Many Christians will have a part in the second death and the lake of fire because they failed to understand the relationship of God’s Law to their Christian faith, especially the generation of Christians now alive. Satan seduced Christians now alive into believing his lie of “do not judge.” If we disregard God’s Law, or simply believe that Jesus annulled the Law, then we no longer retain any basis by which we can judge anything or anyone. Sin, in fact, no longer exists if Christ did in fact annul the Law. But sin does still exist. If it did not then nothing we do could ever be considered wrong. (By the way, this is the precise result that Satan seeks. Satan wants us to believe that that all of God’s proscriptions of evil acts are okay to do now, but he also wants us to believe that those things that he says are wrong are sin. For example, in today’s culture it is wrong (a sin) to say that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful) If God’s definition of sin did not still exist, however, then Jesus died for nothing for none of us could be found guilty of sin. Paul clearly addresses such a heresy saying,
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? [i.e. annulled, set aside, or disregarded] By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet. … 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Romans 7:7, 12 ESV)
We now live in a time devoid of Christian discernment and judgment. This explains how the devil succeeded in taking control of the United States and, through the United States as his hammer of “correction,” the entire world. It also explains how the United States came to become Babylon the Great of Revelation 16-18. This is all quite a mystery of course. Thus John actually uses the term “Mystery Babylon” to describe it. Almost no one understands this mystery today, even though it stares us in the face and controls our lives via the police state it has created.
And yet Paul does teach that Christians should live as free men and not as “under the law!” But this only applies to Christians who live according the Spirit and not according to their flesh. Passages in Romans 7-8 and Galatians 5 deal with this specific issue. Remember that Paul wrote the book of Galatians to Gentile Christians who were being taught the heresy that they had to submit to the Jewish Law, and in particular to circumcision, in order to be good Christians. Paul so strongly preached against this heresy that at one point he said,
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:3-5)
Confused yet? This sounds like one of those Scriptures that throws out the Law, doesn’t it? The problem is that Christians have not read all of the Bible for themselves and they have let false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing lie to them concerning this and other important Scriptures, like for example, Jesus’ statement, “You should not judge.” Let’s continue reading Paul in context. Right after Paul seems to throw the baby out with the bath water he says,
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Romans 5:16-24)
Isn’t it amazing how many Christians now say that the sexual immorality, impurity, and sensuality embodied in homosexual acts and sex change operations are now okay and not really sin? But those are not the only sins mentioned by Paul. Look at that long list of fifteen plus “things like these” sins! And look at his warning. Those who practice sins like these will not inherit the kingdom of God! Jesus says the very same thing through his prophet John at the very end of the Bible. He says,
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,[j] so that they may have the right tothe tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. [outside of the Kingdom of God]
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:10-16)
In Galatians 5:24 Paul says that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” This means that they submitted to die to the lusts of their flesh and to become obedient to the royal commandment of Christ during their earthly lives, before they physically died. In this sense the obedient ones, the overcomers, partook of the second death willingly during their lives. These will not have a part in the second death for their names will be found in the Book of Life.
Now also observe this, Paul says, “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” The clear implication of this statement is that “IF YOU ARE NOT LED BY THE SPIRIT THEN YOU ARE UNDER THE LAW!” The Lake of Fire which represents the second death speaks of coming under God’s Law. It speaks of having your mind, will, and emotions renewed according to God’s ways, not man’s or Satan’s. This is the second death. You must die to your way of thinking and become alive to God’s way. The Lake of Fire is God’s tool for teaching this.
Now I have a word from the Lord for all the disobedient ones on earth, including many who call themselves by his name. “You have disobeyed God and you have spurned his Law. You have called evil “good” and you have called good “evil.” The wrath of God and the white throne judgment are coming upon you. When my judgment comes you will learn that God indeed died for your sins and you will learn that I demand holiness. You will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire where you will learn to come into submission to my Law. Your experience will take as long as it takes to convince you that my ways are right and just and that yours are wrong. Some people call this “eternity.” Until then you will dwell in the outer darkness (away from the Kingdom of God) where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth as you learn to mourn for your sin.
“I have prepared my overcomers who will oversee your prison sentence. They will rule you with a rod of iron, with my Law! But, they have learned that in God’s Kingdom truly justice and mercy have kissed. They will not enforce the Law without mercy. They will not mistreat you, but they will demand your total repentance. Vengeance is mine, says your God. You will pay the penalty for your heinous acts of cruelty to my little ones. Now therefore, O kings, be wise, be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, Jesus, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Amen.
