February 11: OVERCOMING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:14

The Great Controversy that began in Heaven will be resolved on the earth and put totally to rest. Knowing the timing and location of hellfire, also called the lake of fire, is very helpful in gaining a true perspective on God’s great plan to bring an end to sin. The personifications of Death and Hades provide a figurative way to emphasize the fact that neither will continue to exist after the destruction of Satan and those who followed him. The current reality of Death will become a thing of the past. Therefore, there will be no need for Hades (Greek for grave). Think of it! No cemeteries anywhere! As it is now, they are getting bigger and bigger…

Sin itself is personified by the LORD in his conversation with Cain before he murdered his little brother: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7 NIV) The LORD also appeals to us, saying, “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).

Fortunately, for all who desire to gain understanding of God’s great plan, there is a logical and linear path laid out from beginning to end in His Word. In the world as it is now, the idea of death looms, lurks, and “crouches”. It is the “elephant in every room”. But our loving Lord has expressed to us His desire for us to live eternally, and He has done everything that is needed to give us life. Let us take heart that the end is in sight for the cause of death, which is sin; and the end is in sight for the instigator of sin, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan (Revelation 12:9).

For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. The wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. Psalm 37:10,20

King David’s thoughts recorded in Psalm 37 present a wonderful, poetic balance revealing God’s justice along with His beckoning to each of us to receive His provision of righteousness. David goes on to reveal the Lord’s vision through him, and because of the redemptive power in the Lord’s perfect plan, this plan has become David’s own desire:

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works. May sinners be consumed from the earth, And the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! Psalm 104:31,35

Jesus said: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

Footnote: Death and Hades were personified in John’s description when he saw Christ open the fourth seal (see 6:7-8). They aggressively rode out on horseback across the world as a perverted version of the gospel message was propagated by the fallen Dark Ages church (see also 8:12). More details are presented in the College Drive Church devotional for June 11, 2024.