The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 20:1-6, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

These intriguing and thought-provoking words from the Scriptures don’t completely answer the questions we all have concerning the afterlife. But, they are either words of encouragement for the true believer, or they are devastating words for the skeptic. I can engage in some thought-provocation, but only speculate with respect to what the above passage seeks to say in full.

What every informed Bible-believer knows is that our current world is racing madly toward its ultimate end –and that end spells devastation to those who have failed to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.

Simultaneously, believers know that all, who have either neglected or rejected the LORD Jesus Christ as their Savior, are racing furiously toward life’s end without the hope of anything but the fires of Hell and the absence of Christ to greet them for all eternity.

Dear friend, please believe me when I say that it’s not the church of any denomination, or any church’s baptism, or any ritual that any church claims to be “eternally saving.” Nor is there some secret, scientific formula that can redeem your soul from Hell. Only the precious blood of our LORD Jesus Christ –blood that was lovingly, willingly shed on the cross for your sins– only that blood can wash away your sin and make you acceptable to Almighty God. I am praying for you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom