We begin our study of this theme by reading the following scripture which is part of the third angel's message. So far we have discussed these messages in a great deal of detail, phrase by phrase. In our studies we have dealt with the beast, with the image, with the mark - but now we want to study the punishment which will befall those who receive the `Mark of the Beast'. So let us read what it says:

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Revelation 14:9-11. [20]

The Wrath of God

This is one of the most dire warnings we find in all of the Bible. Reading this, it sounds terrible. Speaking of those who worship the beast, worship the image and who receive the mark, we find here that the wrath of God will be poured out upon them without mixture of mercy. In other words, the door of mercy, of probation, has closed, Rev. 15:8. The whole heaven is sad over each of God's children who reject salvation. However, the Bible also teaches, "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth . . .", Lk. 15:7. In this topic we want to take a close look at the fire which will punish the wicked as it is presented in this 3rd angel's message..

The question is, Is this fire everlasting in the sense that the wicked, who are going to be burned by this fire, will continue being burned and burned forever? Or, is there another way by which we can understand the punishment that will befall the wicked?

To find the answer we study the whole Bible, in order to find what this `consuming fire' is all about.

The Consuming Fire

Here is our first scripture. Reading this we find Jesus comparing the destruction at the end of the world to the destruction with a historical event which took place in the days of Abraham. We read,

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30.

Interestingly enough, the absence of a volcanic crater in the area underscores the reliability and truth of this account.

Question: Is this the same type of punishment which is described in the 3rd angel's message?

And the 3rd angel speaks about Jesus pouring out His wrath without mixture of mercy when He comes. Therefore, these two scriptures we read so far deal with the same type of punishment.

In the last scripture we notice, that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha were destroyed by fire which came from heaven, and in the same way, the world will be destroyed by fire as well.

In other words, in order for us to understand the fire which will be in the future we need to know about the fire which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Let us read about it in the Bible.

Our first texts tell us what the area of these cities were like before they were destroyed. We read,

"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. . . . . But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Genesis 13:10,13.

In other words, Sodom and Gomorrah looked very pleasing and fertile to those who had seen it. All they can do is, compare it with the `Garden of Eden.'

But then it tells us that the inhabitants were not only sinners, they were wicked and sinners and that exceedingly so.

Reading the Bible we find that they are characterized by three sins.

1. Sexual immorality, Gen. 19:4,5, incest, Gen.19:31-36;
   
2. Violence, Gen. 19:4,5,9.
   
3. Crass Materialism, they didn't think of the poor and needy. They thought only of accumulating goods for themselves.

So we have these three sins characterizing these cities of the plain. That is why we read,

"But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Gen. 13:13.

In other words, they had as cities committed what the Bible calls the unpardonable sin, Matth. 12:32; Lk. 12:10.

The destruction of the cities reads as follows,

"Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven." Gen. 19:24.

Where did the fire come from?

It came from heaven - from the Lord God Himself who dwells in heaven. We want to remember that point for this study.

We read further,

"And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground." verse 25.

And when you go to that region today, you can tell that it is well named, the whole region is "dead." There is no vegetation. It is just the opposite of the `Garden of Eden' today. There is no life. No birds, no animals, nothing.

In fact this whole place is the lowest spot on earth. It appears that the fire which originated from God in heaven burned this gigantic hole in the ground which is about 1526 feet (479 meters) below sea level.

It appears to be totally dead and dry. No place you would want to spend much time. The whole place does actually look like there was a massive burning, with fire and brimstone - balls of sulfur are found even today.

Question: In the 3rd angel's message, do we read there about fire and brimstone?

We certainly did, in our opening text.

Let us read now what Abraham saw, when he looked up toward Sodom and Gomorrah, as they were burning, after the angels of the Lord had told him what they had come to do. It says,

"And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." Gen. 19:27,28.

Now, does the 3rd angels' message talk about `smoke' that ascends?

Does it speak about fire and brimstone which falls from heaven?

It does speak about both of these things.

Is there a link between what happened with Sodom and Gomorrah and the 3rd angel's message?

Yes. Most definitely. Even to the point that God sent also three angels to the cities of the plain for one more chance of changing their impending doom (Gen. 18:1,2) - and that is no coincidence, because the messages that they delivered are in the exact order as they are delivered in the Book of Revelation chapter 14.

We find the following parallels (Gen. 19:24; Rev. 14:9-11),

1. brimstone and fire
   
2. from the Lord out of heaven / in the presence of angels and the Lamb (Jesus)
   
3. overthrowing the cities / smoke rises to heaven

In other words, what happened to these two cities is an illustration in that region, what it is going to be like when Jesus comes again, when it will reign fire and brimstone upon this earth.

Fire and brimstone that comes from heaven, and the smoke that ascends to heaven.

Now, let us read another scripture. Take note of the terminology used for comparison with previous scriptures.

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 1:7; Mt. 24:37,39.

What kind of fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

It was eternal fire - as we just read in the Bible.

But what about the next scripture.

We read,

"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." 2.Peter 2:6.

That tells us there is nothing left of these cities. Yet, the Bible says, they were burned with eternal fire, fire that will always burn, and yet, they were reduced to ashes, which cannot be burned any further.

Is that fire still burning today?

The Eternal Fire

Of course not. There is no more smoke to be seen except what man might cause today by some other means.

Yet, the landscape contains evidence that there was once a great fire burning. And some of these burned features are a long distance away from the Dead Sea. Visitors to the area are always amazed to realize that.

But, how do we reconcile that the cities were burned with eternal fire and yet, they were reduced to ashes?

Traditionally we may answer, the fire was eternal in the results that it produced. The fire produced eternal results.

This is not a bad explanation, but it is an incomplete explanation.

How so?

There is something more going on than meets the eye, because, biblically speaking, the fire that destroyed the cities has never gone out. It is still burning today.

Hearing that, some may scratch their head and wonder how that could be.

It is like this, the cities are not burning anymore, but the fire is still burning. - So let us find out what the "fire" is.

We read,

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee."

In other words, don't fall into idolatry! Why not? - Because ...

"For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Deuteronomy 4:23,24.

So we ask, `For how long has God been a consuming fire?'

Forever. Because God is eternal.

Well, some may say, that is in the Old Testament.

So let us check out the New Testament too.

We read,

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28,29.

In context this scripture speaks about the Second Coming of Jesus.

What are we supposed to do? We are to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

The reason is, because our God is a God whose nature is light, bright light, like that of a consuming fire, for all that is of sin before Him.

In other words, nothing of sin can stand before God and live or exist.

How long has this glory fire of God been burning?

It has been burning throughout all eternity, forever, for God is eternal.

Well, should we assume that God is a bunch of fiery flames?

No. It is a metaphor for the bright glory of God that surrounds Him which is like a fire to sin which cannot coexist in the presence of His glory - the glorious light which comes from His person, 1Jh. 1:5; Hebr. 1:3; 2Thess. 2:8. Only by their sins having been forgiven by the grace of God can His brightness be a benevolent light to His people, 1.John 1-5.

Let us read about it.

"And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." Exodus 24:15-17.

Thanks to the cloud, Israel was not destroyed.

Here is another interesting scripture. We read,

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." Rev. 15:2.

How should we understand a `sea' of `glass', mingled with `fire'?

Well, only this way, God sits on His throne by the river of life forming a sea and His glory is reflected in its waters, as John tries to describe what He sees in vision.

So we ask, `What happens to the wicked, when God reveals His glory without any cloud in between?'

The fire is going to do what?

It is going to destroy them.

Does the fire go out?

No!

But what is being burned by that fire is going out - pouf, it disappears in a flash.

Let us read what this fire does with the unrighteous when Jesus comes.

We read,

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Malachi 4:1.

Strange Fire

We also read in the 3rd angel's messages this type of scenario - didn't we? Where it says, they will be tormented with fire and brimstone as the smoke rises up.' V. 10,11.

Is it the same fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

Yes, it is, for it talks about Christ's Second Coming.

The fire will leave no root nor branch.

Who is the root?

It is Satan.

Who are the branches?

They are his followers. Those who sided with him.

Like Jesus said, `I am the vine, you are the branches.' So the devil too has branches who follow him.

Let us continue reading,

"And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. 4:3.

All the wicked will be reduced to ashes on the day of His Second Coming.

There is an event described in the Bible which serves as an example how this occurs.

We read,

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." Leviticus 10:1,2.

The fact that these two were drunk with wine contributed to them not being able to distinguish between the common and the holy, Lev. 10:9. That is what drunkenness does with people. They cannot tell the difference between acceptable worship and the profane. They are incapable to please God.

Like those of Sodom and Gomorrah and those wicked when Christ comes again, Nadab and Abihu perished. They were devoured by the `shekinah' glory fire of the Lord when the covering cloud was lifted and only their ashes remained.

This is an example how the glory of the Lord manifested in the Most Holy of the tabernacle sanctuary destroyed these two men because they had imbibed and consumed wine that had set around too long and become intoxicating. The Bible forbids to consume such drinks. It was a sin that Noah committed, Gen. 9:20,21.

Question: Is this similar to what is going to happen again at the end of time? Are the inhabitants of the earth going to be drinking wine? The wine of Babylon (Rev. 18:3)?

Will this allow them to distinguish between a holy day and a common day?

No!

In fact, they offer God a common work day, the first day of the week, as if it were what?

As if it were holy.

So, what is going to happen with them, knowing that they had heard and knew about the seventh day Sabbath?

They will be devoured by the fire that comes from the presence of the Lord.

We realize therefore, that we have the three angels messages clearly illustrated in this account in Leviticus 10, just a few chapters before the Day of Atonement account in chapter 16.

Their demise is a type or illustration of what is going to happen at the end of time.

Let us find out some more about the fire and the glory of God.

We read,

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2.Thessalonians 1:7-9.

We learn here that the Lord is going to be manifested `with His mighty angels in flaming fire'.

What is this flaming fire?

Do you remember reading about, when Jesus comes, how He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels? (Matth. 16::27).

That helps us to underscore that the fire is God's glory, His garment of light which no eye can penetrate, (1.Tim. 1:17).

What we studied should put away the view some may have, that there is a hell fire burning for eternity for those incorrigible sinners.

That belief is not sustained by the Bible as we proofed by showing that the eternal fire is that of the glory of the eternal God, ruler of all there is.

It is God's glory that is eternal, not some hell fire. It helps us to understand that the doctrines found in Babylon, are the doctrines of man. They do not glorify God and that is why the 1st angel's message reminds us loudly, `Give glory to God.'

Let us pay attention to what we learned in this sermon.

Question: Does it glorify God to believe, that a human priest can forgive sins?

Answer: No!, It cannot and does not.

Question: Does it glorify God to believe that a waver can turn into the actual flesh or body of Jesus Christ?

Answer: No, it does not.

Question: The idea that one can buy an indulgence to pay for temporal sins, does that glorify God?

Answer: No, it cannot glorify God who says that He gives full and complete forgiveness.

Question: The doctrine that says that God sends people to hell to burn there forever en ever, does that glorify God?

Answer: No, it cannot glorify God.

Therefore, Babylon's doctrines do not glorify God and that is why the three angels messages are so important to be presented to the world, for many are still part of this Babylonian religious system.

So make sure that the teachings and doctrines you believe in give only God the glory.

The wine of Babylon is contrary to the glory of God. It makes God look bad. Any doctrine that makes God look bad is a bad doctrine.

That is a good Litmus Test.

Do you think, any doctrine that states that man is immortal; that man has a soul that even God cannot destroy, glorifies God?

No. For the Bible says that only God is immortal, 1.Tim. 1:17.

Just the same as we are not omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, so we are also not immortal.

God can communicate immortality to us, but it is derived. It does not belong to us.

Those who teach that man has an immortal soul do not glorify God, they glorify man.

Let us read the following scripture, where it speaks about the final destruction of the devil and his angels and the wicked. Jesus says here,

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41.

When people read this, they may be inclined to say, `See, the fire is after all everlasting, isn't it?'

What should our answer be?

We say, `Yes! Amen.'

But it does not say that the devil and his angels which are cast into it are everlasting. It is only the fire that is everlasting.

Why?

Because the fire is the glory of God and God's glory is everlasting, for we serve the eternal God.

So, someone schooled in the believe of eternal punishment may say, `Well, but what about the souls in Gehenna, in hell, where the worm will never die and the fire will never be quenched?' Mark chapter 9.

When we read this passage in the King James Version and compare it to Luther's and the Greek version, you will see that the word "never" is not there in the German and Greek texts, and that the words are not in future tense but in present tense. The word "never" was added by the translators because of their denominational views.

The text says, that the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die while they are doing the work that they are performing. When nothing is left, they die too.

Real worms cannot exist in a burning body anyway. It is not a literal occurrence.

The Bible forbids to add or take a way words from the Bible.

We can tell what the truth is by reading this scripture,

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Rev. 20:9.

To be devoured means to be eaten up so that nothing is left. Their existence has ended. They will never come to mind again.

The Best for Last

Is this presentation only about gory things?

No. We have left the best news about the righteous to the last.

After all, we want to belong to the righteous who will be with God in heaven.

But the third angel's message warns all, to choose to be on God's side. All this gloom and doom, all these scary things may annoy some people. But the truth is, that we speak only about the scary things which God has put in the Bible!

Does God give these strong warnings?

Yes He did.

Woe to those who do not present these messages, which are part of the three angels messages, and given for this time, as the history of this world is winding down. It is God's last message for this world and we must understand and present it.

Let us read something else about the Second Coming of Christ.

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6:15-17.

Many apparently seem to think that they can ride out the Second Coming by hiding in their underground bunker systems. In the United States there is/was the NORAD (I believe) Center in Colorado. What condition might it be in today? However, what they do not realize is, when Jesus comes again they will cry to the rocks to fall on them for the brightness of his coming. But, you see, the Lord knows it all. When John wrote these words, he had been shown these hideouts. It shows that Bible prophecy unerringly reveals the soon to be future to us so we may know the times and be ready every day, for the statesmen and leaders of the nations of the world are besides themselves to know what to do. We are hitting one emergency after another.

But those seeking to hide, are they those who are going to be lost when Jesus comes?

Did you notice that this is the same group of people which will receive the mark of the beast according to Revelation 13:16,17? Let us compare the characteristics of them.

Who shall be able to stand?

The fact is that the very next chapter tells us who will be able to stand.

Those who are sealed with the seal of God will escape the punishment of those who receive the Mark of the Beast.

But there is another very important message we ought to know about. It will explain what we learned so far.

What coud it be?

Do you know who is going to live for ever in the everlasting fire?

It is not the wicked, it will be the righteous.

Most people on earth have heard that it will be the wicked who will burn in the flames forever.

But the Bible teaches that it will be the righteous who will be in the everlasting fire.

You may ask, where in the Bible do we find such an idea?

Let us read it carefully, because many Christians have a wrong understanding about it. They think that the wicked will be in that eternal fire burning them up - slowly.

"And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire." Isaiah 33:12.

What will happen with the wicked? They are going to be like thorns burned in the fire.

"Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" Isa. 33:13,14.[45]

Did you notice the two questions at the end? What is the answer to them?

"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil." Isa. 33:15?

Who are the one's who are going to dwell with the devouring fire and with the everlasting burnings?

It will not be the wicked, for the fire will burn them up, but the righteous, who have developed a character in the likeness of the character of Jesus. They will have a fire proof character, like the three friends of Daniel had in the fiery oven, which could not harm them.

But the glory of God will not consume the righteous at the end, for they shall live with God and see Him and be with Him forever.

How important is it then, to cleanse our lives from sin? So that, when He manifests Himself in His fiery glory, we might be able to stand?

Studying the Second Coming passages in the Bible you can discover something very interesting. You will find, that when texts speak of the 2nd Coming of Jesus, God also speaks constantly about the type of life style that we must have in order to stand when Jesus comes.

This is true because in order to be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus we need two things. First of all we need the imputed righteousness of Christ. We need forgiveness for our sins. We need Jesus to stand as our substitute. We need to accept what Jesus did for us as the one who drank the cup of the wrath of God which we deserved to drink. That is our title or our right to heaven.

But there is another part to this.

God not only expects us to have the title, or the right to enter heaven, He also expects us to have the fitness of character to enter heaven. We are to cooperate with God to help in our own salvation.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebr. 1:14.

Since the angels minister in our behalf for our salvation, since God's faithful people are heirs to it, it should mean that we are not lazy about that salvation ourselves.

"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." Phil. 2:16.

Paul did not run and labour in vain, keeping his mind on . . ., crucifying his members . . ., not doing the sinful things . . ., so he can be saved. To have Christ in our heart every day takes great watch care not to fall in the snares of Satan.[50]

"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23.

If those which were compelled to fill the house of the Lord are lazy, negligent or despise the offer, then of course they will have not cooperated with the Lord in their own salvation.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2.Cor. 10:5.

Bringing every thought into captivity takes diligent effort on our part. Christ opens the way for us, but we must want to walk on it only. That takes cooperation. While God's part is immense and great and ours small in comparison, God cannot save us if we do not do our part - remain faithful to him henceforth.

That we like the things that are heavenly already when we get to the gates. For you see, Christ, when He comes again, He comes not as a lamb to die for our sins - he did that already 2000 years ago - He comes as king and conqueror to take His people home into His Kingdom and destroy the works of the devil, sin and death.

So, you think you will find a flesh food restaurant in heaven where we can eat portions of creatures God created and pronounced good? Are they good to eat, or good to watch moving around in their nich? Of course the latter is meant. Or will there be a movie theater where you can watch Holywood stars do their things? Will Jesus, when He comes, take away all those tastes that you have? Will people think, `Then, when I get to heaven, I change everything else. I will even become a vegetarian. And when I like violence and illicit sex, and lying and cheating on television - God will remove that when He comes, and in heaven, suddenly, I will not like any of those things anymore.'

But that is not the way it works.

It is here, while we are still on this world, that we must overcome through the power of God.

Notice what the Bible says.

We read,

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 2.Peter 3:10-12.

Because we know that things are going to be burned up by the fire, what does Peter say?

He says, we need to have holy conduct and godliness - now, before He comes again.

"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2.Peter 3:12-14.

Do you recognize how the truth of Jesus coming in His glory, with fire, is connected to our ethical lifestyle in this passage? [100]

Are you wondering, `How in the world you may be able to develop that ethical lifestyle?'

In just a moment we shall address that question, but Matthew 5:8 is part of it, where Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

But there is one verse we did not read in Isaiah chapter 33, which we saved for this moment.

Do you remember those, who will live with the everlasting burnings? It gives a list of their characteristics?

In short, they live an ethical lifestyle and those are the ones who live in the presence of God who is in everlasting fire, but then notice the conclusion of the passage.

In there we read,

"Thine eyes shall see the king [Jesus] in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off [heaven]." Isaiah 33:17.

Our Christian Life

Let us read it in the New Testament.

This idea comes through time and again, time and again ... The ethical lifestyle that we must live.

For you see, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to consume sin in our lives now. We must let the Holy Spirit burn these sins up in our lives while we are still living here in the reign of sin. So that when sin is consumed, when Christ comes, we will have a fire proof character.

We read,

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.

Matthew 5:8 says, they shall see God, Isaiah 33:17 says, they shall see the King in His beauty. Those who have these characteristics.

We just read about `holiness' without which man shall what?

Is there a connection between overcoming in our life, and standing and seeing when Jesus comes? Without being destroyed?

Yes, absolutely.

Notice our next scripture.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1.John 3:2.

Do we have our ability to see, our sight, addressed again? `We shall see Him as He is.'

But what do we do meanwhile?

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1.John 3:3.

What hope is John talking about?

The hope of seeing Jesus when He comes.

Such a man having this hope in him, what does he do?

"He purifies himself, even as He is pure." Vers 3.

Wow.

So, can you invite Jesus to go with you to the movie theater to watch all the evils on screen - really now, can you? Would you? Should you?

Jesus, who made us, says, `He who looks upon a woman to covet her, has committed adultery in his heart.'

So be honest with yourself. Jesus cannot live in the same heart to which Satan has still access.

Where Jesus would not go or be welcome, there we should not go either.

This earth is our training ground for heaven. God will not give us a new head or brain, but a new heart while still living in the reign of sin. So, through His power we will learn to be overcomers.

This life is rehearsal time. We can practice what we believe. We learn to love the things of heaven while still on earth. We must experience a complete change of heart, be reborn, so Christ can dwell in it, now, before He comes again. When we do what Christ did and what He says in His Word, our self-efforts do not exist, Jesus does it all.

Notice next how the ethical lifestyle is related to God as a consuming fire.

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire." Hebr. 12:28,29.

Why should we serve God with reverence and godly fear?

Because our God is a consuming fire.

In other words, we must develop a character in the likeness of Jesus. And that way we can live in His presence. We can live in the presence of His glory and not be consumed - like Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abed-nego). These three friends of Daniel had a fire proof character.

When they stood before the image of Nebuchadnezzar who lived for a time as a beast in the fields and who build an image 60 x 6 in size, that is 666, the number of the sun, they did not bow down before it.

People wonder, `How can we ever develop such a character?' It means that God's Christian people will know that their thoughts turn into actions and actions into habits. They know that their habits define their character and it is only by having the character of Jesus that they will be worthy to inhabit a pure and holy land. That ought to be the goal of all of us.

Still, people may think, `I can't do it. Nobody can do it.'

We are sinners. We have a sinful nature, which is inclined to evil.

But God has given us a secret. Let us read about it.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Psalm 119:9.

How can you cleanse your way? By paying attention to what?

By paying attention to the word, the Word of God.

For ...

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11.

How is sin expelled from our life?

By putting the Word of God where?

Into the heart.

How do we get the Word into the heart?

It goes into our heart through our eyes, and through our ears.

That is why we should dwell in the Word of God instead of spending hours watching movies or similar things, like computer games and such things.

Those things cause us to commit more immoral acts for they squeeze thoughts about God out of our heart.

Spending time in the Word of God - assimilating it - will drive pornography, lying and stealing, cursing and all evils out of your heart.

Why? Because as you read the Bible it speaks back to you and you realize and say, that is me this book is talking about. It reprimands my sins. I must confess and repent of my sins and the Holy Spirit expels them. And you kneel down and pray to God to forgive you your sins and by faith you accept the promise that you are forgiven and your strength has grown to overcome again and again. . . .

That is why we shall pray without ceasing.

You educate your mind to enjoy good things, quiet things, to listen to good things, to watch only good things. To feed your soul only with things which benefit your spiritual experience.

We must spend more time on spiritual things.

5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
5:26 (why?) That he might sanctify and cleanse it (how?) with the washing of water (the Holy Spirit) by the word,
5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27.

Doing that changes and transforms our life because as we get into the Word, we behold Jesus and we become more like Jesus.

That is why we read,

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2.Cor. 3:18.

Just like a caterpillar is different as compared to a butterfly, so a Christian will be completely a new creature.

When members of a church study and receive the Word, we have a church that has power. A church not doing this is a church that is weak. There are problems with attendance, with gossip, with moral behavior . . .

That is why we need to get into the Word. We do not need times when men use the pulpit to play act some sermon. That is sidetracking the mind of those in attendance to things which do not glorify God. We must use worship time, 52 Sabbaths in a year, to seek not our glory, but only God's glory.

When Jesus comes, if we expect to live with the devouring fire, we must be fireproofed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, and then, when the wicked are destroyed with the fire, when the unrighteous are devoured by the brightness, God's people will live in the presence of the fire forever and ever and not be consumed.

That is what the 3rd angel's message is saying: Don't you worship the beast. Don't receive the doctrines. Don't worship the image. Don't receive the doctrines of apostate Protestantism. Don't receive the Mark of the Beast which is contrary to the Seal of God, the holy Sabbath in scripture.

Fear God, honor your Creator. Worship the true God because we are now in the hour of the judgment, when character is being examined.

The message of the 3rd angel is a call to form a character which is after the divine similitude.

We do not have time to spend hours on things which do not benefit our spiritual experience.

Before sin the angels in heaven were perfectly happy. Along comes the devil disseminating the idea, you are not really happy. God is a tyrant. And soon the happy halls became unhappy because they were convinced by a gossiper that they are not happy.

So we must learn not to engage in gossip of any kind. We must have an attitude of preventive forgiveness each one in him or herself.

We must learn to see the beautiful instead.