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by Brad
Revelation 5:
So, addressing the crowd, a call goes out for someone to step forward and judge the nations. The crowd grows silent. Not one comes forth. The call is repeated as everyone awaits a volunteer to judge the nations gathered before the Judgment Seat.
Perhaps, YOU volunteer..
You steadily make your way up to the front of the crowd and sit down before all the people gathered there. You settle down in the swivel chair, take a sip of water from the glass on the stand alongside, twirl first to the left and then to the right - and are now finally ready to initiate the Judgment process. Scarcely before you commence a video screen leisurely slides down behind you and displays scenes from your life. The crowds watch attentively, fixated on the big screen. They slowly start to murmur and a voice emanates from the crowd: 'Hey, look at that! You committed that sin. Now how are you going to judge ME for that?' Another voice follows: 'Hey, look at that, you committed that sin, how can you judge ME for that?' And yet another voice emanates from the crowd: 'Yeah, look! You committed that sin, so how are you gonna judge ME for that?' The murmurs soon turn to laughter and the crowd starts to mock you. The laughter subsides and steadily turns into boos. Booed out of the Judgment Seat you sneak back into the crowd and withdraw into blended obscurity. Romans 2:1 ¶Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Revelation 5: At this point the Son steps forward and occupies the Judgment Seat. Yet again a screen drops down behind. The crowd of people watch as His life is played out, which is followed by a stunned silence. Someone in the crowd inquires aloud: Hey, did anyone get anything on him? Or maybe you..? And how 'bout you guys way over there? Man, we didn't get nuthin! Darn! The guy don't seem to have done anything wrong... John 8:46 ¶Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Having failed to discredit the Judge, the crowds begin to murmur amongst themselves, as the Judgment proceedings are set to begin in earnest. The temperature in the field rises a few degrees, engendering an eerie feeling of discernible discomfort. Angels standing at the edge of the lake of fire have already commenced dipping their hands in the wooden barrels filled with talcum powder, positioned at the lake's periphery. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: It is at this point that YOU feel compelled to point out to the crowd that once the Judgment commences, most of the people gathered here will not meet the requirements, reminding them of a vague biblical verse that you recall that states that "few will be saved". Reasoning with the crowd you get them to comprehend that "few is less than half" so they run more than a fifty percent chance of being hurled into the lake of fire. You further suppose that if there were currently 10 billion people standing in this field - then it figures that 5 billion are already toast. You ingeniously propose that it would be far shrewder to work to save everyone before the actual Judgment took place, as afterward, those selected to enter into the kingdom of heaven will be very reluctant to make a stand. You advocate that it is thus far wiser for everyone to make a strong appeal in the present moment and submit their case to God as to why they should be exempt.
A woman in the crowd bravely steps forward to make her case: 'You all would never understand all the hardships I had to endure in life' she laments, 'I was abjectly poor - and times were extremely tough. On numerous occasions I was bitterly hungry and went without. I, for one, certainly did not get a chance to sup and partake of any of the fine dishes found in the houses of nobles and kings...' And God says: 'Well, the Son went without food on many occasions, so really what is your point?' A man from the crowd steps forward to make his case: 'I was homeless all of my life and wandered from place to place. I lived under bridges, in the bitter cold and in the pouring rain. I certainly didn't have any of the benefits of those who lived in the mansions and the luxurious apartment buildings I walked by...' And God says: 'The Son too did not have a home of his own, so what really is your point?' And yet another man steps forward to get a hearing: 'I was a slave in the world; and my cruel master would whip and beat me... Surely - I should not be Judged!' And God says: 'The Son too was beaten and whipped - so what exactly is your point?'
Below is a short extract from the-: Amazing Facts Inside Report: The Trinity - Is it biblical? At this point you could probably come up with a couple of reasons (or excuses) of your own or speculate on some that others might conjure up - but they would have to hold water to save you from the lake of fire.
Revelation 5:
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? It's getting late. The angels mulling about at the foot of the lake of fire are getting restless and its time to continue with the proceedings, so that the few (well, at least there's some good news) can get on with their lives. But what of the rest of the crowd?
 Well - uhm! I'm afraid, old chap, their lives will have amounted to - I daren't say - a rather somewhat unpleasant interruption of nothingness -cough!
Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
THE END
Well...
As it's highly unlikely that you will get the somewhat 6.6 billion people in the world today to all turn back and all cry at the same time tonight and change the world - that is your most likely outcome.
The bible though does present examples of Alternate Futures
(1) The Nineveh Double-Cross (or Nineveh Finesse) Jonah goes to the city of Nineveh and proclaims that the city will be destroyed in 40 days:
Jonah 3: The people of Nineveh refuse to merely accept their fate and reason that:
Jonah 3: Hence by virtue of their action the people in the city of Nineveh effect the "Nineveh Double-Cross" (or "Nineveh Finesse") and "tie God's hands" and halt their destruction:
Jonah 3: As a result the city was not destroyed, leaving Jonah mightily upset with God.
For more on Jonah and the City of Nineveh you can view the Joe Crews Classic Radio Sermons transcripts by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page:
Jonah and the City of Nineveh - Part1
Also in the range:
Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
(2) The City of Sodom
In the following instance the Son himself presents us with an Alternative Path in the case of the city of Sodom:
Matthew 11:
So while it is thus hypothetically possible to save the world; it is highly improbable. Many will persist and valiantly continue to strive towards this goal - as demonstrated in the scriptures below:
1 Timothy 2:
Matthew 24:
Daniel 12: Few choose to respond Doug Batchelor, AmazingFacts.org
The Generation4 Brand
Who said the truth will set you free? Joe Crews Classic Radio Sermons
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