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; 22:6). 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. 22:19.
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. 16:21. 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. 26:54 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 is logically necessary for you to be born again. John 3:7
It was logically necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up. John 3:14
It was logically necessary for Him to increase. John 3:30
It was logically necessary for Him to go through Samaria. John 4:4
Because God is a Spirit, it is logically necessary that men worship Him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
It was logically necessary that the Good Shepherd should bring His `other sheep', so that there might be one flock and one Shepherd.
John 10:16
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.
Luke 15:32.
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.
Matt. 25:27
What are we doing with the talent the Lord has given us?