Sermon Devotional: Does Everyone Go To Heaven?
Sermon Title: Does Everyone Go To Heaven?
Scripture: Revelation 19:11-20:15 (ESV)
In our sermon series on the book of Revelation, we come to the enormously important Chapter 20 this week. Take a few minutes now to read the entire chapter. Go ahead. I will wait.
As a reminder, the main message of the Book of Revelation is – Jesus Christ will return in victory to judge evil, vindicate His people, and fully consummate God’s eternal kingdom. We saw this second coming described last week in chapter 19 with Jesus returning visibly as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16). This Kingdom consummation was also previewed back in Revelation 11:15-19. “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever’” (11:15).
This week we see clearly the final judgment of evil and the vindication for those who believe in Christ. After Satan (the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil) has one final, brief opportunity to “deceive the nations” (20:3), he, along with the beast and false prophet, are “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (20:10). This perfectly reflects what Jesus said when discussing end times. “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Mt 25:41). And then note the final verse in Revelation 20. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he [also] was thrown into the lake of fire” (20:15).
The big question then—How does my name become written in the book of life? How then am I saved from being “thrown into the lake of fire”? How am I saved to eternal life with Christ Jesus? The answer to these questions is both simple and complex.
Back in Revelation 13:8, we got a hint as it was called “the Lamb’s book of life.” And in Revelation 12:11, we are told we triumph “by the blood of the Lamb.” This is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The simple truth is that we are saved in and through Christ alone. Our name is written in the Lamb’s book of life when we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus who died for us.
But this confession and trust in Jesus is more than “fire insurance.” Believing in Jesus is more than an insurance policy which guarantees that we avoid the lake of fire that awaits those who reject the cleansing, redeeming blood of the Lamb and the Lordship of Christ. Believing in Jesus is a complex life of doubt and belief, of sorrow and joy, of failure and victory, of self-protection, delusion and of humility. It is the complexity of a sinful heart that knows the humiliation of repentance and the gracious reconciliation of a merciful God by the blood of the Lamb.
We are saved by the blood of the Lamb in the “hour I first believed.”
We are being saved day-by-day as we apprentice ourselves to Christ our Master and our Lord through God the Spirit. We are “work[ing] out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is work[ing] within you” (Phil 2:12-13).
And we will be saved ultimately and finally when we are face-to-face with Jesus. “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels” (Rev 3:5).
The Lamb himself will open the book and find our names there. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Believe. Repent. Follow the risen Christ – all the way to eternity.
Consider—
╬ We each face countless complexities in our daily lives. Anxieties, doubts, relational conflicts, spiritual battles are with us each day. We are assured, however, that God is with his people and that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:27-29). Also, according to Revelation 20, Satan’s ultimate defeat is completely guaranteed. Reflect on this twofold promise: we are secure in Christ and evil will be judged. How do these promises inform the way you face each day’s troubles?
╬ Revelation 20 ends with the sobering reality of the lake of fire for those whose names are not in the Book of Life. How does this reality fuel your urgency, prayers, and compassion for sharing the Gospel with people in your life who do not know Christ?
╬ Heavenly Father, thank You that because of Your saving grace, we do not need to fear the final judgment, but can stand secure in the righteousness of Jesus. Give us urgency and compassion for the world around us. Help us to shine the Light of Jesus and to share the good news of redemption. It is in His name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 19:11-20:15 (ESV)
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
In our sermon series on the book of Revelation, we come to the enormously important Chapter 20 this week. Take a few minutes now to read the entire chapter. Go ahead. I will wait.
As a reminder, the main message of the Book of Revelation is – Jesus Christ will return in victory to judge evil, vindicate His people, and fully consummate God’s eternal kingdom. We saw this second coming described last week in chapter 19 with Jesus returning visibly as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16). This Kingdom consummation was also previewed back in Revelation 11:15-19. “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever’” (11:15).
This week we see clearly the final judgment of evil and the vindication for those who believe in Christ. After Satan (the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil) has one final, brief opportunity to “deceive the nations” (20:3), he, along with the beast and false prophet, are “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (20:10). This perfectly reflects what Jesus said when discussing end times. “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Mt 25:41). And then note the final verse in Revelation 20. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he [also] was thrown into the lake of fire” (20:15).
The big question then—How does my name become written in the book of life? How then am I saved from being “thrown into the lake of fire”? How am I saved to eternal life with Christ Jesus? The answer to these questions is both simple and complex.
Back in Revelation 13:8, we got a hint as it was called “the Lamb’s book of life.” And in Revelation 12:11, we are told we triumph “by the blood of the Lamb.” This is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The simple truth is that we are saved in and through Christ alone. Our name is written in the Lamb’s book of life when we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus who died for us.
But this confession and trust in Jesus is more than “fire insurance.” Believing in Jesus is more than an insurance policy which guarantees that we avoid the lake of fire that awaits those who reject the cleansing, redeeming blood of the Lamb and the Lordship of Christ. Believing in Jesus is a complex life of doubt and belief, of sorrow and joy, of failure and victory, of self-protection, delusion and of humility. It is the complexity of a sinful heart that knows the humiliation of repentance and the gracious reconciliation of a merciful God by the blood of the Lamb.
We are saved by the blood of the Lamb in the “hour I first believed.”
We are being saved day-by-day as we apprentice ourselves to Christ our Master and our Lord through God the Spirit. We are “work[ing] out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is work[ing] within you” (Phil 2:12-13).
And we will be saved ultimately and finally when we are face-to-face with Jesus. “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels” (Rev 3:5).
The Lamb himself will open the book and find our names there. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Believe. Repent. Follow the risen Christ – all the way to eternity.
Consider—
╬ We each face countless complexities in our daily lives. Anxieties, doubts, relational conflicts, spiritual battles are with us each day. We are assured, however, that God is with his people and that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:27-29). Also, according to Revelation 20, Satan’s ultimate defeat is completely guaranteed. Reflect on this twofold promise: we are secure in Christ and evil will be judged. How do these promises inform the way you face each day’s troubles?
╬ Revelation 20 ends with the sobering reality of the lake of fire for those whose names are not in the Book of Life. How does this reality fuel your urgency, prayers, and compassion for sharing the Gospel with people in your life who do not know Christ?
╬ Heavenly Father, thank You that because of Your saving grace, we do not need to fear the final judgment, but can stand secure in the righteousness of Jesus. Give us urgency and compassion for the world around us. Help us to shine the Light of Jesus and to share the good news of redemption. It is in His name we pray. Amen.