Participants:
Series Code: WHO
Program Code: WHO210033S
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00:28 Hello, and welcome to the 3ABN Worship Hour.
00:32 It's a privilege to be with you today, 00:35 to study God's Word with you. 00:37 And I encourage you to find the Bible somewhere, 00:41 maybe something to write with, so that you can follow along. 00:45 And this is gonna be a study 00:47 that may be shocking to some people 00:51 because they have believed something else. 00:55 Today, the title is "Universal Peace Restored." 00:59 In praying and looking for a title, 01:02 the title came to mind when Satan dies. 01:08 But after consideration, 01:11 the title is Universal Peace Restored. 01:15 Before we begin, 01:17 I like to invite you to pray with me. 01:19 I'm going to kneel. 01:20 And I ask you to pray for me 01:21 and for yourself and all the others 01:23 that will be joining us in this study. 01:25 Let us pray together. 01:28 Our loving Heavenly Father, 01:30 we come before You in Jesus' name. 01:33 We ask for Your blessing upon every person 01:36 that joins us to study the Holy Scriptures. 01:40 Heavenly Father, 01:42 without the aid of Your Holy Spirit, 01:43 we cannot understand the scriptures. 01:46 And so we pray for the blessing of Your Holy Spirit, 01:49 that we may understand the Holy Scriptures 01:53 that are able to make us wise unto salvation. 01:56 I place myself in Your hands 01:58 that every word may come from Your throne of grace. 02:02 And we ask for a blessing upon all 02:04 in the name of our loving Savior, 02:06 Jesus Christ. 02:08 Amen. Amen. 02:11 When you look into the Bible, 02:13 you will discover that the Bible details 02:16 that there's a great controversy 02:18 between good and evil. 02:20 When you look at Revelation Chapter 12, 02:22 you will notice that it says that 02:24 a war broke out in heaven 02:26 and that an angel and is causing the dragon 02:31 fought against Michael and his angels. 02:34 This is another name for the devil. 02:37 And, of course, 02:38 Lucifer was the original name of this angel 02:41 that was able to convince a third of the angels 02:44 to join him in rebellion against God's government. 02:49 You see, Satan wanted to be adored. 02:52 Satan wanted the throne of God. 02:54 Satan wanted everyone to follow him. 02:58 He had really nothing to offer 03:00 because God is love 03:02 and all that was for the happiness 03:05 of His creative beings God has supplied. 03:09 Satan could provide nothing better 03:13 than what God had already offered. 03:15 So he used deception and lies to lure people, 03:19 to lure the angels to his side, 03:23 deceived, they followed along. 03:25 And, of course, 03:27 as you continue reading the Bible, 03:28 when you go to Genesis Chapter 3, 03:31 you will notice 03:33 that Adam and Eve were also deceived. 03:36 And this is why 03:39 I want to bring to you, Romans 3:23. 03:45 The Bible tells us, 03:46 "For all have sinned and fall short 03:50 of the glory of God." 03:53 You see, every single person in this universe 03:58 and throughout the history of the world 04:01 has committed at least one sin. 04:04 But you see, God does not leave us there. 04:06 God offers mercy 04:08 just like He offered Adam and Eve mercy, 04:11 telling them that the seed of the woman 04:13 would come to crush the head of the serpent, the devil. 04:17 So there's hope in God's Word for each and every one of us. 04:21 Let's go to the Book of John 3:16. 04:26 The Bible tells us, 04:27 "For God so loved the world 04:30 that He gave His only begotten Son, 04:33 that whoever believes in Him should not perish, 04:37 but have everlasting life." 04:40 Praise the Lord. 04:42 Question: Who is it that receives everlasting life 04:45 according to this scripture? 04:47 Those that believe in God, 04:50 those that believe in Jesus Christ. 04:53 The others that do not believe, 04:55 they do not receive 04:57 the blessing of everlasting life, 04:59 what happens to them? 05:00 Remember, the scripture says 05:02 that whoever believes in Him will not perish. 05:05 This means that 05:06 those that do not believe will perish. 05:10 But you see, there are people 05:13 that for some reason have come to the conclusion, 05:16 or have been taught that 05:19 the wicked will be in hell 05:22 burning forever and ever and ever without end. 05:26 So what does the Bible really say about that? 05:28 I want to tell you right now 05:30 that I have more scriptures than time to share with you. 05:34 So if you would like a copy of additional scriptures 05:37 that bring out this truth, 05:39 that the wicked will be punished 05:41 and then will die. 05:43 You're welcome to write to us at mail@3abn.org, 05:48 mail@3abn.org. 05:50 One more time mail@abn.org. 05:53 But follow along, and you will see 05:55 that there's abundant evidence 05:58 to understand that the wicked will be punished 06:01 and then eventually die. 06:03 So we established here in John 3.16, 06:06 that those who believe will receive everlasting life. 06:10 Let's go to Matthew 25:41. 06:13 In Matthew 25:41, the Bible says, 06:17 "Then He will also say to those on the left, 06:21 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire 06:26 prepared for the devil and his angels.'" 06:30 When the devil and his angels 06:34 sinned and were thrown out of heaven, 06:37 God had already determined 06:39 that they would die in the lake of fire, 06:45 and they will die with everlasting fire. 06:47 Everlasting fire, wait a minute, 06:48 doesn't that mean that this fire lasts forever? 06:52 It's everlasting fire 06:54 because the devil and his angels, 06:56 no one can turn off the fire 06:58 until it has accomplished 07:00 the work that he has set out to do. 07:02 And we will see this clearly as we continue. 07:04 Let's go rapidly, quickly to Isaiah 32:17-18. 07:09 Notice, 07:11 "The work of righteousness will be peace, 07:15 and the effect of righteousness, 07:16 quietness, and assurance forever. 07:20 My people, God says, 07:23 will dwell in peaceful habitations, 07:26 in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." 07:31 This is the promise that God makes to His children. 07:35 God wants for you a peaceful habitation. 07:39 And a place that is secure, a quiet resting place. 07:43 In this world we have tribulation, 07:45 in this world we have trouble, 07:47 in this world we have suffering, 07:49 in this world we have sickness, 07:51 but God promises for us a sure resting place. 07:57 Please join me in Proverbs 11:21. 08:01 Proverbs 11:21. 08:03 The Bible says, 08:04 "Though they join forces, 08:07 the wicked will not go unpunished. 08:10 But the posterity of the righteous 08:13 will be delivered." 08:16 So the Bible makes it clear 08:18 that the wicked will not go unpunished. 08:22 And this is why 08:24 I encourage you to follow along in God's Word 08:28 so that you can see that 08:30 what the Bible says will come true. 08:34 Turning now to Luke Chapter 21, 08:37 we are going to read verses 25 through 27. 08:41 Notice what the Bible says, Luke 21:25-27, 08:46 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, 08:50 and in the stars, and on the earth 08:52 distress of nations, with perplexity, 08:55 the sea and the waves roaring, 08:58 men's hearts failing them for fear 09:00 and the expectation of those things 09:03 which are coming on the earth, 09:04 for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." 09:08 Notice verse 27, 09:09 "Then they will see 09:11 the Son of Man coming in a cloud 09:15 with power and great glory." 09:19 Praise the Lord. 09:20 So we see that this scripture begins 09:23 to tell us about the coming of Jesus Christ. 09:25 Now we're gonna talk rapidly 09:27 about what occurs after Jesus Christ returns. 09:32 In the book 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, 09:35 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, 09:37 the Bible tells us the following 09:39 beginning in verse 14, 09:40 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven 09:45 with a shout, with the voice of an archangel 09:48 and with the trumpet of God, 09:49 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 09:53 Then we who are alive and remain 09:56 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 10:00 to meet the Lord in the air. 10:03 And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. 10:08 Therefore comfort one another with these words." 10:11 I read 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. 10:16 So we have here that when Jesus returns, 10:22 the dead in Christ will rise first. 10:24 And those that are alive 10:25 that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 10:27 will rise up 10:28 and these two groups will meet the Lord in the air 10:32 and will be taken to heaven for 1000 years. 10:37 It doesn't say that in this passage, 10:38 but as you continue reading, 10:40 you will notice that 10:41 the righteous spend 1000 years reigning with Christ in heaven. 10:47 Let's go now to the Book 10:50 of 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 10:54 because there's a question that must be answered, 10:55 well, what happens to the wicked? 10:58 What happens to the wicked when Christ returns? 11:00 In 2 Thessalonians is one of those places 11:03 where the Bible tells us what happens to the wicked. 11:05 Notice. 11:07 And when the lawless one will be revealed, 11:10 whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth, 11:14 and destroy with the brightness of his coming. 11:17 So the lawless one, 11:18 along with the wicked are destroyed 11:21 by the brightness of the glory of Jesus Christ 11:24 because He is coming with His glory, 11:28 not veiled as He did come to this earth 11:32 when He chose to die for us. 11:35 So the wicked die 11:37 at the second coming of Jesus Christ. 11:39 Notice now 11:41 how Isaiah Chapter 13 describes to us 11:46 how the earth will be, 11:47 and then we will go to Revelation Chapter 20 11:50 and see a similar description. 11:53 Isaiah 13:9-12. 11:57 This is what the Bible says, 11:58 "Behold, the day of the Lord comes, 12:01 cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, 12:05 to lay the land desolate, 12:08 and he will destroy its sinners from it. 12:11 For the stars of heaven 12:13 and their constellations will not give their light, 12:16 the sun will be darkened in its going forth, 12:18 and the moon will not cause its light to shine." 12:23 And notice what the Bible says, 12:25 "I will punish the world for its evil, 12:28 and the wicked for their iniquity, 12:30 I will halt the arrogance of the proud, 12:34 and I will lay low the haughtiness 12:35 of the terrible." 12:37 But notice verse 12, 12:39 "I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, 12:43 a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir." 12:48 So in this scripture, 12:50 we notice that it talks about what happens to the wicked, 12:53 but also what happens to the righteous, 12:55 that the Lord will make them more precious than fine gold. 13:00 And I encourage you to be on the side of those 13:02 that follow Jesus, 13:04 on the side of those 13:05 that choose to be children of the Lord, 13:07 because God is going to transform you, 13:11 and you will be given the blessing 13:14 to be able to live forever, without pain or suffering. 13:19 But the Bible says, as we read, 13:21 that the Lord will punish the wicked. 13:26 Let's go now to Revelation Chapter 20 13:30 to see how this is also described 13:33 in Revelation 20:1-2, 13:36 quickly reading, 13:38 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, 13:41 having the key to the bottomless pit 13:43 and a great chain in his hand, he lay hold of the dragon, 13:48 that serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, 13:51 and bound him for 1000 years." 13:54 So we see here a description of this mighty angel 13:58 that is able to bind the devil. 14:03 And it's a chain of circumstances, 14:05 he cannot tempt anyone, 14:07 because everyone is dead at the second coming of Christ. 14:12 Notice how this place is described, 14:14 Revelation 20:3, 14:16 "And he cast them into the bottomless pit 14:18 and shut him up and set a seal on him 14:21 so that he should deceive the nations no more 14:24 till the 1000 years were finished. 14:27 But after these things, 14:28 he must be released for a little while." 14:33 So we see here that 14:34 Satan will be bound for 1000 years. 14:37 And you ask, 14:38 "Well, why is he being bound for 1000 years?" 14:41 All the wicked all over the world are dead. 14:45 And Satan and his angels are the only ones alive 14:49 and they are bound to this earth, 14:51 can't go anywhere 14:53 and for several 1000 years 14:56 busy with the activity of causing trouble, 14:59 causing pain, tempting people. 15:03 Now, there's no one to tempt. 15:06 Now, Satan and his angels have the opportunity 15:10 to consider the works of their hands, 15:13 the destruction and the suffering they have caused, 15:16 and to meditate upon what they have done 15:20 throughout the time 15:21 since sin entered into the world, 15:24 but you see, 15:26 1000 years makes no change in their attitude, 15:30 makes no change in their desire, 15:33 they continue to want to do evil. 15:36 And we will see this as we continue. 15:40 Let us then continue reading in Revelation 20:4-6. 15:46 Revelation 20:4-6. 15:49 Now the Bible tells us what happens. 15:52 "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, " 15:55 this is talking about the righteous, 15:57 "and judgment was committed to them. 15:59 Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded 16:02 for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, 16:05 who had not worshiped the beast or his image, " 16:07 these are the righteous, 16:09 "and had not received his mark on their foreheads 16:11 or on their hands. 16:13 And they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years." 16:17 Praise the Lord. 16:19 But notice how it talks about the wicked. 16:22 "But the rest of the dead did not live again 16:25 until the 1000 years were finished." 16:29 This is what happens to the wicked. 16:31 Now the end of verse 5 16:34 appears to really belong to verse 6. 16:38 Because it says this is the first resurrection. 16:41 Blessed and holy is he 16:43 who has part in the first resurrection. 16:46 On such the second death has no power, 16:51 but they shall be priests of God and of Christ 16:54 and shall reign with Him a 1000 years." 16:58 So you see, for a 1000 years, 17:01 God's children will be reigning, 17:03 looking over the books, questions will be answered. 17:07 Well, why isn't pastor so and so here? 17:10 Why isn't brother so and so here, 17:11 sister so and so, 17:13 she was such a wonderful person. 17:14 And they will be able to see the records of hidden sins 17:18 and the evil they had done. 17:19 They had never confessed and how they chose to be wicked 17:23 instead of following the Lord Jesus Christ. 17:25 All the questions will be answered. 17:28 And for 1000 years, 17:30 they enjoy the presence of God and the angels. 17:34 Now let's continue reading in Revelation 20:7-8, 17:38 "Now when the 1000 years have expired, 17:42 Satan will be released from his prison 17:46 and will go out to deceive the nations 17:49 which are in the four corners of the earth, 17:52 Gog and Magog, 17:53 to gather them together to battle 17:55 whose number is as the sand of the sea." 18:00 This is incredible. 18:01 The 1000 years does not make any change in the devil. 18:06 He continues to try to do evil, 18:08 he tries to gather all the wicked together 18:12 to try to overthrow God's government. 18:15 And unfortunately, 18:16 all those that chose to be wicked is, 18:19 as the sand of the sea. 18:22 And I hope that you choose not to be in that group. 18:27 But you choose to be in the group 18:29 that follows Jesus, 18:30 those that are part of the first resurrection, 18:32 those that go with Jesus to reign for a 1000 years, 18:36 and then returned to earth in the New Jerusalem, 18:39 to reign and live forever. 18:41 I hope you're in that group. 18:43 And if you are not in the hands 18:45 of the Lord Jesus Christ right now, 18:46 I encourage you to give your heart to the Lord, 18:49 so you can enjoy and be part of the universal peace 18:54 that God has prepared for His children. 18:58 Now, notice what they do. 19:01 We now move to Revelation 20:9, 19:06 "They went up on the breadth of the earth 19:08 and surrounded the camp of the saints 19:11 and the beloved city. 19:13 And fire came down from God out of heaven 19:16 and devoured them." 19:19 Wow! 19:20 What a scene this is. 19:22 Now the Bible shares that 19:24 they are devoured in this verse. 19:26 But then it seems to back up a little bit 19:29 and share with us 19:31 the process that occurred before. 19:33 Notice what happens. 19:35 Verse 10, 19:36 "Then the devil who deceived them 19:39 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone 19:53 where the beast and the false prophet are, 19:55 and they will be tormented day and night 19:58 forever and ever." 20:00 So there, the Bible tells us that 20:02 the devil who was the person who led out in tempting people, 20:08 the person who was the leader of the rebellion 20:14 specifies him for a reason. 20:17 And notice that it says, 20:18 "He is tormented day and night forever and never." 20:21 We will come back to that part. 20:23 Follow along as we see 20:25 how the devil will be destroyed and die. 20:31 Let's go to the scripture quickly. 20:33 Isaiah 14:12. 20:36 Isaiah 14:12-15, 20:40 we will read that first. 20:42 " How you are fallen from heaven, 20:44 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 20:47 How you are cut down to the ground, 20:49 you who weakened the nations! 20:51 For you have said in your heart: 20:53 'I will ascend into heaven, 20:55 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, 20:59 I will also sit on the mount of the congregation 21:03 on the farthest sides of the north." 21:05 That was his desire. 21:07 Notice how it continues, 21:08 "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 21:10 I will be like the Most High.' 21:13 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, 21:17 to the lowest depths of the Pit." 21:20 This is from the New King James Version. 21:22 In the King James Version, 21:24 it says you should be brought down to hell. 21:28 So this is a word used 21:31 interchangeably with hell, Sheol, 21:33 and this is actually a transliteration 21:39 of the Hebrew word. 21:42 Now, let's move to Isaiah 14:16. 21:46 Notice what happens to him. 21:48 "Those who see you will gaze at you, 21:50 and consider you, saying: 21:52 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, 21:55 who shook kingdoms, 21:57 who made the world as a wilderness 22:00 and destroyed its cities, 22:02 who did not open the house of his prisoners?' " 22:05 Yes, he is singled out. Yes, he is looked upon. 22:09 Now... 22:11 Where is he now? 22:12 What is happening to him? 22:14 He is a shock to all that behold him. 22:20 Let's move now to Ezekiel 28 22:22 to see the end of Satan and how he dies, 22:26 Ezekiel 28:14. 22:29 Ezekiel 28:14 beginning there. 22:32 "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, 22:35 I have set thee so, 22:37 thou wast upon the holy mountain of God, 22:40 thou hast walked up and down 22:41 in the midst of the stones of fire, 22:43 thou was perfect in thy ways, 22:46 from the day that thou wast created, 22:49 till iniquity was found in thee." 22:52 I'll stop there for a moment. 22:55 Because God created a perfect angel. 22:58 All the angels were perfect. 23:01 But God gave them the gift of freedom of choice, 23:04 just like you and I have the freedom of choice. 23:08 You can choose to follow God 23:09 and you can choose not to follow God. 23:11 Satan had the same choice, 23:13 but he chose to corrupt himself. 23:16 He chose to allow evil thoughts to come into his heart. 23:20 He chose to develop plans of wickedness, 23:23 and he rebelled against God's government. 23:25 Notice, verse 16, 23:28 "By the multitude of thy merchandise, 23:31 they have filled 23:32 the midst of thee with violence, 23:34 and thou has sinned. 23:36 Therefore will I cast thee out? 23:39 I cast thee as a profane out of the mountain of God 23:42 and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, 23:47 from the midst of the stones of fire." 23:50 This is the first time that you see 23:52 revealed in the scriptures that Satan will be destroyed, 23:57 is a clear statement 23:59 besides the one that already was presented in Genesis, 24:03 because in Genesis Chapter 3, 24:05 God told Adam and Eve, Genesis 3:15, 24:09 that your seed 24:11 that the seed of the woman will crush the serpent's head. 24:14 And so, this is a message for each and every one of us 24:19 to understand that Satan himself will die, 24:23 He will be destroyed. 24:24 Let's go to Ezekiel 28:17-18. 24:29 Notice, Thine heart was lifted up, 24:32 I'm reading from the King James Version now, 24:34 "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, 24:37 thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness, 24:42 it was his own choice to corrupt himself, 24:45 I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, 24:49 that they may behold thee. 24:52 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries 24:54 by the multitude of thine iniquities, 24:57 by the iniquity of thy traffic." 25:00 Notice what happens now very clearly, 25:02 and I will read it slow, 25:04 "Therefore will I bring forth 25:06 a fire from the midst of thee, 25:09 it shall devour thee, 25:12 and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth 25:16 in the sight of them that behold thee." 25:20 Wow! 25:22 This is a very revealing scripture, 25:24 Satan will be devoured, he will become ashes, 25:30 we read in Isaiah 20, 25:32 Ezekiel 28:18. 25:37 Let's go to Ezekiel 28:19, the following verse, 25:41 "All they that know thee 25:44 among the people shall be astonished at thee, 25:49 thou shalt be a terror 25:50 and never shalt thou be any more." 25:55 What? 25:56 Is this true? 25:58 Yes, it is true. 25:59 Satan will become ashes, Satan will be destroyed, 26:02 he shall be no more, he will die. 26:07 He will die because of his sins. 26:10 And we will read along in a little bit 26:12 how that will occur. 26:14 Satan will die for his sins. 26:19 Yes, my brothers and sisters, it is true. 26:21 This is what the Bible says, You see, 26:23 the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. 26:27 And it will be so forth Satan also. 26:31 And I want you to understand, please understand, 26:33 write this down, read it, study, pray. 26:36 Many people have turned away from the Lord 26:38 thinking that God is going to put the wicked in hell, 26:42 and they will be burning forever and ever 26:44 and ever without end. 26:46 But the Bible says clearly that Satan will die. 26:50 And if Satan dies, 26:52 that has committed more sins than anyone in the universe. 26:56 Why would anyone 26:58 that had lived a short 50 years, 60, 70, 80m 27:03 whatever age that is? 27:06 Why would they remain in hell 27:08 forever and ever and ever without end 27:10 when Satan who has committed more sins 27:13 and done more harm than anyone else die, 27:16 become ashes. 27:18 It does not make sense. 27:20 God is love. 27:22 And He is a just judge. 27:25 And no one will suffer more than they have to, 27:29 nor less than they have to. 27:31 And we're going to see that clear as we continue. 27:34 Let's go to Revelation Chapter 20. 27:36 Reading now in verse 11. 27:38 And we're going to read to verse 15, 27:39 Revelation 20, beginning in verse 11, 27:43 this is what the Bible says, 27:45 "Then I saw a great white throne, 27:48 and Him who sat on it, 27:50 from whose face 27:51 the earth and the heaven fled away. 27:53 And there was found no place for them. 27:57 And I saw the dead, 27:58 small and great standing before God, 28:01 and books were opened. 28:03 And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. 28:06 And the dead were judged according to their works, 28:10 by the things 28:11 which were written in the books. 28:14 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, 28:16 and Death and Hades 28:18 delivered up the dead who were in them. 28:21 And they were judged, 28:22 each one according to his works. 28:27 Then Death and Hades 28:28 were cast into the lake of fire. 28:31 This is the second death." 28:34 So we see here that 28:36 whoever is not found in the Book of Life 28:41 will be thrown into the lake of fire. 28:44 And the Bible says this is the second death. 28:47 What is death? 28:49 Death is the end of life. 28:52 And it says the second death because from this death, 28:55 there is no resurrection. 28:58 Let's read now in Revelation 20:15, 29:03 consider what I am saying for a moment. 29:05 You see, the Bible reveals that there is a first resurrection 29:11 and a second resurrection. 29:13 It talks about it here in Revelation 20. 29:15 The first resurrection is of the righteous, 29:18 those that love Jesus, 29:19 the second resurrection is of the wicked. 29:24 So you see, you can die once, or you can die twice. 29:30 You can die once, or you can die twice. 29:33 If you die loving the Lord Jesus Christ, 29:35 you can be resurrected and live eternally. 29:40 But if you are wicked, 29:41 you will come up in the second resurrection 29:44 and will have to then face the punishment for your sins. 29:48 Notice what it says in Revelation Chapter 20 29:53 beginning... 29:54 Revelation 20:15, 29:57 "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life 30:03 was cast into the lake of fire." 30:07 Anyone not found written in the Book of Life 30:11 was cast into the lake of fire. 30:13 At this juncture, 30:15 I want to talk to you 30:18 who do not have your name written in the Book of Life. 30:22 If you have not accepted Jesus Christ 30:24 as your personal Savior, 30:25 your name is not written in the Book of Life. 30:28 If you have not accepted Jesus Christ 30:30 and been baptized, 30:32 your name is not written in the Book of Life. 30:35 All those that can be baptized should be baptized. 30:39 Read John Chapter 3. 30:40 When Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, he says, 30:43 "You must be born again. 30:45 You must be born again of water and the spirit. 30:49 And if you are born again of water and the spirit, 30:53 your name is written in the Book of Life." 30:56 I encourage you 30:57 to search for the Lord with all your heart. 30:59 Give your heart to Jesus Christ, 31:01 so that your name can be written 31:03 in the Book of Life. 31:04 And if it is in the Book of Life, 31:06 you will live eternally in a universe 31:11 that where peace will be restored by God. 31:16 Let's look at 1 John 4:8. 31:21 1 John 4:8. 31:26 And before we read this, 31:28 this is the question that I have for you. 31:30 Are the wicked tormented day and night 31:33 forever and ever? 31:36 This is the question. 31:37 Are the wicked tormented day and night 31:39 forever and ever? 31:40 If the wicked are tormented day and night 31:42 forever and ever, 31:44 then the following scripture is not true. 31:49 But if the wicked are tormented day and night, 31:51 and then die, 31:54 then the following scripture that I will read is true. 31:58 Notice what it says in 1 John 4:8, 32:02 "He who does not love does not know God, 32:07 for God is love." 32:10 Praise the Lord. 32:12 So I ask you, can God be love, 32:16 and put sinners that lived only 30, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 100, 32:23 even 500 years, doing evil, 32:28 and then be tormented forever and ever without end, 32:32 eternally. 32:34 God would not be love. 32:35 Even human beings in this wicked world, 32:38 where somebody has killed two or three people, 32:41 five, ten whatever it is, they put him in jail. 32:44 And they say you have a life sentence, 32:46 this individual, 32:47 in jail after 15, 20 years in good behavior 32:52 are released into society. 32:55 Oh, you have shown that you have changed, 32:59 and we're gonna release you now into society 33:01 for your good behavior. 33:03 In fact, in the US, 33:05 the president of the US has the capacity 33:10 to write pardons for people, 33:13 and whatever crime they have committed 33:15 are pardoned, 33:16 and these people are released into society. 33:19 Can people that are wicked be more merciful than God? 33:24 I say to you, no. 33:25 If God is love, 33:27 then the wicked will eventually die. 33:32 You see, remember, John 3:16 says, 33:36 "For God so loved the world 33:38 that He gave His only begotten Son, 33:40 that whoever believes in Him will not perish, 33:44 but have everlasting life." 33:45 Only those who believe in Jesus Christ, 33:49 give their hearts to Him, have everlasting life, 33:51 those that do not believe will perish. 33:55 Only the righteous receive everlasting life. 33:59 Let's go to the scriptures. 34:00 And you'll see this to be true. 34:02 So what is it that happens to the wicked? 34:06 Now when they are in the lake of fire, 34:08 it says they are tormented day and night. 34:11 Is this true? 34:12 Yes, it is. 34:14 They are tormented day and night, 34:15 but eventually, they die. 34:17 Notice, 34:18 beginning in Luke Chapter 12, follow along, 34:22 beginning verse 45. 34:23 Luke 12:45-48, 34:26 " But if that servant says in his heart, 34:29 'My master is delaying his coming, ' 34:31 and begins to beat the male and female servants, 34:34 and to eat and drink and be drunk, 34:36 the master of that servant will come 34:39 on a day when he is not looking for him, 34:41 and at an hour when he is not aware, 34:43 and will cut him in two 34:45 and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." 34:50 Verse 47, 34:52 "And that servant who knew his master's will, 34:54 and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, 34:58 shall be beaten with many stripes. 35:02 But he who did not know, 35:04 yet committed things deserving of stripes, 35:06 shall be beaten with few. 35:09 For everyone to whom much is given, 35:11 from him much will be required, 35:14 and to whom much has been committed, of him 35:17 they will ask the more.'" 35:19 So these scriptures help us to understand that 35:23 those that knew to do right and did not do it, 35:26 those that do much evil will deserve many stripes. 35:31 In other words, they will be punished longer 35:34 and more severe than those that did less evil. 35:38 Notice in the Book of Exodus 21:23-25. 35:45 Notice, this is how God deals with people. 35:50 Exodus 21:23-25, 35:54 "But if any harm follows, 35:56 then you shall give life for life, 35:59 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, 36:03 foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, 36:06 stripe for stripe." 36:08 In other words, 36:09 God will deal with people 36:11 according to the evil they have done. 36:13 This is how God will deal with people, 36:16 an eye for an eye, 36:18 and a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, 36:21 and a foot for a foot. 36:22 Let's go quickly to Matthew Chapter 7. 36:25 Matthew 7:1-2, notice, 36:27 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. 36:31 For with what judgment you judge, 36:33 you will be judged 36:34 and with what measure you use, 36:37 it will be measured back to you." 36:40 So this scripture helps us to understand further, 36:44 that according to the way 36:45 you treat others, you will be treated. 36:49 So remember, 36:51 those that are worthy of few stripes 36:53 will receive few stripes. 36:54 In other words, they will suffer less. 36:56 Those that are worthy of many stripes 36:58 because they have done more evil 37:00 will have to suffer longer, 37:02 but eventually, they will die. 37:06 Let's go quickly to Psalm 37:9-10. 37:12 Psalm 37:9-10, 37:13 the Bible tells us the following. 37:17 "For evildoers shall be cut off, 37:20 but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." 37:24 Praise God, this is good news. 37:26 They that wait on the Lord, they that trust in the Lord, 37:29 they that follow the Lord will inherit the earth. 37:32 But I'm talking, 37:33 this is talking about the new earth 37:35 where there is no pain nor suffering 37:36 nor sickness nor death, nor diseases 37:39 because God will create all things new. 37:41 Notice Psalm 37:10, 37:45 "For yet a little while, 37:47 and the wicked shall be no more, indeed, 37:52 you will look carefully for his place, 37:54 but it shall be no more." 37:57 In other words, the wicked will cease to exist. 38:02 This is what the Bible teaches us, 38:06 that the wicked will cease to exist, 38:08 they will be consumed in the lake of fire, 38:11 they will turn to ashes just like the devil, 38:14 and they will cease to be. 38:17 You will look for him and you will not find him 38:19 because there will be nothing left. 38:21 Let's go to Matthew 10:14-15, 38:28 "And whoever will not receive you, 38:34 nor hear your words, 38:36 when you depart from their house or city, 38:38 shake off the dust from your feet. 38:40 Assuredly, I say to you, 38:42 it will be more tolerable 38:45 for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah 38:47 in the Day of Judgment than for that city." 38:51 Notice how this scripture talks about a class of people 38:55 that reject those that preach the gospel. 38:57 And the Bible declares, 38:59 Jesus says in verse 15, Matthew 10:15, 39:02 it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah 39:06 than for those people. 39:08 What do you mean more tolerable? 39:10 Yes, they are suffering in the lake of fire. 39:12 But these people in the lake of fire 39:15 because they rejected God's grace and mercy, 39:18 are suffering more, 39:20 it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, 39:22 the people of Sodom and Gomorrah 39:24 in the lake of fire than for these people. 39:26 So you see, there are degrees of suffering 39:28 that take place, even in the lake of fire. 39:31 Some burn longer than others, some suffer more than others. 39:36 Notice Hebrews 10:29. 39:39 Hebrews 10:29, this is what the Bible says, 39:44 "Of how much worse punishment 39:47 do you suppose will be thought worthy 39:50 who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, 39:53 counted the blood of the covenant 39:55 by which he was sanctified a common thing, 39:59 and insulted the Spirit of grace." 40:02 So you see here, 40:04 it talks about worse punishment, 40:06 in the King James it says, sourer punishment. 40:09 So I say to you, 40:11 the Bible has abundant evidence 40:13 to show us that the wicked will be punished. 40:16 Some will suffer less than others 40:18 because they have done less, and consider the following. 40:21 Let us say that Cain killed Abel, 40:23 only killed one person. 40:26 But then you have other people. 40:28 I'm sure it can come to your mind, 40:31 people that have killed many people, like Hitler, 40:36 who knows how many hundreds, 40:37 perhaps thousands of people he has killed? 40:40 Would it be right? 40:41 Would God be love? 40:43 Would God be fair 40:44 and just to put Cain in the lake of fire? 40:47 And Cain killing one person burns forever and ever 40:51 and Hitler that did worse, 40:53 killing hundreds and thousands 40:55 burns forever and ever, the same as Cain. 40:58 It does not seem right. It does not seem fair. 41:02 And you see God is fair and just and good. 41:05 No one will suffer more than they have to, 41:08 more than they should because of their sins, 41:11 nor less than they should because of their sins. 41:16 Now I remember talking to someone 41:18 that called 3ABN one time. 41:21 And we were talking to him 41:23 about what happens if you don't repent? 41:27 And there's that scripture says, 41:28 the wages of sin is death. 41:29 Yes, it is. 41:32 But you see, there's also punishing, 41:33 punishing that takes place in the lake of fire. 41:36 And this person said, 41:37 "Well, if I choose not to follow the Lord, 41:40 it will be okay. 41:41 All that will happen to me is I will die in the lake of fire. 41:43 Oh, no. 41:45 I said to him, 41:46 "You will be punished in the lake of fire 41:47 if you do not repent. 41:49 You will suffer for a while and then you will die." 41:53 I began to share scriptures 41:55 and his eyes were opened to the reality 41:57 that the evildoers will be punished. 42:01 Let's move quickly to Romans 6:23, 42:05 we already quoted it. 42:06 "For the wages of sin is death, 42:09 but the gift of God is eternal life 42:12 in Christ Jesus, our Lord." 42:14 There it is. 42:16 You have two options. What will you choose? 42:18 The wages of sin is death, 42:23 but the gift of God is eternal life. 42:25 What will you choose? 42:26 In what course are you following? 42:28 Are you following the course, for the wages of sin? 42:31 Are you following the course, 42:33 the path of the gift of God 42:36 to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ? 42:40 If you are following the path of the wages of sin, 42:43 turn from that path, turn around, 42:46 repent and follow Jesus, 42:48 and God doesn't want you to perish. 42:51 That's why He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, 42:54 who already died for your sins, so that you can be saved. 42:59 The gift of God is eternal life. 43:01 It's a gift, you cannot buy it. 43:03 You cannot work to earn it. 43:06 You cannot work and work and work and do good deeds, 43:09 to have a right to receive it. 43:10 It is a gift of God 43:15 freely offered to you. 43:16 Now, some people may say, 43:18 "Wait a minute. 43:20 Doesn't the Bible say that the soul is eternal?" 43:25 No, it does not. 43:27 The Bible does not say anywhere in the scriptures 43:29 that the soul is eternal. 43:31 It doesn't say that anywhere. 43:34 Yet people say this. 43:36 I've heard preachers say this, but it's not in the Bible. 43:40 Notice what the Bible says 43:42 in Matthew 10:28, Jesus speaking. 43:47 Matthew 10:28, 43:49 "And do not fear those who kill the body 43:53 but cannot kill the soul, 43:55 but rather fear Him 43:57 who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 44:04 So what does the Bible say? 44:06 The soul, the body and the soul can be destroyed in hell 44:12 and we should fear Him who can do that. 44:17 So does the Bible teach that the soul can die? 44:21 Yes, it does. 44:22 There are other scriptures. 44:24 Let's go to Ezekiel Chapter 18. 44:26 Ezekiel Chapter 18. 44:29 In Ezekiel Chapter 18, we have another revealing scripture. 44:32 You can also read this in Ezekiel 18:4, 44:36 we are just going to read Ezekiel 18:20, 44:40 because it says the same thing, and it has... 44:43 It's clearer here 44:45 because it has other things that I want to share as well. 44:47 But you can read Ezekiel 18:4. 44:50 This is Ezekiel 18:20, 44:52 "The soul who sins shall die." 44:55 How clearer than this can it become? 44:58 "The soul who sins shall die. 45:00 The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, 45:03 nor the father bear the guilt of the son. 45:06 The righteousness of the righteous 45:08 shall be upon him, 45:09 and the wickedness of the wicked 45:11 shall be upon himself." 45:14 Good news and bad news. 45:17 It says here, 45:18 that the soul who sins shall die. 45:21 The soul is not eternal, the soul can die. 45:25 And so notice how it says 45:27 that you are not going to suffer 45:29 for the wickedness of your son. 45:32 It says, the son will not bear the guilt of the father, 45:35 nor the father the guilt of the son. 45:37 You will be responsible for your own sins. 45:39 You will have to suffer for your own sins 45:41 unless you repent. 45:44 And I urge you, repent now, why delay. 45:49 The sooner you give your heart to the Lord, 45:51 the quicker you began to experience the blessings 45:55 that God has in store for you. 45:57 Give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. 46:00 This is the message of the Lord Jesus 46:01 for you today. 46:04 Give your heart to the Lord Jesus today. 46:06 Let's move quickly. 46:08 In Ezekiel 18:21, the Bible says, 46:12 "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins, 46:16 which he has committed, 46:17 keeps all my statutes 46:20 and does what is lawful and right, 46:22 he shall surely live, he shall not die." 46:25 Good news. Praise the Lord. 46:28 So you, if you are wicked, 46:31 you can turn from your wickedness 46:33 and follow Jesus Christ 46:35 and do what is lawful and right, 46:37 you will live eternally through Jesus Christ. 46:41 You see, we have to understand 46:44 that there's nothing in the human being 46:47 that is immortal, 46:49 only God has immortality. 46:51 Let's go quickly to 1 Timothy Chapter 6. 46:54 1 Timothy Chapter 6, reading verses 14 through 16. 46:58 This is what the Bible says, 47:00 "That you keep this commandment without spot, 47:03 blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ appearing, 47:07 which He will manifest in His own time. 47:10 He who is the blessing and lone only Potentate, 47:14 the King of kings and Lord of lords, 47:17 who alone has immortality, 47:22 dwelling in unapproachable light, 47:24 whom no man has seen, or can see, 47:27 to whom be honor and everlasting power. 47:30 Amen. Amen." 47:32 Only God has immortality. 47:35 But you and I will have the privilege 47:39 to put on immortality. 47:41 This is made very clear in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. 47:46 In 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 47:49 the Bible gives us a clear message 47:52 about you and I and our limitations. 47:56 Let's go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 47:58 we're going to read verses 52 and verse 53. 48:04 "In a moment, 48:05 in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, 48:08 for the trumpet will sound, 48:10 and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 48:14 and we shall all be changed, " 48:17 talking about the righteous, 48:18 he is talking to the people of the Lord. 48:20 And this is why it says that we shall be changed. 48:23 And it says, this corruptible, notice in verse 54, 48:29 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption. 48:33 We don't have it now. We will put that on. 48:35 Notice how it says, 48:36 and this mortal must put on immortality. 48:40 You do not have immortality, 48:42 it will be given to you at the last trumpet. 48:44 Read 1 Corinthians 15:52-57. 48:49 You do not have immortality, 48:50 God will give it to you later 48:52 when Jesus comes at the last trumpet, 48:55 for the trumpet will sound. 48:57 Let's go back to Revelation Chapter 20. 49:01 Revelation Chapter 20 and let's go back, 49:03 let's go quickly to this aspect of forever and ever. 49:07 Revelation 20:10, 49:09 "The devil who deceived them 49:11 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone 49:13 where the beast and the false prophet are, 49:15 and they will be tormented day and night 49:18 forever and ever." 49:20 Why does it say day and night, 49:22 it says day and night 49:23 because it's trying to make it plain 49:26 that it will not be, 49:28 there will be no interruption in their suffering 49:31 until the fire has accomplished the work 49:34 that is supposed to do. 49:36 You're supposed to suffer for your sins. 49:38 If you have not repented, 49:39 you will suffer for your sins without interruption 49:41 and then you will die. 49:44 Now it says forever and ever. 49:47 You have to understand about this forever and ever. 49:49 This is the Greek word eis aionas. 49:54 And this is a compound expression 49:57 that is in the New Testament. 49:59 And the usage of these words eis aionas 50:03 that is translated forever and ever 50:04 in Revelation 20:10, 50:06 depends on the material or object under discussion. 50:11 Remember, we said 50:13 that this mortal must put on immortality. 50:15 The wicked do not put on immortality, 50:18 only the righteous. 50:19 So these people don't have immortality, 50:23 they will die in the lake of fire. 50:26 So, eis aionas forever and ever translated here in verse 20, 50:31 has the connotation 50:35 that it will occur until it has accomplished the work. 50:40 When it is used these phrases is speaking of God, 50:43 it means forever and ever. 50:45 Why? 50:46 Because God is immortal as we already read. 50:49 But everything else such as animals, material, 50:52 people are limited to a temporal existence, 50:55 we are mortal. 50:57 This is why when you look into the Greek, 50:58 you will find as you research 51:00 that eon can mean a period of time 51:04 for things that are created. 51:06 But when it refers to God, His kingdom, 51:08 or the saints that will receive immortality, 51:12 it can mean a moment of time, a period of time. 51:18 There are multitudes of scriptures 51:20 and we have shared some 51:21 that speak of the wicked and evildoers 51:23 paying for their sins and then death 51:26 they turn to ashes. 51:29 Remember, the wages of sin is death. 51:32 So this word eis aionas, 51:37 aionas means for a specified period of time 51:42 and it depends 51:43 on the amount of wickedness they have done. 51:46 Let's go quickly. 51:47 Moving on to Philemon 1:15. 51:51 Philemon 1:15, 51:53 "For perhaps he departed for a while, " 51:55 he's speaking of Onesimus, 51:57 "for has he departed for a while for this purpose 51:59 that you might receive him forever." 52:03 Wait a minute, Philemon, you're talking about Paul, 52:07 you're talking about Onesimus, 52:08 and he will be received forever. 52:11 This obviously means 52:12 until he ceases to exist, 52:15 until he dies. 52:16 This is the word used here enos 52:20 that is an expression related to eon, 52:24 which means for a period of time, 52:26 until the age of ages, 52:29 it means it is translated as well. 52:32 In Matthew 25:46, notice what it says, 52:37 because this is a scripture in the minds of some people. 52:41 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, 52:45 but the righteous into eternal life." 52:48 Wait a minute, what does it say here? 52:50 The righteous go into eternal life. 52:52 So these people that go into everlasting punishment 52:55 cannot have eternal life. 52:57 They have a limited time of life 53:00 because they are mortal. 53:01 So what does it mean? 53:03 Why does he say everlasting punishment? 53:04 Notice that it says everlasting punishment 53:07 because the results are everlasting. 53:09 The fire will accomplish the work 53:11 and the results are everlasting. 53:12 It says everlasting punishment, not everlasting punishing. 53:18 I want to encourage you now to listen to a beautiful hymn 53:22 by Brother Tim Parton. 53:24 Considering the things we have studied, 53:26 Brother Tim, please. 53:40 I believe in the Son 53:46 I believe in the risen One 53:52 I believe, I overcome 53:56 By the power of His blood 54:01 I was dead in the grave 54:07 I was covered in sin And shame 54:13 I heard mercy, call my name 54:19 Jesus rolled the stone away 54:26 Amen, 54:29 Amen 54:32 I'm alive, I'm alive 54:36 Because He lives 54:40 Amen, 54:43 Amen 54:46 Let my song join the one 54:50 That never ends 54:56 Because He lives 54:58 I can face tomorrow 55:02 Because He lives 55:05 Every fear is gone 55:09 I know He holds my life 55:14 My future in His hands 55:21 Amen, 55:25 Amen 55:28 I'm alive, I'm alive 55:32 Because He lives 55:36 Amen, 55:39 Amen 55:42 Let my song join the one 55:45 That never ends 55:51 Because He lives 55:58 Amen 56:07 Amen and amen. 56:09 Praise the Lord. 56:12 Consider this for a moment, 56:14 the righteous are living, 56:17 enjoying heaven, enjoying in the New Earth. 56:21 And if it was true 56:22 that God is punishing people in a burning hell 56:24 forever and ever, 56:25 wouldn't a mother, a father, a son or a daughter say, 56:30 "Lord, please, it is enough. 56:32 Have mercy upon them, put them out of their misery, 56:35 and let them die." 56:37 But you see, what the Bible says is true. 56:41 The wages of sin is death. 56:44 How many fathers, mothers, sons, or daughters 56:48 would gladly say, 56:49 Lord, please, they have suffered enough. 56:51 Let me take their place. 56:55 You see, God is love, 56:58 and in mercy He will punish the wicked, 57:01 but then they will die. 57:04 God so loved the world 57:06 that He gave His only begotten Son. 57:08 If you believe in Him, you will not perish, 57:10 but have everlasting life. 57:12 God bless you. |
Revised 2021-01-27