February 12: HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

This final, powerful statement in chapter 20 reiterates the fact that the rebellious will meet an end. The final judgment scene at the end of chapter 20 is the conclusion of what was started in chapter 17: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” (vv.1b-2).  The essential necessity of being written in the Book of Life is made abundantly clear. The gift of salvation is extended by our God to every sinner. That would include all of us! He invites us to lay down our rebellious ways at the foot of the cross of His Son. His Spirit comes to woo and to convict each of us of adjustments that He would have us make, that our relationship with Him will flourish.

Being written in the Book of Life should never be taken for granted. Moses, as a type of Christ, offered to be blotted out of [the Lord’s] book as he pleaded for forgiveness for the guilty people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33). What a tragedy that someone who has been saved could live in such a way as to be blotted from the Lamb’s Book of Life. With the knowledge of salvation comes the responsibility to allow His sanctification to cleanse. We all have overcoming to do, and the Holy Spirit is able to successfully lead – if only we will follow His leading. To such a one, Jesus says: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5).

Today’s world is splattered with churches that present false Christs, just as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:24. Isaiah, who lived more than 700 years before Christ was shown the widespread false use of His name. Remember that the number seven symbolizes entirety. Women are a symbol for churches (Revelation 14:4). And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name to take away our reproach.” (Isaiah 4:1) The label “Christian” is co-opted by vast assemblies who believe and teach unbiblical doctrines instead of feeding the starving people the bread of life (John 6:35). And instead of being clothed in white garments, they wear [their] own apparel. The danger is very real, but protection from that danger is found in the word of God.

Seek the LORD while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

For further study: Ecclesiastes 7:26; Jeremiah 23:18-22; 50:6; Malachi 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:26; 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12; Jude 10-11