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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 7 - YES, I AM COMING SOON! (REVELATION 19:11 - 22-21)
PART 7.4 - THE LAST JUDGMENT (REVELATION 20:11-15)

3. Death Will be Judged (Revelation 20:14-15)


Hell as a Lake of Fire: In the course of the Book of Revelation in an increasing clear way we read of the lake of fire, the fire sea and hell.

John, the Baptist, already stirred up men by pointing out that a fruitless tree will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9) and that the chaff will be separated on the threshing floor from the wheat in order to burn the chaff with fire (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). Hell is waiting for everybody not repenting immediately and completely.

Jesus incorporated these shaking parables into his preaching (Matthew 7:19; 13:40-42), but heightened them and asked everybody to take the sanctification of his life seriously. It be better to live with only one eye or only one leg and to enter into heaven than to go on sinning with two eyes and all limbs and therefore to be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:29-30; 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-47). With these warnings he sharpened the understanding of sin: Whoever is angry with his brother and calls him fool or ass, will be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5.22).

Hell is an inherent part of the preaching of Jesus. When, for example, the inhabitants of Capernaum in spite of many miracles worked among them, did not repent really, Jesus spoke the divine woe upon these town and prophesied that it will be brought down to hell (Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15). The Pharisees and Scribes were called by Jesus “serpents” and “vipers” and he asked them at the same time pastorally, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). In the parable of “The Rich Man and Poor Lazarus” gave Jesus an insight into the reality of hell and the fervent and yet futile supplications of the tormented rich man (Luke 16:19-31). With great sorrow he spoke again and again of weeping and gnashing of teeth and of the furnace of everlasting fire (Matthew 8:12; 13:42.50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). The harshest and most comprehensive prophesy of Christ regarding hell is written in his words which he speaks as judge in the Last Judgment, “Then he will say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!” (Matthew 25:41)

In the revelation of Christ to John the description of hell intensifies, at first as a warning to the persecuted church members so as not to compromise with the Caesar-cult under any circumstances and not to worship Antichrist. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)

The fact of being thrown into the lake of fire, the place of everlasting torment, upon which a breath-taking smell lies, is specified by pointing to the Last judgment through four cases:

  • Antichrist and his false prophet will be thrown into this intensive care unit of hell (Revelation 19:20).
  • Satan himself, after being completely deprived of his power, will land up where his wicked son already is, covered with the shame of his total failure (Revelation 20:10).
  • Death and his realm will be thrown into the same lake of fire after being deprived of his power and after delivering of all dead (Revelation 20:14).
  • All men who refuse the reconciliation of Christ, the Lamb of God, will be cast into the lake of fire without exception because of their insufficient and wicked works (Revelation 20:15). The list of those condemned to hell torture of unquenchable fire is specified in detail in the report of John (Revelation 21:8).

This description of hell turns almost the stomach of Humanists and Universalists, as according to their philosophy the love of God and his pity surpasses his justice and judgment. They misjudge, however, the abysmal wickedness of Satan and his hatred against the Holy Trinity, likewise as they also do not know in depth the holiness of God and his judgments due to the rejection of his grace in Christ.

Death and his realm is one of the enemies of God whom the Father will put under the feet of his Son (Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 21:4). The lake of fire on the other hand is not an enemy of God, but belongs to his righteousness and holiness. Likewise as a judge in the Middle East has to be present at the lashing of the convicted man or has to throw the first stone of a stoning, so the last book of the Bible reveals that Jesus as judge and Lamb of God will be a witness of the torture of the condemned men (Revelation 14:9-10). This torture does not last only one hour, one week or one year, but for ever and ever, always and unceasingly. The love of God is unlimited, but the holy wrath of God too. This surpasses our mind and requires of us obedience to the faith in a lowly mindset.

PRAYER: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You because You are willing to save all men from Your severe justice according to Your plan of salvation. You gave Your only Son for the justification of the repentant, and You opened wide the door of heaven to them. Help us so that none of us will neglect this door that is opened to you and run to hell. Amen.

QUESTIONS:

  1. How did the Son of Mary explain the lake of fire? Who will enter it?
  2. How does God oppose the deliverance from the lake of fire? How can you be qualified to receive everlasting life?

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