Why Does Evil Prosper?

As I try to make sense of what is going on in Kenya and the realization that a great evil has descended over that country… and the fact that the leaders, whom many had placed their hopes in, continue to remain silent and chaos continues to rage, I find some comfort in sermons such as this one titled “What Christians Should do When the Wicked Prosper”.

Even more profound is this passage from chapter 22 of book of Revelation, verses 10 to 12 that says, “(10)Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, because the time is near. (11) Let the one who does what is evil continue to do evil, and let the filthy person continue to be filthy, and the righteous person continue to do what is right, and the holy person continue to be holy.” (12) “See! I am coming soon! My reward is with me to repay everyone according to his work. “

In light of all that is happening, it makes me realize that even though the wicked seem to prosper here and now, certainly when the die, they will face the great white throne judgment. This is where many will look back and absolutely regret the wicked lives they led while on earth…

I have always wondered what happens to someone after they die, according to my understanding, if they were a believer, i.e born again Christian, then they will go to heaven. If they are not, they will go to hell or hades which is basically a holding place where they await for the great judgment and are judged according to what they have done. Now remember, the bible says that everyone has sinned, and the wages of sin is death. The verdict of the great white throne judgment is the lake of fire and that is what the bible calls the second death. The bible also says that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth… Now lets think about this for a moment. Many ignorant people will say something like, well I’d rather go to hell because all the cool people will be there and the party will be none stop. Really? is that what you think its going to be like? If God has prepared a place to punish the wicked, and if God is truly just, He indeed must punish the wicked, do you really think He will create a place that you’ll just party on with your dumb little buddies for eternity? One of my other understandings is that you will also be utterly alone. Not only are you suffering, but you are suffering alone… for eternity… for ever…. now think about that for a moment, that, ultimately, that is what awaits the wicked…