Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Notice that the first group of people listed that are going to burn in the Lake of Fire are the fearful. The word “fearful” here is the Greek word deilos and means “timid, that is, (by implication) faithless.” I believe it refers to people who are afraid to admit that they don't know they are saved. It refers to those who are afraid to ask questions about their salvation. It refers to religious church members who are afraid to get saved after 30 years in a church, because they are afraid of what people will think. It is typical human nature to be afraid of what others will think, and that fear can keep a person from getting saved.
When I was a child, I had been led by a Christian school teacher in a 1-2-3, follow me, type of prayer to be saved. Of course, I didn't get saved at all. I just repeated some empty words. I wasn't old enough to understand (that's me). The Holy Spirit's presence wasn't there, not one bit. I was water baptized then also, not even thinking about what was going on. I was just going along because that's what my parents wanted me to do.
Then at age 13 I did get saved, by believing the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit's presence was there, but I would struggle with the assurance of my salvation for the next 7-years. It was on a Sunday morning. The pastor preached that morning about the Holy Spirit and said a person isn't saved if they don't have the Holy Spirit's conviction about sin in their life. I knew I didn't have that. I had received Christ as my personal Savior from the pew, but I was afraid to walk forward down the isle to learn what was going on, so I didn't. Whether walking down the isle that day would have made a difference in my soul is something that only God knows. I rejoice that since that day, I have had the glorious presence of God's Holy Spirit in my life. It was like a switch turning on in my life.
At age 17 I went to talk with my pastor. That was extremely difficult for me to do, but I did it anyway. I was hoping for some book recommendations or some wisdom to help me nail down the assurance of my salvation. Unfortunately, as is fairly typical these days, my pastor simply assumed that I must not be saved if I didn't know I was saved. So he led me again in a 1-2-3, follow me, type prayer, but I had already been saved at age 13 (but I didn't know it at the time, because I was confused). So I was immediately water baptized again, and I was scared, because I still didn't know that I was saved. What if I went to Hell? What if something was missing? What if? What if? What if? Now that everyone in the church thought I was saved, I was afraid to dare tell anybody that I still didn't know for certain. I was cared of missing Heaven. I was scared of going to Hell. I was afraid to tell anybody these things. I felt lonely, trapped and insecure as a teenager. I know what that horrible experience is like. Thankfully, I was truly saved at age 13, which I finally settled upon by God's merciful grace at about age 20. I had finally gained the assurance of my salvation.
I know there are many other people in the world who are afraid, and they're not truly saved. Those fears can send you to Hell forever. If you are too timid to find the truth, you will go to Hell forever. God doesn't play favorites. There are no exceptions to God's rules. The religious folks in Matthew 7:21-23 were as sincere as can be, having done many wonderful works in Jesus' name, but they all went to Hell forever. Jesus called them “workers of iniquity.” This evidences from the Holy Bible that no amount of sincerity, religious devotion or serving the Lord will substitute for being born-again by faith alone in the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. It is not what you can do that gets you to Heaven; but rather, what Christ has done for you on the cross. We are saved by trusting, not by trying. You cannot get to Heaven by trying to get there, you must be born-again by faith in Jesus Christ.
I am writing this article to encourage others to ask questions if you're not sure that you're saved. I'd 10,000 times rather be embarrassed now, by getting saved after having been in a church for 50 years, then to go to Hell for all eternity in fear. Please don't let fear take you to Hell. That's one precious thing about this online ministry, that is, you can find the answers to questions about salvation in the privacy of your home, without any embarrassment. In this respect, the internet is a great blessing. The internet is simply a tool, neither good nor evil. It all depends how it is used, just like television (which is 95% evil).
Revelation 21:8 is perhaps one of the most disturbing Scriptures in all the Word of God. It is also one of the most clear concerning the Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death. This plainly teaches us that Hell is a literal place that burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur). There is the first death, which is physical. This is when our soul and spirit are separated from our body. And then there is the second death, where a person's spirit, soul and body are separated from God for all eternity in Hell. It is Scriptures like this which prove that Hell is more than mere death or the grave (which is the heresy taught by Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses).
The world is filled with people who are afraid to go against their families, or family tradition, or church tradition, which ultimately will take them straight to the Lake of Fire when they die. I do not believe it is a mere coincidence that God listed “the fearful” (timid) as the first group of people which will spend eternity burning in fire and brimstone. Mark 7:7, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:9, “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” In the nation of Japan, less than .005% of the population profess the name of Jesus Christ. That's less than 1-in-200 people! In Japan, family tradition and social unity are everything to their way of life. Literally, their fear of social rejection is going to send them to Hell forever and ever. God doesn't make exceptions for timid people. You must be born-again to enter into the Kingdom of God. No amount of sincerity or personal goodness can replace this.
My friend, the first two groups that God lists who are going to burn in Hell for all eternity are the FEARFUL and UNBELIEVING!!! The good news is that you don't have to gain up the courage to attend a church, nor talk to a pastor, nor join a religion to be saved. You can be saved right now, right where you are, just as you are in your sins and faults!!! If you admit that you are a helpless sinner in God's holy eyes, for breaking His commandments; thus, realizing your need for the dear Savior. And you BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Who died on the cross for your sins, was buried and bodily resurrected three days later, then you are saved!!! John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Believe and the work is done!
Here is an excellent quote from the mighty man of God, Dr. Lee Roberson, concerning eternal punishment . . .
“Somebody says, 'The thought of Hell is so horrible.' Well, my friend, so is cancer, so is tuberculosis, so is the grave. Someone said, 'I believe sin ought to be punished, but not for eternity.' That's your view, not God's.
Again another says, 'I don't believe in the wrath of God.' Then you don't believe your Bible. The Bible says the wrath of God abideth on the one who doesn't believe in Jesus Christ. He is lost forever.
Now, these things come to us out of the Word of God. The teaching of eternal punishment should give us a hatred for sin. We ought to hate sin. The reason we have changed so much in this day in all of our churches is that we are not hearing much on this subject. Therefore, we endorse sin. We engage in sin. We camouflage the sin in our lives and allow things to go by, instead of hating sin as God wants us to hate sin . . .
The teaching of eternal punishment should give us a passion for the souls of men.”
SOURCE: Dr. Lee Roberson, from the book, Disturbing Questions... Solid Answers, chapter 16, pgs. 196-198; copyright, Sword of the Lord publishers, 1978.
