Quickly I want you to note these things.

This is the second resurrection, but it is not a resurrection to eternal life but a resurrection to eternal death.

 

All the dead, who were not in the first resurrection(s) will stand before God seated upon the Great White Throne, which symbolizes utter, pure holiness and justice.

 

The unrighteous dead are now judged by two books. The first is the book of their life, the book of their deeds and actions. They are judged according to their works and their place in the Lake of Fire, their degree of punishment is according to their works. The Lake of Fire is just what as its title declares it to be, but even in everlasting fire there is justice. A Hitler, a Stalin, a Mao will not be judged in the same way that person who did not commit the same horrific sins and atrocities that they did.

How do we know this? Jesus told us.

 

 

Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

 

Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

I have no idea how the God will make even an eternal lake of fire just but He will. They are judged according to their works.

 

But if anyone is counting on the Lake of Fire being tolerable, they need to also remember what Jesus said about eternal punishment. And He said more than any other person in scripture, because He knew more.

 

 

Mark 9:43-48 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

 

Their torment will be the same as those described in Revelation 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

 

 

We go from the heights of God’s grace and love to the depths of His justice and judgments in this chapter. We see the world as it was meant to be when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden but we also see the final result of man’s sin which spoiled the Garden and will close the Millennium.

I want to live on the heights. I want to live on the heights in my life now and I sure want to be on those height reigning with my King Jesus during the Millennium. And just like those who face a choice at the end of those 1000 years, it is my choice right now. I can choose where I will spend the Millennium and where I will spend eternity.

 

The gift of God’s image to us is also the gift of free will and the consequences of such a great gift is literally the price of eternity. Where do you intend to be when eternity begins? Then make sure you make the right choice and be a part of the resurrection of the righteous and not the resurrection of the damned.