Can the Spirit of God not communicate clearly? Would He say, "And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life," leaving us with the impression that it is the exception who is put into torment, if He actually meant all shall be cast into the fire?

We are not persuaded by recent attempts to alter the disciplined translation of the verse in order to fit Christian tradition. Let those who add to, or take away from, the plain language of the Book of Revelation take heed that they do not take away their own part from the Book of Life, coming under the curse contained in the last chapter of Revelation.

It would be impossible for our fanciful translation (above) to be a part of the Scriptures because it would contradict a principle of the Kingdom of God.

In Kingdom law, an individual is judged by the light he has. If he never has heard the Gospel of Christ he will not be judged by the Gospel of Christ (John 15:24; Romans 2:12).

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15)

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (John 15:22)

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15:24)

Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:6,7)

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:9)

Men will be judged and rewarded in terms of the light they have been given.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47,48)

Why would Christian teachers stumble over the last judgment, attempting to make the Scripture mean what it does not state?

Perhaps the reason stems from Paul's teaching concerning grace and works. Paul, a Jew, was entrusted by the Lord with the explanation of the transition from the works of the Law of Moses to the life lived under the discipline of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ.

The Holy Spirit Himself is the Law of the new covenant (II Corinthians 3:6). Some who know this have come to believe there is no law, we all are "free in the Spirit." Such do not know the Spirit of God!

Paul, who was reacting to the Jewish trust in the works of the Law, contended that we cannot be made righteous by works (of the Law) now that God has given Christ as our sin-bearer. We cannot mix the Law of Moses with the grace of God given us through Christ. If the works of the Law are added to Divine grace, grace no longer is grace, Paul emphasized.

To be continued.