antichrists trying to convince people that “There are many ways to Heaven.” And how about, “There is really no hell.” And, of course, “God wouldn’t send anyone to hell forever.” Don’t forget Satan’s most successful line ever, “Did God Really Say?” (ESV – all emphasis mine)
There are some prosperity preachers that have a rather large following, even though they are twisting the true word of God to fit their personal agendas. Their goal is to keep the money rolling in to support their lifestyles. I really hope that they enjoy their mega-bucks here, as Revelation 22:18-19 is specific about adding to or taking away from the word of God. Ear-tickling messages and heart-thumping music that are unbiblical will be worthless at their final judgment.
As for no hell, Matthew 25:41 says, “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.” Then Revelation 19:20, “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet, who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped its image. Those two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” These two are the first actual occupants of the eternal hell.
Next, one thousand years later, we read in Revelation 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.”
Next, Revelation 20:11-15 is the ultimate final judgment for all who were out of God’s will prior to Calvary, and all who did not receive and accept Jesus as their Savior from Calvary to the end of His Millennial Reign. This will include the people who believe they are “good” and Heaven is owed to them.
“Then I saw a great white throne, and Him who was seated on it. From His presence, earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 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. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it; 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. Then death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
For a follow-up, all who received and accepted Jesus as their Savior will not have anything to do with the above judgments. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:8-10, “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at Home with the Lord. So, whether we are at Home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
The Judgment Seat is not a judgment of condemnation. Yes, we will answer for all we have done, good or bad, and will receive or lose “rewards” for our actions. Romans 8:1 is very specific with, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is for everyone who called out to be saved while they still had breath in their bodies here.
For the “many ways” people, first there’s John 14:6, where Jesus Himself said, “…I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Then in Acts 4:12, Peter boldly declared to the religious leaders, “And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.”
To be part of Jesus’ precious flock is to have assurance of eternal life and to know His hands will hold us securely. John 10:28; “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” He continues in verses 29-30; “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.”
Carroll Roberson is an evangelist and gospel singer in Ripley, Mississippi, who has written many gospel songs. In 2014, he released “One Pair of Hands,” and it happens to be a favorite of mine. By the way, there are those who try to give Elvis Presley credit for recording this song, but they are wrong. He died in 1977, and this song had not even been written then. Please read the wonderful sermon contained in this great Hymn.
1.) One pair of hands formed the mountains; one pair of hands formed the sea; one pair of hands made the sun and the moon, every bird, every flower, every tree. One pair of hands formed the valleys, the ocean, the rivers and the sand.
(ref) Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong, put your faith in the One Pair of Hands.
(2) One pair of hands healed the sick; one pair of hands raised the dead; one pair of hands calmed the raging storm, and thousands of people were fed. One pair of hands said, “I Love You,” and those hands were nailed to a tree.
(ref) Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong, put your faith into one pair of hands. Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong, put your faith into one pair of hands. One Pair of Hands.
Even though Jesus is called the “Son of God” and He came to this earth as a human about 2,000 years ago, He is still fully God. As a fully-human being, He allowed Himself to be our perfect sacrifice to cover our sins if we will have faith and believe in Him, confess that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and call out to Him to forgive us and give us an eternal Home with Him when our time has come (Romans 10:9-13). Jesus was not forced to be our Savior but did so willingly, as told in John 10:18.
John 1:1-3; “In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
Jesus is one-third of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As with God, He has always existed and will exist forever. The Father loves us so much (John 3:16) that He allowed a very special part of Himself to go through an agonizing death so that we would have a pure pathway to Him. That’s why Romans 10:13 plainly states, “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
When the white throne judgment description was given (see 6th paragraph above), is it any wonder that the Father will not accept anyone who would reject His Son and the wonderful gift that is offered? Satan is a master of deceit, and altogether too many people today will follow his lies. They have the same choice to receive and accept Jesus as everyone else does, but the lure of this earth’s so-called pleasures is sometimes too strong for them to resist.
No matter what anyone has done in their past, if they will repent and ask Jesus to forgive them and be their Savior, He will do so. Once a person takes their last breath here, their eternity is set. It will be Heaven or Hell, and no other option is available. And both are for all eternity.
Choose today whom you will serve. As Joshua said in chapter 24, verse 15, “But I and my family will worship the Lord” (paraphrased). We don’t have the promise of another day here, but whatever we choose will be accepted by the Father. In 2 Peter 3:9, we’re told He doesn’t want anyone to fail, but that all would repent and accept His son. He doesn’t set traps for us to fall into and be lost forever.
Be on the positive side – say, “Yes, My Jesus; make me a part of your precious flock, and put your protective hands around me. Amen!
Maranatha!