The Fearful and Unbelieving

From: Collected Writings By: Frederick George Patterson

• 1 min. read • grade level: 8

Q. “J. W. P.” What is the meaning of “the fearful,” as distinguished from “the unbelieving,” in Revelation 21:8⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)? Is there not a solemn import attaching to the term?

A. The term seems to be used in contrast with “him that overcomes” in verse 7. It might be translated “the cowardly.” While pure grace says, “I will give unto him that is athirst (and who but God could create this thirst for what He alone can give?) of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Yet the responsibility to overcome sin and the world that he may inherit “these things” — the eternal blessedness of the new heavens and the new earth, etc., is thus expressed: The “cowardly” or “fearful” who did not overcome — lacking confidence in the pure grace of God, who must ever be the giver — are found in verse 8. Thus we find the conqueror and the cowardly contrasted. How blessed to be able to say, “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us!”

Words of Truth 8:118-121.

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