Max's Weekly Musings
Vol. 10, No. 16, for the week of May 20-26, 2007
Revelation 20 - Part 3

Headlining the news this past week was the eruption of violence within Lebanon between the Lebanese army and the Islamic radicals who are hiding within Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.  The purpose of the violence is the hopes of the Islamic radicals that they could topple the pro-Western government of Lebanon.  It can only be hoped that the Lebanese government will remain strong in their pursuit of these terrorists and that the Syrian government will stay out of the internal affairs within Lebanon.  I heard today that the Lebanese president has appealed to the United States for more military supplies.  And things continue getting ugly within the Gaza Strip.  Hamas is now getting hammered from two fronts - IDF aerial strikes by Israel, targeting Hamas leadership and rocket launching sites, and from Fatah, their partner within the Palestinian government.  Perhaps this interesting alliance between Israel and Fatah will eradicate Hamas from Gaza.  Personally, I think Israel is poised for an all-out invasion of Gaza.  I think they realize it was a serious mistake to have given Gaza away as it has only become a terrorist mecca.  And the Palestinians, living in Gaza, have suffered incredibly.  They were much better off under Israeli care.  One final note, this evening (Thursday), Congress will be voting on the final funding package for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Democrats have removed their insistence upon having a timetable for withdrawal in the bill.  Yet, everyone knows that an undeclared timetable will enter the picture in September when General Petraius will give a report to Congress on the state of the war.  Look for the fur to fly at that time.  And, we will be that much closer to the presidential primaries.  These are certainly very exciting days.

Now for our continued look into the Book of Revelation.  We are in chapter 20.  The Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth, has ended.  Satan has been released from the bottomless pit, has gathered his last army, made his last attempt to thwart the plans of God, and has been defeated forever and has been cast into the lake of fire.  Now, in verses 11-15, John describes the fate of those who had rejected Christ as Savior.  This scene is commonly known as the Great White Throne Judgment.

I.  Why is this judgment called "great?"

     A.  Because Almighty power will be demonstrated there

     B.  Because of the vast crowds who will be there.  Everyone, from Cain until the closing battle after the Millennium, who has rejected Christ will be there.  This is a vast multitude - how sad.

     C.  Because of the eternal consequences of the occasion.  The verdict for all who appear before God will be "depart from Me, for I never knew you."  How terrible hell will be.

     D.  Because of the dignity of the Judge - Jesus Christ - John 5:22, 27 and Acts 17:31

II.  What are the books that will be opened?

     A.  The Book of Life - their names will not be there

     B.  The books that expose the sins of the unbelievers.  All their good deeds will appear before God as dirty garments (Isaiah 64:6).  All excuses will be silenced.  All rationality will be exposed. 

III.  What is "death and Hades?"

     A.  Death refers to what happens when the body dies.  I think we all understand the reality of death.

     B.  Hades refers to the place where the soul and spirit of the unbelievers go at the time of death.  (Praise God, the soul and spirit of believers enters into the presence of God - 2 Corinthians 5:1-9).

IV.  What is hell really like? 

     A.  This is a real place and not just a state of mind. 

     B.  The Bible describes it as a place of unspeakable misery.  Take some time to look up the following verses and then reflect upon the misery that is portrayed:  Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:44; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 9:2; Matthew 8:12; Luke 3:17; Matthew 13:42; Jude 13; Revelation 14:11.  You will notice that many of these are from the lips of Jesus.

Friends, our hearts should be saddened when we realize the magnitude of eternal separation from God.  Everyone who will be sent into the lake of fire will have stood before the holy and living God, thus there will be no unbelievers, no atheists in hell.  I think part of the great suffering in hell will be the torment of "what if I had yielded to Christ?  What if I had listened to my parents?  What is I had listened to the testimony of that person who worked alongside of me?"  How we need to keep proclaiming the message.  Someone just might listen and we will have saved them from the fires of hell.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.  (C. S. Lewis)

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