Hebrews 9:28 announces, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him".

This is one of the great themes of the visions which John recorded in the book of Revelation.

• Revelation 16:14 tells of "the great day of God Almighty". The visions of Revelation build up to that day of judgment and wrath. There are certain things about this day that you ought to be aware of, and nothing should concern you more than these things.
• Revelation 6:14-17 describes a vision of the kings of the earth and their peoples running for cover among the rocks and the mountains trying to escape "the great day of their wrath" and in terror of the Lamb (cf Rom 2:5 and Heb 10:27).
• Revelation 14:7 shows an angel telling all the world, "Fear God and give him the glory, because the hour of his judgment has come!" We are going to look at several scenes, toward the end of the book of Revelation which symbolically depict "the great Day" of God Almighty.

The Battle of Armageddon

Rev 12: 7-9, 16:14-21,19:19-21, and 20:7-9

Theae passages describe visions of battles between the forces of Satan and God. In each case Satan and the powers that he manipulates in this world are crushed. "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and with him will be his called and chosen and faithful followers" (Rev 17:14).

A Spiritual Battle

Some people think of these visions as describing physical battles, one between the Satan and Michael in the long distant past, and the other between Satan and Christ in the very near future. In fact, these visions symbolise a spiritual battle (but a real battle nevertheless) being waged in everybody's present life and experience, including yours and mine.

That the war will not go on indefinitely. A day is coming when the age old conflict between Satan and Christ will be over once and for all. After the war is over, will you be celebrating victory with the followers of the Lamb?

Paul spoke of the spiritual battle represented in these visions. He warned us of "the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms" and told us to "therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground" (Eph 6:12-13).

The Second Death

Rev 19:20, 20:10-15, and 21:7-8,

These passages tell of the Beast, the False prophet, the Dragon, and all who follow them, are thrown in turn into the lake of burning sulphur, "the second death".

The dead, great and small, will all be raised. Death and Hades (the temporary abode of the dead) will be destroyed. This should be cause for joy! But for many it will be bitter irony: they will be released from death's power, only to follow death into its own destruction. Surely the whole purpose of being raised from the dead should be to die no more, not to die a second death unimaginably worse!

Second Death -- First Resurrection

The answer to "the second death" is "the first resurrection" (Rev 20:6). This is the new birth which takes place in baptism. Baptism symbolises the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism one enters into Christ's death, crucifies and buries the old person, and is raised up a new person (Romans 6). One must enter baptism with faith in Christ and repentance from sin. Faith must involve a loyalty and commitment to Christ so complete that one is ready, if need be, to sacrifice one's very life for him. That's what it takes "to live and reign with Christ".

Think about the remorse and regret you will feel, if you have failed to secure yourself the everlasting life, and instead you must suffer the terrible and everlasting second death. What awaits you when death is conquered? Eternal death and misery, or eternal life and joy?

The Throne and the Books

Rev 20:12-15

These key verses tell especially of the heavenly throne before which stands every person, great and small, all who have ever lived. And certain books are opened, and all are judged according to what is written in the books.

The Throne

The throne is David's. Jesus "who holds the key of David" sits there. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Against his judgment there is no appeal (Rev 3:7).

Jesus spoke of this judgment Day. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on the throne in heavenly glory. All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left" (Matthew 25:31-33).

What will the Majesty on that throne decide for you? Can you imagine how you will feel if you must go to his left? You will hear him say to you, "Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared from the Devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). You will have no choice but to obey the King, and go to your doom.

The Soon-coming Judgment

Are we talking about the future or the present here? The judgment, certainly is future. But how far in the future? Remember Jesus says, "I am coming quickly!" How many years do you have left? How many days? How many heartbeats? The fact is, you don't know. You may be down to your last thousand heartbeats, isn’t that so?

The Books

Now what of the books? These books exist right now in your present. There are books that record what God will is for you. These are the books of the Bible. You should be conforming your life to these books right now. There are books that record every deed people have done. You are causing one of these books to be written right now, by everything you think, say, and do.

There is another book called "The Book of Life" which has the names of all the friends and servants of Jesus. The time to have your name registered in that book is right now. Do you know that some people give more attention to getting their name in the telephone book than to getting their name in the Lamb’s book of life!

The most important thing you can do today is to ensure that, as Acts 3:19 says, your sins been "blotted out" of the record of your deeds. Unless the blood of the Lamb has made you clean, your name cannot be found when the book of life is opened on the great Day of God Almighty.

The City and a Crown

Rev 21 and 22

In Revelation's last two chapters there is a beautiful vision of "The New Jerusalem" the heavenly City of God. "It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a precious jewel" (Rev 21:11).

The River of Life

In this city was a river of water, the water of life. What a contrast to the vision of the lake of burning sulphur! And Jesus through the Holy Spirit and the church says to everyone, including you, "Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Rev 22:17).

That invitation is for now. The moment Jesus appears in the clouds, the invitation is closed, the opportunity is lost. You don't have time to delay. How will you feel if you can never taste the water of life and experience the wonders of heaven?

The Crown of Life

At the beginning of the visions Jesus promised his disciples, "Be faithful, even to death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev 2:10). Paul believed in that crown. "There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will present to me on that day --and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2Tm 4:8).

Is there a crown for you? There can be, "a crown of glory that will never fade away" (1Pe 5:4), an "inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, reserved in heaven for you" (1Pe 1:4, 5:4). Have you made sure your crown is stored in the city of God? How will you feel if you realise that because of your own foolishness and ignorance, you lost that inheritance and forfeited that crown?

Time for Decision

Now, not Judgment Day, is the time for decision.

To be sure that the Day of God goes well for you, you must have "your robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb" and you must "take part in the first resurrection". Where can you find the blood of Christ to cleanse you so that your sins will be erased from the record? Where can you find the first resurrection that the second death might have no power over you? The answer is simple: In the death and resurrection of Christ, which you may enter by faith through the waters of baptism (Rom 6:3-4).

The Two Invitations

In the last words of Revelation we find two invitations to "Come!".

• One is to you: "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"
• The other is to Jesus, "Come Lord Jesus!".

You should respond with your Amen to both.

Dear friend, will you answer the Lord's invitation and come to him now? Will you become his friend, and add your voice to all who say to him, "Come Lord Jesus!"?

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