And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
Genesis 19:17

“Escape for Your Life”. This is a sobering admonition that needs thoughtful consideration. It is a warning to a man living in the midst of corruption and sin. His name is Lot. But this warning is not only to Lot. It is a warning to every single human being to ‘Escape for Their Life’. The urgency behind this warning stems from (a) the presence of Sin, (b) the impending Judgment of God and (c) the provision of a Way of Escape.

Abram and Lot in Canaan

The Book of Genesis narrates the story of Abram and Lot, his nephew. Abram adopted Lot after both their fathers died (Genesis 11:27– 12:1-4). As both men prospered in Canaan, their substantial possessions became too burdensome for the land to sustain them (Genesis 13:2-7).

Abram took the initiative to address the situation, recognising the need for a resolution. A consensus was reached, and Lot was given the first right to choose a new land for himself. Scripture reveals that Lot, driven by his desires, selected the most favourable and fertile land, abundant with lush vegetation, for his livestock. This decision offers us insight into Lot’s mindset and priorities (Genesis 13:8-13).

“Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.”
Genesis 13:11b-13

Sodom and Gomorrah: The Land Of Sin.

The saying is true that all that glitters is not gold. Lot saw the good vegetation and made a choice. But his choice was horrendous. This choice plunged him into the grips of sin. This points to how vital our choices in life are. We must weigh our every decision by the word of God and its warnings. A bad decision can land us in trouble and into sin. In every decision, we may pause to ask, “Will this be pleasing to God?”; “Will this lead me into sin?” Lot’s choice of a good land landed him into a land of sin: and Gomorrah:

“Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.”
Genesis 13:13

Sodom and Gomorrah, notorious for their great sin, prompted a divine examination due to the severity of their depravity (Genesis 18:20-21). It is important to note that this examination uses anthropomorphic language, attributing human characteristics to God rather than implying that God needs to examine something to know it.

The text emphasises the righteousness of God, highlighting His role as a just and true judge. In human courts, a judge carefully evaluates a case, attentively listening to both sides before judgment. Similarly, the language used to describe God reflects this principle. God does not make erroneous judgments; He is a just and fair God. His decisions are not capricious or arbitrary; they are grounded in justice.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
Genesis 18:25

The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, evident in the narrative, is homosexuality. A heavenly detachment of two angels was sent to investigate, and Lot welcomed them into his home. However, news of their arrival quickly spread, and the city inhabitants demanded their surrender for sexual purposes (Genesis 19:1, 5). The phrase “know them” is a recurring biblical euphemism in the Old Testament for sexual relationships, as seen in other instances such as Genesis 4:1 and 17.

Lot’s desperate response is critical to understanding the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, the sin of homosexuality, “men committing shameless acts with men.”

“Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.”
Genesis 19:6-8

Lot, in a distressing situation, offered his daughters to the men in exchange for his visitors, revealing the sexual nature of their request. It is perplexing why Lot would make such an offer, as it is equally wicked as the men’s request. This highlights the pervasive wickedness in the land of Sodom, affecting even those like Lot who may appear good. The narrative makes it clear that it wasn’t just a few men but the entire city, both young and old, who approached Lot’s house, depicting the extent of their perversion and widespread homosexuality.

Now before you and I get fixated on homosexuality, and make this all about homosexuality, let’s be mindful that homosexuality is not the only sin in the world. The Bible condemns all forms of sin, and we must acknowledge and repent of our own sins. Many people equally have pride in their sins. Many of us explain our sins away, especially character flaws, by saying, “This is how I am.” If you hear someone with anger or temper problems justifying themselves by saying this is how I am, that right there is a man with pride in his heart. If you hear a man with a mean and uncharitable character excuse themselves, that is how I am; count that as pride.

As Christians, it’s essential to avoid mean and uncharitable criticism, as that, too, stems from pride. It’s worth noting that the Bible addresses various sins, not just homosexuality (See Galatians 5:19-21). It is crucial to be clear and direct about the need to warn those living homosexual lifestyles, as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:18, that the sexually immoral person sins against their own body.

This passage teaches us something interesting about Sinnersgenerally. Sinners get angry when confronted with their sins. Rather than repenting, sinners see those who call them out as unloving and judgemental. And that’s what is going on in this narrative. They told Lot off,

“But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down.”
Genesis 19:9

Is that a familiar language? “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge” All they are saying is that Lot is being judgemental. This is the constant language of sinners. “You are being judgemental”; “You are judging us”; “No one is perfect.”Also, notice they have now become violent towards Lot for calling them out: “Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Calling out sin is not being judgemental. Rather, calling out sin is loving. It’s rather unloving not to warn people of sin because sin attracts God’s judgement. As a Just God, he punishes sin. Sin will not be spared or swept under the rug. A just God will act rightly, and every sin will be dealt with.

The Judgement of God.

Like Sodom and Gomorrah, a picture of future judgement, the human race is in danger. There is a looming disaster coming. The wrath of God will rain down upon all unrighteousness. That is to say; God will punish all sins.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Romans 1:18

A Day of Judgement is coming. The sins of humanity will reach their tipping, and God’s judgement will descend. Throughout Scripture, we see God punishing sin. Before we get to Genesis 19, we already see God judging sin. In Genesis 3, the death penalty was pronounced, resulting in Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden. The generation of Noah received a judgment by flood in Chapters 6-8. So, by Genesis 19, we have a clear understanding of God’s dealings with sin. Sin will not be glossed over. Lot is instructed to,

“Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”
Genesis 19:15

Therefore, ‘Escape for Your Life’ before you are caught in the punishment of God. The angels warned Lot to escape from this punishment, the wrath of God, and judgement. Therefore, ‘Escape for Your Life’ is to Escape from the sin of this world and its consequence. To ‘Escape for Your Life’ is to put your faith in Jesus Christ and repent from your sin.

Sadly, sinners never heed the call of God to repent. Instead, sinners mock the warnings of God. The angels asked Lot to escape with any relatives he had. He told his sons-in-law-to-be, and what was their response? Verse 14 says, “But he seemed to his son-in-law to be jesting.” This is a constant response of sinners to a call to repent. The Apostle Peter provides us with a depiction of scoffers,

“…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter 3:3-4

A Way of Escape

Now amid the display of God’s justice, in bringing judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah, we see God providing a way of escape by his mercies. These two –-Justice and Mercy go together. God, in his justice, also shows compassion to his people. He provides a way of escape.

Note that Lot did nothing to merit being saved by God. It is all a work of mercy. In fact, Lot was even hesitant at first to escape. Verse 16 shows that Lot was reluctant to leave Sodom. This perhaps could be that his heart and love were still in Sodom.

What are the sins that you still cling to? Now that you know the Day of Reckoning is this passage charges you to repent! This charge is for you reading this article to ‘Escape for Your Life!’The King James Version calls this ‘besetting sin’,

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us”
Hebrews 12:1

Now, God’s patience will find a limit. If Lot were left alone, perhaps he would not have left Sodom. But for the Mercy of God, no one will be saved. It was God who sent a warning to Lot. It was God who brought Lot and his family out of Sodom, the Land of Sin. God, throughout the Scriptures and Redemptive history, has been issuing a warning and calling people to repent. Jesus’ first message was,

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel”
Mark 1:14

But sinners are unable. Like Lot, sinners linger on and will not take the warning to ‘Escape for Your Life.’ But God still displays his mercy. We are told in verse 16, “the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” This is self-explanatory! That is a display of God’s mercy in action. Lot lingered on; Lot resisted, but God’s will had the final say.

In Reformed theology, this is called Irresistible Grace.

“God’s grace is so powerful that it has the capacity to overcome our natural resistance to it.”
R.C. Sproul (1939 – 2017)

We see God’s mercy all over the narrative. Now for us believers, we see this mercy clearly displayed in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the hill we run to. He died on Calvary to save us.

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.”

The Old Rugged Cross, by George Bennard

Jesus is our City of Refuge. Just as the angels came warning Lot to ‘Escape for His Life’ because of sin and judgement, God has provided a way of Escape in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners. Jesus is God’s way of Escape from his judgement to come.

We must Escape for our lives by believing in Him and repenting from our sins. Or an eternal judgement awaits us.

The post Escape For Your Life appeared first on TGN.

“Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.” [2] Resolved. This was the disposition of Jonathan Edwards, the noted preacher and revivalist, toward thinking about hell; with one ear attuned toward the hallelujah chorus of heaven and another strained toward the gnashing, moaning and wailing emanating from the depths of hell.

If you have fallen into a state of apathy, I implore you to pay heed to the weightiest of Scriptural realities: the certainty of hell and the imminence of Final Judgment. Revelation Chapter 20 verses 11 to 15, provides us with a vivid description of the Great White Throne, which serves as a powerful vehicle to explore the reality of Hell and Final Judgment.

The Setting

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. (Verse 11)

After the thousand-year reign of Christ and the ultimate defeat of Satan, John bears witness to a trial scene unparalleled in all of human history. The atmosphere is solemn, and there is an eerie silence that seems to permeate the air. In stark contrast to the Battle of Armageddon, this stillness is almost oppressive, bringing time itself to a standstill.

As John gazes, he beholds the Throne, its supreme authority and sublime purity conveyed through the descriptors: “great” and “white.” There exists no higher court of appeal, cross-examination, retrial, reversal, or mistrial. The Psalmist proclaims, “God sits on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:8). Isaiah depicts the Throne as “high and exalted” (Isaiah 6:1), and the prophet Ezekiel describes it as hoisted above the “living creatures…in appearance like sapphire” (Ezekiel 1:22, 26). The distinction between this Throne and any earthly court is like comparing a candle to the sun.

Seated on the Throne is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who presides over the Day of Wrath (Romans 2:5). As Jesus himself declared, “the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). His eyes blaze like fire (Revelation 1:14), and He will render the final verdict on “the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). The fixed Day, attested to by His resurrection, has arrived, and “He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31).

The catastrophic event that unfolds is described as “earth and sky fled away,” leaving no place to hide. Peter paints a vivid picture of this moment: “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:10). Even though people will cry out for the mountains and hills to fall on them and cover them (Luke 23:30), the wrath of the Lamb has come, and no one can withstand it.

The Summons

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. (Verse 12, 13).

The Apostle John beheld a truly astonishing spectacle as he witnessed every single human being who had ever lived gathered before the Throne in an instant. From Adam, who was first to draw breath on our Earth, to the most recent conception, every instance of human life was present and accounted for in that moment. How the wise dies just like the fool! (Ecclesiastes 2:16)

Here the undeniable omnipotence of Jesus is attested, just as he summoned Lazarus with the simple command, “Come forth,” (John 11:43) so too will all of humanity appear before him on that day. From the most celebrated historical figures like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to the most obscure and unknown neighbours, no one will be exempt from standing before the judgment seat of Christ.

The sight of all of humanity gathered before the Throne should impress upon our minds the frightening imminence of it all. This is how Jonathan Edwards captured it: “The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood.” [3]

The scene before John unfolds with two distinct sets of books being opened. Particularly noteworthy is the use of the plural ‘books’ compared to the singular ‘book’, which is the Book of Life. This differentiation emphasizes the thoroughness of the judgment that is about to take place. Every detail, every thought, and every deed will be laid bare and exposed before the Judge. Nothing will escape His attention.

The phrase ‘according to what they have done’ is repeated in this section. This suggests that there is a graded judgment in view here. Scripture attests to this:

How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (Hebrew 10:29).

But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. … But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. (Matthew 11:22,24).

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. (Luke 12:47,48).

It is crucial to remember that hell is not a temporary place of punishment but rather an eternal one where the torment will be severe in every direction. Though Scripture does not give us a clear understanding of how degrees of punishment will be given out, it does indicate that some will receive a greater degree of suffering.

Little is said about the procedure of judgement for those written in the Book of Life in the passage. That is very much intentional, as “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Yet, Scripture does highlight the fact that there will be some kind of evaluation of the believer.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12).

For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

A word of encouragement and warning to elders and overseers at this point. Consider the words of Paul when he says, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Brothers, you are to “give an account” (Hebrews 13:17), and James says you will be “will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1).

The Sentence

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Verse 14, 15).

The ultimate foe, Death, and its accomplice Hades have been conquered, and they will never hold sway over humanity again. Death, which infiltrated the world through the sin of one man, has finally been defeated (Romans 5:12). In an earlier vision, John saw a pale horse with a rider named Death, and Hades followed close behind. They were given the authority to destroy one-fourth of the earth, using various means like sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts (Revelation 6:8).

The punishment inflicted upon the unbelievers is not corrective but retributive, which highlights the perfect justice of God. The purpose of this punishment is not to correct their behaviour as in the case of corrective punishment. In fact, Matthew 25:41 declares that eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. The unbelievers will suffer the same punishment as the demons, who will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10). The fact that both groups will be cast into the same place implies that the duration of punishment will be the same for both. Therefore, there is no basis in this text to suggest that hell will be “corrective” for one group and not for the other.

The final judgment, as described in the Scriptures, marks the ultimate and permanent separation of the wicked from the presence of God’s mercy. Jesus himself teaches that the final judgment will involve an irrevocable separation between the “sheep” and the “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). The apostle Paul also speaks of this final separation, stating that those who do not obey the gospel will face “the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is crucial to understand that this separation is irreversible, with no chance of reconciliation or redemption after death. The writer of Hebrews underscores this point, saying that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

In Mark 9:48, Jesus uses the language of the prophet Isaiah, saying, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” Isaiah further elaborates on this, saying that the wicked will be an “abhorrence to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). The imagery of the devouring worm feasting on flesh and the unquenchable fire consuming the wicked gives us a glimpse into the nature of the lake of fire.

The eternal torment in hell will be a fully conscious experience for the damned, where they will retain their cognitive functions such as perception, attention, language, and reasoning. They will also possess bodies that will fully absorb the intensity and veracity of God’s wrath forever. As Jonathan Edwards said, they will realize their delusion and foolishness, saying “I never intended to come here. Death outsmarted me and God’s wrath was too quick for me. My foolishness led me to delude myself with empty dreams, and sudden destruction came upon me.” [4] This is the second death that follows the general resurrection, and it is a place of eternal, conscious torment for those who have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ.

The reality of hell is often met with scepticism and even ridicule by some. They may even go so far as to assert that they would prefer to spend eternity in hell rather than heaven, believing it to be a place of rebellious fun and cool company. However, as the quote from Edwards illustrates, this attitude is misguided and reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the severity of sin and its consequences in relation to a holy God. Such a flippant attitude towards eternal damnation reveals a lack of appreciation for the gravity of sin and its ultimate price.

Closing Thought

“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23).

This powerful statement captures the solemn scene of the Great White Throne Judgment, which serves as a legal trial for our sins. Our transgressions have legal implications, rendering us liable to our Maker. It’s not just that we have missed the mark of God’s law; our rebellious arrows were aimed directly at the Author of Life. Our sins have not only violated God’s holy standards, but they have also placed us in a position of utter helplessness and hopelessness.

At the Cross of Calvary, we witness a moment of unparalleled sacrifice and redemption. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself the weight of the sins of His people and offered Himself as the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice in their place. At that moment, He became the just and the justifier of those who put their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The weight of sin is titanic, a burden too heavy for any mortal to bear. Without the sacrifice of Christ, we would be doomed to bear the consequences of our transgressions for all eternity, enduring a torment akin to the agony of the Cross.

But at the Cross, Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved. He cancelled the record of debt that stood against us, wiping clean the slate of our sins with his own blood. (Colossians 2:14) In that act of love and selflessness, Jesus Christ opened the way to forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe in Him.

The Cross of Calvary is a reminder of the depth of God’s love for us and the lengths to which He went to come and save us. It is the only symbol of hope, the beacon of light in the darkness of this broken world. And it is a call to all of us to put our faith in Christ and accept the free gift of salvation that He offers us.

O sinner, settle out of court today!

Notes:

[1] Kevin DeYoung, Taking God At His Word, 2014.

[2] Jonathan Edwards, Resolution 55, July 8, 1723.

[3] [4] Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, July 8, 1741.

The post Great White Throne Judgment appeared first on TGN.