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Contents
How would you like to be seated before a gigantic
stage about 2,000 feet wide and actually watch the play-out of human history
before your eyes? There you could see the final destiny of every man, woman, and
child who has ever lived in this world. God, indeed, gives us such a panoramic
preview in one of the most dramatic prophecies in the Bible.
Some people have harbored the dream that society will eventually correct
itself and will develop into a golden age of millennial peace. In this grand
Utopia everyone is supposed to be converted and will cooperate in building a new
world of brotherhood and peace. I wish this could be a true picture of the
future, but it is exactly the opposite of what the Bible portrays. Jesus said,
"As it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of
the Son of man." Luke 17:26. Paul said, "Evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13. No,
this dream of a temporal millennium is just a vast delusion, and we are not
interested in dreams or fancies. We want to know the facts about the future and
what will happen to every person who has been a part of this earthly scene. So
we turn to the Bible subject of the millennium.
Most people know that the word "millennium" is not even found in
the Bible at all. It is taken from two Latin words: "milli," meaning a
thousand, and "annum," meaning a year. But even though the word is not
mentioned in the Scriptures there are references to a thousand-year period of
time. Invariably, they are clustered around the doctrine of the resurrection
from the dead.
Two Resurrections
Jesus taught that there will be two general resurrections: "Marvel not
at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation." John 5:28, 29.
Before giving further specific proof on this point, we must note that Christ
referred to the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. This
seems to indicate that the saved and lost do not arise at the same time. Two
separate resurrections are described. The book of Revelation confirms this fact.
John wrote, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."
Revelation 20:6.
The use of the term "first resurrection" is proof that there must
be more than one. If I say, "This is the first house I built," you
know that I had to build at least one other.
Two points are established in this text. First, only the good people will
have any part in the first resurrection. It plainly says, "Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." Second, we
learn that the resurrection of those saints is the beginning point of the
millennium, because after being raised they "shall reign with him a
thousand years." According to this verse, none of the wicked will have any
part in the first resurrection. This is also established by verses 4 and 5 which
describe the resurrection of those "which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived (came to live) and reigned with Christ a thousand
years. . . . This is the first resurrection."
This leaves no doubt about the class who will be included in the first
resurrection. It is only for those who remained faithful to Christ. But in the
midst of that text we find a very significant, parenthetical sentence: "But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished." Verse 5.
Obviously, the "rest of the dead" can only be in reference to the
wicked. They will come forth from their graves at the end of the millennium -
when "the thousand years were finished."
Now we have a clear picture before us of two resurrections separated by a
thousand years. The good people are raised at the beginning of the millennium,
and the wicked are resurrected at the end.
Christ's Coming
Introduces the Millennium
Can we now find from the Scriptures when this first resurrection takes place,
which introduces the millennium? Yes. Paul declares that it happens at the
coming of Christ. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Here are the saints being raised "first" - in the first
resurrection. And it takes place amidst the glory and grandeur of the second
coming of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the millennium.
When Jesus comes there will be only four groups of people for Him to deal
with: the righteous dead, the righteous living, the wicked dead, and the wicked
living. All who have ever been born will fall into one of those categories. The
Bible gives a fascinating picture of what happens to each of these classes when
Christ returns in His glory. First, the righteous dead are described as rising
first to meet the Lord. Then Paul continues with these words: "Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1
Thessalonians 4:17.
Picture that scene of transcendent joy and rapture. The saints are raised
from their dusty beds and changed into glorious immortality. At the same moment,
the righteous living are translated and are given immortal bodies just like the
resurrected ones. Paul writes: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible . . . and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians
15:51-53.
Possessing those new bodies that will never suffer pain or die, all the saved
ones will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. His feet will not touch the
earth at that time. He has come to honor the promise made to His people just
before leaving this earth: "In my Father's house are many mansions . . . I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also." John 14:2, 3.
With Christ a
Thousand Years
Where will Christ take those redeemed ones who meet Him in the clouds? To the
mansions of His Father where He has prepared a place for us. Can there be any
doubt as to where He ascended after leaving this earth? Peter had been curious
and actually questioned the Master about those mansions and that place. Jesus
was answering Peter's question in John 14:1-3. Go back three verses into the
previous chapter: "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou?
Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt
follow me afterwards." John 13:36.
Here is interesting proof that Peter will someday go to the place where Jesus
was about to go. And where was that? Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place
for you." Did He not ascend to His Father's house, in the heavens, where
the mansions were? Christ told Peter that he could not follow Him then, but that
someday he would follow Him where He was going.
There are those who say that no one from this earth will ever go to heaven,
but this would be contradicting the words of Jesus. It would also be contrary to
John's description in Revelation 19:1: "And after these things I heard a
great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory,
and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God."
John's vision of the future places the saints in heaven. That is where Jesus
promised to take them - to His Father's house and the place He had prepared.
This will not be the permanent home of the saved, but it is surely the place
where Christ takes them to spend a thousand years with Him.
Now, let us find out what happens to all the wicked when Christ returns. We
have already established that the wicked dead do not live again "until the
thousand years are finished." They simply remain in their graves during the
millennium. No change takes place for them until a thousand years later.
But what about the wicked who will live until Christ's return? How are they
affected? Paul answers: "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be
glorified in his saints." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
Notice what happens to sinners at the same time the saints are glorified. Sin
cannot exist in His presence and the wicked are destroyed by His glory.
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming." 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
John describes the desperate attempts of the wicked to escape from Christ's
presence when He returns. They will hide in the dens and rocks of the mountains,
and pray, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come;
and who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:16, 17.
The sinners will be cut down by the bright glory of God as though a thousand
volts of electricity had fallen upon them. Jesus spoke of that moment in these
words: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto
the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the
carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together." Matthew 24:27, 28.
Christ indicated that the bodies of the wicked dead will be scattered as a
result of the blazing glory of His return.
John described the wicked who survived the battle of Armageddon. "And
the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which
sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their
flesh." Revelation 19:21. His words parallel those of Jesus. The bodies of
the lost will be food for vultures, immediately upon the appearance of Christ in
the heavens.
Now we are prepared to answer a question that has puzzled many people. Can
anyone repent and be saved after the coming of Jesus? Absolutely not. The Bible
is very explicit on this point. John records the actual words of a mighty decree
which Christ declares just before His return to this earth. "He that is
unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy
still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is
holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:11,
12.
This indicates that every case has been settled for eternity. Probation is
ended. Christ lays aside His priestly robes and leaves the heavenly sanctuary
where He has been interceding as our great High Priest. Now He returns as King
of kings to execute judgment. There can be no more opportunity to repent. All
will remain as they have been found in the books of heaven. In fact, who could
repent and be saved during the millennium? The righteous are already
immortalized in heaven, and the wicked are all dead. It would be just as logical
to think of someone rising up in the casket and repenting, as to think of anyone
turning to God after Jesus comes.
Jeremiah beheld this earth in vision following the return of Christ. He
described it thus: "The slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end
of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented,
neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." Jeremiah
25:33. Of course, they won't be gathered. Nobody is here to do it. No one can
weep for them, because the earth is entirely emptied of all its inhabitants. The
dead bodies of the wicked will be scattered all over the earth, in the same
places where they were cut down by the glory of God's presence.
The Earth in Ruins
The earth itself will be a shambles during the thousand years, as a result of
the devastating earthquake which attends the coming of Christ. "And there
were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,
such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so
great . . . And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found."
Revelation 16:18, 20.
The physical results of this convulsive earthquake are alluded to by both
Isaiah and Jeremiah. "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh
it waste. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the
Lord hath spoken this word. . . . The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is
clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly." Isaiah 24:1, 3, 19.
The shocks and the after-shocks of that earthquake will spread desolation to
every corner of the earth. Inhabited islands will disappear into the sea; great
mountain chains will disintegrate and vanish. Jeremiah wrote: "I beheld the
earth, and, lo, it was without form and void; and the heavens, and they had no
light. I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved
lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens
were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the
cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord and by his fierce
anger." Jeremiah 4:23-26.
At the coming of Jesus every work of man will be humbled to the dust.
Skyscrapers are leveled to the ground, the sky darkens, and even the birds
disappear. The righteous are removed from the earth and all the wicked are
slain. No wonder the Bible says that it is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God. To be unprepared in that day is the greatest tragedy to
be imagined.
Satan Bound
Now, the question arises, "Where is Satan during all this great
manifestation?" Going back to Revelation 20:1-3 we read about the Devil
during the millennium: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having
the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on
the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a
seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand
years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little
season." What an amazing scene! The Devil is bound for that thousand years
and cast into the bottomless pit.
Fortunately, we do not have to speculate about the location of that
bottomless pit. The Bible makes it very clear. The original Greek word for
"bottomless pit" is "abussos," from which we get our English
word "abyss," meaning "a deep place." That same word is used
again in the Greek version of Genesis 1:2: "And the earth was without form,
and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." The word
"deep" here is the Greek word "abussos" which is translated
as "bottomless pit" in Revelation 20:1. In other words, this earth was
called the "abussos" after God formed it; before He called order and
design out of it. Lying in disorganized darkness it was referred to as the
bottomless pit.
During the millennium this planet will revert to a similar state of
desolation and chaos. Jeremiah describes it in the very same words,
"without form and void." Again, it is designated by the prophet John
as the "abussos," or "bottomless pit." Satan will be
confined right here on this torn-up, destroyed world for a thousand years while
the saints are in heaven.
Someone may ask, "But what about the chain?" Just remember that
Satan is a fallen angel, and spiritual beings cannot be bound with literal
chains. The Bible speaks about the evil angels being bound with chains of
darkness. The purpose of the binding is "that he should deceive the nations
no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled." The only possible way
to accomplish this is to take Satan away from all the people, or take the people
away from him. Even putting him into a deep, literal pit would not prevent him
from deceiving the people, because he has millions of imps to carry on his work.
The fact is that the Devil is bound by circumstances which forbid him access
to any human being during the thousand years. Recently, a man told me that Satan
is already bound and has been ever since 1914. That struck me as one of the most
incredible of all statements. Surely if he is bound today, somebody is doing his
work for him. And if the world is in this shape without his evil scheming, we
had better pray that he doesn't get loose, or we really are in for trouble. If
he is bound now, it would have to be with a rubber chain that stretches from New
York to Moscow and all around the circle of the earth.
No, he is not bound today, but he will be while this earth is in confused
disorder. Unable to deceive a single soul, he will inhabit this desolate planet
for a thousand years contemplating the havoc his program has produced. The
righteous are in heaven, the wicked are all dead, and he has no one to work on
till the end of the millennium.
I have tried to think about the Devil during this period. What is he going to
do? The earth is covered with darkness, dead bodies are everywhere, and all is
absolute confusion. For six thousand years Satan has been plenty busy. He has
followed folk around trying to devise their destruction. His chief employment
for centuries has been to accuse, mislead and destroy. Suddenly, though, he has
nothing to do. They are all taken away, and he is left with his own thoughts.
What will the Devil do? That will be the most miserable punishment that Satan
will have to suffer. Forced to live with himself for a thousand years! No one to
deceive at all; just thinking, thinking, thinking.
I am sure he will think about the past and remember all the terrible deeds of
darkness he has committed. He will think about the future and the prophecies of
God concerning his own destiny. Listen, the Devil is a good Bible student. Do
not fool yourself. Give him credit where it is due. He knows the Bible better
than you do. Oh yes, holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,
but the Devil was looking over their shoulder and memorizing every bit of it.
The Devil knows better than we do that every word of the Bible is true. He knows
that everything about heaven is true, because he used to live there. He knows
that it is just as beautiful and wonderful as the Bible describes it, but he
doesn't want anybody else to believe that. So, he is desperately working to keep
people from studying this Book and to keep people off their knees.
If people can once understand what the Bible teaches about the great plan of
salvation, Satan knows that his power will be destroyed at that very moment. So,
I picture him as thinking of these things and looking ahead to the future,
knowing that his utter destruction has already been determined. The Bible itself
declares that he will be burned and brought to ashes.
I suppose, also, that he will think about many of the people he tempted while
the earth was still standing. Perhaps his thoughts will go back to the poor
alcoholic who was struggling to be free. Time after time he crawled out of the
gutter, determined never to take another drink. But Satan waylaid the man with
constant harassment and temptation, and down he would go into the gutter again.
Finally, the desperate alcoholic dared to lay hold of Jesus Christ as his Lord
and Saviour, and he was delivered from Satan's power. Now Satan knows that the
man is forever beyond his influence, and he will never be able to assail him
again.
Yes, I picture the Devil wandering over this depopulated planet and stumbling
over the decaying bodies of those who were slain by the glory of God. And
perhaps one of those bodies will attract Satan's special attention because he
recognizes and remembers the man. He was a good, moral man with a fine family.
Everybody liked him. He was honest and paid his debts. People were attracted to
him. He was a good neighbor and a good citizen. There were times when the man
was drawn to make a decision to follow the Lord all the way. His wife pleaded
with him to do so, and his little girls prayed for him every night. Only one
thing really stood in his way, but somehow he could not surrender his will fully
to the will of Christ. It was always in his mind to do so someday, but the Devil
kept supplying him with excuses for waiting. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, the
clouds rolled back like a curtain and Christ returned. The man was not prepared.
He was cut down with all the others who were living for self.
Now Satan looks upon the tortured features of the dead man, and a hideous
grin spreads over his face. His strategy was successful, and this man, at least,
will never have another opportunity to be saved. He is lost forever.
Oh, the utter folly of failing to decide for Christ while the moments of
probation linger! Some are toying with sin and trifling with the convictions of
God's Holy Spirit. You may be a church member and a professed Christian, but if
there is one cherished sin in your life right now, you are playing games with
God. Confess and forsake that sin without another moment of delay. Could our
eyes be opened for one second to the awful consequences of sin, no one would
dare hesitate to follow Jesus all the way.
Dramatic
Close of the Millennium
Now we come to the closing events of the millennium. What dramatic
developments will mark the end of the thousand years? "And when the
thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison."
Revelation 20:7.
This loosing of Satan is easy to understand when we read verse 5 again,
"The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished." All the lost of the ages will be raised out of their graves at
the end of the millennium. This is what releases the Devil to begin his work of
deception once more.
Perhaps you are wondering how he could further deceive those who have already
passed the point of redemption. Here is the way John answers that question:
"And (he) 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. 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." Revelation 20:8,
9.
Several important things are brought to view in these verses. After the
wicked are resurrected at the end of the millennium, Satan leads them in an
attack against the New Jerusalem. He deceives them into thinking they can
actually capture the dwelling place of God and the immortalized saints. That
Holy City descends from heaven, following the thousand years. "And I John
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2.
This is the event described by the prophets of old, when the saints will
return to this earth from Paradise. According to Zechariah, Christ's feet will
touch the earth, and some spectacular things take place. "And his feet
shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on
the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the
north, and half of it toward the south . . . and the Lord my God shall come, and
all the saints with thee." Zechariah 14:4, 5.
Please notice that Jesus will make contact with the earth when He returns
with the saints. When He came for the saints at the beginning of the millennium,
His feet did not touch the ground. All were caught up to meet Him. But now as
the great, heavenly space city approaches this planet, the Mount of Olives
splits under the touch of the Son of God. A mighty plain is created for a
landing spot, and the New Jerusalem settles to earth.
Resurrection of
the Wicked
At the same time that the City descends the wicked are raised, and this
releases Satan to deceive them into attacking. Again he has someone to work on.
I have tried to imagine how the great deceiver will address that host of lost
souls. Perhaps he will even claim that they were resurrected by his power.
Charging God with unjustly throwing him out of the city, he now urges the army
of the wicked to help him reclaim his former position. No doubt he will make
flattering offers of honor and power to those who excel in the battle.
I suppose that Napoleon, Alexander, Sennacherib, Hitler, and Stalin will be
there. Oh, I am not sure, of course; I am just using these as examples. Maybe
some of these repented before death, but there will be plenty of great generals
and military leaders in the ranks of Satan's army as he goes up against God.
Many of those men died with curses on their lips; and now, when they are
resurrected, they are still cursing, and they are still in the frame of mind to
fight. It won't be hard for Satan to get them in line as they march against the
City of God.
Sometimes people ask me, "How long will they fight? How long will it
take them to get ready for that battle?" I do not know, because the Bible
is silent here. I am certain, though, that the Devil will not try to win by just
throwing rocks at the Holy City. He will surely devise some terrible,
devastating weapons to use. He has a mighty, ingenious mind when it comes to
preparing instruments of war. No doubt there will be atomic weapons involved.
They will set a D-Day. There could be a countdown at which time they plan to
blast away at the Holy City. From all earthly viewpoints, it seems that the
saints are doomed. The explosive, destructive weapons will be able to shatter
the walls into smithereens. But then, suddenly, God intervenes. He turns His own
fiery power loose upon that assembled army of the wicked. Read it in verse 9 of
Revelation 20: "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." And that is the end of the wicked. There
it is. Right here on this earth the fire of God descends. The wicked people are
burned up as they launch a final, desperate attack against God. This is the hell
fire of the Bible.
The Transparent Wall of Separation
Listen, one of the saddest pictures of all, I believe, is revealed in
Revelation 21:11. In describing the Holy City it says: "Having the glory of
God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper
stone, clear as crystal." The walls of that City will be like glass. The
wicked will be able to look right through and see everything on the inside of
that City. Have you ever thought of some of the sad meetings that will take
place by those walls of the New Jerusalem? Talk about the famous wall of China
or the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem! But this wall is going to reveal some of the
most heart-rending scenes that have ever taken place on this earth.
I picture the resurrection of that man who had such a wonderful family, and
who almost made his decision for Christ - the one who intended to do it later.
As he comes forth in the second resurrection, he looks around for his wife and
two little girls. Nothing but open, empty graves meet his vision, and his ears
are assailed by the cries and curses of the lost. He is swept up in the
maelstrom of frenzied preparation for the battle.
As he approaches the gleaming, transparent walls, he is overwhelmed by the
splendor of the scene. Far in the distance he sees the outshining of the
glorious rainbow surrounding the throne of God. The River of Life flows forth
from the throne, and great branches of the Tree of Life arch over the river,
bearing their magnificent fruit of immortality. The man is transfixed by the
beauty. Glorious, radiant angels move around inside the City. He gazes at the
streets of purest gold and the indescribable mansions on every side. As he
stands, spellbound, he thinks, "What a fool I was to lose all of
this."
Then, I picture this man as his eyes try to encompass all the grandeur of the
landscape. Moving figures inside begin to come into clearer focus. Suddenly, his
heart skips a beat, as he catches a glimpse of some familiar forms on the other
side of the wall. His eyes light up with recognition of his wife and children as
they draw nearer. The man waves and beckons. He cries out to catch their
attention but the words bounce back as an empty echo from the shining walls.
Then, and only then, will the true horror of his situation be realized. A
flood of memories will fill his mind. He remembers so vividly the prayers of his
little girls for their daddy to be saved. He lives over again the tender
convictions that brought tears to his eyes, the struggle with conscience, and
the decision to wait. The words of his wife now return to torment him.
"Honey, why don't you surrender to Jesus? Don't worry about your job. I
will work, and we will get along. The Lord will provide. I love you so much, and
Jesus loves you." He had fought the stubborn rebellion but slowly yielded
to the practical demands of his job and his carnal friends. Now he would give
anything in the world to return to that moment. If only he could take his little
girls in his arms again, and kiss his dear wife, assuring them that their
prayers have been answered.
Oh, the remorse of that moment! The man stretches out his arms and cries out,
"Please pray for me once more!" But it is too late, and before the
jasper-clear wall, I can see that father and husband fall on the ground,
screaming and pleading for one more chance that can never be granted. Surely
this will be the greatest punishment for those who finally realize what it means
to be lost.
"What Shall It Profit a Man?"
Oh, how I wish I could paint this picture so graphically concerning surrender
and its importance that every person would settle it with God before going to
bed tonight. We must know that we have given ourselves completely to the Lord
Jesus Christ. I know there are some who would rather hear you say, "Let's
not get fanatical, let's not do anything extreme. Let's just wait, and things
will take care of themselves." The very same people who say that now will
some day be crying out on the other side of the wall of the New Jerusalem and
saying: "Oh, why didn't someone tell me? Why didn't somebody make me do it
when I had the opportunity?"
I am amazed at the way people are influenced by their friends - by the words
of those who are very well-meaning. What comfort will those words be when the
friends are also on the outside of the wall looking in? Sometimes people are
held back by possessions, or jobs, or bank accounts; but what comfort will it be
to have a great, heaping pile of earthly treasure and still be on the outside
looking through the walls? What about the religious leaders and teachers who
have comforted people by telling them not to worry about keeping the
commandments? The same religious teachers are also on the outside.
Every one of us should now be searching the Word of God in order to know what
to do. The Bible is the blueprint for salvation. The most powerful, motivating
forces in society today will soon be exposed as less than worthless. Finally,
men are going to throw their gold and silver into the streets to the moles and
the bats. At last, people will have to give up those things that meant so much
in this life. If it is going to come to that finally - if men are going to throw
them away as Isaiah 2 describes it - why won't they throw them away now in order
to make their calling and election sure?
If you wait, refusing to make a decision to follow Christ all the way, I can
promise you one thing, someday you are going to know that the still, small voice
of the Spirit has made its final plea. The Bible will be closed up forever on
the pulpit, and the pews will be completely emptied of all the people. Suddenly,
every man, woman, and child will be called to face God. The busy life of this
world will grind to a crashing halt. The jazz will suddenly be turned off, the
bright lights will go out into darkness forever, and the radio and TV chips are
going to melt together. No one will go about his or her business, because God
will suddenly intervene and call every man, woman, and child to account. The
world will be torn by the devastating earthquake we read about in Revelation 16.
The sea will be lashed to a fury by the voice of the hurricane. The inhabited
islands of this earth will move, turn slightly, and drop out of sight. Great
mountains will twist and turn, and then be thrown out onto the plains
disintegrated by the mighty, volcanic action of the earth. Dark, angry clouds
will fill the sky, clashing against each other. The lightning will reach out
from those clouds to envelop this earth in a great sheet of flame. Men, white as
ghosts, will run to and fro, hither and yon, seeking for some shelter; and they
will find none. And then, amidst the screams of terror, the great hailstones of
God will come crashing down with a sickening thud, making kindling wood out of
all the buildings and houses of this earth.
In the midst of all this, there will appear in the distant heavens a tiny
spot of glory that will draw nearer to the earth, getting larger and larger. At
first, very few will observe it, but then as it comes closer, the dazzling light
of it will attract every eye. Inhabitants of every continent on earth will look
up and behold the glory of Jesus and all the angels. What a solemn moment it
will be! For the first time since the flood there will be no fun-making, no
giddy laughter, no levity. Every mouth will be closed, and a solemn, sober
spirit will fall upon every heart.
How cheap the dollar is going to look then. How ridiculous it will seem that
man allowed the mockery of some friend to hold him back from making that
decision. On every side voices will be heard crying out, "Too late! Too
late!" And those words will echo all around the earth, while the redeemed
look up and say, "Lo, this is our God. We have waited for Him and He will
save us."
So the story of this lost planet closes just exactly like it began. After the
fire has destroyed the wicked, and burned out all the curse of sin, God will
make it over again. This earth, delivered from all the blighting effect of
transgression, will be recreated into the original paradise that God intended it
to be. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and
a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. Jesus said,
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5.
And so they shall!
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