Scripture for Sunday September 20, 2020
Revelation 20:12-15
And I saw the dead, small and...
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.
The Lake Of Fire Is The Symbol Of Sorrow...
The lake of fire is the symbol of sorrow immeasurable, of torment eternal. It is a divine picture intended to make the soul of the sinner shrink with dread as he contemplates the end of those who obey not the gospel. It is human character made permanent, abiding in eternal sin, and therefore under the wrath of God forever. Not until Judas Iscariot, and John the beloved who wrote this book, clasp hands in heavenly glory, will the woes of the wicked come to an end, As to Judas the Master he betrayed has declared, "It were good for that man if he had never been born." Were there salvation ahead at last, even after ages of suffering, as another has strikingly pointed out, even Judas might well thank God that he had ever been permitted to live. But over the portals of the lost they inscribed of old, "Abandon hope, ye who enter here." Now is the time acceptable. Now a gracious Savior waits to catch the first breathing of repentance, and answers the feeblest cry of faith. Trifle not with His mercy, hope not for some vague second chance, but close with Christ now, and know for a certainty that you will have no part in the doom pronounced at the great white throne, For the Lord Himself has said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
Ironside, H.A. Lectures on the Book of Revelation. Loizeaux Bros., Inc.: New York. 1950, page 348-349.