Dear Friends of “Dial Dally Bread,”
The Bible urges us, "Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20), but how can our hearts be if we misunderstand His character of love? We must hear the gospel as common sense Good News, or lingering enmity will fester in our hearts. Fear of His role as Condemner in the final judgment creates alienation. Therefore the gospel of reconciliation ("atonement," at-one-ment with God) must be understood.
Jesus says the Father will not judge [condemn] anyone (John 5:22), and then adds that He also will not condemn "anyone" who "does not believe" (12:46, 47). Then who will do the final condemning of those who "do not believe" "in the last day"?
Jesus says, "The word that I have spoken will judge [krinei, condemn] him in the last day" (vs. 48). Oh yes, there will be a "word" of condemnation in that day of final judgment, but Revelation says it will come from the lips of the lost themselves. All are said to gather before the "great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. ... The books were opened" (Rev. 20:11, 12). Chapter 14 makes clear that the wicked cannot bear to look into the eyes of the Son of God (vs. 10), for in the final judgment, heaven and earth "flee away" from beholding that face!
When "the books [are] opened," every person will be keenly conscious of what is written therein; the eyes of Jesus will look right through them; memory comes alive with self-condemnation. All see where they crucified afresh the Lord of glory and put Him to an open shame. Too late, they understand their role at Calvary. What Jesus said will be literally fulfilled, "The word that I have spoken will judge [them] in the last day."
The ages-long "great controversy between Christ and Satan" cannot be concluded until the lost freely, voluntarily confess the judgment and mercy of their final end. "Every knee shall bow" and confess, "Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 15:3).
This does not mean that the lost will become converted; far from it. Satan will indulge in one last wild temper tantrum against God, trying to capture the Holy City (Rev. 20:7-9). After their voluntary confession of God's justice, the wicked again join him, proving to the watching universe that they are hopelessly in rebellion against righteousness (vss. 7-15). Then at last the entire universe will be "at-one" in agape. Let's be at-one today!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 18, 2002.
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