trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

The Last Judgment

It does, in fact, end in a whimper - but not for us.

Week 9, Sunday: Condemned by Their Works
The history of humankind’s rebellion against God ends in eternal tragedy, as the judgment of God is finally and fully pronounced against still-unrepentant men and women from every age.

Read Revelation 20

Meditate on Revelation 20.11-15
1.      How do verses 11 and 12 (cf. Rev. 16.20) signal that this is the end of history as we know it?

2.      All those whose names are not written in the Book of Life are condemned by their works. Given what we’ve seen before (question 1 from yesterday), and keeping in mind the blinding power of sin, should we think these people who are being condemned were finally repentant? Why or why not?

3.      What is “the second death” (v. 14)? Why are those who have come to the “first resurrection” able to escape the “second death” (v. 6)?

4.      Try to envision the scene as God’s judgment unfolds against unrepentant human beings from every age and culture. Do you imagine them merely standing by quietly, meekly accepting their inevitable fate? How should we envision this scene? What do you suppose it will really be like?

5.      This passage puts a strong emphasis on “books” and what’s written in them. What do these books represent? What do they suggest about God? About how we should try to live?

My Reflection
Meditate on Genesis 6.3. What does it mean to say that God’s Spirit “strives” with people? How does He do that? Why? What does this suggest for us, knowing what we do about the final disposition of those who refuse to repent and believe the Gospel?

The Glory of God
Is it contrary to the love, holiness, justice, and mercy of God to condemn people and fallen angels to perpetual torment? Why or why not?

Glory to Glory
How much does God hate sin? How much do you hate sin (Ps. 97.10)? What steps can you take today to make sure sin does not find a nesting place in your soul?

Memorize
Today, share your memory verses for this week (Revelation 20.6) with a Christian friend, and briefly explain what you have learned about these verses.

Closing Prayer
Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
Until He has mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us!
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled
With the scorn of those who are at ease,
With the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 123

T. M. Moore

Download the studies for week 9, and all previous weeks, by clicking here.

The book of Revelation is the culminating episode in the story of God’s covenant. To learn more about that covenant, and to discover the way it integrates all of Scripture into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, by clicking here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.