Death and Judgment and the Appointment – Hebrews 9:27 –

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Death and Judgment

and

The Appointment

(Hebrews 9:27)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

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We All Have an Appointment to Keep

    All can agree that all men in Adam die. The very foundation of mankind must be removed for ALL flesh is as grass. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1ST Peter 1:24) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1ST Peter 1:25) The birth of man, in the flesh, is under the curse of sin, and this sin leads man to his death. It is APPOINTED unto man ONCE to die, and man cannot change this fact. His flesh MUST return to dust. This is according to God’s word, the God of creation, the Lord Jesus Christ. All man since Adam, come under the first Law that God gave in the garden to Adam. This Law was The Law of Sin and Death. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATh. (Romans 8:2)

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:3)

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2;9)

   As Adam brought sin into the world, and death by sin, he set the hourglass of life, and the APPOINTMENT of time for all man to die. Man meets this time in many ways, and in many stages of life, and by meeting the appointment of death, man returns to dust. The transgression of Adam became a tragedy that man could not reverse. And all sadness and sorrow would come from that one sin of Adam throughout man’s history. Adam was a glorious creature; he was created in the image of God which Christ would again reveal when He was manifested before man in the very image of God. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. (Colossians 1:15) Through these two verses you can see the connection of God’s Holy Son, the Redeemer of man, as the image of the invisible God. In Genesis Chapter 2, Adam, this dust from the ground, became the image of God, but Adam was not God. Only Christ, who was and is the eternal image, could take the title of Emmanuel, God with us. Adam was created in a mere likeness of God. And he was subject to God for God was his Creator, and God set the bounds of Adam’s existence in a garden that He had prepared and set apart for man: the very paradise of God. By sin Adam made an appointment not only for himself, but for all man in breaking The Law of Sin and Death. When we consider all this, we have to look at man, and over the history of mankind God asks us, and we ask God, What is man that a Holy and Righteous God is mindful of him?

1. What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? (Job 7:17)

2. What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous? (Job 15:14)

3. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:4)

4. LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him! (Psalm 144:3)

5. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better? (Ecclesiastes 6:11)

6. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Hebrews 2:6) 

   SIX times the Spirit of God asks the question, What is man? The number six is the number of man, and every man should consider himself and what he is before God. Not only should all ask, What is man? But we should also ask, What am I that God should look upon me, that God should have mercy on me? All man should ask themselves before a Holy and Righteous God, What am I before God? I am a lump of clay and dust that God has breathed life into me, and I have become a living soul because God has given to me the spirit of life. Man is a tripartite creation. His body is made of flesh, and bone, water and blood, sinew and breath, and this is the visible man which is seen as an image. However, man is also a spirit, the spirit of man which is within. You cannot see this spirit; however, this spirit gives man his awareness of life in himself. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1st Corinthians 2:11) Then we have the soul. The soul is the stone that God writes upon. It is the record of man, and it is an eternal record, for the soul carries the weight of its own existence. It carries sin and is capable of death: the soul that sinneth shall die.

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)

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The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)

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He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

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And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

   Even with all the verses in scripture that reveals the depth of the soul, and the value of that soul it is impossible for the mind and heart of sinful man to understand this mystery of the soul. I would never claim to understand ALL concerning the soul of man; however, the word of God shows us much in the life, death and the judgment of the soul. He also shows us that the Lord is capable of renewing the soul. He also shows us that the soul can be judged.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalm 139:15) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17)

God has complete control over the clay from the dust of the ground, to the womb, to the birth, and to the APPOINTMENT with death.

   This revelation from God is Psalm 139 would not be possible in the mere intelligence of mankind. God takes us far beyond our mental capacity, and our understanding. God has revealed to us that He KNOWS us prior to our birth when we were but dust in the lower parts of the earth, He KNOWS the fashion of what our members and image will be. God has complete control over the clay from the dust of the ground, to the womb, to the birth, and to the APPOINTMENT with death. God chooses each lump of clay and mingles the dust into all our members, and writes them PRIOR to our formation in His Book of Life BEFORE we are. In the book of Hebrews, Chapter 7, Levi paid tithes when he was still in the loins of Abraham, his great-grandfather. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: (Hebrews 7:5) And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. (Hebrews 7:9)

   We could continue on in this mystery of God, but this article is about death and judgment, and life and grace. All mankind must understand that it is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the living God. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) There is a connection with the vengeance of God. The Spirit of God uses the word vengeance in connection to trampling underfoot the Son of God. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

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The Appointment with The Law of Sin and Death

   So, we ask this question again, What is man? What is man that he should face death and judgment, or life and grace? In these last days the grace of God has been made known by His beloved Son whose voice proclaimed His own grace to man that man would be delivered from death and judgment by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, the possessor of life and grace. The last section of Chapter 10 of the book of Hebrews shows us that man (because of sin) will refuse the grace of God in Jesus Christ. And the Lord Jesus Christ will be the Judge of the wicked hands who crucified Him, and those wicked hands are still with us today in trampling underfoot the Son of God, Jesus Christ. These hands consist of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. And every child of Adam is under the curse of sin and death. As children of God, every day you walk among the wickedness of this world, and wicked men. They hate and deny God’s Christ. Some even try to hide themselves with fig leaves sowed together by their own hands or works. Many say that they know Jesus, yet, they have no knowledge of their own salvation. They have no witness of the Spirit of Christ within, and they have no knowledge of God’s Holy Word, and they have no desire to KNOW the word of God. They have deceived themselves with their own lies, for they are liars. They hide under the branches of grace but are not part of the grace of God. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: (Matthew 13:31) Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:32) They belong to the same club as Caiaphas, one of two illegitimate high priests, and many throngs belong to this group of counterfeit priesthood. They have blinded themselves to the judgment of God thinking of themselves that they are better than others, and mimic salvation. Their eyes remain blind to the great white throne of God’s judgment. It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. In Hebrews Chapter 9, most people do not pay any attention to verse 27 after the Holy Spirit shows us the value and preeminence of the blood of Christ in verse 16 – 26. The blood of God’s dear Son has a value beyond all values before God the Father and on the mercy seat in heaven. The value of the Testator and His death only gives more value to His resurrected life. The life of Christ in heaven is seen by all the redeemed at the right hand of God. After seeing all of this in the ninth Chapter of Hebrews, God stops us in our tracks, and we are brought to look at ourselves.

   After all the words of blessing and redemption in the blood of Christ, verse 27 show us death and judgment. Let a man examine himself whether he is in Christ or not. The spirit that is within man and gives man the awareness of life wants you to see the tragedy of death and your appointment with death. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. In Romans 5:12 we have the beginning of sin in the world, and our mind is cast back to Genesis Chapter 3, and leads every heart, soul, and spirit of man to death and our appointment with death.

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The Appointment that Cannot be Canceled

   It is God who established this appointment through The Law of Sin and Death. Every person has this appointment and only God can cancel that appointment in the life and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Death is such a dark cloud of fear for the lost souls of the world. How much more do the words ‘to fall asleep in Jesus’ bring joy to the heart and release from the bondage of death. To fall asleep in Jesus means we are safely home in the bosom of the Father. The center of all God’s love is issued from His bosom through His Son into the redeemed of the Lord. The process of the new birth removes the old, and we can trust God that in the index of The Book of Life, because of God’s grace, our names are written there.

  The Book of Life is also the book of divine design. The flesh of your flesh was designed by God. You had no choice in its design: the color of your hair, the color of your eyes, your height and stature, your sex and even your nationality or race was all designed by God. You had NO choice at the moment of your conception and birth, and it was God who gave you life by His breath, and the spirit of life gave you awareness of your life. In your first breath, from that moment of your first cry the world would make choices for you. When you reach a certain age, those choices become your own, but only as they are influenced by the world and the Devil, and your choices become good or bad. However, as a physical blemish, all come into this world as children of Adam under sin, and ALL have an appointment to die.

   The word of God tells us that death has a one-two punch. In death, ALL have an appointment to die, and those who have rejected Christ, and who are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will suffer THE SECOND DEATH. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15) So we see that there is a second death. We also see that whosoever was not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. The word of God tells us it is the Lamb’s book of life. This book of life was finalized at the cross of Calvary in the fullness of time by these three words: IT IS FINISHED.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

  The cross was the final price for sin. All sin was covered in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, man has chosen to refuse the covering of the Lord’s blood over man’s sin. Man does not realize that he is helpless, and by rejecting Christ he rejects the precious price that Christ PAID in shedding His precious blood, and by refusing to believe in the Son of God man enters into Hebrews10:29, Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? The sorer punishment is the lake of fire. God gives us these verses as a trailer leading up to the lake of fire in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 20 we have five verses before the final outcome of the lake of fire.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

   These five verses are there to get your attention that ALL man should examine themselves whether they are in Christ or not. Again, we ask that question, What is man that thou art mindful of him? The ‘Jesus people’ (those who use the name of God irreverently) should ask themselves, Do I have the witness of Spirit of Christ within you? The religionist should seek the truth for it is only the truth that will set them free for the religionist is under the bondage of the religion that he serves. The evangelicals with all their words of grace should apply that grace to their own hearts through FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. The theologians who study the word of God day and night should ask God to reveal within them God’s footsteps and God’s precepts line upon line, here a little, there a little. The preachers in ALL the pulpits should fall down before God before every message they give for their very words hold precious souls between heaven and the fires of hell and the great white throne judgment and the lake of fire. The writers that write about the word of God should only write as God leads them seeking the very breath of God in written form. And then we have the worldling and here we have the message of urgency. While it is today, this moment, open your heart to God and cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the wind and the tremendous sea of sin with the simple words, ‘Lord, save me,’ and He will calm that storm, but remember the night is far spent and the day is at hand. The Lord of glory has opened the door of salvation wide in the end of this world for the day of salvation is at hand. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:12) But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18)

   Right now, the night is far spent. Grace is coming to its close, and a veil of darkness is about to engulf the entire world. Darkness will become so great that man will gnaw their own tongue because of the pain of that great darkness. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. (Revelation 16:10) Man must come to the light of Christ while that light still shines, and I know this gospel that we preach.

Side Note: The gospel worldwide. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is going out all over the world. The seven websites that God has committed unto us reach into places that we never realized existed. I will give you a list of locations as we follow the commission that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples to go into all the world and to preach the gospel. Here is a partial list: Killeen-TX, Woodland Park-CO, Palm Bay-FL, Hayward-WI, Pittsburg-PA, Lincoln-NE, Vienna-Austria, Augusta-ME, Irvine-CA, Zurich-Switzerland, Lubbock-TX, Corona-CA, Bristol-UK, St. Louis-MO, Rotherham-UK, Wellington-New Zealand, Monroe-MI, Rio das Ostras-Brazil, Mission Viejo-CA, Clinton-MS, Lephalale-S. Africa, Silves-Portugal, Bridgetown-Barbados, Liverpool-UK. Whatever parts of the world that these web sites reach it is only for the glory of Christ and not for the glory of man. It is to please our heavenly Father and to obey the words of the Lord Jesus Christ that this gospel would be of no cost and without price, it would be free to the perishing soul.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2)

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3)

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. (Isaiah 55:4)

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 55:5)

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

   These verses from the book of Isaiah are focused first onto the nation of Israel, but notice the nations are also included. When the apostles received the great commission, the gospel of Christ was first preached to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. Now these pages on these web sites are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in every time zone both side of the equator, every longitude and latitude everywhere under the stars and sun of God free with no price. From the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ, freely ye have received, freely give. ♦ End of Side Note of the Gospel Worldwide.

  Now our Lord, God’s blessed Christ, went to the cross freely, freely He suffered for He gave His life and offered His soul and shed His blood, the blood of God, and every drop was more precious than the entire creation including man. Every drop of that precious blood was filled with the very love of God. Every drop covered a mountain of sin. Every drop is worth more than all eternity. Every drop was a great price, and every drop was worth ALL the treasures of mankind. And every drop purchased the pearl of great price, the body of Christ the Church of the living God. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1st Peter 1:18) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1st Peter 1:19) In 1st Peter the Holy Spirit sets a mark of preciousness on the blood of Christ. But Peter was not alone for with the epistles of Paul, Peter, James, John, God sets the ultimate of the preciousness of the blood of Christ. In the last book of the Bible, the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants things that must shortly come to pass we see the Lamb that was slain for He is worthy, out of the kingly tribe of Judah, we see this Lamb slain from the foundations of the world. It is only unbelief in sinful man that denies and hates this great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

   It is Christ who stands alone as the image of the invisible God. It is Christ who stands alone with the full brightness and glory of the eternal God. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3) He has revealed that glory on earth in the holy mount. Many miss the wonder that when He was translated and His glory put forth, the three disciples were smitten by God in sleep because they were unable to bear the FULL glory of the omnipotent God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And only when that glory diminished did they awaken to see a glory brighter than the sun. In our time in this day and age, that glory is revealed in heaven among all the angels, and the beasts, and the redeemed of the Lord. That glory is seen in its fullness with eyes that adore His majesty and His glory.

   In the realm of heaven, it does not matter what unregenerate men say in the world below, it doesn’t matter to the redeemed, or to the purity of heaven, no matter what the world says, or thinks about the Person and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Man does not realize that in their unbelief they are polishing His glory in their unbelief, and they are magnifying His great love, for even in unbelief His grace and mercy shines brighter and brighter. In their hate for the Son of His love, that love shines brighter in their unbelief. He has been exalted higher than the heavens because of His grace and mercy. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26)

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The Appointment Realized

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

   It is appointed unto man ONCE to die and THEN the judgment. Yes, Virginia, there is a hell, however, man is ignorant of its design, purpose and place. Man defines hell in light of his own beliefs and not what God has revealed. The Lord Jesus, in the gospel of Luke Chapter 16, gives us a real-life example of a man in hell. This is NOT a parable, but a real life and death situation, and applies to ALL men in Adam.

   In Luke Chapter 16 let’s begin with numbers: in the number sixteen we have The Law and the prophets. Ten is the number of Law, and the number of God’s perfect order, and man’s responsibility to God. Six is the number of man, and so we see the responsibility of man to the Law and to the prophets. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. In the beginning of this Chapter, we are introduced to an unjust steward, and this shows us the ways of man in an unrighteous world. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. (Luke 16:1) He is called unjust and the Lord deals with the worldly things in contrast to true riches which are in heaven. No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. He goes on to show us through verse 13 that no servant can serve two masters, and then the scriptures reveal in verse 14 the covetousness of the Pharisees. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And in verse 15 it is man who tries to justify himself, but God knows the heart. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. And then in verse 16 we have the law and the prophets and then in verse 17 which is law and perfection, it is IMPOSSIBLE for one tittle of the law to fail. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16) And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. (Luke 16:17) In verse 18, the Lord Jesus takes us all the way back to Genesis where two became one flesh, Eve was bone of Adam’s bone, and flesh of Adam’s flesh, and the Lord condemns those who divide the marriage, and try to separate that one flesh. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. And after all this in verse 19, we travel from earth to Abraham’s bosom in the dissertation of the rich man and Lazarus.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Luke 16:19) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Luke 16:20) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (Luke 16:22)

   This real-life situation applies to ALL of Adam’s descendants throughout the history of mankind. First, man is to be good stewards of what God has given to them and be thankful and responsible to the abundance of this earth, and to be just as responsible to the abundance of God’s grace and mercy, and to show this grace and mercy to others. Love thy neighbor as thyself. However, man is not able to be just because of deep-rooted sin within. So, man squanders the many blessings of God. This, of course, is surrounded by man’s unbelief. Since man is unable to be faithful to God, he will definitely not be faithful to man. Man is a lousy steward of the things that God has given to him. And when we get to verse 19 of Luke Chapter 16, we find a rich man who hoards and harbors his wealth for himself and himself alone. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: Man in general fails as a steward of God’s green earth, and thus, over all man has failed his fellow man. With the abundance of the earth, there is no reason that there should be hunger. There is no reason for all these charitable organizations trying to feed the hungry. If a person would love their neighbors as they love themselves there would be no hunger in this world. But sin breaks down the psychological reasoning of man. Sin puts forth covetousness which denies the love of one’s neighbor. So, man has failed his neighbor, and in general, man has failed his wife, and the one flesh is broken and shattered.

   In verse 19 we begin our journey to the real beyond for in all unbelief we see the real life and death of a rich man. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. He does not have a name only a title . . . . a certain rich man. By this title the Lord wants us to see the hearts of ALL men in riches. This rich man was self-centered. He loved his position by wearing royal garments of purple and fine linen. By this he showed of his stature, wealth and position. The rich are prone to spend their time and their lives thinking of themselves; their wealth becomes part of them, not just a possession but a controlling influence over them. The limited charities and foundations are full of corruption and malignancy; they are only the crumbs from their tables cast to the poor and to the dogs. Yes, we will get to the subject of hell, but first, we must see the road that gets man through the gates of hell.

   Lazarus was at the gate of the rich man, not inside but outside. It was obvious to the rich man that Lazarus was sick and needed care, but as long as Lazarus was outside of the gate, the heart of the rich man was not touched. The rich man ignored the needs of others. His steps were self-centered, and therefore, one step closer to the gate of hell. He stood out in his vanity in the manner in which he was clothed, in the royal garments of purple; thus, vanity and pride led him to step number two. Then, seeing the need of poor Lazarus day by day, and not lifting a hand to help this poor beggar to his own table, the absence of compassion was step three. Now notice that the rich man, in his person, fared sumptuously every day and he had need of nothing. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17) What a testimony that this man made in his self-centeredness and wealth. We have the same sin of riches, and covetousness and the need of nothing in the lost world church today of Laodicea. This current world church is the counterfeit of all the counterfeits (the ministers of Satan) thus step four is the sin of covetousness. Getting closer to the gates of hell, and notice that there is no subtraction, nor retracing of footsteps, methodically this rich man steps closer and closer to the gate of hell as he goes further and further away from the gate of mercy.

   Watching Lazarus suffer every day, this man with sores, laying at the gate begging for mercy as his voice and whispers fell on the deaf ears of the rich man. As the rich man daily read the reports of his assets, I am sure that his conscience mentioned the beggar that was at his gate lingering in his sufferings. The eyes of the rich man may have glanced at his table fitted with the best of this world, and yet nothing was set nor prepared to go to that beggar. The rich man would rather feed the dogs then that poor beggar Lazarus who was covered with sores possibly from the lack of food. We do not know. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Luke 16:20) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21) But we do know that the sores were putrescent sores. The dogs had compassion of Lazarus because they licked his sores. The beasts held this beggar in more esteem than the rich man who had need of nothing. Can you not see this rich man satisfied with himself that his closing thoughts before sleeping was, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. That is step five closer and closer to the gate to hell . . . . further and further away from the gate of mercy.

   When morning came the day was reset. The rich man had an opportunity in this new day to help this poor beggar Lazarus, but no, he continues to fair sumptuously and once again the cries from the poor sick beggar continued. What is a beggar? A beggar is one who has lost everything, and all that he has left is his voice. This voice cried out to the rich for compassion, but instead the rich turn away. The beggar has no worldly goods, they are gone, most likely his family has gone, or he has been rejected by them. His self-esteem is gone, his vanity and pride have fled, he finds himself in the company of dogs. And even his flesh rebels against him with putrid sores. Listening to the suffering of the beggar outside the gate as life fades and his voice fades as the voice of Lazarus voice weakened and faded away. The whole world hears these same cries every day and the world ignores the sound of suffering. Lazarus was ignored by the rich man, and the rich man took another step closer to that gate of hell, to disregard and to be indifferent to the suffering and needs of others is step number 6 to the gate of hell.

   It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. The crumbs from the rich man’s table were not for the beggar, but for the dogs. The rich man could not hear the cries of the beggar, but he heard the howling of the dogs. This was not a multitude on the highway crying out for help, but an inconspicuous beggar crying out to one man with a genuine need of life-giving food. Yet food did not come. The gate stayed closed to the rich man. In all of Lazarus’ sufferings, in all of his pain, in his hunger, in his rejection, it is recorded that the beggar Lazarus died. It is appointed unto man once to die. The lifeless body of Lazarus continued to lay at the gate, but Lazarus, the eternal Lazarus was carried by God’s angels into the bosom of God.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)

Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? (Numbers 11:12)

   Do you see the connection? Abraham’s bosom is the same as the Father’s bosom which is the same as God’s bosom, and from here all love flows. In the New Testament bosom is mentioned five (5) times which is the number of grace, and grace is the outpouring of God’s love. In John’s gospel, the first mention of bosom is connected to the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father, and this Son is the charity of God, the love of a giving God. Paul saw this in man that man thought more of himself than he did of God. So, through the Spirit of God, Paul wrote let a man esteem others better than himself. [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3) Those who receive the blessings of God should not hoard them, especially those who have been given the gift of knowledge of the word of God. For man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) Now in the life cycle of the rich man and the life cycle of Lazarus, Abraham’s bosom is mentioned twice in Chapter 16. But look at the difference, Lazarus gets to ride on angels’ wings and there is no mention of the burial of Lazarus. He gets a direct flight to Abraham’s bosom. In a sharp contrast the rich man dies, and he is buried. There are no angels for him, yes, there are angels in hell. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. (2nd Peter 2:4) This collection of angels is the TOTAL of all the rebellious angels who rebelled with Lucifer. They were stripped of all their powers and cast into hell, and so that they could not leave, they were bound in CHAINS, and do not forget the word DARKNESS. They were and are in complete darkness. Notice, when the rich man realized his presence in hell that he was in complete solitude; he was in his own torment separated from all others. And now this rich man was on the other side of the gate, and the gate was closed and now he was the beggar, for all his possessions, all that he ever was, all that he knew was gone, and the only possession that he had was his torment from which there is NO return. It is now that the rich man lifts up his eyes and sees far out of the reach of hell and death, Lazarus safe in the bosom of God.

   Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Isn’t the word of God wonderful? In John13:23, it is the fifth time that the word bosom is mentioned, and it is the Lord’s bosom. In John’s gospel the word bosom is mentioned and look at the connection: the first mention is the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), and the last mention in this gospel is also the fifth mention is the bosom of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. In the first mention, the Father’s bosom, we see the love of the Father for His Son. In the last mention we see the bosom of Christ, and His love for His own whom Jesus loved. So therefore, we see Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom, and this bosom is connected to the bosom of God, the very center of God’s love. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:11)

   Now the gate was closed for the rich man, and the Creator had locked the gate for this poor beggar, the rich man, in hell. His riches remained behind. He no longer possessed them. They were left in the world to be distributed by other men. The rich man would not benefit from his former riches in hell. There was no help. He was now just a poor beggar, a sinner in hell, bankrupt and surrounded with a prison of solitude tormented by the flames of his own sin. To all who are reading this article, the Lord Jesus has not only paid the price of sin, but in doing that, He has been given the keys of death and hell. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18) It is only in this life that one can be saved from their sin, from death and from hell because it takes repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. God had locked the gate. There was no escape from the flame and the torment, and from the darkness of emptiness. This rich man (most likely with his wealth) had many acquaintances and maybe one or two friends, but he was no longer in that world. He was now alone and had no place to go. He had reached the place of torment known as hell.

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The Appointed Place

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

   Now God wants you to know that there is a hell. So, the word hell is recorded in fifty-six (56) verses in the Bible. In the Old Testament, it is recorded in thirty-two (32) verses, in the New Testament it is twenty-four (24) verses. This should get your attention. The lake of fire is mentioned four times, in scripture where death and hell are delivered up and cast into the lake of fire. One of the points that I would like to bring up is how God uses the words immediately before the word hell in the scriptures. Here are a few of them: CAST into hell; DOWN to hell; GO INTO hell; DAMNATION of hell; SHALL BURN UNTO THE LOWEST hell; SORROWS of hell; GO DOWN QUICK into hell; are we listening to the voice of the Spirit and what God is showing us through His Spirit? Here are some verses that you need to read.

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Proverbs 9:17) But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9:18)

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Proverbs 15:24)

Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. (Isaiah 5:14)

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:15)

   In this place of lonely torment, in the heat of his own particular flame, the rich man lifted up his eyes. It is sad that when he had earthly life that he did not lift up his eyes to the God of heaven. He could have then called on the mercies of God, for God is the God of abundant mercies, but now in the darkness and solitude of hell, he saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom and the gate was locked, and Abraham’s bosom was unreachable for the rich man. Hell would now have the rich man’s full attention. In this earthly life we have things that get our attention, the beggar Lazarus had his pain and suffering while the rich man enjoyed both riches and apparently health as well. For he fared stupendously while he was alive on earth. He enjoyed life and was well pleased.

   The Spirit of God in Chapter 16 of Luke, verses 16 and 17 reveals the Law and the prophets and the word of God BEFORE we get to Lazarus and the rich man. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16) And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. (Luke 16:17) The Spirit of God put that there in verse 16 and 17, so that we would KNOW that the rich man was responsible to the Law and the prophets. The words of God in the Law and the prophets were the rich man’s final call which he ignored as he planned his life and counted his wealth. After all, he could say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Oh, how wrong he was. Now in the flame and in the torment only one drop of water matters, and he wants it on the tip of a beggar’s finger. This one drop of water was more valuable than all the treasures of the world. Not only did this rich man have treasures, but he had the availability of the greatest treasure on earth for he had the availability of the word of God. Instead, it was the cares of this life they got in the way of the word of God. As today, the church (the professing church, the counterfeit church, the world church) has forgotten the eternal value of the word of God. There are no greater riches to be found then in the pages of the word of God filled with the breath and Spirit of the Almighty. LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

   So, this rich man was without excuse before God. He could not say that he had not heard, for the word of God was available to him, and by his actions, he was in denial of the very commandments and precepts of the word of God. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:31) Another point of importance is found verse 24 in Luke Chapter 16, And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. I am in torment. If one has ever suffered a severe burn, it is a continual agonizing pain unlike any other pain for you feel the very heat within the pain. It is not like a headache or a toothache or a bruise or a broken bone for the heat lingers in the pain. You almost feel the flame dancing upon the burn. And not only was he suffering torment, but he felt his own flame and the temperature of that flame, and that flame of GREAT torment. In verse 25 we see that this man in hell had a remembrance of past life. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. There are those of the heresy of evolution, I call it a heresy because they embrace it as a religion, and they believe their doctrine that declares that there is no divine Creator, that death is final. SURPRISE! SURPRISE! A flame chosen by the God that you deny, and a place PREPARED just for YOU is waiting in the flame of hell. This is in contrast to the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ as He proclaimed to His disciples the mansions of God in His Father’s house.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (John 14:4)

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The First Appointment with Death

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

   When we think of the history of mankind, it was God’s good pleasure in Jesus Christ to walk and dwell with Adam. So much so that the Lord shared His creation with man in Adam giving Adam dominion over the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, and life within the sea. Thus, giving man a paradise to dwell in that he may eat of every fruit of the garden freely EXCEPT the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What this must have been; trees with no decay, fruit that never spoiled, grass that never withered, animals that were companions and not enemies, and then by one man, Adam, sin came into the world, and death by sin. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12) All that man was in the image of God was gone outwardly and inwardly. Man was dead to God and the glory of God that lightened and enlightened man was gone, man now possessed a mantel and garment of sin that exposed is own nakedness before God. Man had crossed the bridge, THOU SHALT NOT, and paid the price, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE. There was no return across that bridge.

   In our modern day most have forgotten the first death in the garden of glory, they have forgotten the first blood, the first altar, the first fire that man observed, and that fire consumed the first sacrifice of the two lambs, the first sacrifice for sin under the righteous judgment of God. Can we back up a little? Now, because of sin the trees decayed, fruit spoiled, grass withered and dies, the animals would become fearful of man, and man would become their hunter, and throughout the history of man the animals would give their lives not only for the life of human flesh, but in sacrifice to God for that very sin of man in Adam. Death through sin had robbed Adam and Eve of the divine Spirit of God, and the glory without and within was gone. Only the spirit of man and the iniquity of sin was left within Adam. God could not look upon the nakedness of man for his present state was abominable. God would have to cover the iniquity of sin with the skins from two victims, two lambs, death covered both Adam and Eve. The sacrificial lamb would become the doorway for God to speak and even to dwell among men through the history of man. From the books of Exodus and Leviticus we see the value that God set on sacrifice, and the value that He set upon the lambs and the offerings that they would not have any blemish without or within. Therefore, in the garden, these two victims were the victims of man’s sin. They had no blemish without nor within because they were to cover man who had blemishes without and blemishes within in the sin that he brought into the world. God could not look on man without this priceless covering and later He could not dwell with man who were not under the blood of the Lamb. In this tragedy of sin man could no longer dwell in the garden, the paradise of God. Man was no longer fit to dwell within the borders of the garden, and he was driven out by God showing man’s rebellion against God. God had to drive man out, for man rebelled against leaving the garden. Man had broken The Law of Sin and Death. For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) Adam and Eve with the skins of death wrapped around them showed their natural state as dead before God and were driven out of the garden to live in a land of thorns and thistles, sin and judgment, heart ache and sorrow. They saw with their own eyes and experienced the penalty of their sin, and what sinful man was capable of. Consequently, the sin within them passed onto their eldest son Cain, who (through sin) opened the door to the death of man for Cain would slay his younger brother Abel for truly sin lieth at the door.  The fruit of sin became death. One bite of sin spread the poisonous venom of the serpent through all of humanity. But God had an antidote, He enlightened Abel with the second Law that He gave to man, The Law of Faith.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27)

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 4:2)

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (Genesis 4:4)

   The Law of Faith is based on belief and sacrifice. Hebrews 11:4 shows us the result of Hebrews 11:6. Abel BELIEVED God, and believed IN God, so that the faith of Abel PLEASED God, and God rewarded Abel for diligently seeking Him with the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which is in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:4 is based on the FINAL sacrifice in the fullness of time, the more excellent sacrifice that God would provide Himself a sacrifice for sin. This would be the more excellent sacrifice which was in the foreknowledge of God able to deliver man as Abel from sin and death and hell and the works of the Devil.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15)

   Notice the word bondage in Hebrews 2:15, these are the chains of sin that come from the poison of the serpent which corrupted the whole body, soul and spirit. It is Satan as Lucifer that brought sin into heaven.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15)

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:16)

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:17)

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:18)

All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (Ezekiel 28:19)

   See the words iniquity and sinned, traffick, and merchandising. All these were Satan’s downfall. He was cast down to the lesser creation. (Isaiah 14) God created heaven and then we do not have a time period between the creation of heaven and the creation of the earth. However, we see that heaven had the preeminence in the creation for it was THERE that God placed His throne. In the lower creation, which is our earth, God created man in the image of God created he him. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27) Lucifer, however, being cast down to the ground witnessed the creation of man. Lucifer could never bear the image of God, and now this once great and mighty covering cherub watched God create man from dust, from the lowest particle on earth, in God’s image. The root of jealousy infuriated Satan and then out of jealousy he had to destroy man. What would be his tool? The same sin that had befallen the anointed cherub, ‘I will ascend above God, I will sit on his throne, I will be like the most high.’ To add to this jealousy of Satan God had made Adam caretaker over God’s earth and gave Adam dominion over all the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and the fish and beasts of the sea. Again, this once glorious cherub who had ruled over all the angels of God and had held the highest rank of all the created beings was cast down to the earth where God was building a kingdom with a new creation called the race of man. Lucifer could not stand this new kingdom being ruled by dust from the ground. The once mighty cherub was furious and had to destroy man. To show the fury of Satan, we have the first Chapter of the book of Job where Satan pitched man against God, and God allows Satan to bring temptation, trial and suffering to the man of God’s choosing, His servant Job.

   In the garden, before the fall, Lucifer/Satan approached the woman with his lies, the first lie that mankind would hear, and sadly, would believe, ye shall be as gods. In the fall of Lucifer that is recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 28, the very objects and character that Satan was building in heaven to overthrow God have been seen in the history of sinful and ungodly men trying to elevate themselves above God Almighty so that man himself created in his own heart many gods and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator. (Romans 1)

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The Appointment with the Second Death

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

   Now we see a little more into the ways of Satan and fallen man. The rich man was under God’s judgment because the rich man’s life shadowed the ways of Satan. The rich man had lifted himself up in life in his garments, in his riches, in his merchandising, and in his vanity and had no eyes or compassion for other men. The rich man in hell was under judgment because he lived for himself and refused the very word of the law and the prophets from the Almighty God. He found himself in a place of torment that has been repeated many times by many men in the history of mankind. Then when it is too late, his eyes were open to the things of heaven. God allowed this rich man to glance into the very bosom of God and there with the love of God wrapped around Lazarus. Paul, through the Spirit of God, informs us that we should esteem others better than ourselves.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1st Corinthians 1:25)

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1st Corinthians 1:26)

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1st Corinthians 1:27)

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (1st Corinthians 1:28)

That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1st Corinthians 1:29)

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1st Corinthians 1:30)

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1st Corinthians 1:31)

   It is God who has chosen us in Christ to be the ambassadors of heaven, and its royal majesty in the Lord Jesus Christ. But not many noble are called, nor rich, or the men of fame, we are not here to seek preeminence over the world, or over the church, or over our brethren, we are here as servants and children of God to serve God in all humility because as Lazarus, in our past life under Adam and his sin, we were beggars at best. In the two men, Lazarus the beggar, and the rich man, Lazarus had a name known of God. The rich man had no name. The beggar knew the Shepherd of John Chapter 10, and this Shepherd knows His sheep, and knows their names. In that moment when the last breath was released from Lazarus, the voice of the Almighty simply spoke the words, Come up hither, and the mighty angels of God escorted Lazarus to his home in his Father’s house. We, as the children of God today, wait our turn to be escorted into our Father’s house, and more we can say, the house of Christ, whose house are we. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6) 

   Well, it seems as if we have been on a road trip, a long way around, but you see that in the word of God, we have an immense tapestry of life where there are many mountains, many valleys and streams and rivers, and even floods to traverse in the word of God. It is appointed unto man once to die, and to this, mortal man asks, Why? And the answer is in Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Man will only die ONCE, but man outside of the Lord Jesus Christ will suffer a SECOND DEATH.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

   So, man dies ONCE, but suffers TWO deaths, and they are progressive for the last death is GREATER than the first. However, in contrast of this, those who belong to the Lord Jesus fall asleep IN Jesus because the Spirit of Christ dwells within them. A wonderful example of this is given in Acts Chapter 7, verses 59 and 60. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60)

   We see the difference, the rich man, the man in Adam in Luke 16 died and was buried and his presence was made in hell. The man in Christ, Stephen, although his felt the pain of the stones that were hurled at him, fell asleep in Jesus. Companion scriptures to this wonderful sleep in Jesus can be found in 1st Corinthians 15:48-51; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1st Corinthians 15:48) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.(1st Corinthians 15:49) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1st Corinthians 15:50) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. (1st Corinthians 15:51)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1st Thessalonians 4:13) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1st Thessalonians 4:14) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1st Thessalonians 4:15) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1st Thessalonians 4:16) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1st Thessalonians 4:17) Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1st Thessalonians 4:18)

   As Stephen suffered at the hands of men, he fell asleep in Jesus. As Lazarus suffered with sores and hunger while man showed no compassion on him, so also Lazarus fell asleep in Jesus and was taken to the bosom of God to wait his calling in resurrection as all those who have slept in Jesus wait that glorious time when they will put on the glorious body that has been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there are those who will be caught up to God in a new thing as Enoch and Elijah. They will be changed in a moment of time, when the Lord says to them, Come up hither, and we, who are alive will be changed. This mortal will put on immortality. This corruption will put on incorruption. We will return to the glory that man was meant to have at the beginning of man’s creation, the glory of the very image of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. When we, the sons of God, will be like Him.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1st John 3:1) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John 3:2) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1st John 3:4)

   Now back to the rich man. He has no name, and his name is not found in the book of life of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Hell awaits its calling, so does death, when death and hell will be delivered up at the great white throne when the Judge of the whole earth will do right in His righteous judgment.

   In the courts of mankind, the trial is to determine guilt, and after the trial, at the conclusion, this earthly judicial seat or bench passes sentence, or declares to all, the verdict of the jury. It is the court that upholds that decision and passes sentence on the guilty or releases the innocent. It is the judge who sentences the guilty under the law. In this life every man born of Adam is under the trial of life. He is under the penalty of The Law of Sin and Death, however, the Supreme Judge of all of mankind has shown mercy and grace. He is the Creator of all things, and He has made the righteous payment for both sin and death, and without this payment man must pay for his own death. This payment of God required a great price that could not be paid by man. It took the Son of God’s love, the Lord Jesus Christ, the very purity of God in Christ, who could blot out the handwriting on the wall, that all of us, all of mankind have been weighed in the scales of justice and have been found wanting: GUILTY before a Holy and Righteous God. Christ came to tip the balance of the scales of justice with His grace, and to deliver those who out of a pure heart would call on His name to be delivered from so great a death. Think of the worst prison one could go to, and all the suffering that one must endure, and then to learn your sentence was overturned and all that you had to do was to sign the paper of acceptance, and you would be free of your crime. You know that you are still guilty, but you can go free. You will have a new life and a new beginning; the court has declared mercy as God has sent forth His mercy and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is what we DO in THIS life that not only condemns us, but it is what we DO in THIS life that frees us.

   In the rich man, in the torment of hell, had concern for others, for his family, but it is too late . . . . too late. Contrary to modern teaching it is what we DO in THIS life that not only condemns us, but it is what we DO in THIS life that frees us. Many have sat on their riches or directed these riches in the wrong direction to build man’s world, and not God’s kingdom. It is what is done in THIS life that is important to God. The rich man in Luke 16 proves this. He had no control over the riches that he left behind, he had no control over the lives that were left behind. The rich man in hell became the real beggar, begging for just one drop of water and unable to help his brethren. In THIS life he had no compassion on Lazarus, now it was too late. He would wait for thousands of years in his torment waiting for the second death in the lake of fire. We also see the rich man’s knowledge of the truth.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (Luke 16:27) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:28) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:29) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (Luke 16:30) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)

   Send Lazarus back from the dead to his brethren, for surely, they would believe if one rose from the dead.’ This shows his knowledge of resurrection, and God also used the name of Abraham in this section. Why? Because it was to Abraham that the promises were made. And Abraham became a symbol of resurrection.

   While standing before the burning bush, Moses heard the words, And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14) And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. (Exodus 3:15) I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was and is the God of the living and not the dead. The Son of God confirmed this in Matthew 22:32, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. He also confirmed that He Himself was the ONE who spoke those words to Moses in John 8:58. Thus, Christ claimed to be the GREAT I AM. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. All this shows that the rich man had a knowledge of the unseen God, but now it was too late. After all his torment in hell, he would be delivered up with death and hell at the great white throne judgment . . . this is the second death. And the man with no name would be cast into the lake of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this, the judgment. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)

Amen and Amen.

© Copyright 2022, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)

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