ALCATRAZ! One mile from the shores of the San Francisco Bay it stands. Twelve acres of solid rock, it rose with an ominous appearance to those who were being taken there for confinement. Known as "The Rock," it became America's version of Devil's Island.

Named by a Spaniard, "Isla de los Alcatraces," meaning, "Isle of the Pelicans," it lived up to its description, for only pelicans were able to come and go freely during much of the island's history. Purchased by the Federal Government for $5,000 in 1854, and fortified for $1,697,500, it first held Civil War prisoners of war, then political prisoners. In 1934, it became the most fearsome federal prison of all, the home of notorious citizens such as Alfonso "Scarface" Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

The ultimate in maximum security penitentiaries, Alcatraz had a way of reducing the most hardened and confident criminals. Even the so called "Great Al Capone" became a weak little old man, cringing in his cell for fear of being knifed to death. At Alcatraz, a no-talking rule was strictly enforced on its 300 inmates, and guards were ordered to open fire at the least indication of trouble.

During its 29-year history, at least 35 of the 1,576 inmates confined to Alcatraz tried to escape. Seven were shot or killed, 22 were recaptured, and the rest presumably drowned in the bay's vicious ocean-bound currents. Contrary to fictional stories, no one ever succeeded in escaping!

In 1963, Alcatraz closed. As the last prisoner was being transferred he remarked, "It's mighty good to get up and leave." Thus the curtain closed on a 29-year history of human misery, grief, hopelessness and confinement.

SATAN'S PRISON

When we turn to the spiritual realm, it might surprise you to know, that we find prisons, too! For years, I was in a prison and I wasn't even aware of it. The Lord mentions the situation in Luke 11:21-23. "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Let me explain this statement to you. The "strong man" is Satan, and he has led mankind captive, robbing him of heaven. Armed, he is well supplied, knowing how to snare souls, as he did Eve, thus introducing spiritual and physical death into the human family. His "palace" is the world, the attractive sphere of his mighty operations. His "goods" are the souls of men and he keeps them "in peace." How can he do it? Very simply, he does it by holding before men the pleasures, fame, wealth, honors and pursuits of this world, so that their minds have no time to think upon eternal things. Satan exercises dominion over their intellectual capacities and affections. Man, is "DEAD" spiritually as far as God is concerned (Ephesians 2:1). He has a false peace. With no anxiety about his soul, no fear of the future, and no dread of hell, he is in for a dreadful awakening! Yes, Satan is doing well at keeping his prisoners at peace. Is your's a false peace?

HOW TO ESCAPE!

Can something be done about it? Absolutely! God has provided an escape from Satan's prison! Christ as the stronger One has come. Just as we consist of flesh and blood, God's eternal Son became a Man "that through death He might destroy (annul) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." "He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2: 14,15,9). His precious blood was shed at Calvary to purchase redemption and to cleanse the sinner of ALL his sins. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). It is all of grace, and not prayers, penance, or works on your part! Any professed minister who would tell you otherwise is being used of Satan to deceive you! Never mind what men may say. If God says it, that is all that matters! You can come into the good of His promise, being redeemed from Satan's grasp, sin's defilement and hell's torment; and you can be totally and eternally forgiven, once for all! How? By faith! Faith in what? Faith in Christ! In other words, you must trust His sacrifice at Calvary as all you need to fit you for heaven. You must believe on Him, rely on Him, placing confidence and dependence on Him alone.

God says, "For by grace are ye saved through FAITH" (Ephesians 2:8). Be earnest - don't neglect God's way of escape!

GOD'S PRISON

Let me tell you now about the most terrible prison of all. It's God's prison. Peter speaks of those who were disobedient to God in Noah's day as presently being "spirits in prison." He speaks of sinning angels being cast down into hell, delivered into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment and of the unjust being reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished (1 Peter 3:19; 2 Peter 2:9,4). If you die as an unjust person (unforgiven, unredeemed), you will enter the prison-house of hell. Your spirit will be incarcerated until the day of resurrection, to be judged for your sins at the great white throne; then finally, you will be cast, body, soul and spirit into the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). The sentence will be, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46).

"How shall we escape,
if we neglect so great salvation?"
(Hebrews 2:3)

THE ANSWER IS - YOU WON'T!