Judgment Day Excuses that Won't Work
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:00 PM
We can imagine that on "the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6), there will be many excuses. 

Let's consider some.

"But, Lord, what about all of the good that I have done?" - - -

This sounds like Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works?" 

But what will Jesus say?

"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).

What was their shortcoming? They failed to do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21). The Lord wants us to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), but all the good works in the world cannot cover sin.

"But, Lord, I was just doing what other folks were doing." - - -

Christ taught that this course of action leads to destruction: "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). 

Remember, something is not right in God's sight just because a lot of people are doing it.

"But, Lord, I was always so busy with work and everything that I didn't have time for church." - - -

A more truthful statement is that one does not make time. Jesus warned: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word" (Mark 4:19)

"Lord, I am sorry for the way that I lived. If I had a chance to do it again, I would do better." - - -

None gets a second chance. 

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). 

Our life on earth is a one-shot deal (Titus 2:12)

Let us all be certain that we are prepared for that day, so we won't need any excuses.

--- Roger Campbell, Cleveland, Tennessee
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:47 AM
Does each person have a particular appointed time to die?

Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment, Time

Many believe that since He is all powerful and all knowing, God takes people at their appointed time to die, and there is nothing that man may do to change or affect this. 

This concept of fate is not biblical, however. 

 According to Greek mythology, there are three goddesses, or fates, who determine the destiny of men, and men have no control over the course life will take. 

People express the idea of fate as they say of someone who has died, It was just his time to go, or It was her time to die, nothing could be done for her, and she would have died no matter what anyone did.

There is no question that death is inevitable for all people, but the inevitability of death does not mean that either the fates have determined a particular time for individuals to die, or that God has predetermined a particular time when He has ordained a person must die. 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28). These verses do not teach that man has a fateful, specific appointed time to die, but that death is inevitable for all mankind, and just as surely as death is inevitable, judgment must follow. 

The key is for each person to prepare for the judgment by accepting the salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of Christ.

The false idea of a predetermined fate conflicts with the teaching of scripture that each person has the free will to choose how to live, and whether to respond to God's will. 

God chooses to love and redeem us. 
He has free will. 
We, created in His image (Genesis 1:27), also have free will. 

John writes, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Since man sins and separates himself from God by choosing to transgress the law, he also has the free will to choose righteousness. 

The actions of others may influence when we die, but we have much control over when we will die. 

If we choose to risk our lives by abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, speeding on the interstate, or engaging in other risky behavior, then we take our lives into our own hands.

Along with the free will He gives us, God also makes us responsible for the consequences of our actions. He doesn't just take us [kill us] at some time He has appointed. We can choose to live as we should.

Since no one knows when he or she may die, each person needs to be ready to die at any moment. 

Paul recognized that in his service as an apostle, he had to be ready to die. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Corinthians 4:9). 
He was ready to accept this death sentence, because he had already committed all he had to Christ. He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:43 PM
Since death seals man's fate, why is there a judgment day?

Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment

Numerous times the scriptures refer to the day of judgment, the day of the Lord, or the day of Christ. On that day, the Lord will judge all mankind. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Recording his heavenly vision, John described the scene: 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).

Jesus described the scene as a great division between the sheep and the goats. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left (Matthew 25:31-33).

Many think of the great judgment day in terms of a trial, in which God weighs a person's good and bad deeds in the balance, but instead it is more a day for God to render final judgment, or give the final sentence for eternity. 

The vision of Revelation 20 describes it as the opening of the book of life, and other books describing the works of men. 

The ultimate question of the day is: Whose name is written in the Lamb's book of life? 

That is all that will really be important that day. 

Those with their names in the Lamb's book of life will rejoice as the Lord says, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).  

Those on the left will hear the awful words, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  

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

Death settles the issue of judgment. 

God judges every man according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

The idea of changing a person's eternal fate after death due to suffering in an intermediate state is absolutely foreign to scripture. 
There is no second chance! 

Jesus described the fate of a rich man, and the beggar Lazarus outside his gates. 

Both the rich man and Lazarus were in the realm of the dead, in preparation for the last great judgment day, but the rich man was in torment and Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom. In torment, the rich man cried for Lazarus to come to comfort him, but Abraham said, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (Luke 16:24-26). 

All of us will stand before God's throne someday. 
We must be prepared. 

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). 

He enters our names in the book of life as we obey His gospel.

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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•8:30 AM
Does each person have a particular appointed time to die?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity & Judgment, Time

Many believe that since He is all powerful and all knowing, God takes people at their appointed time to die, and there is nothing that man may do to change or affect this. This concept of fate is not biblical, however. According to Greek mythology, there are three goddesses, or fates, who determine the destiny of men, and men have no control over the course life will take. People express the idea of fate as they say of someone who has died, It was just his time to go, or It was her time to die, nothing could be done for her, and she would have died no matter what anyone did.

There is no question that death is inevitable for all people, but the inevitability of death does not mean that either the fates have determined a particular time for individuals to die, or that God has predetermined a particular time when He has ordained a person must die. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28). These verses do not teach that man has a fateful, specific appointed time to die, but that death is inevitable for all mankind, and just as surely as death is inevitable, judgment must follow. The key is for each person to prepare for the judgment by accepting the salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of Christ.

The false idea of a predetermined fate conflicts with the teaching of scripture that each person has the free will to choose how to live, and whether to respond to God's will. God chooses to love and redeem us. He has free will. We, created in His image (Genesis 1:27), also have free will. John writes, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Since man sins and separates himself from God by choosing to transgress the law, he also has the free will to choose righteousness. The actions of others may influence when we die, but we have much control over when we will die. If we choose to risk our lives by abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, speeding on the interstate, or engaging in other risky behavior, then we take our lives into our own hands. Along with the free will He gives us, God also makes us responsible for the consequences of our actions. He doesn't just take us [kill us] at some time He has appointed. We can choose to live as we should.
Since no one knows when he or she may die, each person needs to be ready to die at any moment. Paul recognized that in his service as an apostle, he had to be ready to die. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Corinthians 4:9). He was ready to accept this death sentence, because he had already committed all he had to Christ. He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:33 AM

Since the Devil can't be everyone at once, does he use demons to tempt people?




Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Eternity & Judgment, Satan, Hell

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Devil is described as "the god of this world." Other scriptures giving similar designations are: John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; and Ephesians 6:12.

We are warned to "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion roameth about, seeking whom he may devour" 1 Peter 5:8. This confirms the devil cannot be all places at all times. However, this is not to say he commands his minions to do his bidding around the world. Demon possession is no longer a reality in today's world (Zech 13:2).

The influence of the devil is found everywhere. When one chooses not to do the will of God, there is only one other who is left to be served, and that is the devil (Romans 6:12-18). When we sin, it is not demons messing with out minds. We all have free will, and God always provides a way of escape when we are tempted to sin (1 Cor 10:13).
At death, all souls go the hadean world (Luke 16:19-31). It is here they reside until the Day of Judgment (Rev 20:12-15). Disembodied spirits ("ghosts") do not roam restlessly around the world.

[ SOURCE ]
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:09 PM
Where do our souls go at death?


Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment

There is no consensus among Bible scholars concerning the destination of one's soul at death. However, I will give you the results of my study.

I believe the souls of all the dead go to the hadean realm (Hades) and await the Judgment.

This is what Jesus taught in Luke 16:19-31 in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

According to this text, Hades is divided into two dwelling places, one for the righteous and the other for the unrighteous. The place of the righteous is a place of comfort (v 25) described as Abraham's bosom (v 22). From the cross, Jesus referred to this place as Paradise (Luke 23:43). The waiting place of the unrighteous is a place of torment (vv 23-25, 28). Peter calls this place Tartarus in 2 Peter 2:4 (cf Jude 6). Most scholars agree that torment and Tartarus are the same place. Paradise and Torment are separated by a great impassible gulf (Luke 16:26).

Jesus said in John 5:28-29 that when He returns, "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation."

2 Corinthians 5:10 says that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive the things done in our own bodies, according to that which we have done, whether it be good or bad."

Revelation 20:12 teaches a single day of judgment for all men, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the dead were judged according to their works."

There will be only one resurrection of the dead, subsequently there shall be only one judgment. It appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment (Heb 9:27).
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•4:36 PM
Are the dead, before the resurrection, conscious, or do they just sleep?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity & Judgment

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Paul refers to the dead as them that slept, but refers not to the soul, but the body of the dead.

The body, separated from the soul, or spirit by death, sleeps. The soul, in Hades, awaits the judgment. John writes, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13).

The dead rest from their labours on earth, but they are not unconscious.

Some teach a doctrine called soul sleep, saying that the soul loses all consciousness at death. But this would require not only a resurrection of the body at the judgment, but also a re-creation of the soul, because it would have ceased to exist as it was in life.

The scriptures do not teach this hopeless doctrine.

Paul told Timothy, I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Philippians 1:23).

How could Paul say that it was better for him to die, and leave his vital ministry, if death would mean a cessation of all consciousness?

Paul also wrote, We are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8).

Certainly Paul would not be confident about death, if death is an unconscious state. Paul spoke of being absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. This would be meaningless if the soul were unconscious.

In examining the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, it is obvious that both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, able to communicate, and able to remember.

The rich man was conscious of where he was, and why he was there.
He communicated to Abraham.
Though God may have specially permitted the rich man to speak across the great gulf fixed by God, nevertheless, he did communicate. He remembered the brothers he left behind, and he knew he suffered. I am tormented in this flame (Luke 16:24). He certainly was not unconscious, or soul sleeping.

Revelation 6 records the scene of the souls of martyrs under the altar. These souls were conscious, crying out for vengeance on those who had killed them.

They were not soul sleeping.

The psalmist wrote, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15).

Would God really want his followers to cease their work in His behalf and sink into an unconscious existence?

Undoubtedly, the dead are conscious.

[SOURCE]
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