The Perfect Government

REVELATION 20:1-3

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand (Rev. 20:1).

The "bottomless pit" in the Greek is the abyss. In Revelation 9 Satan, who was the angel of the abyss, opened it and loosed the demon hordes. They spread throughout the world, bringing great destruction, pain, torment, and death.

He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season (Rev. 20:2-3).

Let no man deceive you that the day of the Lord has already come and that we are in the kingdom age. Here we read that in the kingdom age Satan will actually be bound by a great chain and cast into the abyss. This hasn't happened yet. Satan is still able to exercise great wrath and power over the earth. The earth today is not under the authority of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ shall come to reign, the angel will take this great chain and bind Satan, casting him into the abyss.

Satan will be bound and kept, sealed and chained in the abyss for one thousand years. Then, he shall be loosed for a short season. Now, if God once has him chained, why would He ever loose him again? One of the big questions is, "Why did God ever let Satan go free? If God is finally going to do him in, why didn't He do it a long time ago and save us all this misery?"

The reason is that God wants you to love Him freely. You see, God could have made everything good. Then there would be no evil and, thus, no alternative. God wants to know that you truly love Him and serve Him by your own choice.

It's like a problem you may have if you are very beautiful. You never know whether a person loves you because you look beautiful or because you are you. That's also one of the problems of being extremely rich. You don't know whether they love you or whether they have visions of spending your riches. How would you know whether they really love you?

God wants to know that you really love Him. Thus, He gave you a free will and an alternate choice. He has left Satan free to exploit the alternate choice so that when you come to God and worship Him, praise Him, and express your love to Him, He knows that it is real and genuine. He receives glory through your praise because He knows it's from your heart. Sometimes that's very hard to do because Satan is always there to keep you from truly loving God. Thus, God receives true glory from our sincere praise and trust in Him.

In Training

Jesus told an interesting parable of a lord who entrusted his goods to his servants while he went away into a far country. To one servant he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. When the lord returned, the servant who had received the five talents brought him ten talents. He said, "Here, lord. You gave me five and now I've doubled them." The lord replied, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

The servant to whom he gave two talents said, "I have used them, and I've traded with them, and now I have four talents." The lord again said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

The servant with the one talent buried it and said, "Lord, I just buried it. Here it is. It's all neat and I haven't touched it. I know you're an austere man. I know that you reap where you haven't sowed." The lord replied, "Yes, you knew all that, so you're judged by your own knowledge" (Matthew 25:14-30).

Jesus' parable points out that, when we enter with Him into the kingdom age, there will be varying degrees of responsibility given to us according to our faithfulness with what He is now entrusting to us. At that time we will be apportioned an area of the world. If we're diligent now with what God has placed in our hands and use it for Him, then we'll have a place of greater responsibility in the kingdom age. (This fact is especially brought out in Luke 19:12-17.)

If we are lazy now and do not use what God has given us, it's possible we'll be lazy then. Actually, the lord took away the one talent from the lax servant and gave it to him who had ten.

When we return with Jesus, we are coming back to an earth that will be restored to beauty once again by God. It will be a whole new system. As far as economics, we won't have money as we know it today. God is going to provide everything. The earth will again produce abundantly. With Satan bound and out of the way, man won't be ruled by greed anymore.

There will be no war. There will be no suffering, no disease, no sickness, no hardships, and no hatred. We will live together in peace and love in God's glorious kingdom. I can hardly wait!

From Rags to Riches

We, the Christians, will be in our new glorified bodies when we come back with Christ to reign with Him upon the earth. We will have many advantages over our old corruptible bodies which are rapidly decaying.

Whenever you're dealing with matter, you're dealing with a temporary substance. The whole material universe is slowly going to pieces. Sir John Herschel, the great scientist, said that the universe is like a gigantic clock that has been wound up and is slowly running down. The sun is losing 1.2 million tons of mass every second. It can't last more than ten billion years at that rate. The laws of thermodynamics are taking their toll and everything is gradually degrading and going down, down, down.

God made our new bodies in a new manner. They're made from heavenly elements. You'll be able to walk right through a material wall. It's as when you shine a flashlight through a one-foot thick piece of glass. The light comes out on the other side completely unimpaired. Similarly, after Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He evidently passed through the walls into the room where the disciples were gathered (John 20:26). All the doors were locked and, suddenly, Christ appeared in their midst and began talking to them.

Our new bodies will probably be made of a different molecular structure than the material universe. As far as we know, in this material universe everything is made up of three building blocks: protons, electrons, and neutrons. God has created such an infinite variety from these three components by combining them in different ways. How do we know that God doesn't have other building blocks? Why should God limit Himself to three? God made our earthly bodies out of these three building blocks and God has another body waiting for us. He said that as we have borne the image of the earthy, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:49). Those building blocks God used to create heaven are the building blocks He has used to make your new body.

There will be no tiring effects on our new bodies and we'll never need any sleep. Very likely, we'll be able to move around with the great ease and speed that the angels do. Just think of a place and you'll be there!

A New Role

The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus one time by making up a silly situation. Under the Jewish law, when you married a woman and then died before bearing any children, your brother had to marry the widow so she could bear children for your name. The Pharisees made up a situation in which a woman married seven times and, each time she married, her husband died before she had any children. Seven brothers married her and all seven died without fathering any children.

"In the resurrection," they said to Jesus, "whose wife shall she be of the seven?" They pictured all seven husbands fighting over her in the resurrection. Jesus answered, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures... For in the resurrection," He said, "they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:23-30).

People talk about marriage as an eternal state. It really isn't. Then what's the purpose of marriage? God has designed marriage as a family unit in which to raise children. The best environment in the world for children is in a family setting.

In the kingdom age we'll be as the angels who neither marry nor are given in marriage. Then what relationship will we have with one another? It will be a beautiful, deep, and glorious relationship, but it won't be a marriage-type relationship. Now, God didn't say we would be sexless. I don't know if the angels are or not. Generally, the angels in the Bible appear as men, but I don't know whether that proves anything. All we know is that we'll be as the angels who neither marry nor are given in marriage.

Scripture says that in Christ there is neither Jew, barbarian, bond or free. Also there is neither male nor female, but Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11). You won't need women's lib for equal rights. We're all one in Christ Jesus, and we certainly shall be so in the kingdom age.

REVELATION 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years (Rev. 20:4).

Who will be upon the earth during the kingdom age? First, the church will be coming back with Jesus Christ. Second, those martyred during the Tribulation period, who did not take the mark of the beast and were slain for their testimony, will come back to rule and reign with Jesus for the thousand years. I believe that the Old Testament saints will also be coming back.

Who else will be upon the earth? Those few who are able to survive the Great Tribulation without taking the mark of the beast or worshipping his image.

When Christ comes again He will judge the world in righteousness; and those who have taken the mark of the beast, worshipped the image, and have fallen prey to his system will be wiped out at that time. They will not be able to enter into the kingdom age and live on the earth during the reign of Christ.

How many people will be able to survive the Great Tribulation? That is only a matter of speculation. There is one Scripture that hints one out of three Jews will survive (Zechariah 13:8-9). There will be some who do survive, but not many.

Just a word of advice to certain people. Maybe you don't want to accept Jesus Christ and would rather go the hard way. You'll have to find some means of surviving for seven years without depending on this corrupt society. This society will be totally taken over. The economy will be taken over by the Antichrist. No one will be able to buy or sell except he has his mark. If you take the mark, you are lost forever.

The best plan is probably to take off for the jungles of Mexico and learn how to live off the land. Just do your best to survive down there. I would suggest the remote areas of Oregon but I don't know how you'd survive the winters.

There is a great jungle area in Mexico near the Guatemalan border. No, I don't plan to be there. I'm just giving a tip for those people who really don't want to accept Christ. It's your choice.

There's no sense in being wiped out because you're dumb. But you'll have to find some way to survive for seven years without buying food, selling food, or getting involved in modern society. The Indians survive down in the Mexican jungles. If the Indians can live off the land, you ought to be able to do it. There are still a few societies which are totally independent of the world system.

The Chocos Indians in the Darien providence of Panama are one such society. They're very industrious and grow their own food. They have their banana plantations and, when they come to market and sell, they always demand silver coins for their produce. When they return to the jungles they drill holes in the quarters and dimes and make necklaces. They have no use for the money, because they have everything they need. They are totally independent and self-sufficient. To the Chocos Indian money is not a means of exchange at all but a pretty decoration that shines in the sun. He simply wears it as jewelry.

These and others who are not dependent upon our society for their existence will not come under the economic pressure of the Antichrist. They will have a chance of surviving the Great Tribulation period, but not without suffering some of the worldwide plagues and judgments of God. No matter how you look at it it's a rough way to go.

When Jesus comes again, He will judge the nations. Those who have worshipped the beast, taken his mark, or worshipped his image will be at that point cast into the fire of Gehenna. The others who remain will be allowed to enter into the kingdom age.

REVELATION 20:5-6

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev. 20:5-6).

To those on His right hand, Jesus will say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." To those on His left hand He'll say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into Gehenna, prepared for Satan and his angels" (Matthew 25:34-41).

Gehenna wasn't prepared for man. It was prepared for Satan and his angels. But those people who choose to give allegiance to Satan and rebel with him against God will have their wish fulfilled throughout all eternity. They too will be cast into Gehenna.

Those who live into this age and survive the judgment of Christ when He returns will be allowed to live during the kingdom age when the earth is restored and begins to produce abundantly. The whole earth's surface and structure will be changed to the way it was when Adam and Eve were first upon the earth. There will be no rain upon the earth. Instead, moisture will condense at night and gently water the ground and plants. Everything will become fruitful and abundant. It will be Hawaii all over the earth!

When Adam sinned, God said, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake... thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee... in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:17-19). But that wasn't God's original intent. God had originally commanded the earth to produce abundantly to take care of man's needs. All you had to do was go out and pick food off the tree.

God will restore the earth, and longevity will be returned. You'll be able to live abundantly, unless you want to be wicked. Then you'll be cut off because the church will be here to enforce righteousness.

As the church, we will rule and reign with Christ. Our position will be the enforcers of righteousness. Jesus said to the church of Thyatira, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron" (Rev. 2:26-27). There will be an ironclad rule of righteousness over the world. People who have survived the Great Tribulation and enter into the kingdom age will not be allowed to live in greed or sin. They will be ruled over with a rod of iron. "As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers" (Rev. 2:27). The thousand year rule of Jesus Christ is going to be a fantastic time!

REVELATION 20:7-10

At the end of this thousand year period, Satan will be released out of the abyss. Once again he is going to deceive the nations.

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (Rev. 20:7-8).

The fact that amazes me is that so many people at this point will rebel against Jesus Christ.

The Last Rebels

Living under the ideal conditions of the kingdom age with the earth restored, people will be able to have very large and healthy families. There will be no sickness, disease, or suffering. People will live to be a thousand years old. At the end of the kingdom age the earth will probably be tremendously populated.

Many people wouldn't have had a chance to make a real choice for Jesus Christ, because they were forced to serve Christ during the Millennium. At the end of the thousand years, when Satan is released, they will have a choice to be either good or bad. Many will choose at that time to rebel against Jesus Christ. This is almost unthinkable, yet Satan will gather an army from the nations to try to destroy Christ.

Those of you who have gone up with Christ in the rapture and have returned with Him in your glorified bodies will not have any problem with Satan at this time. There's no way Satan can tempt you. "Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power" (Rev. 20:6). There's no way you can be touched or affected by Satan's rebellion at this time. This last rebellion will be the testing time for those who have been forced to follow Jesus Christ during the thousand years. It will be their chance to decide whether or not they really want Christ.

This will reveal for all eternity the rebellious heart of man against the order and authority of God.

You may say, "Adam didn't know any better. He only had a few days in the Garden before he failed. How do you know that man would really fail if he had the chance? It's all because of the environment. We're trying to change man's environment so we can change man." No, the problem isn't the environment. It's that evil heart of man that rebels against God's authority.

Here are people who have enjoyed the benefits and the blessings of the kingdom age. They are living in the perfect environment of righteousness, peace, and love. When Satan is loosed, they will join his forces and actually invade the Holy Land. They will encircle the city of Jerusalem where Christ will be reigning on Mount Zion (Rev. 20:9). This invading army will be thoroughly and completely vanquished. Fire will come down from heaven to devour them.

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever [literally "from the ages to the ages"](Rev. 20:9-10).

This phrase, "from the ages to the ages," is the strongest Greek term possible to express eternity. There are those who teach that hell is not eternal. In a technical sense that is true. Hell (Hades)will give up the dead which are in it (Rev. 20:13). But there is a place of eternal punishment for those who have rebelled against God's order. It is called Gehenna, the lake of fire.

REVELATION 20:11-13

We now come to the Great White Throne Judgment of God. This is the period of the second resurrection.

Daniel speaks of a resurrection from the dead: some unto everlasting life and some to eternal shame (Daniel 12:2). Actually, these two resurrections will be at least a thousand years apart.

The first resurrection will be that of the righteous dead who rise to live and reign with Christ during the Millennium. The rest of the dead will not live until the thousand years are expired (Rev. 20:5). Now in Revelation 20 we have the second resurrection.

I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great [all the unrighteous who have lived up to this point], 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 which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works (Rev. 20:11-13).

Men in Space and Time

Verse 13 is interesting for it declares that the sea gives up the dead which are in it. It lists them in a separate category from those delivered up by death and hell. This gives rise to the theory that intelligent beings may have inhabited the earth before Adam, and were buried in a deluge by the seas.

When a person who is not a Christian dies now, he is in a waiting place called Hades, translated "hell" in your King James Bible. This place called Hades is actually in the center of the earth, and those unrighteous dead are in it. It doesn't matter if he's buried at sea or if he's cremated and his ashes are scattered from an airplane, his unsaved soul goes to hell. It would not stand to reason that, if the dead were buried at sea, the sea would give them up. No matter where he may be buried, if he's a sinner his soul is in hell. Yet, Revelation 20:13 tells us that death and hell gave up the dead which were in them separate from those dead that were given up by the sea.

We don't know if there were pre-Adamic creatures, and if there were, what they were like. We don't have any records and there's no way of knowing. They were destroyed, if they did indeed exist.

Genesis 1:1 is an account of original creation. Verse 2 may be translated, "But the earth became wasted and desolate and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." God may have destroyed the pre-Adamic race in the great cataclysmic upheaval when He allowed the waters to cover the face of the deep, thereby totally destroying their civilizations.

God placed Adam on the earth approximately six thousand years ago. The earth's age is at least several thousand years older. It doesn't seem reasonable that God would have created the earth and left it uninhabited for a great length of time.

It also doesn't seem likely that God would create anything without form and void. God has had such a beautiful design in all His creation. Isaiah said that God did not create the earth a waste but He created it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18).

By the same token, it doesn't seem logical that the earth is the only area where God would place created, intelligent beings. The Bible doesn't tell us anything about people on other planets, but would God create this entire vast universe and only choose one little part to populate? No reason exists for us to believe that we're exclusive in the universe.

Of course, God could have thrown the stars out into space just for your enjoyment. However, that doesn't seem likely to me. Having created the vast universe, He's probably populated other parts of it, too.

Yet, you are definitely unique. In all the universe, there's only one you. Man is unique in the universe. And God so loved this world, God so loved you, that He made provision for your salvation through Jesus Christ.

Choose Your Destiny

It's a mistake to think that death is the end. It's not the end. All the dead, small and great, stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God. The sea has given up the dead which are in it. Death and hell have spewed out their dead. The books are open and the dead are judged out of the things which are written in the books. It is a somewhat frightening thing that God keeps such records, but the deeds of your life have all been recorded. With God's ability, I imagine the records are quite complete. The dead will be judged according to their works (Rev. 20:12).

The Jews came to Jesus and said, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he has sent" (John 6:28-29). They'll be judged according to their works. They did not believe in Him. Jesus said,

When he [the Holy Ghost] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me (John 16:8-9).

Really, that's the only thing that will exclude a person from the heavenly kingdom - his failure to believe in God's provision for his sins through Jesus Christ. Jesus said,

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men (Matthew 12:31).

The Holy Spirit is come to point out Jesus Christ as your Saviour. If you reject the witness of the Holy Spirit, you're blaspheming and doing despite to the Spirit of grace. You're counting the blood of His covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing. Having rejected God's only path of salvation, there remains only that certain fearful looking forward to the fiery indignation of the wrath of God (Hebrews 10:27,29).

Your sins were already judged on the cross. Jesus took God's wrath when He died on the cross in your place. You don't have to stand before God to face the consequences of your own sin.

If you stand at this Great White Throne Judgment, you stand there because you have deliberately and willfully rejected God's plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. You have willfully and knowingly turned your back on God's way.

It doesn't take much imagination to picture the whole scene. You're standing in that multitude. Finally, your name is called as the recording angel reads down the book. You step out and stand there absolutely open and revealed. You step up, trembling before God, the Creator of the universe. You say, "Just a minute, God. I can explain."

He says, "Take your time. You've got eternity."

"Now, Lord, let me tell You something. I really would have done it but there was this dude and he claimed to be a Christian. He was a big phony. He was going around ripping off everybody. He was such a big hypocrite that I decided, 'If that's what it's all about, I don't want anything to do with it! '"

God answers, "I didn't ask you to believe in any dude. I asked you to believe in My Son, Jesus Christ."

"Let me explain," you respond. "There were so many churches, and every one of them was claiming to be the right church. I was confused. I didn't know what church to go to in order to be a Christian."

God says, "I didn't tell you to go to any church to be a Christian. I told you to believe on My Son, to receive Him as your Lord and as your Saviour."

One by one, every excuse you bring up will be wiped away until you'll be left without any defense. The books are open. You will be judged. The Bible says, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

The Final Verdict

It isn't easy to get before this Great White Throne Judgment of God. If you do make it that far, it's because you're really tough. First, you've trampled over Jesus Christ. You had to walk right over Him to get there. He's standing in your way to block you from facing judgment. He's standing in your path right now saying, "I love you. I gave Myself for you. I died in your place. I shed My blood so that your sins could be forgiven. I gave Myself for you to set you free from sin and to make you a new creature." You've got to trample right over Him.

Secondly, "They have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing." He shed His blood for your sin. The Bible says that "without shedding of blood is no remission [of sin]" (Hebrews 9:22).

The shedding of blood signified the giving of a life. In the Old Testament times the people of God had animal sacrifices. The shedding of blood signified that the penalty of sin was paid because a life was given (Leviticus 4; 17:11). God said in the beginning to Adam, "If you sin, you're surely going to die" (Genesis 2:17). That has been the wages of sin from the beginning and it has never been reduced. Today, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Christ shed His blood for your salvation. If you refuse Him, you have to count the blood that He shed for you an unholy thing.

Thirdly, you have to do despite to the Spirit of grace because God's Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart now and saying, "That's the only way. Just give your life to Jesus Christ." The Spirit of God is saying, "You have sinned. Look, you are guilty. You need Jesus Christ. Go ahead and turn your life over to Him." But you have acted spitefully to the Spirit of grace. You are saying to the Holy Spirit, "Leave me alone! I'll do it my own way. I'll live my own life. Don't bother me!"

If you do those three things, I guarantee that one day I'll see you standing before the Great White Throne Judgment of God. If you glance over at me, I'll say, "I told you. I'm sorry that you wouldn't believe."

God has done everything to save you. God isn't anxious to damn your soul. God said, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked... turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" (Ezekiel 33:11). God is love. In His love God has made provision for you. Reject God and His provisions and you have to suffer the consequence. God is bound by His Word to bring judgment against sin. That final day of judgment will come.

God is also very, very patient. Many people have erred because they've mistaken the patience of God for weakness. They think that God really won't punish sin. Don't deceive yourself. God is obligated to fulfill His Word, and He shall fulfill that which He said.

This scene we're reading in Revelation is not something out of somebody's imagination. God spoke to John through the angel and declared these things that are going to happen. John wrote them down so that you might be warned.

REVELATION 20:14-15

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [Gehenna]. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into Gehenna (Rev. 20:14-15).

The Book of Life

God keeps the books, and there's one book which God keeps that you should make certain your name is in - the Book of Life. Whosoever's name was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into Gehenna.

There's one way you can be assured that your name is written in the Book of Life. That is by asking Jesus Christ to come into your life and wash you from your sin. For "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).

I can read about the Great White Throne Judgment of God and have no fears and no qualms. It doesn't shake me because my sins have already been judged. My name is in the Book of Life.

The only judgment seat I'll stand before will be the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), which is an entirely different thing. This judgment seat is like the judge's seat in the Olympic races. I've run in a race and won. I come up to the judge's seat, and the judge places the crown of life upon my head. Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that you might obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24).

You're going to be at one of two judgment seats. You'll either appear before the judgment seat of Christ, or you'll appear before the Great White Throne Judgment of God. Which judgment seat you appear before is absolutely up to you, for your choice determines your destiny.

The Great White Throne Judgment is a very tragic scene. In fact, it is the most tragic event in the history of the world. A person who stands before the Great White Throne Judgment of God hears only one sentence pronounced: Lost.

However, this isn't the end of the Revelation. Revelation 21 opens up a new and glorious phase - the eternal phase where God creates a new heaven and new earth. Sin is not even involved. We dwell now with God forever.

Emergency

I read of a farmer who was walking home one day along the railroad tracks. Evening was approaching and he lit his lantern. As he was walking along, he came to a section of the track where the rail was split and broken. He looked at his watch and realized that a train with several hundred passengers heading towards Chicago would be passing by in a few minutes. He knew that, if the train hit the broken section of track, many people would lose their lives.

He started running down the tracks in the direction from which the train was coming. After a while he heard the whistle of the tram in the distance. He increased his speed, even though he was almost totally exhausted.

Finally, he saw the light of the train as it approached. He went running right down the middle of the tracks towards that onrushing train waving his lantern. At the last moment he jumped aside and threw his lantern up through the cab of the locomotive and hit the engineer right in the face. The engineer pulled on the emergency brake and the wheels began to throw fire. The train was brought to a halt a few feet short of the broken rail.

Some of you are headed down the track towards destruction, and God's hitting you square in the face with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He wants to stop you in your mad dash to hell. You can do one of two things. You can say that the man is a lunatic. He's making it up. And you can keep on going towards your absolute destruction.

Or you can put on the brakes and receive Jesus Christ. And you can be sure that it will never happen to you, for God will save you from the wrath to come.