Thesis: To teach the hearer that what the world looks at as lose, gloom and doom, the believer needs to look at as gain, deliverance and glory, i.e. the paradoxal nature of the Way, which one cannot see except they be born again (Jn 3:3) .
Text: Heb 10:14-25
Heb 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Heb 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
Heb 10:17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
Heb 10:18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy place(s; plural) by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, through his flesh,
Heb 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Heb 10:25 not neglecting to meet (gather) together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (approaching).
Intro:
1. In this section of Scripture we see quite a few truths . . . (v 14) through Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself we are positionally perfect as we lead a life of attempting to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet 1:15-16), in other words Jesus’ perfection (sinlessness; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22) is imputed to us (Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 1:7) as we are trying, attempting to be like Jesus (1 Cor 11:1).
2. (v 15) We see that the Holy Spirit bears witness to us, speaks to us through the word, that sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), where the Hebrew writer is quoting from Jer 31:31-34 (v 16-17) describing some of the attributes of the New Covenant, thereby proving the that the Old Covenant sacrificial system was always meant to be temporary and to be ended (v 18).
3. (v 19) Therefore we have confidence to enter into the true sanctuary, which God built, the holy places in Heaven itself, the heavenly places through the blood of Jesus, it is described as a new and living Way (v 20), which He opened for us through the giving of Himself, which makes Him our high priest (v 21; Heb 3:1) over the true house of God, which on earth is us (1 Cor 3:9; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:5), which took place when we believed, repented, confessed Christ, and were baptized (v 22-23).
4. So we need to hold fast to these truths (v 23), for it is impossible for God to lie (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18) and (v 24) we need to prompt each other to exhibit faith, working through love (Gal 5:6) to fulfil the purpose that God has determined for us in Christ, which is for good works (Eph 2:10) as salt and light unto His glory (Mt 5:13-16) in a sin darkened world (1 Jn 5:19).
5. And (v 25) not neglecting the gathering together of ourselves (as is the habit of some), but rather do it, encouraging one another therein as we see “the Day” or “that Day”, or “the Day of the Lord (ISV)” drawing near (approaching).
6. And that is where I want to focus, the “encouraging” of each other in view of “the Day” “that Day” “the Day of the Lord”.
7. Therefore I want to look at “the Day”, “that Day”, “this Day”. from 3 differing aspects . . .
1) “The Day” as the day of our physical death
2) “The Day” as the day of judgment against our nation
3) “The Day” as the end of this physical realm and the Final Judgment
I. “THE DAY” AS THE DAY OF OUR PHYSICAL DEATH
A. (Heb 9:27)
Heb 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man(kind) to die once, and after that comes judgment,
1. It is important to know that the word “the” (KJV) is not in the text, therefore this is not speaking of “the” final Judgment, but a preliminary judgment, we could call it a “life review” which many who have experience NDE’s speak about, we need to understand that God is over all, our births, our lives, and our deaths are in His mighty and loving hands (Eph 4:6).
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
a. Yet, within His sovereign rule He has given us the privilege of choice (Jos 24:15; Mt 23:37; Rom 6:16; Rev 22:17)
Jos 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Mat 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires (wills) take the water of life without price.
b. God, in His mighty power, is able exercise His rule, “and” grant us the gift of choice, I believe this is one of the many ways that we are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26).
c. It seems that most other creatures do not have this gift, but rather operate on what we call “instinct,” their eating, their procreating, their migrations, they basically have no choice in them, God has predetermined what they would do in these aspects, and they do them (Mt 6:24-34)
Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Mat 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Mat 6:26 Look at the birds of the air (heaven): they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Mat 6:27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Mat 6:28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
Mat 6:29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Mat 6:32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Mat 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
d. The angels are similar to us, they also have been given the gift of choice, yet some of them, like all of us, have chosen to exercise this gift against God’s will, therefore God has judged them guilty, with no hope of redemption (Mt 25:41; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; Rev 12:7-9; 20:10).
Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (Tartarus; i.e. the deepest abyss in Hades) and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
Jud 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Rev 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
Rev 12:8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Rev 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
2. Since we chose to go against God’s will, like certain angels, physical (and spiritual) death has been determined by God to be inflicted upon us (Rom 5:12; 6:19-23).
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Rom 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
a. Keep in mind that spiritual death is the separation between God and man (Isa 59:1-2; 1 Tim 5:5-6; Lk 15:11-32),
Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Isa 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
1Ti 5:5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,
1Ti 5:6 but she who is self-indulgent (gives herself to pleasure) is dead even while she lives.
Luk 15:11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.
Luk 15:13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
Luk 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Luk 15:16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Luk 15:17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
Luk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'
Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
Luk 15:23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Luk 15:25 "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
Luk 15:27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'
Luk 15:28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
Luk 15:29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
Luk 15:30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'
Luk 15:31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Luk 15:32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
b. And physical death is the separation between body and spirit (Eccl 12:7; Ja 2:26; Lk 16:19-31).
Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Jas 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Luk 16:19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
Luk 16:20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
Luk 16:21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
Luk 16:23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Luk 16:24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
Luk 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
Luk 16:27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—
Luk 16:28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
Luk 16:29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
Luk 16:30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
Luk 16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
c. One section of Scripture that I find quite revealing concerning physical death is from 2 Esdras 7 (2 Esdras 7:75-101) . . .
[75]
I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as every one of us yields up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?"
[76]
He answered me and said, "I will show you that also, but do not be associated with those who have shown scorn, nor number yourself among those who are tormented.
[77] For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High; but it will not be shown to you until the last times.
[78] Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High.
[79] And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated those who fear God --
[80] such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways.
[81] The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High.
[82] The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that they may live.
[83] The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High.
[84] The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days.
[85] The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet.
[86] The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into torments.
[87] The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times.
[88]
"Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body.
[89] During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour, that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly.
[90] Therefore this is the teaching concerning them:
[91] First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders.
[92] The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was formed with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death.
[93] The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them.
[94] The third order, they see the witness which he who formed them bears concerning them, that while they were alive they kept the law which was given them in trust.
[95] The fourth order, they understand the rest which they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory which awaits them in the last days.
[96] The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible, and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality.
[97] The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on.
[98] The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified.
[99] This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced; and the aforesaid are the ways of torment which those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter."
[100]
I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?"
[101]
He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations."
3. Now with these things revealed I want to encourage you . . .
a. First and foremost that we don’t separate ourselves from God spiritually (spiritual death), by making a practice of sin and unrighteousness, by which we prove ourselves not to be children of God, but rather, children of the devil (1 Jn 3:4-10) . . .
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
b. Secondly, when we are facing our physical deaths, it is not lose, but gain (2 Cor 5:8; Phili 1:21), we will be following our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Who is there, Who paved the way for us, we will be delivered from the struggles that we face in this life, into paradise, into the heavenly places, separated from the sin, death, tears, and so forth which are daily parts of this life.
c. For it is through God, through Jesus, through the Spirit, with the help of the angels, that we have this living hope, so let us set our minds there, heaven above, as it is written (Col 3:1-4; Phili 3:20-21) . . .
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Php 3:20 . . . our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
II. “THE DAY” AS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AGAINST OUR NATION
A. (Rev 17:1-2)
Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
Rev 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk."
1. There has been much speculation over the years just who this is speaking about, some say the 1st century Jews who rejected Jesus as the Christ, some say the Roman empire, and either one sort of fits the context, but my belief is (which I believed years ago but it didn’t seem to fit so much then) is this is talking about the US.
a. Many say “why don’t we see the US in the bible, since it is such a main player in the world today, and has been for the last 200 years?” There are 2 reasonable answers, first, maybe it gets destroyed and is no longer a factor in end times, second, maybe it is in the bible by another name, well I do believed it gets destroyed, and this is what I believe we are reading about here.
b. Also bible prophecies many times seem to have multiple fulfillments, this could be the case here, yet out of all the candidates for the great harlot (prostitute), presently and looking back in time, I see no one that fits the bill like the US.
2. Note that the context is judgment (v 1) and this great prostitute sits on many waters, Rome, (Italy) sits on the Mediterranean Sea, and Israel (Jerusalem) also sits on the Mediterranean, one sea, couple lakes and rivers, many waters? No.
a. But the US certainly sits on many waters, the Great Lakes to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, the Atlantic to the east, and the Pacific to the west, and its rivers and smaller lakes are almost innumerable, I doubt if any nation in the world has the many waters that we do.
b. Also in v 15 we learn that the waters are actually symbolic of a multitude of immigrants, which again only the US aligns with this, not Italy nor Israel, America was been dream of many in other countries, of which they often save up money, come here, get a job, and partake of the so called “American dream” which now has become a thing of the past because of her sins, now individuals are trying to get out of her.
3. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with this prostitute, whether we look at it metaphorically, or literally, again the US fits the bill.
a. The kings of the earth have been exposed to have secret societies/clubs which partake of pedophilia, child sacrifices, and all sorts of ungodly sexual abominations, which are secretly recorded and used to control them and their nations through blackmail schemes, the Epstein scandal is the latest of these and goes across the globe.
b. “The dwellers on the earth have become drunken with this sin,” the US is also the main exporter of pornography in the world (sexual immorality, fornication here is”porneia” in the Gr.), and the US is now going around the world and threatening to shut off funding to any nation that does not condone sodomy, lesbianism and so forth, the LBGTLMNOP agenda.
c. And metaphorically the US leads many other governments to be unfaithful (like a harlot) to their peoples, like a prostitute by manipulating them through voter fraud, false media, false flags, false wars, etc., to propagate their agenda, wealth, control, and power over the entire earth which we know is actually God’s (Ps 24:1)
B. (Rev 17:3-4)
Rev 17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
1. A scarlet beast with 7 heads, 10 horns, blasphemous names, the united nations? The beginnings of NATO? The illuminati? The cabal? Free masonry? Who knows? I am sure we could fit it somewhere, 7 and 10 can be symbolic of “perfection” and “a lot” these numbers are not where the thrust of the context lies, it is earthly riches (the global currency), abominations (the murder of millions and millions through wars, baby-killing/abortion) and sexual immorality (LBGTLMNOP).
C. (Rev 17:5)
Rev 17:5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations."
1. The ESV adds the word “of” (mystery) to the text, the NASB “a” (mystery) the NKJV does a better job . . .
Rev 17:5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (NKJV)
a. “Mystery Babylon” denotes it is not her real name, but they as a world leader are likened to Babylon, apart from the one true God (actually opposed to Him) and linked up with all kinds of pagan gods.
b. And it being a “mother” implies she has these unclean things as babies, and spreads them across the entire earth, was literal Babylon able to do this? Was Jerusalem? Rome? None of these had the resources nor technologies, we have the ability today and do propagate all these evils and more over the entire earth.
D. (Rev 17:6)
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
1. It is no secret in the world that the US through the CIA formed ISIS to destabilize the mid-east and take control of one of the world’s biggest petroleum producing regions. Ever wonder why gas is so cheap? It is because we steal other’s oil, like we are currently doing in Syria, ISIS oil was sold for half price, transported through Turkey to the entire world, US included, Russia did and maybe again is in the process of shutting that flow off, so expect prices to rise.
a. ISIS with their radical Muslim agenda hates Christianity (Jn 14:6), therefore the decapitations, crucifixions, church building burnings, all kinds of murderous rampages and atrocities against Jesus followers.
b. The spirit of antichrist is spreading greatly today throughout the world because of “mystery Babylon.”
E. (Rev 17:7)
Rev 17:7 But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
1. I read of one person who was reading this passage and a vision of the statue of liberty appeared next to him, New York City is the headquarters of the United Nations, which is the main avenue through which NATO and the west propagates their new-nazi agenda. What is it? Dismantle, destroy and dominate, world rule apart from the one true God (the typical Babylonian agenda).
F. (Rev 17:8)
Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
1. The beast is actually Satan described in figurative terms, and those who are not the elect according to the foreknowledge of God (1 Pet 1:1-2) will marvel, they will be astonished at the agenda Satan is leading the world to through the US, sensuality, sexuality, self is first, legalized drug usage, war-mongering, baby-killing, and so forth.
G. (Rev 17:9)
Rev 17:9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains (hills; NIV) on which the woman is seated;
1. Jerusalem is surrounded by seven mountains, Rome is surrounded by seven hills, but in the US five different cities are surrounded by 7 hills, Cincinnati Ohio, Nevada City Nevada, Providence Rhode Island, Seattle Washington, Worchester Massachusetts.
a. Also keep in mind that there are 7 continents, which these 7 hills or mountains might signify, the UN (led covertly by the west under the US) rules over all these, and from a global view is seated on them through their diabolical rule.
H. (Rev 17:10-11)
Rev 17:10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
Rev 17:11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
1. The first century reader would have looked at this as the Roman Empire being cohersed by the Jews at Jerusalem, this pattern of kings (emperors) can be seen in that time period.
a. I am not sure where this would fit today, maybe the last 7 presidents all being illuminati/cabal/Satan led, with the current one (Trump) getting killed metaphorically through massive election fraud and eighth being Biden who belongs to the seventh (Obama/as his vice president), or the eighth being Satan led also.
I. (Rev 17:12-13)
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
1. The UN has the globe divided into 10 sections, under agenda 21 their plan is to rule the entire globe through that entity (the UN), but they are spiritually led by Satan.
J. (Rev 17:14)
Rev 17:14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer (overcome) them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."
1. It is no secret that the spirit of antichrist is growing abundantly in our nation and the world, but the world will allow you to claim Christ if you agree with abortion and the LGBTLMNOP agenda and the agenda 21 plan and basically keep Christ to yourself.
a. But if you do, be warned, to do such marks you with the mark of the beast and makes you unfaithful and an enemy to Christ, and Christ will battle you and win and throw you into the lake of fire on the Last Day.
b. But those that truly stand with Christ against these obvious evils will prevail, for they are the called, the chosen, and the faithful, as it is written (Rev 2:10) . . .
Rev 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
K. (Rev 17:15)
Rev 17:15 And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
1. No nation has the cultural diversity that we have, and the city of New York, where the UN and the statue of liberty are seated is a great example of this diversity through its ethnic neighborhoods and its evils (gangs, drug usage, murders, lawlessness, fornications, etc.).
L. (Rev 17:16)
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,
1. The rest of the Satan enticed UN (led by Russia and China) will eventually turn on and destroy New York and the US, first economically by unseating the petro-dollar as the world currency thereby making her desolate and naked, then by nuking her, because that is the only type of kinetic war the US is able to carry out, for its conventional forces cannot stand against the likes of Russia and China.
M. (Rev 17:17).
Rev 17:17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power (kingdom) to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
1. Keep in mind that God is over all (Eph 4:6), He is in control, He will put this in the hearts of these nations and allow Satan (the beast in the context) to led them to exercise their nation’s powers through war until the Harlot is destroyed.
N. (Rev 17:18)
Rev 17:18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."
1. Again the woman is the great city (New York city is where the UN is headquartered) has dominion (rule) over the kings of the earth.
O. (Rev 18:1-3)
Rev 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality (fornication), and the kings of the earth have committed immorality (fornication) with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."
1. This is basically a summary of chapter 17, with the prophetic assertion of the harlot’s coming demise.
P. (Rev 18:4)
Rev 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
1. Is this literal? Are we to get out of the US? Probably yes, if we are able, but I believe it is more of a spiritual exit, if we claim Christ, we need to come out of those apostate beliefs as being approved of God; abortion, war for wars sake, sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism are all abominations in the sight of the Most High, and if you don’t renounce them get ready to be punished by whatever plague God sends upon this nation, covid-19 would be one, ebola might be another I expect to see being spread (2 Cor 6:14-7:1) . . .
2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2Co 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Q. (Rev 18:5-24)
Rev 18:5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
Rev 18:7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.'
Rev 18:8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day (i.e. short period of time), death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."
Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
Rev 18:10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,
Rev 18:12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble,
Rev 18:13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls (lives; NASB).
Rev 18:14 "The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!"
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
Rev 18:16 "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
Rev 18:17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
Rev 18:18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
Rev 18:19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!"
Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
Rev 18:22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
Rev 18:23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth."
1. This is a picture of the judgment which I believe is coming to this nation, because of her sins she will be no more, economic collapse, famine, disease and war will end her, but God’s people will continue, even within the geographical bounds of this nation, spreading the gospel in the poorest country of the world, which will then be the richest spiritually, (turn to 1 Jn 2:15-29) . . .
1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 Because everything that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out in order that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
1Jn 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
1Jn 2:21 I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either.
1Jn 2:24 Therefore let that which you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself promised to you--eternal life.
1Jn 2:26 These things I wrote to you concerning those who deceive you.
1Jn 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, in order that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed due to Him at His coming.
1Jn 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
1. We cannot love the things of the world and the things of God simultaneously, the flesh and the Spirit are opposed one to another, I encourage you to love God and keep His commandments, Jesus said (Jn 14:15) . . .
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
III. “THE DAY” AS THE END OF THIS PHYSICAL REALM AND THE FINAL JUDGMENT
A. (Rev 20:11)
Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and (the heaven) sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
1. Here John sees a picture of the Final Judgment of God and the end of this world as we know it, note that “fire came down out of heaven” (v 9) and consumed the ungodly, it also disposed of the physical universe as we know it (2 Pet 3:10, 12). The scriptures teach from front to back that the physical earth was always meant to be a temporary realm (Gen 8:22; Ps 102:25-26; Mt 24:35; Heb 1:10-12; 12:26-27; 2 Pet 3:10), clearly that is why God wants us focusing on the imperishable (Col 3:1-4), where we came from and where we are going to (Eccl 12:7).
B. (Rev 20:12)
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done (their works).
1. With the material universe done away, the next order of business is going to be taken care of, the judgment seat of Christ, Who is God (Mt 1:23; John 1:1; 8:24; 58; Heb 1:8; Col 2:9),
a. All will be judged according to their works, their lives, their sins, not another’s, not Adam’s (Ezek 18:20; Mt 25:31-46; John 5:27; Acts 17:30-31; Rom 2:16, Rom 14:10-12; 2 Cor 5:10-11),
b. And the standard that will judge them is the ever abiding, living and active word of God (Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:22-23), which is described here as “the books,” this refers to the books of the bible, which contain the words of Jesus (John 12:48), which is also the gospel that Paul preaches (Rom 2:16), those that lived under Patriarchy, the Law of Moses, or the Law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2) will be judged by so, not by the creeds of men, or what one believes, but by that settled forever in heaven word of God (Ps 119:89; 1 John 5:13).
C. (Rev 20:13)
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, (and) Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
1. The “sea” here could be used figuratively here to represent society in general as seen in Rev 13:1; 15:2 or it could be taken literally, referring to those lost at sea, these are not lost before God, I tend to believe it refers to the those living in society at that time, who were lost (the dead that were in it), remember there are but a few saints living at this time and they are looked at separately in this context (Rev 20:9).
a. Thus society (the land of the living) and those in the Hadean realm (probably referring both to the redeemed and the lost in the state of physical death; Luke 16:22-26) are pictured being judged by the word of God on “the Last Day”(Jn 12:48; Rom 2:16).
b. The 3rd “and” (“kai”) in this verse probably should be translated “even” thus translating it “connective” in this passage (“death even hades”), physical death is equal to Hades, it is part of it. A clearer translation may be “the realm of the dead i.e. Hades gave up the physically dead in it”.
D. (Rev 20:14)
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
1. With physical life as we know it today over because of the end of the material universe (2 Pet 3:10, 12), those being born and dying almost continually has ceased, this is where death, the last enemy is destroyed (1 Cor 15:26), that along with the emptying of the souls from Hades, thus these two heavenly/spiritual places are no longer needed, therefore they are pictured being cast into the lake of fire.
a. The casting therein is referred to as the “second death.” “Death” is referred to as a separation (Ja 2:26; Mt 7:21-23; 25:41), thus this denotes the second and final separation between man and God, the first takes place when one becomes accountable and sins (Isa 59:2; Rom 3:23; 5:12), the second and final death (separation) is permanent, those who overcame by believing in the gospel and doing the will of the Father on earth will not have to suffer this end (Rev 2:11; 20:6). The second death could also refer to the ceasing of existence, also known as annihilation or destruction, at this point in God’s plan, death and the realm of the departed souls no longer being needed no longer exist.
E. (Rev 20:15)
Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
1. God’s (the Lamb’s) book of life here is a reference to those who were faithful unto God during their lives (Ex 32:32-33; Ps 69:28; Luke 10:20; Phili 4:3; Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19), those not written therein, for God knows who are His (2 Tim 2:19) are cast into the lake of fire (a figurative statement for Gehennah Hell), where the unbelieving with their newly given incorruptible spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15:42-44) will endure eternal punishment (Mt 25:46; Rev 14:9-11) along with Satan, the beast and the false prophet (Rev 19:20; 20:10) being eternally separated from all the blessings of God, or this could also refer to the ceasing of existence, also known as annihilation or destruction, God in His great mercy and love just ends the existence of those who through their gift of choice chose the end result of a life where God and His ways are not paramount, God is able to destroy both an incorruptible body and an immortal soul in hell (Mt 10:28), all things are possible with God.
a. We get our names written in the book of life when we believe (Jn 5:24), and enter into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15),
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
b. We won’t get our names “blotted out” from that book (Rev 3:5) as long as we “overcome”, “conquer” by continuing in the grace of God through that process by repenting, being baptized, confessing Jesus, and living a holy life unto God, in other words by walking after the Spirit not the flesh, walking in the light not the darkness.
c. Keep in mind that no one is perfect but Jesus, but we become the righteousness of God in Him (Rom 8:4; 2 Cor 5:21), His blood, His works are ours as long as we are attempting to do God’s will (1 Jn 1:7) even if we fall short, but if we turn from that and walk in sin, in darkness, we are not.
d. And also remember that where we end up is a lot more important than where we were (Ezek 18:21-28).
F. (Rev 21:1)
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
1. Now that the enemies of God’s people are completely out of the picture, including death the final enemy (1 Cor 15:26), the promise of eternal life in the presence of God, Who cannot lie is brought to fruition (Tit 1:2). “New heaven and a new earth” is likely figurative language for the eternal abode of the righteous, as seen in 1 Pet 3:10-13.
a. This phrase (“new heaven(s) and a new earth”), generally speaking, refers to “a new order” of things whatsoever is under contemplation, as in the Isaiah 65:17-19; 66:22-24 where the new heavens and the new earth are a reference to the gospel system to come, that new order under the Messiah, and not under Moses, rather Jeremiah’s New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34).
b. Isaiah wrote of the passing away of the Jewish order, while John and Peter wrote of the passing away of the physical order and the bringing to fruition the spiritual order, which would never pass away.
The bible does not seem to teach the doctrine of a renovated earth, the word “new” here is “kainos”
Thayer Definition: kainos
1) new,
1a) as respects form, 1a1) recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn
1b) as respects substance, 1b1) of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of
c. Thus this new heaven(s) and new earth is one that is freshly, recently made (not renovated), never been used before (as the old heaven and earth), of a new kind (imperishable, different than the last), never heard of before.
d. But the bible does teach that at the second coming of Christ, the physical universe (“the heavens”) will pass away, the physical heaven(s) (#1 and #2, earth’s atmosphere and outer space including the other stellar bodies, planets, moons, stars, etc.), the physical earth, and the physical sea (Gen 8:22; Ps 72:5-7; 102:25-26; Mt 24:35; Heb 1:10-12; 12:25-29; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 20:11).
2. The phrase “the heaven and the earth and the sea” clearly are a reference in the biblical text for the material universe (Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6; Acts 4:24; 14:15).
a. Therefore this is speaking of the passing away of the material universe, yet it is likely that the word “sea” here has deeper meanings and also represents “society” as we know it (Rev 13:1; 15:2), it will be gone, and also that which is seen in Rev 4:6, where the word “sea” represents the distance between a perfect God and sinful man as the sea was to the ancients an obstacle of separation.
b. We overcome fiery trials through the power of the gospel to get across that sea of glass mingled with fire (15:2), and when the Last Day comes about, the faithful, those that “overcame” “conquered” (v 7) are able to enter into the eternal abode, thus the “sea is no more” (21:1), there will no longer be society with its various authoritative structures (governments, employers, families, church bodies), nor with there be the separation between God and the faithful of mankind (Rev 21:3).
G. (Rev 21:2)
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
1. This is not literal city, but rather it represents (it is a picture of) the church (the bride of Christ; Rev 21:9-26) in her glorified state, after the final Judgment. The new (kainos) Jerusalem is the “Jerusalem above” (Gal 4:26), which comes down from the third heaven, perfect, like a bride, because of Jesus, and is put in contrast to and takes the place of the old Jerusalem, which God destroyed in AD 70 through the Roman legions.
H. (Rev 21:3)
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the (tabernacle) dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
1. The voice being from the throne likely denotes that this is God speaking. “Tabernacle” (NASB) refers to “a dwelling place” in this case God’s specific dwelling place, “heaven.”
a. There is a sense in which God is with His people now (2 Cor 6:14-18), by faith (2 Cor 5:5-7), but after the final Judgment, in the new eternal realm, that association will be even more direct and personal (Gen 3:8). Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24), if God is going to actually be with His people it must be in an incorruptible, spiritual realm, and we must be incorruptible to exist there (1 Cor 15:50).
1Co 15:50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
b. It has been said, and in a certain sense is true “what was lost in Genesis is regained in Revelation,” God is again in direct communion with His people.
I. (Rev 21:4)
Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
1. The blessed condition of being with God in heaven is described here with 5 negatives, tears will be wiped away, no death, no mourning, no crying, nor pain. These things cannot truly take place in this realm, but in the next, again death is something that the Christian does not fear as those of the world (Heb 2:14-15), but it does exist, and will not be taken away, conquered fully until the second coming of Christ (1 Cor 15:26), as seen in our text (Rev 20:14).
J. (Rev 21:5)
Rev 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are (faithful) trustworthy and true."
1. “All things” are made new in the eternal realm (again this is our word “kainos” which basically means “totally new, brand new”), this is in contrast to the sufferings of this world, the absence of such things helps us to understand just how wonderful this place will be, though there are many wonderful and beautiful things in our present abode, the things listed in the last verse (crying, mourning, pain, death) seem to put a limit on how truly wonderful they could be, yet in the eternal abode all things are new, and being incorruptible in nature they will remain new, heaven will far surpass the earth in its grandeur and blessings. This is the restoration of “all things” that which Peter preached about in Acts 3:19-21.
a. John is instructed to write these faithful (trustworthy) and true words, for it is impossible for God to lie, which should give us great encouragement and hope as we look forward to That Day (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18).
Tit 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
K. (Rev 21:6)
Rev 21:6 Then He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring (fountain) of the water of life without cost. (NASB)
1. This language speaks of these things being consummated, “they are come to pass” “it is done” (in the time frame of this context, i.e. after the final Judgment; Rev 20:11-15).
a. God is eternal in nature, “in the beginning God created” (Gen 1:1), one is either God or creation. This phraseology (the Alpha and the Omega) is given in reference to the Father and the Son (Isa 41:4; 43:10; 44:6; Rev 1:10-18; 22:13, 16), the bible teaches that both the Father and the Son are eternal, Divine beings, as is also the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-5; Mt 3:16-17; 28:19).
b. These eternal blessings are available to whosoever thirsts to drink from God’s divine directives, which lead to eternal life (John 4:10, 14; 6:63)
L. (Rev 21:7)
Rev 21:7 The one who conquers (overcomes) will have this heritage (inherit these things), and I will be his God and he will be my son (child).
1. Yet these blessings are conditional, the person who initially believes and obeys the gospel from the heart (Rom 6:17) must continue therein and not fall away (Gal 5:4; 2 Thess 2:3, 10-12), continuing to struggle against sin (Heb 12:4), overcome (“overcomes” “conquers” present active participle) and end up there (Ezek 18:21-28; Rev 3:5), in doing so, in the future (on the Last Day), they “will inherit” (future active indicative) these things, that are only in prospect in this life (2 Cor 5:6-9; Heb 11:13-16, 10; 13:14).
a. Those that overcome in this life will eternally be in the family of God, there will be no falling away in the next life (Rev 20:6), the rewards of overcoming are mentioned in the admonishing of the seven churches to whom this book is addressed (Rev 1:4a; 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21), and each one of these clearly looks forward to the afterlife.
M. (Rev 21:8)
Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral (fornicators), sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
1. Here is a picture of those that are fearful, unbelieving, unfaithful and ungodly who were not forgiven nor changed through the gospel, they shall have their part in eternal punishment (Mt 25:41, 46; Rev 19:20; 20:10).
a. This is the second death, death simply denotes a separation (Ja 2:26; Isa 59:2), the first (spiritual) death takes place when we become accountable and sin, the second (spiritual) death takes place at the Final Judgment when the unforgiven accountable are eternally separated from God, or this could refer to the ceasing to exist, annihilation, destruction which seems possible for merciful and loving God (Mt 10:28).
b. These will be eternally separated from the blessings of God, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) as opposed to those who cry no more.
c. Note that in God’s eyes liars and murderers are equally guilty, it is sad to see so many commit what they refer to as white lies in the name of situation ethics, God knows of no such doctrine as being approved, but rather as seen here, it is severely condemned, it is on His list of things He hates the most (Pro 6:16-19), we need to think like God, not like men (Mt 16:22-23).
2. The bottom line here is what will we choose? To live by faith, hope, and love, or to live in sin unto death.
a. God has made it possible that whosoever wills can drink of the water of life, He doesn’t want any to perish, but all to be saved, but He doesn’t force us, He has given us a will, and He wants us to use it in a way aligned with His will, according to the Way, I encourage everyone to turn to God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit, which you receive at belief (Eph 1:13) in the gospel.