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man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's
work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; BUT HE HIMSELF shall be saved; yet so as
by fire" (I Cor. 3: 12-15).
Here "works" are in view, and "works" only. When examining the character of the
Millennium we drew attention to the words of the Saviour to the seven churches, "I know
thy works", and how they were linked with Rev. 20:, "The dead were judged . . . . .
according to their works". First, to every one of the seven churches, the Saviour said "I
know thy works", and so dominant is this reference to "works" in these two chapters
(Rev. 2: and 3:), that we find the Greek word ergon occurring fourteen times. It is to
one of these churches made up of the redeemed, that the overcomer is promised "He
. . . . . shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev. 2: 11), a promise fulfilled in
Rev. 20: 6, for there those who "reign" with Christ for the thousand years are said to be
blessed and holy; they are said to be priests of God and of Christ, and "ON SUCH the
second death hath no power". Every one of these seven churches is linked with the
Millennial kingdom by either the promise to the overcomer, or the warning to the slacker,
or by both. Let us see this for ourselves:
Ephesus.
Promise.
Paradise - Rev. 2: 7 and 22: 2.
Smyrna.
Promise.
Not hurt of the second death - 2: 11 and 20: 6.
Pergamos.
Promise.
New name . . . . . - 2: 17 and 19: 12.
Threat.
Fight, sword, mouth - 2: 16 and 19: 15.
Thyatira.
Promise.
Rod of Iron - 2: 27 and 12: 5.
Threat.
Kill with death - 2: 23 and 20: 15.
Sardis.
Promise.
Not blot out - 3: 5 and 20: 12.
Philadelphia.
Promise.
New Jerusalem - 3: 12 and 21: 2.
Laodicea.
Promise.
Sit in Throne - 3: 21 and 20: 4.
If "the second death" be the doom that awaits the wicked dead what congruity is there
between the POSITION "priests of God and of Christ" and the PROMISE "on such the
second death hath no power" (Rev. 20: 6)? Anyone with the slightest knowledge of the
gospel of grace, knows that "there is . . . . . no condemnation" possible for the believer in
Christ. Now this second death is equated with "the lake of fire" (Rev. 20: 14, 15) and so
falls within the bounds of our present inquiry. This lake of fire is mentioned in five
passages in the Revelation, and in several other passages by implication.
"The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before
him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that
worship his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone" (Rev. 19: 20).
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where
the beast and the false prophet are (or were), and shall be tormented day and night for
ever and ever" (Rev. 20: 10).
"And death and hell was cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death"
(Rev. 20: 14).
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire" (Rev. 20: 15).
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things . . . . . but the fearful . . . . . shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death"
(Rev. 21: 7, 8).