Up to this moment not one of the wicked dead have yet been judged, not one of those who have died in their sins have yet been raised. Does this sound strange? Let the reader, ponder this deeply solemn and important chapter, let him ponder it unbiased by all his preconceived thoughts, and in simple dependence upon the teaching of the Spirit of God. In Rev. 20:4 are described those that have part in the FIRST RESURRECTION: How bright and blessed is their portion!"They live and reign with Christ for 1000 years." All this time "the REST of the dead" (i. e., the wicked dead) will remain in their graves; they "lived not again till the thousand years were FINISHED." (Rev. 20:5.) How dark and awful is their portion! We feel we cannot do better than quote the veritable words of Scripture:
"And I saw a GREAT WHITE THRONE, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the SECOND DEATH. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11 to end.) We would just draw the reader's attention to a few most important points in this final judgment.
In the first place, Christ does not here come to the earth at all; instead of this we read that "from His face the earth and heaven fled away." How different this is one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down at the right hand of God." (Heb. 10:12.) All judgment has been committed to His hand. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son... and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man." (John 5:22-27.) Every knee must bow before Him; every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Reader, have you? Do so NOW, and you are SAVED; wait till the day of judgment, and you will be LOST forever.
We would earnestly commend this subject to the reader's prayerful consideration, and we trust that, like the Bereans of old, he may receive the Word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES daily, whether these things are so. (Acts 17:11.)
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