In This Issue

• "YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL"
• THE REALITY OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
• THE DEVIL'S BEATITUDES
• MORE INFORMATION...

"YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL"

Jesus and His apostles made their last visit to Jericho together. "As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.' The blind man said to Him, 'Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.' Then Jesus answered and said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the raod." (Mark 10:46-52).

There are several matters of special interest in this passage. We note that Matthew's account tells us there were two blind men healed in this circumstance. Mark only mentions Bartimaeus, perhaps the more prominent of the two. See Matthew 20:29-34.

Luke tells of a similar miracle that had taken place as Jesus had entered Jericho, Luke 18:35-43. It may have been the news of this earlier miracle that first drew the attention of Bartimaeus to Jesus.

Mark seems to expect his initial readers to have some familiarity with Bartimaeus and his father Timaeus. It is likely that they had continued to follow Jesus, and were faithful Christians at the time Mark wrote his account of the gospel, vs. 46.

The crowd tried to quiet Bartimaeus and his friend, but Jesus was ready to hear to their petition. Even though Jesus already was aware of their condition and knew what they desired, nevertheless, He sought to get them to put their request into words, vs. 51. This corresponds with the behavior of the heavenly Father Himself, Matt. 6:8.

Let us note the part that faith played in the healing of these blind men. Jesus said, 'Your faith has made you well." But note, their faith did not make them well until it led them to Jesus. The faith that secures the blessings God has in store for us is the faith that leads us to seek Him, trust Him and follow Him. The Hebrew writer illustrates this in what has been called "faith's all of fame," Hebrews, chapter 11. "By faith Noah… prepared an ark for the saving of his household… By faith the walls of Jericho fell…", etc. These things happened by faith, but not necessarily by faith only. They occurred when faith was strong and active enough to lead people to meet the conditions upon which God had promised the blessing. Such faith will save us, when we meet God's conditions of forgiveness, Acts 2:36-38.

--Clarence R. Johnson 

THE REALITY OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

Eternity. We often use this word to describe some unpleasant thing that seemingly has no end, e.g., the drive from Sioux Falls to Rapid City seems like an eternity in bad weather. Eternity is something that all men face—as the soul within us is eternal in nature. (Eccl. 12:7) Where our souls will be during eternity depends upon choices made here—now—before we die.

Matthew 25:46 states an important fact: the righteous will inherit eternal life and the unrighteous will inherit eternal punishment. While most men today believe in heaven (78% in a U.S. News & World Report issue) less believe in the fact of a real place called hell. In fact, out of the 60% who believe in hell, only 4% think they will go there! This stands in great contrast to what our Lord said in Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Emphasis mine, MHA)

While many agree that hell exists—some now question the duration of punishment inflicted upon those who experience the second death. (Rev. 21:8) Revelation gives us the best picture of the length of the punishment (experienced in hell) and eternal bliss (experienced in heaven.)

Note the heavenly beings in Revelation 4:8 who praise God day and night saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty who was and who is and who is to come. In Revelation 7:15 the saved who came out of the great tribulation are pictured in heaven serving God day and night in His temple.

Contrast this by examining Revelation 14:11 where we are told the lost are tormented forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night. John continues his explanation of the torment of hell by stating the devil and his angels will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:10)

Tommy Hagewood (Locust Light, 11/15/96; Vol. 28, No. 22) points out that there will be no night in heaven. (Rev. 21:25; 22:5) Heaven will be one eternal day of joy where the redeemed will worship and serve God. Hell will be the exact opposite. The Bible describes hell as a place of outer darkness. (Mt. 25:30; 25:41, 46) Hell will involve separation from everything holy! 2 Thess. 1:9 says, These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Matthew 25:41 indicates that the punishment will involve a fire that burns throughout eternity! Since the punishment and the fire are eternal—we must assume that those receiving it will remain conscious throughout eternity!

What can we learn from this? Hagewood observes:

The day and night references to both heaven & hell in Revelation obviously refer to the state of both places going on at the same time and for the same length of time—forever and ever! (Emphasis mine, MHA) While the saved will enjoy an eternal day the lost will endure an eternal night.

Both heaven and hell will be places of everlasting consciousness. Everlasting awareness is not the same as everlasting life. Whereas heaven will be a place of eternal glory, honor, peace, and immortality, hell will be a place of eternal separation (death) from God and the saved. In hell, the lost will experience indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish (Rom. 2:6-11.) The eternal destruction of which the Scriptures speak is a loss of well being—not a loss of being. (2 Thess. 1:7-9)

What about the love and forgiveness of God? Some say “if God is cruel enough to make man and punish him with fire then I have no need for a God like that.” This argument fails to realize that God has frequently used fire to punish the disobedient. He rained brimstone and fire on Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24.) He brought hail mingled with fire upon the Egyptians (Ex. 9:23.) By fire God destroyed 250 men who were in rebellion (Num 16:35.) God sent fire upon Nadab and Abihu to devour them because they acted without His authority (Lev. 10:2) Peter says that sometime in the future this world will be dissolved by fire and the elements shall melt with fervent heat (2 Pet. 3:12).

What is the bottom line? We don’t want to go to hell! We should do whatever possible to get home to heaven! Have you received forgiveness of your sins? Are you prepared to meet eternity face to face?  

--Matthew Allen, Southside Messenger, Rapid City, SD

THE DEVIL'S BEATITUDES

If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians -- they are my best workers.

2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.

3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.

4. Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.

5. Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.

6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons.

7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

8. Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.

9. Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.

10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.

11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he shall be with me forever.

12. Blessed are you who, when you read this and think it is about other people and not yourself -- I've got you too! (Heaven forbid!)

--From Tim Smith's list submitted by M/M Riverrat

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