What the hell? Why does destruction, death, and hell exist?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding Proverbs 9:10

This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall bear report of thee,and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. Deuteronomy 2:25

But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luke 12:5 (see Luke 12-13)

Talking with my brother last night about the possibility that he may have received an unBiblical understanding of God and Hell, this came into my inbox: Three Views of Hell in Christian Tradition.

Looking at the fires in LA, we prayed this catastrophe would bring people to repentance. This is my view on why bad things happen, it's God's wake up call that all the good things we enjoy come from Him. 

The Beginning of Wisdom, by Chuck Missler is a good word about the healthy fear of the Lord. He says that our top stewardship responsibility is not our jobs, money or role as father or family member. He says it's our top stewardship responsibility to steward our heart. Because out of our heart flows everything else. 

The book of Proverbs is God's book on "How to wise up and live" beyond keeping laws, it focuses on leading an aggressively dynamic life through. Proverbs is God's book defining proper and improper attitudes, conduct, and characteristics referred to in succinct, penetrating ways. It shows four classes of people who desperately need wisdom (Proverbs 1:22); the Scorner, the fool, and the simple.

• Scorner (mocks God's wisdom, never profit from rebuke, one day will be judged). Proverbs 14:6;21:24;9:7-8;13:1;19:29, Jesus shows God is patience has a limit Luke 13:6-9
• Fools (dense, sluggish and self satisfied, self confident, mocks sins, hates instruction) Proverbs 1:7,22;12:15;29:11;14:9 - Jesus gives the cure in Luke 12:13-21; “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
• Simple (believes everything and lacks discernment and understanding) Proverbs 14:15;7:7;22:3, Jesus shows how evil spirits that have held people in darkness for most of their life can be removed - resulting in praising God Luke 13:10-17.
• Wise, Listen to instruction, obey what they hear, store up what they learn, win others to the Lord, flee from sin, watch their tongue, are diligent in their daily work (Proverbs 1:5;10:8;10:14;11:30;14:16;16:23;10:5), Jesus shows, it's about relationship with Him Luke 13:22-30, see Knowing Jesus, the will of God

Reminds me of People have four dispositions, three are toxic, one is from God

 Ways to meditate on the Bible passage your reading.

What my life will mean 200 years from now (Coram Deo)

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People crave the super natural, shouldn't they see it in the church?

 I was watching Megan Fox goes to HELL!? What she says on Jimmy Kimmel will shock you, gives a secular version of hell, followed by Bill Wiese giving the Biblical version of hell. I need to rewatch and write down all the scripture references. The program is provided by Isaiah Saldivar whose life verse is 2 Cor 10:4: 

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ  - 2 Cor 10:3-5

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Stop disobedience, don't remain ignorant of the salvation offered by God and confirmed by SIGNS (Hebrews 2:1-4)

I'm enjoying New Believer’s Bible, as it really brings clarity to big questions most everyone comes across. "Why would a good God send anyone to Hell?"

The question of eternal hell, separation from God has been a hard one. In this Bible, Greg Laurie answers the question with the perspective from Hebrew 2:1-4.

The question behind the question is "If God loves people, why doesn't he just save everyone?"

 - God does love us, but will no force us to believe. He has given us free will to make our own choices.

 - God doesn't want anyone to spend eternity in hell. In fact, he earnestly desires that everyone spend all eternity with Him in Heaven. Scripture tells us, "the Lord...does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone t repent (2 Peter 3:9)"

 - God gives us a loving and patient invitation to come to him; "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)" and "Come. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life (Rev 22:17)"

The truth is, that there are some things only God can do - such as cleanse us of our sin, forgive us and justify us. At the same time, there are some things only we can do - such as answer his call to come to him, believe in him, and repent of our sins. God does indeed love everyone (John 3:16, Romans 5;8). But he has given us a wonderful and dangerous gift - the gift of free will. God has given us the opportunity to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan, Heaven and hell. God will not force salvation and forgiveness on us. It is our choice to say yes or no. 

All those who end up in hell are there because of their willful and deliberate decision to reject God's offer of forgiveness. As the saying goes, "The gates of hell are locked from the inside."

"So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose." NLT

The amplified Bible puts it this way

"For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. For if the message given through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." AMP

Stop disobedience, don't remain ignorant of the salvation offered by God and confirmed by SIGNS

How is it determined that someone will go to Hell in Christianity?

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How is it determined that someone will go to Hell in Christianity?

 On Thursday this week we had our annual Inter-Faith Dialog at work. Representatives from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faiths talked about death and the afterlife. We had over 75 people attending and answered pre-arranged questions.

We allowed participants to ask follow-up questions in chat and one person asked, "How is it determined that someone will go to Hell in Christianity?"

I thought about Hell as an experience for those not dressed (Matthew 22:2-14), the parable is like "you believed but why didn't put on the clothes?" God's makes the way, but we walk the path by Faith.

My approach to a conversation with her is not to preach but listen and hear her questions and concerns. Then work towards responding Biblically and compassionately - what started conversationally did get preachy, but she was kind and will hopefully want to join our little group meetings on Tuesdays. 

So here's how it went, I scheduled a meeting Friday, asked about her background and shared my testimony: When we see our value in God's eyes our lives change (Psalm 139). I shared that Jesus' death on the cross removed the barrier to God, and God has sent his Spirit to remind us of Jesus and trust in Him. People ultimately go to Hell because they reject God and I read John 3:16-21,36. She hadn't heard that before and thanked me for sharing with her. She really enjoyed the dialog and expressed an interest to continue. 

Here's the deeper explanation I prepared, I love the challenge to try and condense big ideas into a nutshell, as I do this it ends up growing and making more fruit than I can communicate. It's fun to allow the Lord to guide me in his truths.

John 3:16-21,36;2 Peter 3:9;15; Romans 1:18-25; Romans 2:14; Acts 2:17; Romans 11:29; Matt 12:31

God has made himself known generally in the creation and available to all people specifically through Christ. Because of Jesus (life/death/resurrection/sending his Spirit), we are in this Grace period where he is pouring out his Spirit on all people. This is the call to repent (turn to God) and believe (trust) and it’s irrevocable. The only reason for anyone to be separated from God is by rejecting God’s truth, rejecting God himself - this is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit – the only thing left that can never be undone once we die in this life.

Psalm 139:23–24” ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’

God call us into a relationship with Him, he’s ready to answer your question with the same measure you respond to him. 

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Knowledge of SIN cultivates a conscience and heart for God

Reading God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message, chapter 6 the Motive and the result - Ray gives some compelling reasons why many in the church lack the "things that accompany salvation (Hebrews 6:9)." He says that the Law brings knowledge of sin and leads to a 100% turning from sin to God. As Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no - anything else is from the devil (Matt 5:37)."

It wasn't until COVID 19 that I realized how wishy-washy I've been in my commitments and how strong I've allowed my bad habits to become. In a study of James, BeMature I realized several fallacious ideas that had created a beach-head for demonic "maybe now" or 98% repentance. I've been here before and really appreciate the ministry of 2 Peter 1:1-11 that talks about God's gifts to live a godly life in him but also making every effort to add to your faith (Personally) and Ephesians 4:1-32 talking about making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit (with God and God's people). But Ray's book shows how many people trample the gospel and end wishy-washy commitments with bitterness towards those who gave them so-called "good news." Wishy-washy commitments come from not understanding sin and create an "inoculated and bitter 'backslider'" who the Bible calls worse off now than before (never saved Matthew 13:20-21 but think they were Hebrews 6:4-6).
 - On a side note, as I grew up in an "easy believe and receive" culture of "say a prayer asking Jesus into your heart" every Sunday culture. I read the parable of the sower as every seed that germinates is "saved." As I learned more about Jesus and his teaching it became clear that only 1 of the 4 soils was saved, and so it became known to me as the parable of soils rather than the sower, and it makes sense - a prepared field is ready to accept seed and produce a bountiful crop. 

 - It's still the parable of the Sower - because it's about God who is the one who prepares the field.

So we need to cultivate the ground, giving the knowledge of sin to cultivate a conscience and heart for God, but how?
 - don't start with Jesus can improve your life, but rather warn people about the day of judgment. "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Heb 9:27)."
 - "God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30,31)."
 - "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4)."

Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but it is not legitimate to use these fruits as a drawing card for salvation. If we do, the sinner will respond with an impure motive, lacking repentance.
 - Christians have "joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13)." but read all of Romans!

The product of man-centered gospel is people come lacking repentance, without which they cannot be saved (Acts 2:38, 3:19). This is why Jesus commanded that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47).
 - Superficial repentance can be 100% sincere, "yes, I want joy and peace for myself"
 - Superficial repentance creates backsliders because they don't understand the wrath to come. Remember Romans 7:7, "I would not have known sin except through the law."
 - Superficial repentance is at best horizontal, to make amends with others.
 - True repentance acknowledges sin is against God, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and does this evil in Your sight (Psalm 51:4)."
 -  Remember when Joseph was tempted sexually, he said "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God (Gen 39:9)."
 - Remember the prodigal son admitted, "I have sinned against heaven (Luke 15:21)."
 - We must preach to exercise "repentance toward God (Acts 20:21)."

Following up with a false convert is like putting a stillborn baby into intensive care. Neither approach solves the problem.
 - Deliverance and Discipleship: You can't deliver a person from the flesh and you can't disciple a demon. We deliver the person from the demon through prayer and fasting, then disciple the freed person - teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded.

The Law converts the soul (Psalm 19:7), so that the person becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17)

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Hell as an experience for those not dressed (Matthew 22:2-14)

I've been preparing for Christianity 101 Destiny (happening at work in two days). In my study of the wonderful truths that of the resurrection portrayed as "new clothes" we must put on, giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord.

Isaiah 1:18; 61:10; 1 Corinthians 15:53-58; Colossians 3:12-17 ;1 Peter 1:3-9;Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 3:12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:4-11

Came across, Hosea 13:14

“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;

    I will redeem them from death."

from the Dictionary of Bible Themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes Scripture index copyright Martin H. Manser, 2009. As Editor, Martin Manser wishes to thank all those who compiled or edited the NIV Thematic Study Bible, on which this work is based.

Hell as an experience
The state of final separation from God, and so from all light, love, peace, pleasure and fulfilment.
Hell is separation from God
2Th 1:8-10 See also Mt 7:23; Mt 8:12; Mt 25:32; Rev 21:8
The final state of the wicked is one of eternal punishment
Mt 25:41-46 “eternal punishment” means the punishment that is part of, and belongs to, the final order of things that follows this present age. This is usually, though not invariably, understood as an unending process of punishment consciously experienced by the wicked. See also Jude 7
Biblical expressions for final punishment
God’s wrath Jn 3:36 See also Dt 32:22; Zep 1:18; Mt 3:7; Ro 2:5; 1Th 1:10; Rev 19:15-16
Torment Lk 16:23-24 See also Mt 8:29; Rev 14:11; Rev 20:10
Corruption Ps 55:23; 2Pe 1:4
Destruction Gal 6:8 See also Dt 7:10; Ps 88:11; Jn 17:12; Ro 9:22; Php 3:18-19; 2Th 2:3; Rev 17:8
Unquenchable fire Jude 7 See also Isa 66:24; Mt 3:12; Mt 18:8-9; Heb 10:27; Rev 19:20
Intense darkness, emphasising utter isolation Jude 13 See also Mt 22:13; 2Pe 2:17; Jude 6 (Matt 22:2-14)
Death Jn 8:21 See also Job 28:22; Pr 15:11; Isa 28:15; Hos 13:14; Ro 6:23; 1Co 15:26,54-55
The second death Rev 20:14-15 See also Rev 20:6; Rev 21:8
The finality of hell
Lk 16:26 See also Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26-27; Rev 16:11

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John sees God's redemptive plan completed in Christ's return

Book of Revelation
Anyone with ears, let him hear what the Spirit says: 

AIM: Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15)

A) John receives Jesus' message blessing everyone and seven churches
(1) John's revelation, received during worship, is explained by Jesus himself
(2:1-11) Jesus emphasizes perseverance, truth and love for Ephesus and Smyrna
(2:12-3:6) Jesus emphasizes repentance for Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis
(3:7-22) Jesus emphasizes perseverance and discipline for Philadelphia and Laodicea

B) John sees heavenly perspective of God's witnesses and plan
(4) John’s Spirit sees heaven in perfect worship of God
(5) Lamb of God is praised for taking the sealed scroll

C) God's mercy, salvation and judgement is revealed in seals, trumpets and bowls
(6) Lamb opens six seals bringing calamity, judgement and wrath
(7) 144,000 sealed, ending tribulation with innumerable people saved fulfilling prophecies
(8-9) Lamb's seventh seal brings prayer and six trumpets for repentance
(10-11) Angel's scroll, two witnesses and the seventh trumpet revealed
(parenthetical: The gospel and it's consequences explained)

• (12) Messiah is born; war breaks out in heaven and earth
• (13) Beast conquers the world, another beast forces blasphemous worship
• (14) New song, gospel proclaimed and final harvest

D) Eternal destinations; Lake of fire for everyone not written in the book of life (15-16) Seven angels equipped with God's wrath ruin the earth

(17) Doom of the great prostitute and beast fulfills God's Word
(18) Babylon's doom is total, impacting the whole world
(19) Saved people praise God for judgement against promoters of sin
(20:1-10) Satan imprisoned while Christians reign 1,000 years before Satan's doom
(20:11-21:8) God abolishes sin and death, creating a new heaven and earth
(21:9-22:5) Christ's bride shown as a beautiful city of God
(22:6-21) Everything revealed to John says REPENT! Jesus is coming soon!


Revelation 20:11 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.

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Everything revealed to John says REPENT! Jesus is coming soon!

Revelation 22:6-21
AIM: Everyone who is thirsty, can come and drink in new life in Jesus Christ

A) Everything John has seen and heard will come to pass soon
(6) Angel to John, Everything heard and seen is trustworthy and true, sent from Lord God who inspires prophets, tell servants what's happening soon

• 2 Peter 1:20-21 - Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

(7) "Look I'm coming soon! Blessed who obey words of prophecy in this book"
(8-9) John worships angel but he being a fellow servant (brothers/prophets/all who obey) says "No, worship only God"
(10) "Don't seal up, time is near"

• Previously sealed up because it was distant future Daniel 8:26, 12:4, 9

Application: Who will you tell the good news of already fulfilled prophecies about Jesus (Isaiah 53) too?

B) Human history will culminate into a separation of vile from holy

(11) Let people continue as they are wrong/vile verses right/holy

• Matthew 13:24-30 Wheat and tares explained Matthew 13:38
•  New song, gospel proclaimed and final harvest Rev 14

(12-13) "Look I'm coming soon, bring reward/repay all according to deeds. I am Alpha, Omega, first, last, beginning and end" (Rev 1:8; 1:17-18; 21:6-7; Isaiah 44:6; 48:12)
(14) Blessed are those who wash their robes (7 of 7 blessings) permitted to enter, eat from tree of life
(15) Outside are dogs/sorcerers/sexually immoral/murderers/idol worshipers who love to live a lie
(16) "I Jesus sent angel, message for churches, both Root and offspring of David, bright morning star

• Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12; Root of Jesse
• 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 2:28 Jesus is The Bright Morning Star, Satan is counterfeit (Isaiah 14:12)

Application: How can you know the truth from counterfeit religions and lies? How can you keep you "robes clean"? When will you come to the Lord Jesus in confession and repentance?

C) The Spirit and the Bride say "Come" to the thirsty and those desiring God
(17) Spirit & Bride say "Come" Let anyone who hears say "Come", anyone thirsty come, anyone who desires

• John 4:7-26,39-42 water Jesus gives is living water, becomes in you a bubbling spring, welling up to eternal life
• John 1:33 Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit
• John 3:5 we are born of water, but also need to be born of Spirit
• John 7:38 whoever believes in Jesus rivers of living water will flow from within them

(18-19) Everyone who hears: don't add anything or remove

• Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, non will disappear until accomplished

(20) faithful witness all these things, "yes I am coming soon!" Amen come Lord Jesus

(21) Grace of Lord Jesus be with God's holy people

• 2 Corinthians 13:14 Grace of Jesus, Love of God, fellowship of Holy Spirit
• Grace that you have been saved (Eph 2:8), Because of the love of the Father (Genesis 3:21-24;John 3:16) by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)
• Revelation 2:7 the one who conquers will eat the tree of life, in the paradise of God
• 2 Corinthians 5:27 anyone who is in Christ is a new creation
• Galatians 2:20 Christ lives in me, I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
• Romans 3:24 Justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Application: 

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-wheat-tares.html
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Alpha-And-Omega
http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/root-of-jesse/
http://www.gotquestions.org/morning-star.html
https://www.openbible.info/topics/grace_of_the_lord_jesus_christ

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Saved people praise God for judgement against promoters of sin

Revelation 19
AIM: Every person saved or lost has an immortal soul
A) Those saved by God praise him for his just judgement of corrupted 'Babylon'
(1) After this (Rev 15-18), heard a great crowd shouting "Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)!

• Salvation (Author of Salvation, charity, mercy, love, hope) and 
• glory (Worthy of our attention, devotion, affections) and 
• power (Creator of heaven and earth, all that has life, Lord ending authority)
• belong to our God (not "my" god, our God - one holy God we know, love and worship)

(2) true, just are his judgments;

• Condemned great prostitute who corrupted earth with immorality/adulteries
• Avenged murder of his servants

(3) again shouted: "Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)!

• smoke from her ascends forever and ever!" (Every person has an immortal soul: Ecclesiastes 12:7; Daniel 12:2-3;Matthew 25:46;1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

(4) twenty-four elders and four living creature/beings fell down and worshiped God "Amen, Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)", like 4 others times

• Rev 4:4-11 worship in heaven (holy, holy, holy, worthy to receive glory/honor/power as creator); 
• Rev 5:8 Jesus took the scroll, living creature/being said "come" for the seals being opened
• Rev 7:9-12 praising God for salvation of multitude from every tribe, people and language standing in white robes before God (and palm branches! Leviticus 23:40;John 12:13)
• Rev 11:15-19 God has begun to reign in power

(Rev 19:5) God (voice from throne) says, "Praise our God you servants who fear him least to greatest"

(6) Great multitude like roar of mighty ocean/crashing peals of thunders shout: "Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)! For the our Lord God Almighty reigns.

(7) Let us rejoice, be glad, give him honor/glory - wedding of the Lamb, bride has made herself ready

• A big day, meaningful event - (not a first date but a fulfillment of a promise at engagement)
• (8) She's given the fine linen (represents the good deeds of God's holy People, army in Rev 19:14)
• (9) Blessed are those invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb (this is #4 of Seven blessings in Revelation explain faith, eternal life and sanctification)

(10) John worships the angel but is admonished, "No, don't worship me, I am a servant of God - like you and the others who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. This prophecy is to give clear witness for Jesus (Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus) - 

• 1 Peter 1:12-21; or prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Application: What are the names of people you know, who haven't professed faith in Jesus to you? When will you ask them, 'What do you know about Jesus'?

B) Jesus brings beast, false prophet to eternal justice and kills all their followers
(11) Heaven opened (Ezekiel 1:1 heavens opened saw visions of God, Revelation 4:1 door open in heaven, come up here I'll show you...), white horse (Revelation 6:2 rider held a bow, given crown, bent on conquest), rider named Faithful  and True -

• Who is this Rider? Revelation 1:5 faithful witness, firstborn from the dead - he freed us from our sins by his blood also Revelation 3:14 to Laodicea he's the Amen, faithful and true witness, ruler of God's creation.
• Revelation 3:7 to Philadelphia, holy and true - holds the keys open/no one can shut, shuts/ no one can open and John 14:6 "I am the way, the TRUTH and the life..."
• he judges fairly (John 4 woman at the well)
• wages righteous war (Revelation 17:14 they asked for it and later they loose; Revelation 19:19,21)

(12) Eyes like flames of fire (Matthew 28:3 like lightening), many crowns on head. Name written on him no one understood except himself
(13) wore robe dipped in blood, title was the Word of God (John 1:1 - Word can be thought of as the total message of God to man (Acts 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:13))
(14) armies of heaven followed him also riding white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean
(15) Out his mouth sharp sword (Psalm 2:9; Isaiah 11:4 rod of his mouth... breath will slay the wicked)

• Treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty; (Rev 14:14-20)

(16) his robe at his thigh written the title "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"
(17-18) Then an angel standing in the sun said to all birds "come...great supper of God - eat flesh of all people..."
(19) beast/kings/armies gather to fight, (20) beast/false prophet captured, thrown ALIVE in lake of fire (burning sulfur) - performed miracles-deluded those who received mark of the beast (21) rest were killed with sword from riders mouth, birds gorged on flesh
Principal: God final judgement against sin is terrifying and certain
Application: What habitual sin in my life do I need the fear of God to help me repent? What do I need him to surgically remove (cut out of my life) from my heart with his precision scalpel (Matthew 5:30)?

Immortal soul of mankind: http://www.gotquestions.org/human-soul-mortal-immortal.html
Rev 19:11 http://biblehub.com/revelation/19-11.htm
Rev 19:12 word of God http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Bible-Word-God.html
titles of God: http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/namesofgod.html

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Doom of the great prostitute and beast fulfills God's Word

Revelation 17
AIM: Satan deceives people for their eternal destruction

A) John is show a great prostitute on a beast
(1) one of seven angels, who poured the bowls - "Come I'll show the judgement/punishment/doom going to great prostitute/harlot, rules many waters (influencing nations)"

• Isaiah 46-47, Ezekiel 16:23

(2) kings committed adultery, people who belong to the world, drunk by wine of her immorality
(3) angle took John to wilderness, woman sitting on

• scarlet beast, 
• seven heads, 
• ten horns, 
• blasphemies against God written all over it

(4) woman

• wore purple/scarlet clothes, 
• gold, precious stones, pearls, 
• held a golden cup filled with abominable/obscenities/filth/impurities of her immorality/adulteries
• (5) Mysterious name: Babylon the Great, Mother of all prostitutes (false religions, heresies) and Obscenities/Abominations in the World/of the earth 
• (6) she's drunk with blood of God's holy people, witnesses/martyred for Jesus (bore testimony to Jesus), Rev 13:1-10
• John's starred/marveled/ completely astonished/amazed

Application: How am I compromising my testimony with immorality, false religion and wealth?

B) Angel explains who the woman and beast are

(7) angel "wonder/marvel/amazed/astonished? I'll explain the mystery.."

(8) beast, once was, now is not, will come from abyss

• bottomless pit, dwelling place of demons (Matthew 8:28-34 Demon possess with legion)
• go to destruction/perdition/ eternal destruction (Hell)
• Inhabitants of earth, who belong to this world, not in the book of life from the creation of the world...amazed at the reappearance of this beast who died yet is

(9) This calls for mind [with/which has] wisdom/understanding

• Seven heads of beast represent seven hills where woman sits/rules, also seven kings
• (10) five kings already fallen, sixth now reigns, seventh yet to come but for reign will be brief
• (11) Scarlet beast (from Rev 17: 3,8) is the eight king of/belongs to the seven heading to destruction/perdition/hell
• (12) ten horns, ten kings not yet risen to power, will reign with beast a brief moment
• (13) One purpose/mind, all agree - give their power/authority to beast
• (14) wage war against the Lamb (Christ) - Lamb overcomes/defeats/triumphs over them - He is Lord of lords, King of kings (Hallelujah - Messiah (Handel) and those with him called, chosen, faithful followers

Application: How do I use wisdom and understanding to help people be freed from Satan's deception?

C) Angel explains the beast hates and devours people, fulfilling God's word

(15) Angel said, "waters you saw...peoples, multitudes from every nations and languages

(16) Scarlet beast, his ten horns hate the prostitute, 

• strip her naked (stripped of power/influence), eat her flesh, burn her remains with fire (Luke 16:19–31 Rich man and Lazarus)
• (17) God put a plan into their hearts/minds (Rev 17:13) to accomplish his purposes - they give authority to scarlet beast so/until the words of God are fulfilled

(18) the woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth/world

Application: Who will I share the truth about eternal hell with?

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