Do you ever read the end of a book first? I know some people who do this, but I’m not one of them. I like to start with the introduction and read a book straight through. If it turns out to be boring or if I lose interest, I just stop reading it.
But now I’m advocating that you read the end of the Bible or a couple of chapters before the end. Starting with Revelation 20:11 it says, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
Jesus Christ our Lord is the righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:1) and He will judge the great and the small. Who are the great and the small? All unbelievers will stand before Jesus on Judgment Day. This includes old and young, tall and short, rich and poor, famous and unknown, powerful and weak, and some world leaders as well as some of their followers. No unbeliever, no matter who they are or how rich they are will escape judgment (Proverbs 11:4).
It said, And the books were opened. I imagine the judgment may go something like this:
“J.T. Everlost, step forward” booms our Lord.
“I’m… ah, I’m sorry Sir, but my legs are shaking so badly that I can’t move.”
“But J.T., why would you be afraid? We haven’t even opened the books at this point. Maybe it’s because you spent your high school years on up, mocking and scoffing Me. You also mocked those who believed in Me. By the way, the books being opened are for your benefit; for your remembrance. Even though you made fun of this fact, I AM ALL KNOWING, ALL POWERFUL AND EVER PRESENT.”
J.T. Everlost’s knees really knock together by this time. Jesus Christ then instructs one of His angels to open the books of remembrance, and turn to J.T. Everlost. J.T. is able to see every thought, every moment, everything whether it was good or evil, during his whole lifetime flash before him (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Like the time he stole a candy bar when he was 8 years old. And his dad’s porn magazine that he stole from him when J.T. was 12 years old, along with his dad’s whiskey bottle that he took at the same time. All the lies he told everyone, including his friends, even those who were just as atheistic as he was. Even his thoughts of rape and murder that no one else even knew about. J.T. had even forgotten about those!
But interspersed along with all the evil were some good moments, including the time J.T. Everlost didn’t take advantage of the girl who was too drunk to go home. He let her sleep in his bed while he slept on the couch. More good things included the time he literally helped the little old lady cross the street; along with other random acts of kindness throughout his life.
After all the thoughts, words and actions flashed before J.T.’s eyes, the Lord asked him, “Well, J.T., what do you have to say for yourself?”
To which J.T., red faced, thinking of all the times he used God’s name in vain, all the times he used Jesus’ precious name as a curse word, all the times he foolishly blamed the ills of the world on the very God he didn’t believe in, this same J.T. meekly blurts out, “Well, I did have a few good moments. Don’t they count for something?”
“It doesn’t work that way J.T. Everlost. You foolishly broke the 10 Commandments at will and willfully broke them because you were trying to spite Me, the very One you told everyone that you didn’t believe in. No, no amount of good that you did in your life could wipe out a single sin; let alone all the thousands of sins that you committed during your lifetime.”
“Well, even though I didn’t believe in You, I always heard from Christians that you were loving and forgiving. Can’t you just forgive me now? I can be good from now on…please?”
“No J.T., it doesn’t work that way. Yes, I am loving, forgiving and full of grace. But you had to receive the free gift of salvation while you were alive and breathing on earth. The whole time you should have received and enjoyed my gracious gift, you were breathing out hatred and opposition against Me and against those that truly loved Me. No, it is too late for you. You will bow your knee and you will confess that I am Lord, but it will not change your fate.”
“But Lord, if I had known you were real, I would have believed in You.”
“J.T., all you had to do was look around at creation and know that I am real. But you loved your sins, you loved your pride and arrogance. You thought you knew more than Me. Obviously, you were wrong!”
“But Jesus, can’t we work something out? Don’t you see how lovable I am? Wouldn’t you miss me if I were to be separated from you for all of eternity?”
“J.T., the only way you can escape eternal damnation and enter into Heaven is if your name is in the book of life. Bring forth the book of life. Again, J.T., I know the answer already, but you can look in the book of life and you will see that your name is not in there. The only way your name can be written in the book of life is if you have been saved while you walked the earth. Your name is only written in this book if you have been born again (John 3:5). Your name can only be written in this book if you have repented from your sins and put your faith in Me.”
“J.T. Everlost, as you can see, your name is not written in the book of life. It is now time for you to bow your knee and confess with your tongue that I am Lord. (J.T. weak and shaking, does as he is commanded). Now your time has come. “Angels, grab J.T. Everlost and cast him into the lake of fire where he will join the rest of the fearful, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars (Revelation 21:8). Cast him into the same lake of fire where all the other unbelievers reside, as well as the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and death and hell are. Cast him into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Where he will receive no rest day or night. Where the smoke of his torment will rise forever and ever.”
What happened to J.T. Everlost? He foolishly died in his sins, rejecting the Righteous One, the Savior, the Messiah. J.T. was judged and found guilty. He was sentenced to the lake of fire and his sentence is eternal. He sinned against the Holy, Righteous One. He sinned against and rejected the only mediator between God and man – Jesus the Christ. He foolishly rejected the free gift of salvation that is only found in our Lord Jesus. He foolishly rejected Jesus, the One who never sinned in thought, word or deed. He rejected the One who willingly laid down His life for guilty sinners like you and me. J.T. mocked the One who bore the wrath of God for the sins of the world while He hung on that cruel cross. J.T. Everlost despised the One who was buried and rose from the grave on the third day.
He foolishly rejected the One who sits on the great white throne. He foolishly rejected the One, the only one who saves. Salvation is found in no other. J.T. foolishly rejected Jesus the Messiah. Are YOU J.T. Everlost? I ask again, Are YOU J.T. Everlost? What’s going to happen to you? Will you repent, by turning away from your sins and put your trust in Jesus while there is still time? While you have breath in you? Or will you be ever lost…forever? Will you foolishly continue down the broad road to destruction and be eternally damned to that torturous place – to the lake of fire? What will happen to you?