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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is judgement. Judgement is God’s verdict on whether a person is worthy of his or her reward after he or she has lived on earth. After judgement, there are only two destinations Heaven or Hell.

John reveals to us that before the final day of judgement where both spiritual and mortal entities or beings will be judged, there will be a first resurrection where the martyrs shall share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus had already made this promise to believers who would be martyred when He said “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-13). When Paul was about to die, he had this assurance, peace and internal joy that on the judgement day, he will share in the glory of the Lord, therefore, he encouraged Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Dear friend, a true believer goes through the first death with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and with hope or conviction that whatever suffering he or she went through on earth on account of Jesus Christ shall be rewarded on judgement day. Are we ready to suffer and die on account of Jesus Christ? We must live a heaven-conscious life forever focused on the final glory rather than the temporary and elusive joy and desires of the world.

John, again, brings to our attention the fact that Satan and his agents will be judged and their fate determined. “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth…They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10). This is a wake-up call to believers to watch and pray, Peter greatly encourages us that “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11) Satan has proven that He will not suffer in hell alone, he is determined to go down with the disobedient children of God. We need to be ever prayerful allowing the Word of God to lead us in our lives and every endeavour on earth less we are defeated by the devil.

John goes on to reveal another vision about the judgment of mortals. He makes us understand that the first death or our demise from this earth is only a gateway to judgement day. After judgement day, depending on one’s verdict, we shall now experience the second life or the second death. The second life is the eternal life and joy in heaven and the second death is the eternal torment and agony in hell. Those whose names are in the Book of Life shall experience the second life or the eternal life but those whose names are not in the Book of Life shall experience the second death or hell. John revealed that “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15). Let us not be frightened by this revelation but rather ...”work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” (Philippians 2:12. The most important decision in a person’s life which will guarantee his or her name to be written in the Book of Life was mentioned by Peter when his listeners “were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37-38). Beloved in the Lord, we are in a period of grace, it is for this reason, Peter tells us that “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:8-10). To ensure that our names will be in the Book of Life on Judgement day Paul admonishes and appeals to us “…to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2). Dear friend, do you have the assurance or hope that your name is in the Book of Life? How is your relationship with the Lord in all your endeavours? Are you faithful and obedient to His Word and always doing His will in your life?

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith and direct our path all the days of our lives so that our names shall be written in the Book of Life on the day of judgement. Amen.