JUDGMENT | Gary 1st #2

ETERNAL JUDGMENT

EVERYONE WILL BE JUDGED

Following the resurrection, judgment has been appointed for all men.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Eccl 3:17 I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

In God's judgment, only the pure in heart will stand. He will judge the secret thoughts of the heart, and nothing will escape his attention. He counts men to be guilty of sin before they transgress, because he knows their thoughts. His judgment is perfectly just and righteous because nothing is hidden from him.

Eccl 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Rom 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

Mat 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

WE WILL BE JUDGED BY OUR WORDS

On the day of judgment, men will give account to God for every evil word which they speak (lies, cursing, blasphemy etc.). Our words can bring us salvation when we are willing to confess Jesus and believe the gospel.

Mat 12:36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

A WRITTEN RECORD OF TRANSGRESSIONS

The Book of Revelation reveals the righteous judgment of God. God has a written record of men's deeds and will judge all men according to their works.

Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on 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, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

TRANSGRESSIONS CAN BE ERASED

The written record of our transgressions is blotted out through God's tender mercies. We have pleased the Father by believing in his Son. Instead of fiery judgment, we look for times of refreshing and goodness from God.

Acts 3:18 "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Psa 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

Isa 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

Isa 44:22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND

There is no middle ground in eternal judgment. The scriptures speak only of the righteous and the wicked or of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15). There is the resurrection to everlasting life and the resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:2).

GOD'S MERCY

The good news for God's people is that he forgives sin and transgressions. God purifies the heart and justifies us through faith in Jesus. God's wrath will come on that great day, but we have confidence in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

1 Th 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Acts 15:9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

GOD'S GOODNESS AND SEVERITY

Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: ...

God's eternal judgment includes both the inheritance of the righteous and his wrath upon the wicked. God has promised an inheritance of all things to his sons who overcome the devil. In contrast, he has appointed the lake of fire for those who love lawlessness.

Rev 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

A BELIEVER'S INHERITANCE

The inheritance promised to God's people includes eternal life, God’s everlasting kingdom, the holy city of New Jerusalem, the new heavens and the new earth which God will create.

Mat 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses of brothers of sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Dan 7: 13 "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days (God), And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (Note here that the "Son of Man" being spoken of is Jesus Christ.)

Dan 7:18 'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

Dan 7:22 "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

Dan 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

Heb 13:14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (The city is New Jerusalem.)

2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

THE UNBELIEVER'S INHERITANCE

While believers will inherit God's kingdom and all its glory, the unbelievers will not see life nor dwell in New Jerusalem. Instead, they will taste the second death and dwell eternally in the lake of fire.

Rev 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (The words, “their part” means their portion or their inheritance.)

THE FINAL DETERMINING FACTOR

Those who have their names are in the Book of Life will enter New Jerusalem. Everyone else will be outside the city, confined to the lake of fire. The Book of Life is the final determining factor in eternal judgment. It is also called the Lamb's Book of Life (referring to Jesus, the lamb of Isaiah 53:7 and John 1:29 etc.)

Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it (New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Rev 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside (New Jerusalem) are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

TWO PLACES OF FIERY JUDGMENT

There are two places of fiery judgment referred to in the New Testament. One is Hades (sometimes translated “hell”) and the other is Gehenna (the Valley of Hinnom or Tophet, also translated “hell” in most Bibles). These two places bear some similarities, but each is quite distinct from the other.

HADES

Hades is a place of departed spirits, that is a place where the soul and the spirit go when the body is dead. This is a place of fire and torment where the wicked go awaiting final judgment. Jesus told us of a rich man who went to this place after his body was buried.

Luke 16:22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'

JESUS DECENDED TO HADES

Jesus was dead for three days before his resurrection. During this time, he descended to Hades and obtained its keys.

Acts 2:31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

Eph 4:9 (Now this, "He ascended"; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Rev 1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

HADES WILL BRING UP ITS DEAD FOR JUDGMENT

Death (the grave) and Hades will bring up their dead to stand before God in the final judgment. They will be cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

GEHENNA

Gehenna is the same place as the lake of fire in the Book of Revelation. It is distinct from Hades in that it is the place where both body and soul are cast in the final judgment, after the resurrection. The Lord often warned men of this place in his teaching. He even taught that it is better to dismember oneself than to incur this judgment. (Note that "hell" in all the following verses, is translated from the Greek word Gehenna, which is the Valley of Hinnom.)

Mat 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Mat 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

TOPHET IS THE OLD TESTAMENT GEHENNA

Tophet (same as Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom) is an Old Testament name for the lake of fire. It is located outside the city of Jerusalem and was formerly a place where the people burned their sons and daughters in sacrifices to Molech (an idol). God has prepared Tophet as a place of fiery judgment which is kindled by his own breath. It will be properly located outside of New Jerusalem as a place for those who cannot enter the Holy city. God has prepared New Jerusalem for his saints.

Jer 7:31 "And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart.

Isa 30:33 For Tophet was established of old, Yes, for the king it is prepared. He has made it deep and large; Its pyre is fire with much wood; The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, Kindles it.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. ("outside" means outside of New Jerusalem and in the lake of fire)

ETERNAL SHAME VERSUS ETERNAL GLORY

Gehenna (Hell) is a place of eternal shame and contempt. The inhabitants will be viewed in everlasting fire with worms covering them. This fate is a stark contrast to that of the saints who will reign on the new earth in brightness and in glory forever.

Isa 14:11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.'

Isa 66:22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord. 24 “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

(Note that hell in the following verses of Mark chapter 9, is translated from the Greek word “Gehenna”, which is the Valley of Hinnom.) Jesus also spoke of the eternal fire and worms.

Mark 9:43 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched; 44 “where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ 45 “And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.’ 47 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it our. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire; 48 “where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.”

Mat 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

FIERY DARKNESS VERSUS ETERNAL LIGHT

This place of eternal shame is a furnace of fire (Mat. 13:42), yet the Bible says it is a Place of darkness. This is not a contradiction. The fuel for the lake of fire is brimstone (sulfur) which burns while giving off no light. The saints will always have light.

Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Mat 8:12 “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

2 Pet 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Rev 21:23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

ETERNAL TORMENT VERSUS ETERNAL REST AND REFRESHING

Revelation 20:10 says, “and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”. The fire and the torment have no end in this place of judgment. God’s people will have rest and rewards for their good works in Christ. Instead of fire, they will have living waters.

Rev 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Rev 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Rev 7:17 “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

ETERNAL LIFE VERSUS THE SECOND DEATH

Eternal judgment is final and forever. God’s people will inherit everlasting life and New Jerusalem while the wicked will have their inheritance in the lake of fire, which is the second death.

Mat 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

SATAN'S FINAL FATE

The eternal fire of Gehenna is prepared for Satan and his angels. This is the final fate of the deceiver, who lied to the nations, that they should not serve the Creator.

Mat 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Rev 20:10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

1. Who will be judged? ________________________________________

2. God will judge the ______________________ of men’s hearts.

3. God has a _________________ record of the works of men.

4. The written record of our transgressions is ___________________ through God’s mercy.

5. A Christian will inherit eternal life, New Jerusalem, the new heavens and earth which God will create, and the eternal ____________________ of God.

6. There is no middle ground in eternal judgment. The Bible speaks only of the _____________ and the _________________________, of the

just and the _____________________.

7. What is the name of the place where the soul and spirit of an unrighteous person goes after death, but before the resurrection and final

judgment? _____________________________

8. What is the name of the place where the soul and body of the wicked will be cast in the final judgment (the Greek name which means the Valley

of Hinnom)?____________________________

9. Give a New Testament, English name for Tophet. _____________________________

10. The Lake of Fire burns with brimstone which is __________________________.

11. How long will the torment of the lake of fire last? ______________________________

12. God has prepared eternal fiery judgment for ____________________ and his ________________.

13. The final determining factor in eternal judgment is a book. What is it called? ____________________

14. What is the second death? ___________________________________________________