lake of fire

Wrath by EPrata

There is His wrath, justice, and holiness to consider. His holiness, wrath and justice are expressed partly in His glory in saving souls and partly in His glory is rendering wrath unto souls. This verse below closes the book of Isaiah. It is an astounding prophecy and a violent image to be left with-

And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. (Isaiah 66:24).

We know and understand that Isaiah’s prophecy relates to the end of time and the eternal state. Jesus used the reference to the worm that does not die in Mark 9:48, referring to the final state of sinners.

The Sky Be Rolled Back as a Scroll, Rev 6:14. EPrata photo

What are we to make of such a thing? Going out to look at those in the lake of fire?? Why didn’t God hide them? The entire scenario is so unsavory, so putrid, such an assault to future glorified eyes, why put the ones who rebelled on display? Don’t we want to focus on the love of God? Why be so, well, negative?

Yes but He is also Justice! His holiness demands a response to sin. Not only did He NOT purpose to save all men, but He allows us, forgiven sinners, to sink to our knees in gratitude at the display of His wrath upon those who did sin and were not forgiven.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible says of Isaiah 66:24,

It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on God’s vengeance on the wicked (Revelation 14:10).

Barnes Notes says,

This is the consummation of the series of bright visions that passed before the mind of Isaiah, and is an appropriate termination of this succession of wonderful revelations. Where could it more appropriately close than in the final triumph of the true religion, and in the complete and final destruction of all the enemies of God. The vision stretches on to the judgment, and is closed by a contemplation of those scenes which commence there, but which never end. The church is triumphant. Its conflicts cease. Its foes are slain. Its Redeemer is revealed; and its everlasting happiness is founded on a basis which can never be shaken.

He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: (Psalm 50:4).

God saw his glory being despised by sinners—he saw his worth belittled and his name dishonored by our sins—and rather than vindicating the worth of his glory by slaying his people, he vindicated his glory by slaying his Son. ~John Piper, 1992

We are blessed with forever being able to view grace, in gazing at the “Lamb looking as if it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6) and being able to view justice, in gazing at the tormented dead bodies of those who rebelled. God does not hide or diminish or secret away any of His attributes. He is always gloriously on display, from creation to His Son to His Bride to His fulfilled promises to His redeemed people to His justice in vindicating Himself through wrath. We serve a mighty and loving and holy God. Far from being negative…it’s all Good.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life,
he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15

Volcanoes are completely fascinating. Of all the hits I receive on this blog, by far the highest are always earth-related. An earthquake, volcanic explosion, or unusual geo-physical event like a ‘river turning to blood’ will draw the most people the quickest. They are looking for answers I suppose. And why not? We feel in our human puniness that the earth is large and stable. When the earth is shook in some way, demonstrating that it is not, people scurry to find answers that will offer some kind of stability.

I hope that they find the true answer, which is Jesus. He is the stability.

“my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.” (2 Samuel 22:3)

“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,” (Isaiah 25:4)

“To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Paricutin in 1943, the town obliterated. Source

I’m fascinated by volcanoes. As an elementary student I remember reading about the Volcano in the Cornfield (Paricutin) that was suddenly born almost under a Mexican corn farmer’s feet. Paricutin is our continent’s youngest volcano. LOL, that was the first time I got a clue that the earth is not solid nor stable, and that anything could happen at any time.

They will play an important role in the UN-creation during the Tribulation. If you see the 7 days of Genesis 1 as God creating the world, then view the 7 years of the Tribulation as His orderly uncreation, a dismantling as it were. Genesis and Revelation are bookends of God’s human and heavenly creation and the story of our capacity to sin and His response.

I’ve mentioned before that the sun becoming black as sackcloth in Rev. 6:12 is from the ash spewed into the atmosphere from one or many volcano eruptions.

This week there has been a lot of interesting volcano news.

China’s Changbaishan volcano showing signs of increased activity
“The authors suggest that though Changbaishan is likely not gearing up for an imminent eruption, one could be expected in the next couple of decades.”

Volcanic activity on Spain’s El Hierro island resumes

Two volcanoes erupt in Indonesia
North Sulawesi, Lokon, and last week, Gamalama & Anak Krakatau also offered us some activity

UK Telegraph: Erupting volcano photographed from space

UK Telegraph caption- “An image taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) of a large plume of smoke, steam and ash erupting from the Sarychev volcano on the Kuril Islands, Russia. It is thought that the eruption has caused a hole to form in the cloud layer above it.”

Tim Challies and others have remarked on a video making the rounds, with Challies commenting “The Lake of Fire – This is an nearly unbelievable video (more information here). “Photographer Geoff Mackley and his crew descended 1,300 feet to the ‘lava lake’ in Marum Volcano on Vanuatu’s Ambrym Island.” I can’t help but think of Revelation 20:15.”

Mike Leake at Borrowed Light had some eloquent thoughts on the volcano video. HT to Challies for pointing us to it. I’ll excerpt a few of Mike’s thoughts.

“In response to that video Tony Reinke shared this quote from Jonathan Edwards, “”The torrents of liquid fire that are vomited from the belly of hell, by the mouths of volcanoes, shadow forth what is in hell. … If the Almighty can create something this fierce who can stand when he is bent on destruction? Only those who find refuge in the strong tower that El Shaddai has hoisted, namely the all-powerful Jesus, will find safety on that day. “

Once again, refuge is ONLY in Jesus.

Category: lake of fire

Isaiah’s Prophecy: Looking at God’s wrath…but isn’t God LOVE?

Volcanoes this week