Know your Ally: What Is Our Fate?

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 2 views
Notes
Transcript

Introduction

​
Good morning.
What does the Bible have to say about the fate of humanity?
I suppose if you were to ask most people about what Christians believe happens when we die, you would get an answer akin to this:
You wake up on the clouds high up in the sky.
You look forward and see an angel of sorts, like a man clothed in a white robe sitting at a podium in front of a massive golden gate.
So you walk up to this angel and he opens a book and asks for your name.
So you tell him your name and he goes and finds your life story in this book.
And he tells you all the good things you've done, and all the bad things you've done
Until he ultimately makes a decision.
He either opens the golden gates for you, where everyone is wearing white robes and its all bright and fluffy.
Babies are bouncing on clouds and you see God and just start worshiping Him like we would in worship service all day, every day, for eternity.
Or, he pulls the lever that activates the trap door beneath you and you fall down to hell.
Where Satan with his horned head, red skin, and pointed tail sits as king and you will be tortured by demons in all sorts of different ways for all eternity.
And there you have it, the Christian view of the afterlife.
Unfortunately, Its not just secular people who think we believe this.
Its also what a lot of Christians legitimately believe.
And its not even remotely close to what the Bible teaches.
A lot of the Ideas Christians hold today when it comes to the afterlife, or even the spiritual world in general, are not derived from scripture at all.
But are really recycled components of old religious fiction (Such as Milton's’ Paradise Lost, or Dante's Divine Comedy)
Other parts are leftover images from pagan beliefs. Like the Greek realm of the dead, ruled by Hades.
This didn't happen by some nefarious attempt to distort Christian doctrine.
Quite simply, Christians would explain concepts in scripture to others by using terms and imagery that were familiar to them.
For example, our English word “Hell” is derived from the ancient Norse goddess Hel who was Loki’s daughter, and ruled over the evil dead in Niflheim.
So medieval Christians, who were probably originally Greek and had the Jewish concept of Sheol explained to them by associating it with Hades, did the same thing with the Norsemen and linked Hades to Hel.
Its the same reason that the Image of God the Father in most artwork looks a lot like the Greek god Zeus.
The reason we have a problem now, is that people took those similar images and thoughts, and didn't really think to discuss the differences between them and what the Bible actually teaches.
Which results in years of explaining something one way because that's how it was explained to you, until you actually really look at the text.
And realize that those images are similar, but not the same.
What I want to do with you this morning, is walk you through what the Biblical text has to say about Judgement, and the Afterlife.
I think a lot of people will probably be surprised by some of the details and descriptors that we find in scripture pertaining to these things.
You'll see bits and pieces of where we got this odd child like perception, while seeing the full extent of the passage.
There are amazing things that should be taken very literally, mixed in with beautiful poetic metaphor.
The scale is grand, the events epic, and the promise is great.
Now, I do need to specify something.
As you may notice, I have not died yet.
I have not witnessed or observed these things with my own two eyes.
All I have to go on, and all I will go on, is what the Biblical text says.
Which means, there are some things that I may see as literal, that others would see as metaphorical.
And vice-versa.
You may disagree with the way that I understand some of these passages, and ideas.
And that is OK!
This isn't a salvific issue.
We are not saved or damned based on our understanding of the afterlife.
This topic should not breed anger or resentment within the unified church.
There are hills to die on, like the deity of Christ, the sacrifice on the cross, the Resurrection, and that we are saved by grace through faith.
Those are central, core issues of the faith.
But how you understand the afterlife is not one of those hills.
This is something that we should talk about with each other in compassion, and love, and a true desire to learn and understand scripture better.
You may not agree with everything, but maybe there are a few things that another view has better thought through than your own. Its worth learning.
If for no other reason than to know our God and His Word better.
Lets Begin!
​

The Judgement

​
We are going to cover that last few chapters of Revelation today.
From the end of Revelation 20 all the way through Revelation 22. The conclusion of the book.
I want you to Imagine, there has just been a massive worldwide battle.
The Earth, as we know it, barely seems habitable.
Pollution has reached its highest extant.
Centuries of war has lead to most of the Earth being highly radioactive.
The ocean itself is discolored because of the amount of oil poured into it.
There has been natural disaster after natural disaster.
Plague has run rampant, and famine is the norm.
Over the past few years the human population has dropped to less than one third of what it was.
And the majority of that remaining population was following a monstrous tyrant, who cursed the name of Jesus and demanded that worship and sacrifice be made to him.
This tyrant learned that there was still, a small remnant of Christians who refused to worship him.
So he gathered his armies to eradicate all opposition, when suddenly the heavens opened up and a massive army poured out, raining fire and brimstone down upon them.
The leader of this heavenly army has eyes of fire, with many crowns on His head. His very breath is like a sword, and his robes are dipped… splattered in blood.
And...
​

11 Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.

12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds.

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.

​
This is very different from an angel at a podium in the clouds with a book, a lever, and a gate.
So, Lets look at the obvious first.
There is a literal large white throne, with God sitting upon it.
Many books are opened up, one of which being “The Book of Life”.
Then we get this fascinating language about the abyss, Death and Hades giving up the dead inside them.
These are all words attributed to the Jewish idea of Sheol.
Sheol is what we would typically think of as “Hell”.
In Jewish thought, Sheol was a holding place for the dead.
It was seen as being underground, beneath the depths of the Sea. In the Abyss.
It wasn't a pleasant place. But its where, in Jewish thought, everyone who died went.
You can think of Psalm 16 with David crying out, “You will not abandon me in Sheol”.
All of the dead went to Sheol, but Sheol was not their permanent location.
Sheol had 2 compartments. A place for torment, where the wicked dead went, and “Abrahams Bosom” which is where the righteous dead went.
Abrahams Bosom was not heaven by any means, but it wasn't a place of torment either.
You can start to see why Gentiles who came to the faith, but weren't raised with a Jewish background, came to the Catholic idea of Purgatory.
The New Testament actually gives us a picture as to what this looks like with the story of Lazarus and the rich man. In Luke chapter 16.
Both men die, they are separated by a Chasm, Lazarus goes to be at Abrahams side, and the rich man is sent to a place of torment. But both are in Sheol.
Now, you may be thinking “wait a minute, I thought that as believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord?”
Jesus told the thief on the cross, that they would be together in paradise that very same day!
That is a very literal statement.
So what do we make of this?
Ever notice all the liberation language in the Gospels? In the Prophets?
Jesus came to set the captives free, and He did it in every sense of the word.
That day at cavalry, every individual that was faithful to YHWH but stuck in Sheol was liberated.
And since that day, every believer who dies will not go to Sheol, but will be reunited with Christ in the heavens. For a time.
For this time.
So where are the Believers in this passage?
Daniel 7 is actually a parallel passage to this one.
Both Revelation 20, and Daniel 7 are describing the same event.
Lets take a look at it:
​

9 “While I was watching,

thrones were set up,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His attire was white like snow;

the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool.

His throne was ablaze with fire,

and its wheels were all aflame.

10 A river of fire was streaming forth

and proceeding from his presence.

Many thousands were ministering to him;

many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him.

The court convened,

and the books were opened.

​
Now we are starting to fill in some details.
There is one large throne, where YHWH will take his seat.
And here in Daniel we see that there are multiple thrones being set up. Plural thrones.
Tens of Thousands are standing ready to serve God.
And its all described as a court convening.
Were we not told that we would be adopted into the family as co-heirs with Christ?
Did Paul not tell us that we would judge the angels?
As believers we will stand in the heavenly courts and provide witness and testimony against every evil Demonic spirit that attacked you and the ones you love.
Every blasphemous entity that dared to raise a hand against the children of the Most High will stand trial.
And we will stand as witness to their crimes.
These demonic beings will face the same punishment as the humans that followed them.
Gehenna, that is, the Lake of Fire.
The Lake of Fire is separate from Sheol.
It gets the name Gehenna from its literal location.
The Valley of Hinnom.
This is the same place where ancient Canaanites would sacrifice their children, by burning them alive, to the god Molech.
The Imagery is striking, and intentional.
The same location where rebellious demonic beings convinced Humanity to commit one of the most horrendous acts ever, will also become their grave.
Look at the Judgement YHWH pronounces on the gods of the nations in Psalm 82. In Verses 6-8.
​

6 I thought, ‘You are gods;

all of you are sons of the Most High.’

7 Yet you will die like mortals;

you will fall like all the other rulers.”

8 Rise up, O God, and execute judgment on the earth!

For you own all the nations.

​
This judgement will be rendered in total finality here.
The lake of fire is described as the Second Death.
This is a place where I disagree with the majority opinion.
I read the passages concerning Gehenna very literally.
Look at Matthew 10:28 and read it carefully.
​

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

​
What we translate as “hell” here is not the word “hades” in reference to Sheol. Its Gehenna.
We quote Romans 6:23 regularly as believers.
​

23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

​
Gehenna, the lake of fire, is exactly what we are told it is.
A death sentence.
A final, and complete removal of life. A burning away of existence. A mass execution of any and everything that stands in opposition to God and His family.
All so that the New Heavens, and the New Earth may be ushered in.
​

The New Heavens and The New Earth

​

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more.

2 And I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.

​
Immediately following the Judgement, the New Heavens and New Earth with the New Jerusalem are ushered in.
Before we talk about what life will be like here, We should look at the physical descriptions given about it.
​

10 So he took me away in the Spirit to a huge, majestic mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

11 The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

12 It has a massive, high wall with twelve gates, with twelve angels at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel are written on the gates.

13 There are three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side and three gates on the west side.

14 The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who spoke to me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city and its foundation stones and wall.

16 Now the city is laid out as a square, its length and width the same. He measured the city with the measuring rod at 1,400 miles (its length and width and height are equal).

17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which is also the angel’s.

18 The city’s wall is made of jasper and the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

19 The foundations of the city’s wall are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls—each one of the gates is made from just one pearl! The main street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God—the All-Powerful—and the Lamb are its temple.

​
This whole passage is heavily weighted with poetic metaphor.
Lets start with the simple things first.
Why does the New Jerusalem have walls? Will there need to be defences? Is there chance for an attack?
Its really a pretty simple answer.
In ancient times, a city without walls was an incomplete city.
In Verse 25 it indicates that the gates to the city will always be open, which would mean that there isn't any chance of attack.
Walls are mentioned for 2 reasons.
First, if the walls weren't mentioned, it would indicate to the readers that the city was incomplete. That it was lacking.
John wants to show his readers that the new Jerusalem IS complete, and lacks nothing.
Secondly, without walls, you cant have gates.
The 12 gates and the 12 foundations also bear a highly poetic message.
This New creation is founded on the teaching that the 12 apostles were tasked with.
The Church, being the whole community of Christ followers, was built on the spread of the Gospel that was originally tasked to the 12 disciples by Christ Himself with the Great Commission.
The Gates, with the names of the 12 tribes are the entry way into the kingdom.
They portray a return home from Exile.
All of Gods people, are no longer in exile to Babylon, but are instead returning home.
We are told that this great city is located on a mountain and is decorated with gold, pearls, and jewels.
Can you think of any Biblical locations that correspond with that description?
Notice that the city is given equal measurements in both length, width, and height.
Its measured as a cube.
With each dimension being 1400 miles.
The most sacred space that the Jewish people had was the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle first and later in the temple.
This is where Gods throne room was, and where His Immediate presence dwelt.
It was measured as a cube. With 20 cubits for the length. width, and height.
One mile is measured to roughly 2000 cubits.
Here, at the New Creation, Gods Immediate presence will fill the entire cosmos.
Everything will be as holy as the Holy of Holies.
In Revelation 22 we read:
​

22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life—water as clear as crystal—pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

2 flowing down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

​
A river with the water of life flows through the city.
And the tree of life pictured as a thriving orchard on each side of the river producing fruit all year long.
The river, the trees, the gold and jewels, the Immediate presence of God...
Have we ever seen a place like this before?!?
We have.
All of this corresponds with only one Biblical location.
The Garden of Eden.
Our final location as believers is not on the clouds with bouncing babies and ethereal bodies.
The New Heavens, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem.
They are all the same thing! The same location.
The restored Eden.
God never changed His plans.
Where Adam failed to spread Eden throughout creation, Christ has succeeded, and crafted a New Eden for His people.
A perfect marriage between physical creation, and the spiritual heavens, ordained by YHWH Himself.
​

Life in The New Eden

​
So, what will eternal life in the New Eden look like?
Well, I can tell you that its not a prolonged worship service.
Surprisingly, life in the New Eden is described more by what wont be there, than it is by what will be there.
In Verse 3 John writes:
​

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”

​
No more tears.
No more mourning, crying, or pain.
Death has ceased to exist.
Verses 22-26 tell us:
​

22 Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God—the All-Powerful—and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.

24 The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it.

25 Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there).

26 They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it,

27 but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

​
There will be no night.
No darkness, no threat of harm.
There will be nothing detestable or unclean present in the New Eden.
Creation itself will be illuminated by the glory of God.
Speaking of the New Eden the prophet Isaiah records Gods words that:
​

21 They will build houses and live in them;

they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it,

or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit,

for my people will live as long as trees,

and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced.

23 They will not work in vain,

or give birth to children that will experience disaster.

For the LORD will bless their children

and their descendants.

24 Before they even call out, I will respond;

while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25 A wolf and a lamb will graze together;

a lion, like an ox, will eat straw,

and a snake’s food will be dirt.

They will no longer injure or destroy

on my entire royal mountain,” says the LORD.

​
We will build homes, and plant vineyards, enjoying our fruits to the fullest extent.
The prophet Ezekiel recorded Gods words on this matter, saying:
​

22 I will save my sheep; they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another.

23 I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them—namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd.

24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken!

25 “ ‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and will rid the land of wild beasts, so that they can live securely in the wilderness and even sleep in the woods.

26 I will turn them and the regions around my hill into a blessing. I will make showers come down in their season; they will be showers that bring blessing.

27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the earth will yield its crops. They will live securely on their land; they will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

28 They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild beasts will not devour them. They will live securely, and no one will make them afraid.

29 I will prepare for them a healthy planting. They will no longer be victims of famine in the land and will no longer bear the insults of the nations.

​
Psalm 16:11 says that we will experience the fullness of Joy and pleasures forever more.
Imagine that. Imagine that for just one second.
Your capacity for joy, all the joy you could ever feel, being perpetually full.
With nothing but pleasure forever to come.
In one way, life in the New Eden wont be much different from life right now.
In another way, it will be completely different from life now.
What a great Hope.
What a wonderful promise.
​

Communion

​
As we go into communion, I want us to remember the sacrifice that was needed to secure this hope.
When Adam failed, God did not abandon His original vision.
Instead, He came to Earth and walked among us.
He let His body be broken.
He let His blood be spilled.
All for us.
The God we serve could have rained down death and destruction on all of humanity,and would have been right to do so.
But He didn't.
He came, He taught, He died, and He rose again
He paid the debt we owe, and conquered death.
A free gift to all who accept it.
​

Closing

​
I hope that this message has brought clarification and understanding.
I want to recall the passage I first mentioned in Revelation 20 concerning the Judgement.
You’ll notice that there, the dead are judged according to their deeds.
At the end, we all have to give an account.
The difference between those found in the Book of Life, and those not found in it, is simple.
You can be judged for the life you lived, which I promise is not perfect, and face the death penalty for it.
Or
You can be judged for the life Christ led, and know that He has already died in your place.
The Gift has been set at your feet, you can accept it or reject it.
But your fate hinges on that one simple choice.
I strongly encourage you to accept it.
And to my brothers and sisters in Christ, I look forward to seeing you in paradise.
​
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Copyright 2024 Logos Bible SoftwareFeatures|Pricing|Privacy|Terms of Use|Support