But…

There is a great passage in the book of Revelation chapter 21 verses 6-8.  It is speaking of the New Jerusalem and the idea that God will make ALL things new.  It begins in verse 6 by saying,

He said to me: “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 

These are good words.  This is a great reminder for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ that there will be a day when it will be done.  There will be a day when the God who created and the God who has always been will give us the life that we have thirsted for while on this earth.  Because we can claim the resurrection of Christ, we have overcome death and we will be children of God!  What a wonderful promise.  It doesn’t end here…

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.”

While there is great hope for those in Christ, there is great judgment for those who are unbelieving.  John reveals a list of those who will experience this second death.  He lumps together the cowards, those who don’t believe, those who murder, those who are sexually immoral, those who use magic, idolaters, and liars.  They will all experience the second death.  Two things stand out:

1.  What does it mean to be sexually immoral?  The greek word is πόρνος which we call pornos.  It has three meanings.  1) one who prostitutes their body to another’s lust for hire  2) a prostitute  3) one who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator.  Sexual immorality is running rampant in our culture today.  Prostitutes are available on streets and in brothels.  You can pay someone to fulfill nearly any sexual desire that you have.  Many are actively participating in fornication and having sex outside of God’s intended design.  Please know that there is hope for those who are cowards, those who don’t believe, and even the sexually immoral.  Hope has a name and His name is Jesus.  The Bible reminds us that if you seek Him, you will find Him.  He is our only hope and he want to make all things new for us.

2.  What is the fiery lake of burning sulfur?  While many would assume that this is Hell, I won’t make that claim.  I don’t know what Hell is like.  The translated english for this passage has done a good job.  I the original greek it was literally a reference to a lake filled with fire and burning sulfur.  Here is what I do know.  This is the second death that the Bible refers to.  This is a place of separation for God.  It won’t be fun and it is reserved for those without Christ. 

All Scripture is living and active.  It is truth and I want to share it with you.  If you fall into the categories of cowardly, unbelieving, sexually immoral, or whatever it may be, there is hope!  God knows you and sent His son to die for YOUR sins!   It is through Christ that we can escape second death and receive eternal life in Heaven with our Lord.