The sixth and final category of those mentioned as being outside the gates of Heaven in Revelation 22:15 consists of
those who love and practice a lie. It’s interesting that we find this description at the end of the list just as we find
“and all liars” at the end of the list in Revelation 21:8. That list included eight descriptions, five of which are repeated
here. At first glance, the word liars seems easy enough to comprehend—someone who does not tell the truth.
In a survey done about twenty years ago, 90% of the population admitted to lying on a daily basis—if they were
being honest. If this statistic were true, it would mean that we could not trust hardly anything that anyone says. We
know we cannot trust the news media. Proven beyond dispute is that they have edited out the vital information needed
in a news story. Furthermore, they slant the facts to fit their political, social, or religious position. But now students
need to be careful about what they are taught because teachers and professors are no longer trustworthy. Some textbooks
have rewritten history.
Satan is the father of the lie, Jesus rightly claimed (John 8:44). He introduced lying to human beings (Gen. 3:4-
5). He continues to be influential through his myriad false teachers. Warnings in the New Testament abound (Matt.
16:12; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Tim. 4:16). How many religious groups are proclaiming lies each Sunday and daily on television?
Some know they are not telling the truth; others are honestly mistaken, but in either case, they are not speaking
the truth as taught in the Scriptures.
Maybe the worse thing is lying to ourselves. Years ago, a particular woman cheated on her husband, and he
divorced her. Ten years later she was telling everyone that he was the one who cheated, and she was innocent. “I’m a
preacher’s daughter. I would have never done anything wrong.” Well, who can say for sure? We may all find out on the
Day of Judgment. The point is this: If she was guilty, she had convinced herself she had not done anything wrong.
Self-deceit will prove deadly. Most people refuse to accept they are guilty of wrongdoing. “This is the way of an adulterous
woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wickedness’” (Pr. 30:20). All Christians must
be careful that we do not lie to ourselves—or to God. The truth will come to light—eventually.