LOGICALLY NECESSARY “DEI" Δει
Some years ago I knew a very clever and able medical doctor: a man who had had a thorough, scientific training. This man did not believe there is a hell. When I pressed him for his reasons for his unbelief, the only reason he could ever give was this —"It's not logical." I pointed out that it was not many years since we would have said that it was not logical for a person on the other side of the earth to claim he could sit and listen to a speech being made in London, and that without any wires. However the doctor merely repeated —"Hell is not logical.”
I did not know at the time that the little Greek word dei had the fundamental meaning of 'logical necessity' or of what is 'right and proper'. (See, Abbott-Smith, Thayer, etc). How striking, then, to find this little word used eight times in Revelation; and three times we get the expression: ha dei ginesthai, —`(things) which it is logically necessary to occur.' (Rev. 1:1; 4:1; 22:61The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (Revelation 1:1)
1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)
6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. (Revelation 22:6)). How very striking to find that the first verse of this Book which is largely taken up with judgment, reads: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him, to skew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass." The word translated `must' is in Greek dei; so the real meaning is "things which are logically necessary to come to pass." The very first verse of this Book tells us that the terrible judgments that are coming on this poor wicked world are 'logically necessary'; are 'right and proper'. Let us remember that it is this Book which tells us of the Great White Throne of judgment, and of Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. It is this Book which tells us of "the Lake of Fire", of the "Second Death", of torment "day and night forever and ever." And God Himself tells us as an introduction to these things, that they are logically necessary. Let the man who wishes to deny this truth, ponder deeply Rev. 22:1919And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19).
What a solemn answer God gives to the cavils and quibbles of unbelieving men and women, by the use of this one little word dei! Let no man ever say that hell is not logical. No! Hell is the only logical end to life without God.
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But, Thank God, we find in the Scriptures other necessary things besides the judgment of hell. The very first time this little word dei is used in the New Testament is Matt. 16:2121From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (Matthew 16:21). In this Scripture Jesus showed His disciples that it was logically necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things.... and be killed, and be raised again the third day. And we find it again in Matt. 26:5454But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:54) with a similar meaning. We find the word used many times, and each time it is full of meaning. We may not look at more than a very few, but consider these: —
It was logically necessary for Him to go through Samaria. John 4:44And he must needs go through Samaria. (John 4:4)
Because God is a Spirit, it is logically necessary that men worship Him in spirit and in truth.
It was logically necessary that the Good Shepherd should bring His `other sheep', so that there might be one flock and one Shepherd.
I might continue with many more, but there are two that I want you to specially think about:——
It is logically necessary that Heaven should make merry and be glad, when the son who was lost, comes Home.
Yes, if the weeping and wailing of hell are a logical necessity; even so the music and gladness of Heaven are also a logical necessity.
Just one more; and please ponder this one:
It was logically necessary for the servant who had received the one talent, to trade with it, so that when the Lord of that servant returned He might receive His own with interest.
What are we doing with the talent the Lord has given us?