How the merchants and traders howled and wept and wailed. They were not concerned that the people of Babylon were in torment. They were not concerned that the power of God was being revealed in a manner that indicated His displeasure with mankind and that all nations of the earth should repent as did Nineveh.

They howled and wept and wailed because of the loss of their money, their means of acquiring wealth. So it is that the love of money pollutes every worthy human sentiment and aspiration just as garbage and dung pouring into a river foul and pollute the crystal-clear water.

The spirit of covetousness, of commerce, will not be allowed to enter through the gates into the holy city. This spirit will find its true and eternal home in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. So will all who love and worship it.

All liars. Satan is the father of all liars. The world today is filled with lying as people seek their own advantage. The love of money often leads to lying, as we see in the case of Gehazi, and Ananias and Sapphira. Christ Himself is the Truth. Those who love truth come to Christ. Those who prefer a lie do not enjoy the Presence of Christ.

The new Jerusalem is the center of government of the Kingdom of God. There is not one liar in it. How wonderful to dwell in a city where everyone tells the truth at all times!

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. (Revelation 21:8)

It is interesting to note the close correspondence between the Ten Commandments (Exodus, Chapter 20), and the eight sins that lead to eternal residence in the Lake of Fire. Sin is a transgression of the timeless moral law of God. Unbelief, murder, covetousness, lying, always are wrong. They never can abide in the Presence of God.

Current Christian doctrine holds that Divine grace is a means of evading the timeless moral law of God. This is not true. Divine grace forgives us and then enables us to purge ourselves of sin against the moral law of God. The believer in Christ will purge himself of sin, or he will repent when God punishes him for his sin, or he will be cast into the Lake of Fire. It is as clear as that.

The people who behave in the eight satanic ways listed above will have their part in the Lake of Fire along with Satan and his angels.

In contrast with these sinners are the peoples of the nations of the saved who are enjoying the new earth, and those who are part of the Wife of the Lamb and are beholding for eternity the Face of the Father.

To be continued.