The 9/11 Terror Trials

It appears the 9/11 terror trials won't be held in NYC after all. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would be "very happy" if the White House held conducted them at another location. Rep. Peter King of New York, ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, has introduced legislation to block funds for a 9/11 trial in NYC. The fact is, a large number of both Democrats and Republicans believe strongly that the 9/11 hijackers should be tried, not in a civilian court, but a military tribunal. Not in NYC, but in Guantamano Bay or some other military base.

As I thought of all this debate and opinions regarding what is sure to be "the trial of the century" - how it's going to be conducted, where it's going to take place, who's going to prosecute, what's going to be the outcome, etc. - I couldn't help but think of the Great White Throne Judgment described by the apostle John in sobering detail in Revelation 20:11-15:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Judge: God Almighty

The Prosecutor: Jesus Christ

The Accused: Unrepentant Man

The Verdict: Guilty

The Sentence: The Lake of Fire

There will be no debate, no change of plans, no lapse in the prosecution, no negotiation, no leniency, no possibility of parole. "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

Are you prepared to meet your God? Have you made peace with Him through faith in Jesus Christ? He bore God's wrath on the cross so that you wouldn't have to bear it for all eternity in the lake of fire. Having been raised from the dead, Jesus now sits enthroned at God's right hand. He is the righteous Advocate of all who turn from their sin and trust Him to save them. He will be the righteous Judge of those who don't.

"Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:12).