Bible Apologetic

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
(Rev. 1:7)

This final, apocalyptic book of the Bible is the only one for which a blessing is given to those who study it.

. . .

the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and
murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and
idolaters and all liars, [are going to hell]
(Rev. 21:8)

The first thing I remember really "getting" about Revelation & prophecy was the fact [emphasized above in blue] that liars go to hell just as well as the really evil sinners. No one makes it into heaven by being a "good person". Omitting the "liars", many people would read that verse and say "I never have, nor would I commit any of those horrible sins...I'm a good person...I'm going to heaven when I die".

But who on earth can say he has never told a lie? No one! I'd bet the farm on that one! Even Mother Teresa, even Mary, the mother of Jesus (which unbeknownst to the Catholics WAS a sinner herself). Only Jesus was sinless.

So what this verse tells us is that there is no way anyone can make it to heaven on his own merits, without the salvation which Jesus Christ bought for us on the cross. God sent and allowed His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our salvation so that we might join Him in His glorious city for all eternity.