[* The Gehenna Truths is the heading in: Shock & Surprise! The Great Mystery Of The Ages Revealed! Beyond The Rapture! (CHAPTER 10, pp. 145-161.)]
* * *
[PAGE 145.] When this writer first
saw the truths to be considered in the remainder of this book, he felt somewhat
like the first person to see and explore a new world. That is, he felt as if he had been privileged
to go where possibly no other man had ever gone before. Then, he discovered that a few great men of
God, living in the nineteenth century, had caught glimpses of these same truths
and briefly mentioned them in their writings: men such as Robert Govett and G. H. Pember. Not knowing what to call them, this writer
settled on the title of The Gehenna Truths.
In this chapter he will be giving the beginning principles of these
truths.
TWO
RELATIONSHIPS
As a way of introducing these beginning principles, one must
have an understanding of two relationships.
The first is the
relationship between the law of God, and the lost person, whereas, the second
relationship is between the commandments of Christ and the saved person. The first relationship says do and have eternal life, whereas, the second relationship says
do and have millennial life.
The first relationship says if you fail to keep the law of God, you will suffer forever in the lake of fire, whereas, the second relationship
says if you fail to keep the commandments of Christ, you will suffer loss for a millennium in outer darkness and possibly the
blackness of darkness (see page 152).
Contrasting
These Relationships
Whereas, the law
of God is given in the Old Testament, the [Page 146] commandments
of Christ are in the New ... specifically the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Whereas, the law of God separates an unregenerate
sinner from the presence of God eternally, the commandments of Christ will
separate an unrepentant saint from the presence of Christ for a millennium. Whereas, the final judgment for lost sinners is called the second
death, which will
last forever (Rev. 20:
14; 21: 8), the
final judgment of apostate saints is
also called the second death (Rev. 2: 11; 20: 6), which will last only for a millennium.
In view of this, the scriptures teach that there is such a thing as an eternal death, and a millennial death.
THE
FIRST RELATIONSHIP
In presenting this first relationship the writer must
summarize its results upon mankind. Then,
after we get a clear view of its powers, we will be able to understand the
victory that is ours through Christ.
The
Commandments of The Law of God
Eternal death
occurs when an unbeliever dies in
his sins (John 8: 21, 24). This is a result of
his falling short of the perfect standard of righteousness demanded by the
law. The scriptures declare, ... whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
in one {point}, he is guilty of all (James 2:
10). And again, the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6: 23). Since it is
impossible for man to keep the law because of his weakness (a totally ruined
and depraved state), God sent His Son, who was born in the likeness of sinful
flesh for the purposes of fulfilling the righteousness of the law, and to take upon
Himself the demands of the law, even death on the cross for every one that
would believe on Him (Rom. 8: 3).
Therefore, He has redeemed us from the curse of death by willingly
becoming a curse for us (Gal. 3: 13; Rom. 10: 4).
This redemption however, can only become ours through faith in Him. God plainly tells us that man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:
16; Rom. 4: 5). Therefore, [Page 147] salvation is by faith only - without works!
Crucified with Christ
For
I through
the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God (Gal. 2:19).
When one trusts in Christs finished
work on the cross, he becomes dead through the law and to the law.
To illustrate this, lets suppose a criminal who has been convicted to
die in the states electric chair, dies of a heart attack before he is
executed. Here, he would be dead to the
law, but not through the law. To the law means that the law has no power to
judge and punish one who is dead. Through the law means that the sentence of the law (death) was carried
out. Thusly, only if the criminal is executed by the state, is the law
satisfied. For then, he would have died through the law, and as such would
be dead to the law.
Now, let us suppose that another criminal was executed and
died through the law, but the
next day he was reported as being alive and
walking down a street in the local village.
What could the sentencing judge do? Could he have him executed again to
satisfy the law? The answer to this
would have to be no! This is because the
criminal had already satisfied the law by dying through the law. Therefore, the
judge would be obligated to count him as judicially dead to the law, even though he was alive.
This is exactly what happens to the believer when he first
believes. He dies through the law. That is, God counts him as dying with Christ on the
cross. Therefore, since he has died through the law he becomes dead to the law (the law having no power over him as
to sins penalty). For the law cannot
judge a dead man. Yet one will say, but I am alive. How can I be dead? The answer is that you are judicially
dead. That is, God counts you as literally dying on
the cross in Christ even though you are practically alive.
This is what Paul meant when he said ... I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [Page 148] (Gal. 2: 20).
Reckon yourself dead
Likewise reckon
ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom.
6: 11).
Before a believer can serve God and bring forth fruit, he must
reckon that he is dead. The Greek word for reckon
is logizomai. This is an accounting term that means to take
an inventory and to arrive at the exact answer.
A believer must conclude exactly that he is dead through the law before
he can serve Christ. And if one is dead,
how then can he lose his salvation? Can
a dead man be brought back into the courtroom in order to be sentenced to death. No a thousand
times! He is dead to the law already,
and can only be alive in Christ Jesus.
For we not only died in Him, but we were buried with him, and then we were raised with
Him (
From all of this we can draw several conclusions. (1) One must die through the law and to the
law in order for him to live unto God (Gal. 2: 19).
(2) When he dies in Christ judicially, the Holy Spirit seals him and gives
to him eternal life (Eph.1: 13). This is when his spirit is
saved. (3) The beginning of the Spirit
controlled life is when he reckons
himself as being dead to the law and alive to Christ (Rom. 7: 4). This is how his soul is saved. (4) In the realistic or practical sense, every
sin that a Christian commits since he has judicially died through the law, must be cleansed under the law of Christ.
This brings into effect Jesus Christs present work as the High Priest,
where he cleanses us from all sins [Page
149] as we confess them. (1 John 1: 9).
This is a great necessity for the salvation of our soul.
In summing this up: Judicial death through the law speaks of the salvation of the spirit, whereas,
recognizing that you are dead to the law,
speaks of the beginning principles of the salvation of the soul (
THE
SECOND RELATIONSHIP
The second relationship is between the Christian and the law of Christ (sometimes called the commandments of
Christ). Those Christians who keep this
law will gain the inheritance
at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Whereas, those Christians who do not keep this law will suffer loss of all rewards.
The Commandments Of
Christ
Bear
ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law
of Christ (Gal.6: 2).
Once a Christian has experienced the salvation of the spirit,
he is placed under a new set of commandments called the law of Christ.
These commandments were personally given by Jesus Himself in the Sermon on
the Mount
(Matthew, chapter five through seven).
Those that keep them will have their soul saved. Those that fail to keep them
will suffer ruin and destruction outside of the glory of the kingdom for a thousand
years.
Some one will say, how can these
things be? How can I now keep a new set
of laws? The answer lies in the power of
Christ. While on the cross, He fulfilled
the demands of the law for you in taking the penalty upon Himself. When you
trusted in this finished work of Christ, two things happened. First you were declared by the law itself as
being judicially dead and outside of its power to condemn. Secondly, Christ took up His permanent
residence in your life (the sealing of the Holy Spirit),
where He now stands ready to personally and realistically fulfil His own laws
in and through your life. This fulfilment becomes automatic only when
you yield [Page 150] your life to Him through faith, and
allow Him to live His life through you. And the
faith that you must daily exercise can only come from your daily growth in the
Word (Rom.10: 17).
Nevertheless, some will say, under grace there are no
laws, we have perfect freedom. But, this is in error.
There must be a law that governs every dispensation, including grace, else you
would have chaos. Therefore, for this
dispensation, the laws are given in the Sermon on the Mount, and explained in the epistles.
Furthermore, our Lord tells us that all of these commandments of Christ are
fulfilled in one word, and that word is love. Thusly, according to our text, the
governing law of grace is love! When one
allows Christ to live through him, he will produce that love which will fulfil all of the
commandments of Christ (Gal. 5: 22, 23).
Dead But Not Alive
Is it possible for a believer to be dead but not alive? The answer is yes, if he has not reckoned himself dead to the law, and alive to Christ by faith. This can be illustrated as one dying, being
buried, and then remaining in his grave when he has the power residing in him
to rise to a new life. Another question
would be: Will that same person go to heaven?
The answer again is yes since he died with Christ on the cross. However, he cannot
enter the kingdom of heaven until he becomes alive to
Christ by faith. The purpose of this
newness of life is so that Christ can produce spiritual fruit through him, which is
necessary in order to enter the
kingdom.
Coming alive in Christ begins by reckoning yourself dead in
Christ, even though you are realistically alive in the flesh. This reckoning produces assurance of your [future]
salvation. Once you know you are saved
(know you are dead to the law), then you may begin your growth in the Word,
from the milk to the meat. It is the feeding on the Word that
automatically builds your faith (Rom. 10: 17) and makes you experientially alive to
Christ.
Jesus illustrates these truths in John 3: 3 and 3: 5.
[Page 151] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the
... Jesus answered, Verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born of water and {of} the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the
Here, our Lord stresses two different necessities. One for the purpose of seeing the kingdom (verse 3),
and the other, for entering the kingdom (verse 5). Contrary to popular teaching, salvation of
the spirit is not taught in both verses, nor is
one a commentary on the other. Rather,
both, verses speak of two different
kinds of salvation. These are salvation of the spirit (verse 3), and salvation of the soul (verse 5). What is necessary for
one to see the kingdom? He must be born
again (Gr. born from above). To have this new birth he must have died through the law on the cross with Jesus
Christ. What is necessary for one to enter the kingdom? He must come up out of the grave [Hades / Sheol] alike
and be empowered by the Spirit. In doing
this he will be fulfilling a requirement in this verse (verse 5) that is both literal and symbolic, and established by the rules of Greek
grammar.
Here is the literal meaning. The
first element of water in this
verse must be literal water since the second element, which is the Spirit is literal. In the Greek rules of grammar, you cannot
arbitrarily make one element a symbol while the other remains literal. They must both be either literal or
symbolic. Therefore, in the literal
meaning, one must be born out of literal water after being immersed (the coming up portion of literal baptism), and also
out of the Spirit (being daily born from the Word into a
Christ controlled life).
Here is the symbolic meaning. The
water represents the grave [and Hades/Sheol] while the Spirit is represented by the wind.
This is established by Jesus changing the literal meaning of the Spirit
in verse 5 to a symbolic meaning in verse 8 (in both verses the Greek word pneuma is used for the
words Spirit and wind). Again, we must remember the rule
of grammar. If one element changes to a symbol,
so must the other. So, we are now at liberty to change literal water to its
symbolic meaning in order to match it with [Page 152] wind. With this change, the scripture now teaches
that in order for one to enter the kingdom he must come up out of his grave
(from whence he was placed after his death through the law), and become born of the wind (a symbol of the evidence of God living through him in the
Spirit). This speaks of works.
For, as the wind gives evidence of
its power in blowing where it listed, and with
men hearing the sounds thereof but not knowing where it comes from or where it
goes to, so is one who is born of the Spirit (producing of works).
Someone may say, why does the scripture
speak of one coming up or born out of the water. How did
he come to be placed there in the first place?
The answer is found in verse 3,
when he was born again. Here, in the new
birth experience, he died through the law and was buried.
This is symbolized by one being placed under literal water (in his
grave) by immersion. By being placed in
the womb of death, he is only guaranteed to see the kingdom (eternal life). However,
in order to enter the kingdom, he must be born out of
the womb of death and produce spiritual works.
It is this writers belief, that in order for one to enter the kingdom of heaven, he must fulfil
both the literal and the symbolic meanings of this verse of scripture.
The
Penalty For Not
Keeping The Commandments Of Christ
As far as this
writer can determine, the penalty, or suffering of loss (1 Cor. 3: 15) for the believer who fails to fulfil the commandments of
Christ, will be in two major places outside the [millennial] kingdom.
First, there is the place of the outer darkness (obscurity just outside the glory of
the kingdom). This place will be
occupied with those Christians who, for the lack of a mature faith, failed to
have their soul saved at the Judgment Seat of Christ
(see Matt.
8: 12; 22: 13; 25: 30). Secondly, there is a place mentioned in Jude 13 as the blackness of darkness forever [forever in Greek is aion meaning age, i.e. the millennial age]. This is a place that is reserved for all
those, who not only failed to produce a saved soul at the judgment seat, but also fell away from [Page
153] the truth of the Word of God while in this life. These are called apostates, and in Jude 13, we see the worst kind of
apostates. These are apostate teachers.*
* In the
following chapter, and under the title: The Second Death in Matthew Twenty Four
- when commentating on Matt. 24: 45-51 - Pastor G. T. Wipple
has written:-
The above passage reveals the greatest reward and the severest punishment of all that will be
given out at the judgment seat to the church.
The reward portion here (verses 45-47)
has already been taught in the ninth chapter as the highest rank in the kingdom
structure (the bride of
Christ). We now take up what will happen
to those who are privileged to become a member of the bride, but instead fall away from God (verses 48-51).
It all begins when one says in his
heart, my Lord delays in His coming again.
These are teachers and preachers who no longer look for His second
coming, as well as those who no longer believe that He is coming again in His
literal body of flesh (2 John 1: 7-9). This is because of the apostate church in
these last days. For by doing away with a literal
second coming and a literal King, the popular A-millennial teacher can do away
with a literal [millennial] kingdom.
The next step in their fall is to
smite their fellow servants. That is,
they begin to attack repeatedly other pastors and teachers who teach and
believe the word of the kingdom. They ridicule and scorn Gods Word. Then, as they continue to apostatize
themselves, they fall to the lowest level
where they begin to eat and drink with the drunken, This last state is a state of
worldliness, i.e., identified with the world in every manner of lifestyle,
including idolatry.
God now tells us in verse 50 and 51
what is to become of these rebels.
First, He is going to surprise them at His coming (the [pre-tribulation (Lk. 21: 34-36;
Rev. 3: 10)] rapture). Secondly, He is going to cut them asunder (Gr. dichotomeo meaning to bisect) i.e., literally slay them by separating or bisecting their
soul from the body. Thirdly, He is going to appoint (Gr. tithemi
meaning to place properly in a passive or horizontal posture) their portion
(Gr. meros, meaning an allotment or share) with the
hypocrites.
This scripture (Greek text) tells us
plainly, that these apostates will be slain. Then, their bodies will be placed
in a horizontal position in
Gehenna. Finally, it appears from
this scripture and others (Psalm 88), that
their souls will be allotted a
division of darkness with the remainder of the hypocrites
(those who were acting under an assumed character). This allotment will be for a
thousand years. (pp. 176, 177.)
The blackness of darkness is in the region of Gehenna and includes the grave and the pit (Psalm 88 [i.e. in a part of
Hades, v. 3, LXX.]). The major difference between the outer
darkness and the blackness of
darkness is the
degree of punishment that each represent.
Whereas, the outer darkness will be filled with disinherited believers just outside the light of
the kingdom, the blackness of darkness will be filled with disinherited and apostate believers in a region far beyond
light.
The Disinherited Christian
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye
are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are {these}; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told {you} in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
(Gal.5: 18-21).
The epistles of Paul are mainly given to teach that which is
necessary for a believer to have and maintain, in order that he may inherit the
In the first passage, Paul was pointing out to the Corinthian
church that some of their members were breaking the law of Christ by wilfully committing
the sins that he listed here (the word some in verse 11 tells us that some of the members were [Page
154] not involved).
Somehow, this church, like the church of today, apparently believed that
only the lost (unrighteous) would not inherit the kingdom, and that the saved
(righteous) would automatically inherit it, no matter how they lived their
lives on earth. However, Paul tells them
to not be deceived, for neither would they (the saved) inherit the kingdom if
they continued to commit such sins and not be washed (verse 11). Once again, we see
the necessity of the office of Christs high priesthood during this church age,
where He makes intercession before the throne of God for our sins and cleanses
them with His blood. However, this work is only effective for those believers who confess their sins and
are willing to forsake them.
The second passage shows Pauls disapproval of the Galatians,
who placed themselves back under the law and were trying to satisfy it through
their own works. These works are called law-works and represent the activity of the old
nature in playing Christian.
Today we have the same thing being promoted by the church. They are called church programs or church
work. They are the opposite of the works
of love, which is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22).
Thusly, the works of the flesh (the old nature) are listed in the above
second passage, and represent the fruit of a carnal believer who fails to trust in the Holy Spirit to produce His
own works through him. The believer that does not trust in the
leadership of the Holy Spirit is in danger of practicing these sins, which will
cause him to lose his inheritance.
Notice Pauls warning in Verse 21 ... they that do such
things shall not inherit the
The Non-Overcommer
In the seven letters to the seven churches (Rev. chapters 2 and 3), Jesus reveals to us the overcomer as opposed to the non-overcomer. Here, he gives a clear view of those who will
inherit the kingdom and receive special rewards, as opposed to those who [Page
155] will be disinherited.
It will be
helpful to understand that these seven letters have four levels of
interpretation which are as follows:
(1)
They were written to seven literal churches of the first century.
(2)
They were written to seven church periods.
(3)
They are written to seven different kinds of churches.
(4)
They are all written to each individual
believer. It is to this last interpretation
that we must focus our attention.
Notice that at the end of each letter, our Lord says, He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith to the churches. With this admonishment, we are led to believe that the
messages to all of the churches are but one continuous message
to the individual who desires to rule and reign with Christ.
1. Those of
2. Those of the
3. Those of Pergamos teach
and allow to be taught the doctrine of Balaam which says: because you are the sons of God, you can do as you choose
without punishment or loss of reward (Num. 25: 1-3; 31: 16).
Those who turn from this doctrine will be overcomers and will be given hidden manna and a white stone (special privileges to feed on the
deep things of Christ along with a high award or rank in the [Page
156] kingdom) (Rev. 2: 12-17).
4. Those of Thyatira (dark
ages of the Roman Catholic church historically) become overcomers by not
partaking of this churchs sins and sinful teachings of spiritual idolatry and
fornication. They will rule over the
nations with a rod of iron (possibly the third level in the kingdom structure),
and be given the morning star (knowledge of the rapture) (Rev. 2:
18-29).
5. Those of
6. Those of
7. Those of Laodicia have
become rich in the things of the world and are saying we have need of nothing. Yet Jesus says that they are wretched, miserable, poor,
blind and naked, and as such are lukewarm (no power) and will be spewed out of His mouth (lose inheritance). However, anyone who overcomes will be allowed to sit with Him on
His throne (Rev. 3:14-22).
The careful student of the Word will see in the first four letters, a composite picture of the
beginning and ending state of an apostate Christian (one falling away from
God). Then, in the fifth and sixth letters, he will see the growth of a new born Christian to full
maturity. Then in the seventh, a falling away of that
Christian due to prosperity and the worship of mammon. The apostasy in the first-four letters begins
by leaving, the Word, whereas the apostasy [Page
157] of the seventh is the result of prosperity of this world.
Notice the three steps of apostasy in the first-four
letters. (1) The loss of their first
love, the Word, which caused them to fall into special trials and tribulations
for the purposes of bringing them back.
(2) A farther fall into accepting a false doctrine, called the doctrine
of Balaam (Num. 31: 16). (3) The final step in
accepting the teaching of spiritual idolatry and fornication to such a degree,
that the apostate does not want Christ to rule over him. Then notice that in the seventh letter, the
cause for the first step in the fall (leaving the Word) is prosperity and power
in this world.
The Three Classes of Non-overcomers
How long, ye simple ones, will ye
love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their
scorning, and fools hate knowledge? ...
(24) Because I have
called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
(25) But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. (26) I also will laugh at
your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (27) When your fear cometh
as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and
anguish cometh upon you. (28) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they
shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (29) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of
the Lord (Prov.1: 22, 24-29).
In this passage, there are apparently three classes of
non-overcomers who will be disinherited before the Judgment Seat of
Christ. The least of these are called
the simple. These describe the average church members of today who are
spiritually naive. They could represent
the antitype of Esau when he failed to value his birthright, and sold it for a
mess of pottage. The next, are the fools who hate knowledge.
These could be the pastors and teachers as well as the layman who desire
no further growth in the Word. The last
category in this scripture contains the scorners, who are apostates (those who have
willingly fallen away and are against the Word). They comprise different stratums of
believers. They are those who have grown
to see the meat of the Word and fallen away, and they are those
who see no further than the milk of the
Word and fall away. They are found in
the [Page 158] seminary as well as in the pulpit and
the pew. They all reject and make fun of
the Word of God by their words and lifestyle, and by that action tell Christ
that they do not want Him reigning over them (Luke 19: 14).
There is not much mentioned about the simple in respect to judgment. Apparently, their punishment in the outer
darkness will be
light as compared to others. The fools however, will suffer the promotion of
shame and stripes in this place (Prov. 3: 35; 19: 29). The greatest
punishment of the three however, will be the scorners or apostates. They have a special place reserved for them
called the blackness of
darkness in the realm of Gehenna, where they will be assigned
for one-thousand years.
The Place Of Outer Darkness
The first place of internment for the disinherited is called outer darkness, (obscurity just outside the
kingdom). As we have stated before, this
could be in the fourth level of the kingdom structure (see chapter eight),
which is an antithesis to the fourth level of this present
The Place of The Blackness Of Darkness
Woe unto them! for
they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam
for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (12) These are spots in
your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without
fear: clouds {they are} without water, carried about
of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by
the roots; (13) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever
(Jude 11-13).
As we have mentioned
before, the above scripture from Jude does [Page
159] not speak of lost men, but rather apostate Christians
(specifically apostate teachers in
these last days). They have gone in the
way of Cain (verse 11).
This means that they began their fall from Christ, by teaching that one
could approach God with their own works instead of the blood sacrifice of Jesus
Christ on the cross. This is what Cain
did (offered the works of his hands and fruit of the cursed ground), instead of
bringing a blood sacrifice as Able did.
Those who commit this gross error then rush to commit the next
error, the error of Balaam
for reward (verse 11).
Plainly and simply, this is the selling of their ministry for
money. This is indicative of the spirit
of many modern day ministries and great denominations. They emphasize numbers, money, large
churches, and television audiences.
Except for some exceptions, this is the ministry of entertainment which draws great sums of money for
its leaders. It is also the ministry of
the great world church in
From the error of Balaam, they continued their fall until they
perished in the gainsaying of Core, or Korah (Num.16: 1-32).
The Greek word for gainsaying is antilogia, which
means against the Word.
Korah was a great man of the Levites. He
was brought near to the Lord to serve in the tabernacle. However, he had higher ambitions. He wanted also to be the high priest and take
over Moses and Aarons God given position (types of Christ). Thusly, his contention with Moses indicated
that he was against the Word. He also caused 250
princes of
In this passage
of scripture, God shows us three major steps that [Page
160] lead down into gross apostasy. The last step correlates with the fourth
step, or fourth letter in Revelation 2: 19-23. Historically speaking, the Thyatira church is identified
with the Roman Catholic church whose priests and popes
are against the Word of God, have usurped the authority of Christ, and
committed the sin of Korah. While God
uses this church to give to us a picture of the historical falling away of the
church, He also plainly tells us that its members, without trusting in Christs
finished work at
Apostasy then, means falling away from Christ. As we study the blackness of darkness, or that which this writer would class
as the Gehenna truths, keep one thing in mind.
Apostates are not lost men. They will not be separated from God forever. They are the saved who have rebelled against
Gods Word and as a result will be separated in the blackness of
darkness for a
millennium (one-thousand years). In our
above scripture, God calls them clouds without water (a promise for blessing but unable to
deliver), blown about by the
wind (drifters), live autumn trees that produced no fruit in two seasons who
have been up-rooted (turned against the Word); wandering stars (no orbit around another star, i.e.
nothing to rule the course of their life) (verses 12, 13).
There are different levels of apostasy. Not all apostates need fall to the depths
here described in order to suffer destruction in Gehenna (body) and the blackness of
darkness (soul).
CONCLUDING
REMARKS
In this chapter, we have attempted to point out five different
paths of life. By understanding the two
relationships that we have touched upon, one can see where each one of these
paths leads.
The first path leads to the
* *
*
HIS
PLAN
When I stand at the judgment seat of
Christ,
And He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have
been
Had He had His way, and I see.
How I
blocked Him here, and I checked Him there,
And I would
not yield my will-
Will there be grief in my Saviours
eyes,
Grief, though He loves me still?
He would have
me rich, and I stand there poor,
Stripped of
all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I cannot retrace.
Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break
With tears that I cannot shed.
I shall cover my face with my empty hands
I shall bow my uncrowned head.
Lord of the
years that are left to me,
I give them
to Thy hand;
Take me and break me, mould me now
To the pattern Thou hast planned.
‑ MARTHA SNELL NICHOLSON