The give away had been announced months ahead of time, though the actual date had been withheld. All one had to do was stop by the store and agree to the terms and then receive a ticket entitling them to the free gift. Many waited anxiously for the big event, reading papers and listening to the radio for the date to be told. Lines formed with those who eagerly waited to get their ticket. The gift would be given rain or shine on the big day. To many people it was the only thing on their minds. Finally the big date was announced. Every one flocked to get it. One by one they showed their tickets and entered to receive the free gift. Young, old, sick, healthy, they all went. When one man got to the door he was asked to show his ticket. He replied, "I don't have one." He was asked why not? "I was busy," he said, "I didn't have time. I have told others about this, I just didn't have time to come." "I'm sorry," he was told, "This has been announced for months, everyone has had opportunity." So it will be for many at the coming of Jesus.

Jesus came so that none would be lost (Matthew 18:11). Of those, however, who do not do the will of the Father in Heaven Jesus will say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). They will be lost. Believers will view the river of life in a bright land where there is no night, land free of sickness, tormenting disease (Revelation 21:4). The Bible sets a different fate at the return of Christ for those who choose to walk outside of the will of God (Revelation 22:1).

In the world today all types of un-godliness have become accepted as part of the norm. Homosexual behavior, state sanctioned same sex marriages; abortion, extra-marital sex, adulterous affairs, murder, and drug abuse, sodomite priesthood, are all hot-topics at the present. We live in an age in which the things that are "okay" are not always inline with the teachings of the Bible. In many cases those with the worst of morals are allowed to set the standards of acceptable behavior. America has even voted that character doesn't count; yet being a character is okay. Sin is "in." Sin is "hot." The Bible gives us apt descriptions of what is hotter: Hell. And, at the return of Christ many will taste that heat.

While those who overcome are enjoying eternal life in the bright land where "there shall be no night" (Revelation 21:25), it is a different scenario for the sinner. When angels sinned God sent them to Hell and they were put in "chains of darkness" (2 Peter 2:4). The NIV renders that verse as they were put into "gloomy dungeons." In both translations imagery of light is removed. God is light, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). The apostle John goes on to tell us in his first epistle that, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). The imagery that we are given of Hell is quite different.

If Heaven is a place of comfort where there is no sickness, a land of peace, Hell is quite the opposite. In the story of the "Rich man and Lazarus," Jesus tells of two departed souls (Luke 16:19-31). One, Lazarus, who goes to a land of peace at Abraham's bosom, the other, the rich man, goes on to "being in torments in Hades" (Luke 16:23). For those who do not overcome, follow the Way, eternal death is the forever torment. The "rich man" is "tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:24). So will be the fate of the "lost" at the return of Christ.

While believers are viewing "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1) as their centerpiece, a different type of river awaits those who are lost at the return of Christ. The centerpiece of their eternal life will be a "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). Revelation 20:10 describes it as "the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are." Revelation 20:10 goes on to warn us of what life will be like in this lake, "And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

The Bible not only describes Hell, but it tells us who will be its occupants. In Revelation 2:7 Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." As for those who do not overcome, those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, we are told, "anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). Who are those who will not overcome? The Bible tells us "the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). In these times of sodomite marriage, abortion, murders, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, all types of abominations, it is important to remember what Paul told the church in Corinth and what the Bible tells us; "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

In the times we live in a presidential candidate can run on the promise of not putting forward the name of any judge who is against abortion. We live in a time where states allow the union of two males or two females. We live in times where God is forbidden in our schools. The hands of judges are tied. But, at the return of Christ the ultimate judge will take the stand.

In his vision on the island of Patmos, the apostle John saw the "great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (Revelation 20:11). This judge will not worry about such catch phrases as "if it don't fit you must acquit." Judges such as Roy Bean, Joe Brown and Judy, who are known for making others cower, will themselves bow at the sight of He who sits on the great white thrown. Those who make laws against the sound teachings of Christ will answer to the only law there is: They will be judge according to their works (Revelations 20:12a).

Is your name written in that Lamb's book of Life? The Author is ready to write it there now. Jesus tells us in Revelation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Many people choose only the best spots to vacation in life and give little regard to where they will spend eternity. We cannot walk in the light and have fellowship with the darkness. John tells us, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1 John 1:6). The choice is ours. We can spend eternity on the pure river of the water of life, in the light of our Savior. Or, we can spend eternity in Hell, with its gloomy dungeons, being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone tormented day and night forever. The time is now to walk in the light. The apostle John tells us, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1John 1:7). When Jesus comes back it will be too late to turn on the light and answer the door.

Bobby Cohoon

Poplar Branch, North Carolina