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“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [hades] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:13).
Today’s verse is one of the most solemn verses in the Bible. Once again we have hades and death mentioned, but this time in connection with unbelievers who have died. When they died their bodies were buried, although, as our verse recognizes, some were in the sea, because the people drowned. Others in our day might have been cremated. According to Luke 16, their souls are now in a place of torment.
But in a coming day, at the judgment of the great white throne, God is going to raise up those bodies, reunite them with their souls and spirits, and then judge them. Hades delivers up the soul, and death delivers up the body. No matter how or where they have died, God knows how to raise those bodies, and to bring them up for judgment. What a solemn thought! No believers will be at the great white throne, but only those who have died without Christ. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior? If you die without Christ, it will be too late to cry for mercy at the great white throne. God’s time to be saved is now.
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