FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Todd Gaddis

I’ve had people say, “We’re all after the same goal, headed for the same place, so, what’s the big deal?” The big deal is that we most assuredly are not all going to the same place. If you’ve been born again, saved, received Christ into your heart, or whatever terminology you want to use to indicate you are a child of God, you can look forward to going to heaven when you die as we recently discussed. If you haven’t experienced the above, Scripture emphatically says that you’ll spend eternity in hell. In chapter 13, we dealt primarily with Hades , the place of temporary anguish and misery that imprisons unbelievers until the end times. Recall the unnamed rich man who enjoyed lavish prosperity on earth, only to endure great torment following his death. He found himself in a state of separation from God and permanent hopelessness. Now let’s switch emphasis from the first death to the second death, from Hades to Gehenna –with the main thrust being on the condemnation that comes before the destination. Exiled on Patmos, John “ Saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it ” (Revelation 20:11). Certainly, it’s God who sits upon the throne, as is usually the case in Revelation. The color white indicates His purity, glory, majesty and qualification for carrying out this somber, but necessary task. The great white throne judgment is preceded by the permanent banishment of the devil. Remember from chapter 13 that when Christ returns, Satan is bound for a thousand years. After that time of banishment, he’s released and allowed to deceive one final time. Then, according to John’s vision, he will be “ Thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also ” (Revelation 20:10).

RISING TO CONDEMNATION

Originally, hell was not a place planned for humans. Speaking to the unfaithful servants, or the goats, Jesus said, “ Depart from Me,

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