given over to it.

Which it is easy to believe for America for their system that causes high selfishness, and arrogance, and teaches evolution, and allows all religions to be practiced there including Satanism, new age, and the occult.

And the Roman Catholic Church foundation of paganism and the occult.

They will be given over to the New Age Christ's great swelling words, and a man understanding dark sentences and speaking like no other person they have heard.

And will believe his reality of the new age interpretation of the Bible and religions that they will evolve to be spiritual, and greater,

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Like Satan has always been trying to get people to believe for if he can get them to exalt themselves they will not want to obey authority.

Like the 1960's counter culture movement with do your own thing, and rebelling against all authority including parents.

Which you could see the new age theme in there.

Age of Aquarius

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!

Which the new age calls the Age of Peace.

Good post! I especially like you citing the song "Age of Aquarius" as an atheist hymn,
which was in the musical "Hair" that premiered the year I graduated from HS.

 

[shittim]

In the OT there was no intercessor, Jesus taught ALL things are new in Him.