He greets the verdict with panic. Words of terror spill from hislips as he argues to save himself in the last hour.

But it’s far too late. With a solemn face and steady hand, Godbangs a golden gavel. The case is closed.

A black-shrouded demon subdues the man in a short tussle, anddrags him screaming to the red-lighted pathway to Hell.

He’s tossed in. The next soul steps forward to give an accountas the Maker once again opens his tattered, dog-eared Book ofLife.

Then the scene is over.

God, played by Colby Morris, steps down from the white bench.Brandon Bland, an 18-year-old student at Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege, re-emerges from the depths. Co-Lin’s Carrie Moak, 19,slips off her black veil and catches a breath of air.

The spectators at Clear Branch Baptist Church’s inauguralJudgment House have moved on to Hell. From there they’ll walk intothe white palace of Heaven and be welcomed with open arms.

It’s a stark contrast that portrays the two destinations mankindis headed for, said Clear Branch pastor the Rev. Wayne Moak.

“Judgment House is a real-life scenario of the choices peoplemake that influences their eternity,” he said. “It portrays reallife, and death is a part of real life. There are consequences toour decisions here on Earth.”

Judgment House at the church at 2166 Clear Branch Lane Northeastwill be held two more times – on Sunday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.and on Monday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The cost to the wallet is $3, but the benefit to the soul couldbe far beyond priceless.

“It can change an individual or a family’s life,” Moak said. “Asof Wednesday, we’ve had 32 people saved, and 98 rededications orprayer requests. I was hoping we’d have at least 20 salvations, sowe’ve by far bypassed my expectations.”

Around 100 volunteers are working on Judgment House, which takesspectators on an hour-long tour through eight scenes that trace thelife, final hours, death and judgment of four people.

One character is a successful lawyer who has a heart attack, twomore are Christ-loving teenagers and the last is a third teenagerwho leads a life of crime. All three teens are killed in ashooting.

The Judgment House package offers several scenarios, but theshooting deaths were chosen because of “where we are today,” Moaksaid, referring to several violent shootings that have occurredaround Lincoln County in 2010.

This year’s tragedies have no doubt changed lives, but JudgmentHouse can change lives without loss, Moak said.

“God uses tragedies to open up the heart. I think He’s usingthat here, without the tragedy, to open up hearts,” he said.

They’ve seen it at the church.

Without naming names, Moak told of a young girl who acceptedChrist after touring Judgment House and immediately went home andbrought her father to salvation, too. Another young man made it asfar as the parking lot with his hard heart before breaking down andbeing saved beside his group’s bus.

“The power of the presentation brings people to a reality checkwith where they are with the Lord,” Moak said.