Saturday, November 03, 2012
The Final Judgment
TEXT: REVELATION 16:1-12
Key verse: “And I heard the angels of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art and wast and shalt be, because thou hast, judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou given them blood to drink; for they are worthy” (Revelation 16:5,6).
Stanley Crissman was convicted for a minor hit-and-run infraction in 1965 after he drove over a mail box and kept on going. The judge sentenced him to one month in a minimum security prison. An overworked staffer mistakenly wrote - thirty years instead of thirty days in the official report” and Mr. Crissman was shipped off to serve his extraordinarily harsh punishment. It is mind-boggling but Mr. Crissman never bothered to question anyone about the length of time he was to serve. Compounding the problem was the fact that Crissman had no relatives to go and make enquiries for him!
This scenario could happen here on earth because of human imperfection. Judgment could be misplaced here or a mistake in record keeping could occur. This however is not the case with our all-knowing God. There will be commensurate judgment based on accurate facts before God. None will be sentenced wrongly. Our text today confirms that. In Rev 16:6, the angel said they were worthy of severe punishment, “for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy”.
The implication of this is that there will be no struggle in the hereafter. The wicked will go to hell on account of their evil works effortlessly. Those who took time to ask God for forgiveness of their sins will enter heaven by the merit of Christ.
The choice is simply yours. Eternal life and heaven is the portion of those who choose salvation and godliness, while eternal damnation awaits those who reject Christ and His salvation.
Thought for today: Decision Determines Destiny.
The Final Judgment
TEXT: REVELATION 16:1-12
Key verse: “And I heard the angels of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art and wast and shalt be, because thou hast, judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou given them blood to drink; for they are worthy” (Revelation 16:5,6).
Stanley Crissman was convicted for a minor hit-and-run infraction in 1965 after he drove over a mail box and kept on going. The judge sentenced him to one month in a minimum security prison. An overworked staffer mistakenly wrote - thirty years instead of thirty days in the official report” and Mr. Crissman was shipped off to serve his extraordinarily harsh punishment. It is mind-boggling but Mr. Crissman never bothered to question anyone about the length of time he was to serve. Compounding the problem was the fact that Crissman had no relatives to go and make enquiries for him!
This scenario could happen here on earth because of human imperfection. Judgment could be misplaced here or a mistake in record keeping could occur. This however is not the case with our all-knowing God. There will be commensurate judgment based on accurate facts before God. None will be sentenced wrongly. Our text today confirms that. In Rev 16:6, the angel said they were worthy of severe punishment, “for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy”.
The implication of this is that there will be no struggle in the hereafter. The wicked will go to hell on account of their evil works effortlessly. Those who took time to ask God for forgiveness of their sins will enter heaven by the merit of Christ.
The choice is simply yours. Eternal life and heaven is the portion of those who choose salvation and godliness, while eternal damnation awaits those who reject Christ and His salvation.
Thought for today: Decision Determines Destiny.