As we continue our series on WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN JESUS RETURNS?  WE READ OF THE LAST JUDGMENT AND A WHITE THRONE IN REVELATION 20:11-15.

                                                                                                           

We read that before this throne are the dead, great and small, and the books are opened. "The dead  were judged according to their works by what was written in the books" (Revelation 20:12)  WAIT A MINUTE?  The Bible states, "By grace are you saved through faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast."  (Ephesians 2:8,9)

The lost before the White Throne who face the "second death" 20: 5, 14, can only rest on their "own" works which come short of God's standard (Romans 3:23). It is only in Jesus that we are saved!  "He became sin for us who knew not sin, that we might become the righteous in Christ Jesus" (II Corinthians 5:17).

                                                                                                 

A GREAT ILLUSTRATION FROM ONE OF MY PROFESSORS, THE LATE  FRANK SELLS

When Jesus stood before His Father's throne He stated that on earth He did not sin in thought,  word or deed.

When Ross Lyon stands before the Father, I will say, "My Father while on earth I did not sin in thought, word or deed." 

You would say, I'm the biggest liar in the universe!  No, divine bookkeeping as read in II Corinthians 5:17 states that Jesus took the penalty of my sin, while His righteousness is credited for me.  THAT'S THE ONLY WAY ANY OF US WILL GET INTO THE NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH.

"ANY ONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE" (Revelation 2O:15)

Why would a loving God torment a person in a lake of fire forever?  Hell is the final product of a life that doesn't seek the Lord and lives like He doesn't exist (except when in trouble.)  The Lake of Fire is the Lord's isolation dump, where those who did not want the Lord as central in their lives get what they wished:  abandoned by God without any of the benefits of His benevolence.

ARE THE FIRES OF HELL LITERAL?

Since the devil, who is a spirit, is tormented in Hell (Revelation 20:10) and tormented forever, the fire is symbolic.  That is the only way the Bible can describe eternal damnation is like being burned alive forever!  It is worse than fire, as it goes on and on forever!

                                                                                                                            

Everyone alive right now faces an eternal "lake of fire" unless they see themselves as a sinner, turn their life over to the Living Savior, and trust HIm alone to forgive their sins and make them whole.  Don't be deceived by those who ignore and question hell. 

Jesus taught more about eternal damnation then any one in the Bible.  The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ reveals the Lake of Fire!

Finally, we need to pray, love and seek opportunities to tell those lost around us that there is safety only in Jesus Christ.

ROSS

I have more material in my latest book about Revelation on questions about degrees of hell?  Is it fair to cast people into the Lake of Fire who never heard of Jesus and His gospel?  Just click at the website at the end of this paragraph and you can open my book and read portions of it for free.  Our ministry is to provide quality, easily-understood books for low cost.  Revelation is paperback, 160 pages, and sells at Amazon for only  7.95 dollars.

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