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TRIUMPH OVER SIN
We need to realize that evil is not eternal. It did not exist in eternity
past however it is everlasting. It will exist into eternity future. It
is important to know that the evil in the future, exists only in the lake
of fire. Once Christ finishes the judgments, all evil will be isolated
with the Devil and his, in the Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:10, Rev. 20:14)
All evil will be eradicated from God's domain, one way or another as
the eternal state is instituted!
Will all evil be confined in the Lake of fire? This is a philosophical
question. The evil will be confined, that is the people and fallen angels
however one might ponder whether they will be able to do further evil in
their confines. I suspect, that outward acts of evil will be missing. Hell
has the idea of silence and binding. This would make all but mental evil
impossible. If the torment is as bad as I suspect it will be, then it is
probable that they will not think of evil, but of their pain and torment.
Indeed, Luke 16:19 ff indicates that the lost have very good thoughts.
The rich man was concerned with his brothers. It may be as they bow before
the Lord in submission that the priority straightening will be permanent.
Reason would require that a righteous God would put a limit to the progression
and lasting of evil. He must stop it at some point in time. Indeed, the
lake of fire and all it means may well be His method of putting a final
stop to all evil. He binds it forever.
A brief overview of the resurrections would be good at this point. The
Lord took the Old Testament saints out of Abraham's bosom when He ascended
to heaven. The New Testament saints will be taken at the Rapture. The Old
Testament saints are resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium. Where
they are at present is not clear. The thought of "present with the Lord"
is clear in Scripture however they are not in Sheol. The thought seems
to be that they are raised in the end time, so there may be a place for
them in the earth in some manner. My personal opinion would place them
with the New Testament saints, in the Lord's presence. The lost of all
ages will be raised at the end of the Millennial kingdom for the Great
White Throne judgment. The saved will spend eternity with Christ, and the
lost will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the Devil.
The raising of Lazarus was not a resurrection as such, for he had to
go through death twice. The final resurrections are for all eternity.
1. Christ's own resurrection was the first resurrection unto eternal
everlasting life. He is the example of our own coming resurrection.
2. The resurrection of the saints at the rapture for the joining in
the air.
3. The resurrection of the righteous Jews at the end of the tribulation
and the beginning of the millennium. They will be a part of the fulfillment
of all the promises of the Old Testament.
4. The resurrection of the lost. Rev. 20:12-13, "And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another
book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out
of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hades delivered
up the dead that were in them...."
Some feel that it is possible for some righteous from the Millennium
to be raised at this judgment. They were killed in the Millennium. Whether
any righteous die in the Millennium is the question. If there are, then
those believers will be raised either in a separate resurrection, or at
the raising of the dead. I question there being a resurrection that we
aren't told of however.
Some suggest that Jn. 5:25-29 speaks of one general resurrection for
all the dead. It is not viewing number, but the fact of all being raised.
Other scriptures show that there are more than one resurrection.
The final enemy is death. I Cor. 15:26, "The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death." How can a believer use that verse in his own life,
or in the life of others?
This may relate to the fact that believers may not die in a bed of roses.
You may find some that hang onto life tenaciously and struggle to continue
living right up to the last moment, and with their dieing breath desire
to live. Others may die with a smile on their face, looking forward to
seeing the Lord.
Death is an enemy. It need not be for the believer. If the believer
finds his purpose in Christ then he may well go to see Him very peacefully.
On the other hand if a person has not found that peace, and if a person
has much to do for his Lord, there may be a real dread of dieing. I've
on the other hand seen people that were probably lost, die in relative
peace.
Death is an enemy and we need to realize it and not condemn believers,
if they don't have the peace at death that we think that they should.
What is the purpose of the end times, the resurrections and the whole
end times agenda? I Cor. 15:28, "And when all things shall be subdued unto
him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all." It is to give God the preeminence
in all things!
Chafer mentions four dwelling places to be found in Rev. 20:11 through
22:7. The new heaven, The new Jerusalem or heavenly city, The new earth,
The place known as "without". He goes into some detail concerning these
three abodes of the believer. A good study is to be found in each of the
four.
He mentions that there seems to be a freedom to travel from one to the
other in the first three, however those dwelling without, are limited to
that sphere of dwelling. In your spare time you might like to dwell on
the following text and let me know what you find. I have not studied it
as yet, but it has some very interesting possibilities for truth which
I have never heard before (Isa 66:22-24).
The new city is evidently that city which Abraham looked for in Heb.
11:10,16. Thus we must assume that Israel is involved in this city. It
is called the bride and the lamb's wife so the church will be involved
in it as well.
There is a discussion about whether this city is ever placed upon the
earth, or whether it may be a satellite city. In other words does it hover
over the surface of the earth. Since it is never mentioned that it is placed
upon the earth it is quite possible that it is hovering, or more exactly
"PLACED" above the surface of the earth. It really makes little difference
that I can see, other than we want to be as Scriptural as possible.
On the other hand the earth was promised to Israel not the church. It
is possible that the city is basically for the church and the earth is
basically for Israel. Why, I don't have the foggiest. The problem with
this is that Israel's tribes are upon the gates of the city.
I'm not sure there would be a distinction since eternity is prepared
for all of us. I would assume that the city is the dwelling place that
Christ went to prepare for us. I would not be hurt if my next door neighbor
was a Jew. I rather suspect that the city is for dwelling and the earth
is for enjoying, but that is doctrine of Derickson.
The lighting system will be of the latest possible design, or should
I say of the oldest possible design. It is the Glory of the Lord. "And
the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for
the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the lamp of it." Rev 21:23
Indeed, the glories of the new state will be quite extreme. "For, behold,
I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered,
nor come into mind." (Isa 65:17) That's something to think about! We won't
remember the ocean beaches, the mountains, the bluffs of Wyoming, the glories
of Montana, The hills of South Dakota, nor the desolateness of Nebraska!
(I was born and raised in Nebraska so I can say that. It isn't altogether
true, anyway.)
We see in Rev 21:1-4 that God is dwelling with man and that there will
be no more tears, death, sorrow, crying, pain or former things. This is
not to say that before God eliminates those things that He won't confront
believers with things that will draw much pain and sorrow, things from
their lives that were remiss in their serving Him completely. I would relate
this to unconfessed sin. We will not be held accountable, yet we may well
be shown what we could have done for God had we followed Him in all that
He desired.
Rom. 11:33, 36 state, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways
past finding out!"
"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen."
AMEN! What a fitting end to our study of our sin as man.
Possibly a contrast would make things even more pointed.
THE TRIUMPH OF GOD OVER SIN AND EVIL
THE PLUS SIDE OF TRIUMPH THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF TRIUMPH THE HEAVENS RESTORED SATAN IN LAKE OF FIRE THE EARTH RESTORED DEATH IN LAKE OF FIRE CHRIST SEATED WITH GOD THE LOST IN LAKE OF FIRE NATURE AT REST THE FALLEN ANGELS IN TORMENT THE RIGHTEOUS WITH GOD THE FALSE PROPHET IN TORMENT NEW JERUSALEM IN PLACE THE BEAST IN TORMENT NO EVIL, CRYING OR PAIN ETERNAL TORMENT ETERNAL JOY NO PEACE ETERNAL PEACE NO HOPE