Although life’s obstacles may present a formidable challenge, the promise of our eternal inheritance from Revelation 21:3-7 offers a positive incentive to overcome them. But along with that positive incentive, Revelation 21:8 presents us with another kind of motivation that is decidedly negative…
“But as for the cowards, the faithless and the corrupt, the murderers, the traffickers in sex and sorcery, the worshippers of idols and all liars—their inheritance is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8 Phillips).
To refer to someone as a coward is a great affront to that person’s dignity. Yet, Revelation chapter twenty-one does not hesitate to adopt that language. This word signifies “timidity” and always carries a negative connotation. (1) Therefore, those who are too cowardly to commit to Christ now will face serious repercussions later.
This passage follows with another negative attribute in referencing the unbelieving (KJV). This encompasses those who refuse to place their faith in Christ. One source associates this idea with false or treacherous individuals. (2) Next comes those who are vile (HCSB), abominable (ASV), or detestable (ESV). In the original language of this passage, these traits likely derive from a root word meaning “to stink.” (3) The New Testament book of Titus employs this word in a similar manner…
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:15-16 NIV).
This reference to those detestable individuals who “…claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” is closely related to the word that is translated “vile” or “abominable” here in Revelation chapter twenty-one. (4) It also illustrates God’s disdain for hypocrisy, a characteristic that will find no place of acceptance within His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21:8 then follows with a reference to “murderers.” Murder refers to the unlawful taking of another person’s life. Since that action violates the sixth Commandment, an unrepentant murderer should not expect to spend eternity with the Author of life.
Finally, our text from Revelation 21: 8 speaks of the “sexually immoral.” The creation account from the book of Genesis establishes a “one man-one woman” model as God’s standard for marital relationships. That model defines marriage as a monogamous relationship between a genetic male and a genetic female as God’s intended norm. Other physical relationships that fall outside that standard are broadly associated with the term “sexual immorality.” (5)
Image Attribution: A black and white poster with the words negative positive Public Domain, via pixabay
(1) G1169 – deilos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1169/kjv/lxx/0-1/. See related reference to G1167 Fear, fearful, fearfulness – Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0001014
(2) G571 apistos (n.d.). billmounce.com. https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/apistos
(3) G948 – bdelysso – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g948/kjv/mgnt/0-1/
(4) G947 – bdelyktos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g947/kjv/tr/0-1/
(5) See beginning here for a detailed discussion concerning this topic.