New Jerusalem

Revelation- 21

VERSE 9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  10.   And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  11.   Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;  12.   And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  13.   On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  14.   And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

The Bride, The Lamb's Wife. - This testimony is positive that the New Jerusalem is the bride, the Larnb's wife. The

p 754 -- angel told John distinctly that he would show him the bride, the Lamb's wife; and we may be sure that he did not practice upon him a piece of deception, but fulfilled his promise to the very letter; but all that he did show him was the New Jerusalem. It would be unnecessary to offer a word of proof that this city is not the church, were it not that popular theology has so mystified the Scriptures as to give it this application. This city, then, cannot be the church, because it would be absurd to talk of the church as lying foursquare, and having a north side, a south side, an east side, and a west side. It would be absurd to speak of the church as having a wall great and high, and having twelve gates, three on each side toward the four points of the compass. Indeed, the whole description of the city which is given in this chapter would be more or less an absurdity if applied to the church.

Again:   Paul, to the Galatians, speaks of the same city and says that it is the mother of us all, referring to the church. The church, then, is not the city itself, but the children of the city. And verse 24 of the chapter under comment, speaks of the nations of the saved, who walk in the light of this city. These nations who are the saved, and on earth constitute the church, are distinct from the city, in the light of which they walk. It follows that the city is a literal city, built of all the precious materials here described.

But how can it then be the bride, the Lamb's wife? Answer:   Inspiration has seen fit to speak of it under this figure, and with every believer in the Bible, that should be sufficient. The figure is first introduced in Isaiah 54. The new-covenant city is there brought to view. It is represented as being desolate while the old covenant was in force, and the Jews and old Jerusalem were the special objects of God's care; but it is said to her that "the children of the desolate" shall be many more than "the children of the married wife." It is further said to her, "Thy Maker is thy husband;" and the closing promise of the Lord to this city contains a very similar description to the one which we have here in Revelation; namely, "I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires; and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy

p 755 -- gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord." It is this very promise to which Paul refers, and upon which he comments in his epistle to the Galatians, when he says, "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Gal. 4:26); for he quotes, in the next verse, this very prophecy from the book of Isaiah to sustain this declaration. Here, then, Paul makes an inspired application of Isaiah's prophecy which cannot be mistaken; and in this he shows that under the figure of a "woman," a "wife" whose "children" were to be multiplied, the Lord by the prophet speaks of the New Jerusalem, the city above, as contrasted with the earthly Jerusalem in the land of Palestine; and of this city the Lord calls himself the "husband." In addition to this, we have the positive testimony of the twenty-first chapter of Revelation to the same facts. 

With this view, all is harmony. Christ is called the Father of his people (Isa. 9:6); the Jerusalem above is called our mother, and we are called the children; and, carrying out the figure of a marriage, Christ is represented as the Bridegroom, the city as the bride, and we, the church, as the guests. There is no confusion of parties here. But the popular view, which makes the city the church, and the church the bride, exhibits the inexcusable confusion of making the church at the same time both mother and children, both bride and guests.

The view that the marriage of the Lamb is the inauguration of Christ as King upon the throne of David, and that the parables of Matt. 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Luke 12:35-37; 19:12, 13, etc., apply to that event, is further confirmed by a well-known ancient custom. It is said that when a person took his position as ruler over the people, and was invested with that power, it was called a marriage, and the usually accompanying feast was called a marriage supper. Dr. Clarke, in his note on Matt. 22:2, thns speaks of it:   -

"A marriage for his son.] A marriage feast, so the word gamouV properly means. Or a feast of inauguration, when his son was put in possession of the government, and thus he and his new subjects became married together. Many eminent

p 756 -- critics so understand this parable as indicating the Father's induction of his Son into his Messianic kingdom. (See 1 Kings 1:5-9, 19, 25, etc., where such a feast is mentioned.)"

A Christian City. - The names of the twelve apostles in the foundations of the city, show it to be a Christian and not a Jewish city; while the names of the twelve tribes on the gates, show that all the saved, from this dispensation as well as from the former, are reckoned as belonging to some one of the twelve tribes; for all must enter the city through some one of these twelve gates. It is this fact which explains those instances in which Christians are called Israel, and are addressed as the twelve tribes, as in Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6-8; Gal. 3:29; Eph. 2:12, 13; James 1:1; Rev. 7:4.

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New Jerusalem.

Rev_3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Jesus' words.

Paul's words- as moved by the Holy Spirit-

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

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We all are aware of Jerusalem as a real place on earth, but are we all aware of the heavenly Jerusalem?  The earthly Jerusalem is fraught with GREAT tension.  The three religions Muslim, Christian, Jewish- all have their roots in Jerusalem. There is fighting between the three, each wanting to stake their claim there.  This is the earthly Jerusalem, but who stakes their claim in the heavenly Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem?

Those who believe in Jesus, for it Jesus who will descend with the New Jerusalem after the 1000 years is over. These are prophetic truths that WILL come to pass!

There is a HEAVENLY New Jerusalem!  This New Jerusalem WILL descend from heaven to the earth.  This amazing new city will be the home of ALL who are known by our SAVIOR, Jesus Christ! God the Father and the Son will be in the New Jerusalem and as we continue to study this chapter we will come to that.

May God bless us as we LEARN, re-LEARN, of this New Heavenly City that will be our home!  

He will make all things new.

Revelation 21 verse 5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  6.   And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

The New Creation. - He that sits upon the throne is the same being that is mentioned in verses 11, 12 of the preceding chapter. He says, "I make all things new;" not, I make all new things. The earth is not destroyed, annihilated, and a new one created, but all things are made over new. Let us rejoice that these words are true and faithful. And when this is accomplished, all will be ready for the utterance of that sublime sentence, "It is done." The dark shadow of sin has then forever passed off from the universe. The wicked, root and branch (Mal. 4:1), are wiped out of the land of the living, and the universal anthem of praise and thanksgiving (Rev. 5:13) goes up from a redeemed world and a clean universe to a covenant-keeping God.

VERSE 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  8.   But the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcrers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

p 752 --

(picture omitted) 

p 753 -- The Great Inheritance. - The overcomers are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal. 3:29. The promise embraces the world (Rom. 4:13); and the saints will go forth upon the new earth, not as servants or aliens, but as lawful heirs to the heavenly estate and proprietors of the soil.

The Fear That Hath Torment. - But the fearful and unbelieving have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. The word "fearful" has been a trouble to some conscientious ones, who have had fears more or less in all their Christian experience. It may be well, therefore, to inquire what kind of fear is here meant. It is not fear of our own weakness, or of the power of the tempter; it is not fear of sinning, or of falling out by the way, or of coming short at last. Such fear will be very apt to drive us to the Lord. But it is a fear connected with unbelief; a fear of the ridicule and opposition of the world; a fear to trust God, and venture out upon his promises; a fear that he will not fulfil what he has declared, and that consequently we shall be left to shame and loss for believing on him. Cherishing such fear, one can be only half-hearted in his service. This is most dishonoring to God. This is the fear which we are commanded not to have. Isa. 51:7. This is the fear which brings into condemnation here, and will finally bring all who are controlled by it into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

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The fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the whoremongers, the sorcerers, the idolaters, the liars-   all the unrepentant sinners will have a part in the lake of fire, the second death.

All who do not believe.

Why should those who choose willfully not to believe have any other outcome? Seriously. They do NOT want what God has to offer them.  They would NOT be happy with what God has to offer them. They are NOT innocent victims being abused by a horrific God. They are being given a choice and making that choice for themselves. The choice is an informed choice, not a choice mucked up in a lot of trappings meant to deceive. The choice is a plain one.  Believe, or do not believe.  And our God knows the hearts of all believers. He will know if you believe in name only, but not with the heart. He will know if you believe in sincerity or insincerity. He will know the depths of your heart conviction. You CAN'T fool God, it is impossible. You can however, fool yourself. If you truly believe in Him you will live for Him, with Him in you. God's truth will be revealed in all ways and if you truly believe in Him, you'll believe in His truths.

If we say we believe… well, read this…

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The devils also believe.

Are devils saved?

No.

We must believe and when we believe there is a result of that believing, a natural outflow from that sincere belief. 

We can say the words, 'I believe.' , and there can be no truth in it at all, just a whole lot of self-deception. You believe just like the devils believe, you believe but not in your heart.

Unbelievers will take part in the second death.

And believers who work iniquity will take part in the second death.

Please Father, we believe, help our unbelief.  Make our belief one of true believing, not  a false believing that has no truth in it, no heart conviction. We don't want to be like the devils who believe, we want to be like Abraham, like Isaac, like Jacob, like David, we would have a faith with corresponding works that You would have us work. We want our faith to be a real, living faith. We want You living in us, working in us to do Your good pleasure! We want to be the individuals You would have us be in You! Keep us from evil, Lord. Please keep us from evil!

We desire to be a part of the new heavens and new earth, dwelling in the New Jerusalem with You, with Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! Please Father, we do not want to be a part of the second death! Please, save us, from us and our tendency towards evil. Help us to depend solely upon You for our salvation through our Savior!

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever!!!!!!!

Amen!

Saved.

As we grow closer to our Savior; as He, through the Holy Spirit works in us -we will be able to see all the filth staining  us, all the dirt on our hearts.  It is necessary for us to see it in order for Him to remove it from us. We have to comprehend it is Christ working in us! It is Christ alone who can excise the sins in us. Christ is the only Spiritual surgeon capable of creating a clean heart within us! Christ Jesus our Savior is just that, OUR SAVIOR. 

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Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom_12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Rom_7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Gal_6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Heb_12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

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While we strive, even unto blood, to resist sin, we must recognize any power of striving we possess is given to us by our SAVIOR! We can't manufacture anything within ourselves to resist sinning. The power is Christ's, not ours! The only glory we possess is in the cross of our LORD!

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Col_1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Christ in us. Christ can only know us, if He is in us. Christ can only be in us if we surrender ourselves to Him. He is LOVE, we are surrendering to love and that love He knows. Christ in us is the HOPE of glory. Selflessness, not selfishness. Selflessness, not self-exaltation. In the very words 'have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works,'  is revealed the very reason Christ does NOT know them- 'have we'. WE!  It's NOT US, it is CHRIST- not us just USING His name, as a tag line, as a signature, as a hashtag, as a hook. Those things when done in Christ are NEVER boasted about! If Christ is working in us, HE knows HE is working in us, we do NOT have to tell HIM! Using Christ's name to do good, does NOT make it good, does NOT make us good. Having Christ in us working is what matters! Not us saying Christ is working in us, but Him truly working in us!

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Through Jesus Christ!

All through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! OUR SAVIOR!  We need a Savior because we absolutely cannot save ourselves!

In HIS LOVE, His amazing, amazing love!

AMEN!

God with us.

Revelation 21

verse 2. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3.    And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  4.   And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

The Father's House. - In connection with the view which John has of the holy city coming down from God out of heaven, a voice is heard, saying, "The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them." The conclusion naturally follows that the tabernacle here mentioned is the city. This same city is called in John 14 the Father's house in which are many mansions. If an objection should arise in any mind that this is too permanent a place to be called a tabernacle, we reply that the word "tabernacle" sometimes has the signification of a permanent dwelling-place. The great God takes up his abode on this earth; but we do not suppose that God is confined to this, or any other one of the worlds of his creation.

p 751 -- He here has a throne, and the earth enjoys so much of his presence that it may be said that he dwells among men. And why should this be thought a strange thing? God's only begotten Son is here as ruler of his special kingdom; the holy city, which is called the Father's house, and which it is natural to suppose will be the most beautiful and glorious object in the universe, will be here; and the heavenly hosts take an interest in this world probably above what they feel in any other; yea, reasoning from one of the Saviour's parables, there will be more joy in heaven over one world redeemed than over ninety and nine which have needed no redemption.

No Cause For Tears. - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. He does not literally wipe away tears from the eyes of his people; for there will be no tears in that kingdom to be thus wiped away; but he wipes away tears by removing all causes of tears.

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God will dwell with us.

No more PAIN.  I don't know any adult who isn't in some sort of pain, that's not true, I don't know very many adults who aren't in some sort of pain. Whether that pain is great, constant, or inconsistent, I know so many people who live with various kinds of pain. Back, legs, muscles, joints, head, neck, feet, arms- pain.  We have things called pill mills and a lot of time it is for those who are seeking pain relief. Too many don't get any relief, or very little. Pain is a part of our lives, a very big part. We are constantly seeking to be pain free. When our Savior returns, when we come down from heaven after 1000 years and the new Jerusalem comes down with us, God comes with us as well.  God will give us a pain free forever life. God will give us a tear free life. No sorrow, no more death for us to live with- not for any of us that are living in the New Jerusalem.  The life we long for now is the life we will have, it will be REAL. This is the HOPE, this is the GOOD NEWS that our Savior came to give to us. This is the GOSPEL that our God who took on flesh, human flesh, who lived with pain, sorrow, and death, came to give to us!  Without this good news, we have NO HOPE.

We can choose to live in a world with HOPE, or without HOPE, it's our choice. 

We may be ridiculed in many ways, we may be looked upon as being foolish, deceived, deluded, crazy people.  We might live a life subject to all sorts of mental, emotional abuse, but we will live it with HOPE.  Choosing to not believe gives nothing, no hope. It might give you a temporary peace, a false peace the will deceive you into believing you are brilliant for not believing, but when you find out you are not brilliant at all, it'll be too late to change your mind.

People choose. And then they live with their choices.

We are given a chance to know truth, to believe truth, to hope in truth, may we all do this so we may all live with our God whose love is beyond our full comprehension.

Please, Father, please. We believe- help thou our unbelief!

Keep us in YOU now and ALWAYS!

By Your mercy and grace, Your love, in the name of Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR!

AMEN! 

New Heaven, New Earth

Revelation 21 -- The New Jerusalem 

p 748 -- The burden of this chapter, commencing with verse 2, is the New Jerusalem; but before that is introduced, John tells us how the present heaven and earth and sea are to be disposed of, as follows:

VERSE 1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

New Heaven and New Earth. - By the first heaven and first earth, John unquestionably means the present heaven and earth, "the heavens and the earth which are now." 2 Peter 3:7. Some have supposed that when the Bible speaks of the third heaven, in which are paradise and the tree of life (2 Cor. 12:2; Rev. 2:7), it refers to the heaven which is yet future, and does not prove that there is a paradise and tree of life literally in existence in heaven at the present time. They base their view on the fact that Peter speaks of three heavens and earths,  - (1)  those before the flood,  (2)  the ones which now are, and  (3)  the ones which are to come. But that theory is completely overturned by the first verse of Revelation 21; for John here reckons but two heavens and earths. The ones which now are he calls the first, so that the future new heavens would, according to this count, be the second, and not the third, as Peter reckons. Hence it is certain that Peter did not design

p 749 -- to establish a numerical order, in accordance with which we should speak of one as the first, another as the second, and the last as the third. The object of his reasoning was simply to show that as a literal heaven and earth succeeded to the destruction of the earth by the flood, so a literal heaven and earth would result from the renovation of the present system by fire. There is no proof, therefore, that the Bible, when it speaks of the third heaven, refers simply to the third state of the present heavens and earth, for then all the Bible writers would uniformly have so reckoned it. Thus the arguments of those who would endeavor to disprove the idea of a literal paradise and tree of life in existence at the present time, fall to the ground. The Bible certainly recognizes three heavens in the present constitution of things; namely, the first, or atmospheric heaven, which the fowls of the air inhabit; the second, the planetary heaven, the region of the sun, moon, and stars; and the third, high above the others, where paradise and the tree of life are found (Rev. 2:7); where God has his residence and his throne (Rev. 22:1, 2); to which Paul was caught up in heavenly vision (2 Cor. 12:2); to which Christ ascended when he left the earth (Rev. 12:5); where he now, as priest-king, sits upon the throne with his Father (Zech. 6:13) ; and where the glorious city stands, awaiting the saints when they enter into life. Rev. 21:2.

Blessed be God that from that bright land intelligence has been brought to this far-off world of ours! and thanks be to his holy name that a way has been opened from the dark places of earth, which leads like a straight and shining path of light up to those blest abodes!

The Sea No More. - Because John says, "And there was no more sea," the question is sometimes asked, "Is there, then, to be no sea in the new earth?" It does not certainly follow from this text that there will be none; for John is speaking only of the present heaven and earth and sea. It might be translated thus: "For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and the sea [ouk estin eti] was no more;" that is, the old sea no longer appeared, any more than the old

p 750 -- heaven and old earth; and yet there may be a new sea as there is a new earth.

Dr. Clarke says on this passage:      "The sea no more appeared than did the first heaven and earth. All was made new; and probably the new sea occupied a different position, and was differently distributed, from that of the old sea." 

The river of life., of which we read in the following chapter, proceeding from the throne of God, and flowing through the broad street of the city, must find some place into which to discharge its waters; and what can that be but the new-earth sea? That there will be a sea, or seas, in the new earth, may be inferred from the prophecy which speaks of Christ's future reign as follows:   "And his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." Zech. 9:10. But that three quarters of the globe will then, as now, be abandoned to a waste of waters, cannot be expected. The new world will have everything which will contribute to its, utility and beauty.

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Truth.

VERSE 1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

New.

We comprehend newness of things. Who doesn't like the shiny new thing in their life? Sure for some- in fact a lot of people- changing to new things isn't easy or welcomed, yet getting new things is often appreciated. We have birthdays, holidays of various sorts throughout the year that have us looking forward getting new things.  We do understand the enjoyment of new and improved.

A new world. We will have the honor of living in a brand new world.

A new world with new heavens.

I don't know about you but this leaves me shaking by head unable to comprehend how I could ever deserve to live in such a world. And then, well, then I realize I will NEVER deserve to live in the new world. My SAVIOR deserves to live in the new world, and by HIS grace He will save me, clothe me in His righteousness and allow me to live with Him forever and ever, eternally and ever more in the new world.

Please, Savior…please, save me. I do NOT and WILL NEVER deserve to be saved. Please, by Your grace! Please, by Your worthiness, through Your Love!

Please.

Amen.

First death, second death.

Revelation  20

VERSE 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  12.   And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  13.   And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  14.   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15.   And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

With verse 11, John introduces another scene to take place in connection with the final doom of the ungodly. It is the great white throne of judgment, before which they are assembled to receive their awful sentence of condemnation and death. Before this throne the heavens and the earth flee away, so that no place is found for them. A moment's reflection on the changes which must then take place in the earth will bring out the great force of this language. The scene is that of Peter's

p 743 --

(picture omitted)

p 744 -- burning day, which is the "perdition of ungodly men," and in which even the "elements" melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter 3:7-13.

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The city is then located upon the earth, the foundations of course extending under its whole area, so that it will not be affected by any changes that may take place, or any conditions which may exist, in the earth beneath it. Fire comes down from God out of heaven.

First, the works that are in the world are burned up; and by the poisonous gases evolved, and the flames, the wicked are destroyed; this is the fire of Gehenna, which contains all the elements necessary to consume utterly every mortal being that comes under its power (Mark 9:43-48)

Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mar 9:44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mar 9:45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mar 9:46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mar 9:47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Mar 9:48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

; and then will be fulfilled Isa. 66:24: "And they [the righteous] shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

Secondly, the heat is raised till all the material of which, this globe is composed, is fused like the ores in a smelter's furnace, and the whole earth becomes a fluid, fiery, molten mass. Upon this the city floats, as the ark of Noah floated upon the waters of the flood. Then will be fulfilled Isa. 33:14: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" The answer, in the following verses, shows it to be the righteous, and this must be the time when it will be fulfilled. 

Thirdly, there is one stage more to be reached. It is well known that with a sufficient degree of heat, any substance on this earth can be reduced to the condition of gas, and thus become invisible. So will it be then with this whole earth. The heat being raised to a sufficient degree of intensity, would not the whole earth be converted into gas, and become invisible, and thus appear most literally to flee away, so that no place is found for it? The city would then seem to be, as virtually it would be, suspended in mid-heaven.

But the elements are not destroyed. They are only, by that process, purged from the last and minutest taint of sin, and every token of the curse. The almighty fiat again goes

p 745 -- forth, "Behold, I make all things new. ... It is done" (Rev. 21:5, 6), and the particles combine again to compose a new world; and there, beneath the wondering and admiring gaze of all the redeemed and the angelic host, the work of creation is gone through with again.

At the first creation, tho morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38:7. At this new creation, that song and shout will be augmented by the glad voices of the redeemed. So will this earth, wrenched for a time, by sin, from its intended orbit of joy and peace, be brought back, renewed, into harmony with a loyal universe, to be the everlasting home of the saved.

The Books of Record. - Men are judged out of the things written in the books, from which we learn the solemn fact that a record of all our deeds is kept on high. A faithful and unerring record is made by the angelic secretaries. The wicked cannot conceal from them any of their deeds of darkness. They cannot bribe them to pass over in their record any of their unlawful acts. They must meet them all again, and be judged accordingly.

The Execution of the Sentence. - The wicked are to be punished according to their works. The Scriptures declare that they shall be rewarded according to their deeds. There are, then, to be degrees in the punishment of the wicked; and it may be asked how this can be harmonized with the view that death is the punishment for sin, and comes upon all alike. Let us ask believers in eternal misery how they will maintain degrees in their system. They tell us the intensity of the pain endured will be in each case proportioned to the guilt of the sufferer. But how can this be? Are not the flames of hell equally severe in all parts? and will they not equally affect all the immaterial souls cast therein? But God can interpose, it is answered, to produce the effect desired. Very well, then, we reply, cannot he also interpose, if necessary, and graduate the pain which will attend the infliction of death upon the sinner as the climax of his penalty? So, then, our view is equal with the common one in this respect, while it possesses great advantages over it in another; for while that has to find its degrees

p 746 -- of punishment in intensity of pain alone, the duration in all cases being the same, this may not only have degrees in pain, but in duration also; inasmuch as some may perish in a short space of time, and the weary sufferings of others be long drawn out. But yet we apprehend that the bodily suffering will be but an unnoticed trifle compared with the mental agony, that keen anguish which will rack their souls as they get a view of their incomparable loss, each according to his capacity of appreciation. The youth who had but little more than reached the years of accountability, being less able to comprehend his situation and his loss, will of course feel it less; to him of older years, more capacity, and consequently a deeper experience in sin, the burden of his fate will be proportionately greater; while the man of giant intellect and almost boundless comprehension, - who hence possessed greater influence for evil, and so was the more guilty for devoting his powers to the service of that evil, - being able to understand his situation fully, comprehend his fate, and realize his loss, will feel it most keenly of all. Into his soul the iron will indeed enter most intolerably deep. And thus, by an established law of mind, the sufferings of each may be most accurately adjusted to the magnitude of his guilt.

That the degree of suffering which each one is to endure is taken into the account as a part of the punishment of his crimes, is evident from Rom. 2:6-10. Paul, here speaking of the future "judgment of God," says:   -

"Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality [he will render], eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness [he will render], indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile."

The Book of Life. - Why, it may be asked, is the book of life brought forth on this occasion, when all who have part in the second resurrection, beyond which this scene is located, are already forejudged to the second death? At least one apparent reason is, that it may be seen that none of the names of all

p 747 -- the multitude who die the second death are in the book of life, and why they are not there; and if the names have ever been there, why they were not retained; that all the intelligences of the universe may see that God acts with strict justice and impartiality.

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." This is the final epitaph of all the forces that have risen up, from first to last, to oppose the will and work of the Lord Almighty. Satan originated and led out in this nefarious work. A portion of heaven's angels joined him in his false position and murderous work; and for him and them the everlasting fire was prepared. Matt. 25:41.

Men become involved therein only because they join him in his rebellion. But here the controversy closes. The fire is to them everlasting because it allows of no escape. The second death is their punishment, and it is "everlasting punishment " (Matt. 25:46) because they never find release from its dread embrace. "The wages of sin is death."

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Reader, is your name written in the book of life? Are you striving to avert in your own case the fearful doom that awaits the ungodly? Rest not till you have reason to believe that your name is registered in the list of those who are to share at last in the blessings of eternal life. 

*******

For the last few days we've been talking about the end and our part in that end. Too many do not want to contemplate their end. We call it morbid, senseless, and yet our Savior would have us contemplate our end. Our Savior wants us to know about what awaits us. Our Savior would have us know our choices-  heaven or the lake of fire.  He does not want us ignorant concerning our end.  Trusting in our Savior to do just that- be our Savior, living in that trust, that faith that He will do all that He says He will do, this will lead us to life everlasting, to heaven eternally. If we do not choose to have faith, to believe in our Savior we will not be saved. We condemn ourselves. And what we are condemning ourselves to is a very painful, eternal end.

Reread the above. Is all of it true, the interpretations? I don't know, not 100 percent. I do know that the truth is here, the truth in God's word.  The details may be skewed but the truth is revealed nonetheless. 

Life and death.

While we may all (but the very elect) face the first death, we will not all face the second, permanent death.

Truth. God's word - truth.

By His grace may we comprehend ALL we need so that we may be found in our Savior's grace, saved by Him, completely and utterly saved by Jesus Christ alone!

In His love now and forever.

Amen.

Heed or don't heed, be blessed or cursed, you decide.

Revelation-VERSE 7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  8.   And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  9.   And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  10.   And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

(Excerpt taken from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)

The Perdition of Ungodly Men. - At the end of the one thousand years, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, in which the saints have dwelt in heaven during that period, comes down, and is located upon the earth, and becomes the camp of the saints, around which the resurrected wicked come up, numberless

p 740 -- as the sand of the sea. The devil deceives them, and thus brings them up to this battle. They are induced to commence an impious warfare upon the holy city, in prospect of some advantage to be gained by fighting against the saints. Satan doubtless persuades them that they can overcome the saints, dispossess them of their city, and still hold possession of the earth. But fire comes down from God out of heaven, and devours them. The word here rendered devoured, Professor Stuart admits is "intensive," and signifies "to eat up, devour, so that it denotes utter excision." (Hudson's Christ our Life, p. 146.) This is the time of the perdition of ungodly men, - the time when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and when the works that are in the earth shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:7, 10. In the light of these scriptures, we can see how the wicked are to receive their recompense in the earth (Prov. 11:31); we can see also that this recompense is not eternal life in misery, but an "utter excision," entire and complete destruction. 

The Wicked Never Tred the New Earth. - Two views deserve a passing notice at this point.

The first is that the earth is renewed at the second coming of Christ, and is the habitation of the saints during the thousand years; the other is that when Christ appears the second time, he sets up his kingdom in Palestine, and performs, in connection with his saints, a work of conquest over the nations left on the earth during the thousand years, and subdues them to himself.

One among many objections to the first view is that it makes the wicked, in their resurrection, come up, with the devil at their head, and tread with their unhallowed feet upon the purified and holy earth, and the saints, who have held possession for a thousand years, are obliged to yield the ground, and flee into the city. But we cannot believe that the saints' inheritance will ever be thus marred, or that the fair plains of the earth made new will ever be soiled with the polluting tread of the resuscitated wicked; for besides outraging all ideas of propriety, there is no scripture from which even an inference can be drawn to support it.

And as to the second view, one among many of its absurdities

p 741 -- is that notwithstanding Christ and his saints have conquered the earth during the thousand years, at the end of this period the wicked get the upper hand of them, they lose their territory, the work of a thousand years is undone, and they are compelled to beat an ignominious retreat into the city for shelter, leaving the earth to the undisputed sway of their foes. Those who wish, may rack their brains in trying to harmonize the inconsistencies and absurdities of such theories, or may endeavor to draw consolation from the dubious prospect. For ourselves, we prefer better employment and a brighter hope.

A Thousand Years In Heaven. - In contrast with these theories, there is a beautiful harmony in the view herein presented; namely, that the saints are with Christ in heaven during the thousand years while the earth lies desolate; that the saints and the city come down, and the wicked dead are raised and come up against it; that the latter there receive their judgment; and that from the purifying fires which destroy them come forth the new heavens and the new earth, to be the abode of the righteous throughout endless ages.

The Subjects of Torment. - From verse 10, some have argued that the devil alone was to be tormented day and night; but the testimony of this verse is more extensive than that. The verb "shall be tormented" is in the plural, and agrees with the beast and false prophet; whereas it would be in the singular number if it referred to the devil alone. It will be noticed that in the expression, "where the beast and the false prophet are," are is a supplied word. It would be more proper to supply the words were cast, answering to what was spoken of the devil just before. The sentence would then read, "The devil was cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and false prophet were cast." The beast and false prophet were cast in there, and destroyed, at the commencement of the thousand years. Rev. 19:20. The individuals of whom those organizations were then composed, now come up in the second resurrection, and a similar and final destruction is visited upon them, under the names Gog and Magog. 

The Lake of Fire. - Some reader may be inclined to ask for a definition of the lake of fire. As a comprehensive definition,

p 742 -- may it not be called a symbol of the agencies which God employs to close up his controversy with the living wicked at the beginning of the thousand years, and with all the hosts of the ungodly at the end of that period? Literal fire will of course be largely employed in this work. We can better describe its effects than the thing itself. At the second coming of Christ, it is the flaming fire in which the Lord Jesus is revealed; it is the spirit of his mouth and brightness of his coming, by which the man of sin is to be consumed; it is the fire in which great Babylon shall be utterly burned. Rev. 18:8. At the end of the thousand years, it is the day that shall burn as an oven (Mal. 4:1); it is the fervent heat that shall melt the elements and the earth, and burn up the works that are therein; it is the fire of het "prepared for the king" (the devil and his angels, Matt. 25:41), the pile whereof is deep and large, and which "the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle." Isa. 30:33. It is the fire that comes down from God out of heaven. (On the expression, "tormented day and night forever and ever," see on chapter 14:11.)

********

The lake of fire is REAL.

Does it exist right now?  No.

Will it exist? Yes.

As the earth is left desolate the horrors of its destruction are unlike anything we've ever witnessed.  On a small scale we might know devastations - tornados, earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, yes we know the horrors they bring but only on a small scale, not worldwide.

Our tragedies where thousands, hundreds of thousands are killed, will be nothing compared to the billions who will perish in the worldwide travesty of the last days to come. As the saints are raised to heaven- the living and the dead- to live with Christ their Savior for 1000 years, the wicked will be perishing, every last one of them. The evil angels and Satan alone will be left chained to the earth in all its desolation without a single human to deceive.  And for 1000 years it will be like that and only after that 1000 years will the new Jerusalem- the heavenly city where Jesus and God the Father are the temple within, will descend to earth.

Rev_21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

This will happen! This all will happen and if you are reading this, you do not have to believe it, nothing can force you to believe it, nothing. This is prophetic truth that we have been given and we can either heed it or dismiss it entirely. May God bless us and help us to heed all that He would have us heed! May we be blessed as promised a blessing upon reading and keeping the word of this book, all by the grace and mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, now and forever and ever. AMEN.