Diagram Six and Commentary

VII. COMMENTARY ON DIAGRAM SIX

A. Summarization.
(Locate A in Diagram.) At this point we want to recapitulate over all that are going to enter the Lake of Fire. There is one thing we have not covered so far, and it concerns the Christian's works that are to be burned. The Christian will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ after the Rapture, where he will receive his rewards. A Christian's life consists of good works, which are described in 1 Corinthians 3:12 as "gold, silver, and precious stones." The bad works of a Christian are described in the same verse as "wood, hay and stubble." Concerning the bad works, 1 Corinthians 3:15 states that ...

"If any man's (Christian's) works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved..." The Scripture is clear and simple that a Christian can have works that are displeasing to the Lord, but he is still saved. He will not be rewarded for them as they will be burned. So the sin (bad works) in a Christian's life does not cause loss of salvation; but loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We believe these works could very well be burned or destroyed in the Lake of Fire. To go along with this, a very interesting portion of Scripture is found in Matthew 5:28-30 :

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell.” The word “Hell” in Verse 29 and 31 is the Greek "Gehenna," the eternal Lake of Fire, not Hades. We know that the earthly body is never cast into hell. If that would be the case, there would be no need for a resurrected body. The members of the body are used to represent the works done with the body. In other words, "...if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee...”, does this refer literally to cutting off your hand? The answer is, No! But the Lord is telling us to sever our hand or eyes from the direction that is causing us to sin. The sin would then be burned in Hell causing the Christian to suffer loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:15).

Remember, we serve the Lord with all the members of our body. If we are dedicated to the Lord, then all members of our body are partakers in serving Him. If one has a bad temper, he should "cut off", that is, "keep his mouth shut" until he controls his temper. If one is looking with lust at the opposite sex, then they are to pluck out their eye or, rather, move it in another direction. In 2 John 1:8 we are told:

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a FULL REWARD."

Let us use ALL of our body to serve the Lord for a full reward. Let us be careful not to yield any part that is going to produce works that will burn, causing the Christian to suffer loss of rewards. Remember, it is not this physical body that will be cast into Hell, but the works it produces.

B. The Judgment of the Nations by Christ.
(Locate B in Diagram.) The Judgment of the Nations by Christ. The lost cast into the Lake of Fire. (Matthew 25:41)

C. The Beast and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire
(Locate C in Diagram.) The Beast and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of the Tribulation at the coming of Christ. (Revelation 19:11-21)

D. The Lost In Torment Go To The Great White Throne Judgment, Then To Hell.
(Locate D in Diagram.) All the lost from out of torment in Hades to the Great White Throne Judgment, then to Hell. (Revelation 20:11-15)

E. Wicked Angels From Tartarus To Great White Throne Judgment, Then To Hell.
(Locate E in Diagram.) The wicked angels out of Tartarus, to the Great White Throne Judgment, then to Hell. (Matthew 25:41)

F. Satan, And The Lost He Deceived, Are Cast Into The Lake Of Fire.
(Locate F in Diagram.) At the end of the Millennium, Satan and the lost he deceived are cast into the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:10)

Diagram Six is only for a brief review, or a refresher of what we have covered thus far. We now proceed to Diagram Seven on Page 54.

He Lives! A sense of darkness filled the scene
And all it symbolized
Of death, despair and vanished hopes
And dreams unrealized!
All hope had fled, They thought Christ was dead!
And they felt victimized.

Yet while they in confusion grieved,
The Lord Himself drew near;
He walked with them and talked with them
Dispelling all their fear!
Of Him they learned—their spirit burned;
And grief gave place to cheer!

How often as we travel on
(If judging by our gloom).
We act as though the Lord were dead
And Christ were in the tomb!
We moan and sigh and wonder why
We are resigned to doom.

He rose! He lives! He reigns on high!
Though powers fierce assail,
Christ is the mighty Conqueror!
Through Him you may prevail.
Let Him draw near—your spirit cheer
His purpose will not fail.

-- Marie L. Olson, From Out Of My Treasure, Edited by Don Earl Boatman