prison, commissioned Philip, spoke to Cornelius, and revealed to Paul during the storm in Acts 27 that no one would perish. Angels protect God’s people and in heaven they represent little children. Heaven is a place, then, of tremendous activity with countless angels com ing and going while the living creatures chant their “ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.” The Third Company Then there is a third company who are grouped about the throne in heaven. They are the saints of God who have gone on before. All the saved of all ages who have died since Adam are all there in heaven. Adam, Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, John, Paul, Stephen the first martyr, Cornelius and his family, the Philippian jailor, Lydia, Timothy, Titus, the martyrs of the early church, Wesley, Whitefield, Moody, Billy Sunday, and dad and mother, sister and brother; yes, they’re all there, and countless billions of others. It is estimated that there are slightly over two billion people alive today on the earth, but what an insignificantly small group is this compared with that innumerable host in heaven today. Billions upon billions have already entered throughout the past generations, and all of them happy and blessed, waiting for the climax of the ages when they will come back with Jesus to receive new resurrection bodies and then to dwell with Him in the new heavens and the new earth and the New Jerusalem forever and ever. There sorrow, distress, heartache, parting, death and pain will be no more. Oh, as we keep our eyes fixed upon Christ who may return any day, we will not become discouraged or weary but press on and on, laboring for Him. It is only a few more days and then—Only Glory By and By. Here the dearest o f ties we must sever, Tears of sorrow we shed every day; But no parting, no sighing forever, When I’ve gone the last mile of the way. When I’ve gone the last mile of the way, I will rest, at the dawn of that day; And oh, the joys that await me, When I’ve gone the last mile of the way. I’m bound for that beautiful city, The Lord hath prepared for His own, Where all the redeemed of all ages, Sing glory, around the great Throne. Sometimes I grow homesick for heaven, And the glories I there shall behold. What a joy it will be when my Saviour I see, In that beautiful city of gold. And this brings us to an unpleasant aspect of our subject, and one on which I am loath to speak. But duty certainly demands it, and I must discharge my solemn obligation. We have been speaking of the occu pants of heaven, the blessed ones who are there now. We must call your attention, however, to those who are missing in heaven—those who are NOT there. All men do not go to heaven, and we must remind you that those who are not bound for heaven are bound for only
one other place, and that is the Bible hell. There is no in-between place. It is either one or the other. The Bible plainly tells us who will be missing. I read these awful words in Revelation 21:7 : He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I mil be his God, and he shall be my son. BUT the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremon gers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which bumeth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev. 21:7, 8). And again in Revelation 21:27 John says: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Still another Scripture — Revelation 22:15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. And a final passage, from Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. I refrain from extensive comment on these verses except to ask you, my friend, “ Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? Are you heaven-bound?” That is the most important question that can possibly engage your attention. Soon this life will end, and then, ETERNITY. And I would press upon you the question: Where will you spend eternity? Heaven’s door is still open, and it is only the part of wisdom and good judg ment and common sense to prepare for that which you know is absolutely inevitable. My friend, if you were informed that sometime soon, maybe next week, you would be called upon to make a trip, say to Africa or South America, what would you do? The trip must be made. You cannot avoid it. Sure ly you would be a fool, knowing that you must go, if you did not investigate and get all the information possible concerning the trip and the land to which you were going. You would inquire about the cost of the trip, the equipment needed, the best route to take, the climate, the provisions to take along, the language, the customs of the people, the accommodations you would find; and you would arrange for a passport, and your visa. You would get literature, books and folders to tell you all about these things, and consult an authority who could arrange for the trip. You would be a fool if you neg lected to do these things. But what kind of a fool is that man or woman, who, knowing he is going to make the trip into eternity, makes no inquiry or preparation? After a few brief years or days here on earth, that trip must be under taken by each and every one of us. Why then not get all the information possible and consult the only Au thority who can arrange for a successful journey, and a safe arrival? The information is contained in a book called the Bible; the Authority and the Guide who will guarantee you safe arrival is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. For He said, I am the way, the truth and the life. I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved (John 14:6; 10:9).
APRIL, 1965
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