Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. vs14-15

Most of you do not believe that God will punish, but this is the plain teaching of Scripture. The same Christ who died upon the cross will punish sinners forever who do not believe Him.

Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. Vs11-12

Eternal life and the second death are before us. Choose this day whom you will serve.

1 It is unpalatable to face the Judgment without Christ. He gave Himself a ransom, not because He’s “one way to God” or optional, but because He’s the ONLY WAY. He suffered and died because justice demands sins be punished, and being Eternal God and Man in One Person, He’s able to redeem sinners and pay the eternal penalty!

2 Without Him, however, we must pay for our own sins, and hell will be our portion, which is the second death, the lake of fire!

Oh, we must fear this horrible place, and fear the One who sends us there! Man’s misconception of God is that He is lenient, and He wouldn’t judge anyone - that we don’t have to take sin so seriously! Yet, He’s given us the Flood to prove His teaching. He spared not the fallen angels, and He rained fire and brimstone on Sodom.

For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly [2 Pet 2]

He’s also proven that He will punish sin in the cross, but not so that unbelievers can be saved without repentance. He’s given us the terms to enter in, just like He gave Noah and Lot! He’s told us the way of escape, and we must take it. Remember, the ark had one door, and the only way to GET OUT of Sodom was to run! Run, and do not look behind you [Gen 19:17].

3 The wrath of God is serious, the remedy is Christ, and you must believe Him. What does that mean? It means come under His rule, take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him: Become His servant on a rescue mission! Live that others might be saved. Honor the gospel with your life. We must be singularly focused and single minded. We must GIVE UP ALL for this Great Pearl of eternal life [Matt 13:45-46]!

Don’t let Satan deceive you. God would not send His Son, if there’s another way, but He resurrected Him to glory and honor, so that we might know the True Savior, the True Way, and the Only Hope! Believe on Him immediately. Trust Him now. Do not go down to the pit. He has found a ransom.