After the prophet Abinadi calls King Noah to repentance, the king is angered and has Abinadi executed by fire. In his death throes, Abinadi utters one last prophecy based on the truth that God does not allow his true followers to be harmed without repercussions.

“And when the flames began to scorch him, [Abinadi] cried unto them, saying: Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God. And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities. Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts. And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by fire. Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people.” (Mosiah 17:13-19)

Questions:

-How naïve is it to compare the shortsighted vengeance of man with the omniscient vengeance of God, as if they were the same thing?

-Can anyone practice righteous vengeance other than God?