J. Grant Swank, Jr.


“Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (I Timothy 5:24).


"I am actually grateful for this opportunity to publicly comment about my crimes, for which I am deeply sorry and ashamed," he said.


Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty.


"As the years went by, I realized my risk, and this day would inevitably come. I cannot adequately express how sorry I am for my crimes."


He could face a maximum sentence of 150 years in prison at sentencing.


“The scheme evaporated life fortunes, wiped out charities and apparently pushed at least two investors to commit suicide. Victims big and small were swindled by Madoff, from elderly Florida retirees to actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel”
per AP’s Larry Neumeister and Tom Hays.


It is so interesting how morals and immorals are topping the news these days. It is also intriguing how Scripture is played out day after day in one country and then another.


This is a fascinating age in which to live. There are all sorts of malpractices lopped against the unsuspecting public so as to push us into the arms of God or wipe out our own lives.


If a person does not literally take his life, he may decide to commit psycho suicide and then snuff out his mental frequency. There are others who simply pull the trigger or jump.


Will Madoff burn in hell? Maybe. He will if he does not repent sincerely to Christ. And then he must make restitution to all he sinned against.


There is no sin but the unpardonable sin that cannot find divine grace. The unpardonable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, that is, so turning one’s heart against God that the heart turns to stone.


In the meantime, Madoff should experience hell of soul right this moment and in the days and months that follow. Maybe he will figure out means by which to take his life. If he does not, his conscience will burn to a crisp and then turn around to burn into another crisp and then turn around again to burn into still another crisp ad infinitum.


The conscience that God planted in every mortal at birth does not just simply wisp away.


By looking into this wretched face of Madoff we all then look into our own hearts. These hearts are all seen by the God Judge before whom we likewise will stand.


For some of us, our sins will confront us in this life before death as well as at the Judgment Seat of Christ. But it is certain that every mortal breathing will at the last breath give an account of life’s journey before the Great White Light.


Oh, and what about Demjanijuk?


“German prosecutors said Wednesday they have charged retired Ohio auto worker John Demjanjuk with more than 29,000 counts of accessory to murder for his time as a guard at the Nazis' Sobibor death camp, and will seek his extradition from the U.S.


“Demjanjuk is accused of participating in the murders while he was a guard at the Nazi camp in occupied Poland between March and September 1943” per AP.


FOOTNOTE: JUDGMENT DAY


Hebrews 9:27:


It is appointed unto men once to die, but after that the judgment.


Matthew 7:21-23: the words of Christ:


Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Matthew 12:36-37: the words of Christ:


But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.


Romans 2:6-11:


God who will render to every man according to his deed: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immorality, eternal life; But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor and peace to every man that worked good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.


Romans 14:10-12:


For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.


I Corinthians 4:5:


Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsel of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.


II Corinthians 5:10:


For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.


Numbers 32:23:


Be sure your sin will find you out.