ECHO Student Ministries

Revelation 20:11-15

As we begin to see what John writes in this passage, we must remember that Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet have been cast into the lake of fire (hell) forever and ever. Satan has been deceiving people since the beginning of the human race causing many to develop a false sense of what is good. His one purpose in all he does is to oppose the work of God and draw many into his web of deception. Instead of trusting Jesus Christ for salvation, Satan has tempted mankind into believing that they do not need the forgiveness of God or to trust Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. The Bible very clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is the only way to a relationship with God and eternal life in heaven (John 14:7). Without Jesus' shedding of His blood on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

In these verses we realize the fruit of all Satan's labor as millions of people will stand before God in final judgment for the sins they have committed. Instead of believing that Jesus paid for their sins on the cross, they tried to make their own way in life ignoring the free gift of salvation through Jesus (Romans 6:23). The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:27-28). The judgment spoken of here is referred to as the Great White Throne judgment. John writes, "I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them" (20:11). Peter tells us that at this time in future history, the entire universe as we know it will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-13). John then sees the "dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (20:12). These books document every sin committed by every person who appear at this judgment while the Book of Life is a record of all who have been forgiven through their faith in Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. All who stand before God at this judgment have rejected Jesus' payment for their sin and therefore the penalty must be paid by them. John reveals their punishment and writes, "The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. The Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (20:13-15). Lest we just flippantly read over these verses, all these people without the forgiveness of Jesus are cast into eternal punishment. There is no return. There is no escape. There is no end to their suffering. So what is this lake of fire? I believe the Bible teaches that it is a literal place of torment and Jesus often calls it a place where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 22:13; 24:15).

Many think God is unfair to punish sinners for all eternity in hell; however, we must remember that hell was only created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41) and God did not desire for any person to go there. God loved mankind so much that He made a way for every one to be forgiven through the death of His only Son, Jesus (John 3:16). Peter also reminds us that God "is longsuffering [patient] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Even Jesus' intention in coming to earth was not "to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17). God does not want anyone to spend eternity in hell, but since sin cannot go unpunished because that would make God unjust. So that we did not have to be punished for sin, God "made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The unwillingness to recognize our sin and ask for God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ will ultimately lead to eternal separation from God in hell. John gives it to us straight, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

Dear God, may many see the reality of coming judgment and turn to You in faith and repentance through Jesus Christ.