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The 139 List
Did you make the 139 list for 2023? If you did, you are not reading this post, and if not on the list, that does not mean you are either “famous, infamous, or still with us.”
At each year’s end there are numerous accounts for those “we lost” in 2023. From the “famous,” i.e., rock stars and actors, etc., to the “infamous,” i.e., the Unabomber, which did make the 139 lost list.
Biblically there are numerous references to individual considered to be famous, i.e., Abram, unto whom Jehovah said, “But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age” (Gen. 15:15); John the Baptist, of whom it is said, “his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him” (Matt. 14:12. And then there are the infamous, i.e., “And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (5) We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: (6) but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.” (Numb. 11:4-6 cf. 21:5). And Jehovah said to Moses, “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of Jehovah, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Jehovah will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. (19) Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, (20) but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numb 11:18-20). “While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague. (34) And the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted” (Numb. 11:33-34).
What of those who were not “famous” nor “infamous”?
- The righteous:
- “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. (2) He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness” (Isa. 57:1-2);
- Martyrs of whom John said, “I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (10) and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:9-10).
- The wicked:
- Of whom Asaph said, “Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors” (Psa. 73:18-19).
- Those separated by the King when He comes in judgment: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. (46) And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:41-46).
There is one list of which man needs be mindful: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. (15) And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:11-15).
Upon what list do you seek to be? Those unto whom the Lord will “profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:23), or those of whom the Master will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21)? ret
- The_139_List.pdf (84.60 kB)
