THERE is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.
Of course, few believe that it exists nowadays, but how awkward it will be for multitudes if it does.
GOD affirms that it does.
I believe God, and am moved to warn you as to the existence of a place of future punishment.
I see people now, in this world, suffering for their sins. Every night in our big cities, under the glare of the gaslight, under the glamor of tinsel, sin goes on. Aye, and side by side with the gratification of sin, can be seen the punishment of it, even in this life. Many a doctor has had to tell his patient that he or she was doomed to die, and if it had been his duty to tell the reason he would have put his finger on some SIN.
And shall it be that the punishment of sin is only on this side of the grave? It is punished this side of the grave—that is terribly patent, none can deny it—but shall it only be this side?
And He, also, tells us of certain classes who shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Granted that this is symbolical language in a book full of symbols, yet it in no wise lessens the awful warning. A symbol symbolizes something, and the more terrible the symbol the more terrible what is symbolized.
“Fire and brimstone” symbolize God’s terrible judgment against sin. The intensely solemn symbolical language makes the reality intensely solemn.
Further, these classes “shall have their part” in this lake.
The devil would make his victims believe that this is not eternal, that just as chaff is burned up, so the wicked will be annihilated.
But the language, “Shall have their part” (Rev. 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)), affirms just the contrary.
Suppose a boy is ill at boarding school. He is ill, but convalescent. In three weeks’ time the school sports are to take place. The boy is eager to take his part in them. The doctor tells him that when the time comes he will be able to do so. This supposes the boy to be alive and able when the time comes, and HIS place apportioned to him.
Apply our illustration. “Shall have their part” supposes the individuals spoken of as living, and having their place, as living and sentient, apportioned to them.
The dying-down of the old-fashioned belief in hell, the increase of belief in Universalism and Annihilationism, as is preached from so many pulpits and advocated by such blasphemous systems as Millennial Dawnism, Seventh-Day Adventism, and the like, is largely responsible for the increase of sin observable on every hand. Restraint is set aside nowadays, whether it be the restraint of God on high, or of governments—ministers ordained by Him—below.
What classes, then, are to have “their part” in the burning lake.
“LIARS” are at the bottom of the list. Do you know a liar in your acquaintance—one who lies from January to December, from youth to old age, whose word cannot be trusted for one moment? How you despise such an one!
What lies are told—business lies, behind the counter, on the stock exchange, in the mart, diplomatic lies, in Parliament, on the hustings, &c., &c.
But there is worse than this.
“IDOLATORS” —what millions there are of these in the world! The cruel places of the earth are full of them—cannibals, practisers of every wickedness on the face of the earth; mothers who will throw their tender offspring under the wheels of Juggernaut; aye, and polished men and women who look down with pitying scorn on such superstitions, yet who, themselves, grovel, absolutely grovel, before the shrine of Mammon, or Bacchus, or pleasure. Yes, such shall have “their part” in the burning lake. God says it. Is it true?
But there is worse than this.
“SORCERERS!” Men and women who give themselves to the devil, whose bodies are taken possession of by his demons, who inflame every passion, and quicken unnatural powers of speech and influence, whether it takes the form as seen in the fakirs of India, the sorcerers of heathen lands, the mediums of spiritist circles in Europe and America and Australia, &c., the catch-penny palmists, astrologers, &c., or some religious fanatics, who profess to speak with tongues and who promulgate freakish fancies.
But there is worse than this.
“WHOREMONGERS!” We would fain throw a curtain over the picture, but the Spirit of God does not, and we dare not. But whilst uttering the warnings fearlessly, we refrain from enlarging upon the subject. Statistics tell the awful tale of the health of nations being undermined by this sin. It tells of a conscience seared, restraint thrown over. It carries in its train terrible retribution even in this life; but this class “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.”
But there is worse than this.
“MURDERERS!” Aye, terrible crime. But many murderers do not expiate their crime, so far as man is concerned, on the scaffold. Many are murdered—the victims of slow murder, occasioned by unkindness, neglect, or persecution, people who do not die under the blow of the knife, the impact of the bullet, or the effects of deadly poison, but who die of broken hearts.
But there is worse than this.
“ABOMINABLE!” People who have not thrown off one but every form of restraint—men and women, human brutes, who are lost to any sense of shame, and who live entirely and alone for the selfish gratification of every vile desire of their wicked hearts.
But there is worse than this.
“Can this be possible?” you exclaim in astonishment.
Yes, dear friend, there is worse than this.
Follow me carefully. A wonderful event Chas taken place. God’s only begotten Son has been in this world. He has died on the cross. He has expressed God’s love to a sinful and perishing world.
Blind, indeed, must the man be who sees not the sun as it shines in its meridian splendor.
Deaf, indeed, must the man be who hears not the roar of the cannon, whose discharge makes the very ground shake, and wakens the echoes of the distant hills.
Aye, and blind and dull must the man be who sees and understands not the meaning of yonder cross of Calvary.
Alas! there are multitudes for whom it has no meaning, no voice, no message.
What class, then, can be worse than the “liars,” “idolators,” “sorcerers,” “whoremongers,” “murderers,” and “abominable”?
Why, it is just this very class.
“What class can it be?” you ask.
I will answer in one word— “UNBELIEVERS.”
True, all the classes described are unbelievers. Aye, and it is just because they are unbelievers that they are among these classes.
But there is a worse class even than this.
You exclaim in deeper astonishment, “What class can this be? I thought you had exhausted all the wickedness there could be.”
Aye, but there is a worse class than this “the FEARFUL.”
There is the unbeliever. He believes not. Religion does not trouble him. The theater, the cinema, the park, are good enough for him on Sundays. He wants none of your churches, your preachings, your Bibles, your tracts.
There is the fearful. They would like to be saved. They see the plan of salvation. They recognize that the Bible is true. But they are afraid—afraid of persecution, afraid of the sneer and scoff, afraid of the consequences, and so they turn away from the light and stifle their convictions.
There was once such a man. The Spirit of God strove with him. He was afraid of the consequences. He jumped behind a wall one day, and prayed an awful prayer, “Oh! God, take away these convictions.”
His awful prayer was answered. On a deathbed he lamented his utter callousness and indifference. He would have welcomed the convictions his prayer had driven away. He died, wailing, “Oh! you awful prayer. Oh! you awful prayer.”
Are you one of this class— “fearful”? God give you to be in earnest as never before, AND DECIDE NOW.
Listen to our text. It is from God’s word. They are God’s words. Will you pay heed?
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers and idolators, and all liars, shall have THEIR PART in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 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).)
Read what God says about belief and unbelief: “He that believeth on Him [the Lord Jesus] is NOT CONDEMNED: but he that believeth not is CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).)
Such verses speak plainly. Their language could not be more direct and solemn. The way of life and death is put before you. Make your choice, dear reader.
But remember the issues are eternal. It is not a matter that can be rectified once you have reached the bourne from whence no traveler returns—once the great gulf is fixed.
Christ has died for you. The Spirit pleads with you. God is waiting to receive the repentant prodigal. Come just as you are, and He will receive you. Come now.
A. J. P.