The Fear of God

In light of our post yesterday, regarding the fear of God and the sobering reality of hell, I would like to expand that understanding just a bit here today. First of all, let me be perfectly clear that experiencing the new birth, which in reality is the baptism of the Spirit with the accompanying sign of speaking in other tongues; is no unconditional guarantee that one will be saved in the end (Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 6:11; I Cor. 12:13; II Cor. 5:17). Jesus and the apostles who wrote the new testament scriptures were very clear that there will be those who had experienced being born again that will be eternally lost because they did not continue in their first faith (Mat. 7:21-23; Mat. 24:12,13; Jn. 15:5,6; Rom. 11:22; I Tim. 5:11,12; Heb. 2:1-3; Heb. 6:4-8; Heb. 10:26-29; II Pet. 2:17,20-22; Jude 1:5,12,13). And please friend, before refuting this evident truth, you really should read the reference scriptures slowly and honestly; after which I trust that you will not make that mistake. But with that scriptural reality confirmed to us with godly fear, I would like to make the point about the general fate of those who do NOT continue in holiness, as well as those who never repent to begin with. What we know as hell is only the beginning of eternal torment for the wicked who go there. There is no doubt that the torment of hell is beyond comprehension for anyone who has not been there, but we do know that it is a place of fiery pain in the heart of the earth for anyone who has not obeyed the Lord Jesus Christ in this lifetime (Lk. 16:22-24; Mat. 12:40; I Pet. 3:19). I am certain that there is far more aspects of the torments in hell than fire, but I am only stating what we concretely have in the scriptures. We also know from the account of Lazarus and the rich man, that the abode of the righteous dead, known as paradise, is across a great divide from the fiery place of hell in the heart of the earth (Lk. 16:26; Lk. 23:43). Now in the book of Revelation we are told that hell, along with everyone in it, will be resurrected to heaven in the day of the white throne judgment which follows the thousand year reign of Christ and the faithful saints on earth (Rev. 20:11-13). This is the second resurrection, known as the "resurrection of the unjust" and the "resurrection of damnation" (Jn. 5:29; Acts 24:15). The passage in Revelation also tells us very clearly that death and hell, along with everyone whose name is not found in the lamb's book of life, will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev. 20:13-15). And regarding the book of life, we are again reminded by Jesus that one's name can be written there, but blotted out for unrighteousness sake (Rev. 3:4,5). The lake of fire that burns with brimstone, known as "the second death," is a fate far worse than hell, and it is this place of ultimate, final torment of which Jesus said, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mk. 9:48). The reason I know this is because the Greek word used for hell in this passage, is "Geenna," whereas the Greek words "hades" and "tartaroo" are used when the hell in the heart of the earth is referred to (Lk. 16:23; II Pet. 2:4). The word "Geena" comes from the old testament "valley of Hinnom," which was outside of Jerusalem and was used as a place for burning refuse, and it is also the place where the Israelites offered their children in the fire to the idol Molech (II Chr. 28:3; Jer. 32:35).

The significance of the reference to the valley of Hinnom is the fact that the scripture shows that the final destination of the wicked will be outside of the new Jerusalem on the new earth: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without [outside the city] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Rev. 22:14,15). This place of horror is also what Jesus referred to as "outer darkness," being a place of darkness and torment that is outside the new Jerusalem (Mat. 8:12, Mat. 22:13; Mat. 25:30). This "second death" is spoken of in the Bible as a place of absolute, utter darkness where no light to any degree will ever be seen; and in fact where the flames themselves will not give any light (Job 18:5; Psm. 49:16-19; Prov. 20:20; II Pet. 2:17; Jude 1:13). This is unlike the hell that now is, where the rich man could see Abraham and Lazarus across the great divide. I believe also that those in hell have some degree of hope for something, because of the rich man's request for water and also for Lazarus to go from the dead to warn his brothers; but mainly because of the fact that people in hell have not yet experienced eternal judgment and sentencing at the great white throne judgment. But once in the lake of fire, the absolute realization of the finality of eternal damnation will be experienced for the first time, and any kind of hope for anything at all will very simply not be possible. And so it becomes very, very evident that Solomon knew exactly what he was talking about when he said, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the WHOLE DUTY of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13,14). And I exhort one and all to be very sure to fear God, as Jesus plainly warned us to do (Lk. 12:4,5). And the good news is that Jesus made the way for us to be purified from sin, and to have power over sin so that we can stay that way (Acts 1:8; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 15:8,9; Tit. 3:5; I Jn. 3:2,3). And another thing is certain, that being that God wants to save you and I, along with all living, more than any of us can even want to be saved (Ezek. 33:11; Rom. 8:31,32,38,39; I Tim. 2:4; II Pet. 3:9). And that is a whole, whole lot of love, because I KNOW that I want to be saved and be with the Lord and all the faithful forever. So I will continue to heed the admonitions of the apostle Peter, who told us; "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear..." [and] "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure..." [and] "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness (I Pet. 1:17; II Pet. 1:10; II Pet. 3:17). Amen and God bless.