This Prophecy Is Getting Too Real…..Why Is No One Talking About This!!!!
What happens after death?
Where do you go when you die?
What does the Bible say about when God will judge us?
What is Judgment Day?
What are all the different judgments in the Bible?
What is the Judgment Seat of Christ / Bema Seat of Christ?
What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven?
What happens at the final judgment?
What is the Great White Throne Judgment?
How can I not go to hell?
Going to Heaven – how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
Who will go to hell?
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This Prophecy Is Getting Too Real…..Why Is No One Talking About This
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“What happens after death?”
Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?
First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death
believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven
by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16,
18, 36).
For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2
Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1
Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1
Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given
glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death,
what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits
of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body
remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical
body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This
reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for
eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation
21-22).
Second,
for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting
punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem
to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final
resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22-23
describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation
20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at
the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers,
then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but
rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even
though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate
fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony
in this fire” (Luke 16:24).
Therefore, after death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).
What happens after death? | Life after Death & What Happens When You Die
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“Where
do you go when you die?”
The Bible is absolutely clear that, ultimately,
there are only two options for where you go when you die: heaven or hell. The
Bible also makes it abundantly clear that you can determine where you go when
you die. How? Read on.
First, the problem. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23).
We have all done things that are wrong, evil, or immoral (Ecclesiastes
7:20). Our sin separates us from God, and, if left unresolved, our sin will
result in us being eternally separated from God (Matthew
25:46; Romans 6:23a). This eternal separation from God is hell,
described in the Bible as an eternal lake of fire (Revelation
20:14–15).
Now, the solution. God became a human being in the
person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30).
He lived a sinless life (1 Peter
3:22; 1 John 3:5) and willingly sacrificed His life on our behalf
(1
Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:18–19). His death paid the penalty for our sins (2
Corinthians 5:21). God now offers us salvation and forgiveness as a gift (Romans
6:23b) that we must receive by faith (John 3:16;
Ephesians
2:8–9). “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Trust in Jesus alone as your Savior, relying on His sacrifice alone as the
payment for your sins, and, according to the Word of God, you are promised
eternal life in heaven.
Where
do you go when you die? It is up to you. God
offers you the choice. God invites you to come to Him. It is your call.
If you feel God drawing you to faith in Christ (John 6:44),
come to the Savior. If God is lifting the veil and removing your spiritual
blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), look to the Savior. If you are
experiencing a spark of life in what has always been dead (Ephesians 2:1),
come to life through the Savior.
Where
do you go when you die? Heaven or hell.
Through Jesus Christ, hell is avoidable. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior,
and heaven will be your eternal destination. Make any other decision, and
eternal separation from God in hell will be the result (John 14:6;
Acts
4:12).
If you now understand the two possibilities of where you go when you die and you want to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, make sure you understand and believe the above. As an act of faith, communicate the following to God: “God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that because of my sin I deserve to be eternally separated from you. Even though I do not deserve it, thank you for loving me and providing the sacrifice for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I trust in Him alone to save me. From this point forward, help me to live my life for you instead of for sin. Help me to live the rest of my life in gratitude for the wonderful salvation you have provided. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!”
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“What
does the Bible say about when God will judge us?”
There are two separate judgments. Believers are
judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans
14:10-12). Every believer will give an account of himself, and the Lord
will judge the decisions he made—including those concerning issues of
conscience. This judgment does not determine salvation, which is by faith alone
(Ephesians
2:8-9), but rather is the time when believers must give an account of their
lives in service to Christ. Our position in Christ is the “foundation” spoken
of in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. That which we build upon the
foundation can be the “gold, silver, and precious stones” of good works in
Christ’s name, obedience and fruitfulness—dedicated spiritual service to
glorify God and build the church. Or what we build on the foundation may be the
“wood, hay and stubble” of worthless, frivolous, shallow activity with no
spiritual value. The Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal this.
The gold, silver, and precious stones in the lives
of believers will survive God’s refining fire (v. 13), and believers will be
rewarded based on those good works—how faithfully we served Christ (1
Corinthians 9:4-27), how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew
28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans
6:1-4), how well we controlled our tongues (James
3:1-9), etc. We will have to give an account for our actions, whether they
were truly indicative of our position in Christ. The fire of God’s judgment
will completely burn up the “wood, hay and stubble” of the words we spoke and
things we did which had no eternal value. “So then, each of us will give an
account of himself to God” (Romans
14:12 ).
The second judgment is that of unbelievers who will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). This judgment does not determine salvation, either. Everyone at the Great White Throne is an unbeliever who has rejected Christ in life and is therefore already doomed to the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12 says that unbelievers will be “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Those who have rejected Christ as Lord and Savior will be judged based on their works alone, and because the Bible tells us that “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16), they will be condemned. No amount of good works and the keeping of God’s laws can be sufficient to atone for sin. All their thoughts, words and actions will be judged against God’s perfect standard and found wanting. There will be no reward for them, only eternal condemnation and punishment.
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“What
is Judgment Day?”
Judgment Day is the day of God’s final, ultimate
judgment on sinful mankind. There are a number of passages in Scripture that
refer to the final
judgment after death at the end of time when everyone will stand before God
and He will render final judgment on their lives.
The Bible warns us of Judgment Day. Malachi the
prophet wrote, “‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the
arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will
set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left
to them’” (Malachi
4:1). John the Baptist spoke of the need to “flee from the coming wrath” (Luke 3:7).
Paul wrote to the unrepentant: “Because of your stubbornness and your
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s
wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will repay each
person according to what they have done’” (Romans
2:5–6; cf. Psalm 62:12). Judgment Day is a sure thing.
Scripture records several times when God passed
judgment on individuals and nations. For example, Isaiah 17 — 23 is a series of judgments pronounced against
Damascus, Egypt, Cush, Babylon, Egypt, Arabia, Jerusalem, and Tyre. These
localized judgments serve to foreshadow the judgment to come (Isaiah 24
describes the judgment of God over the whole world). Often there is a temporal
judgment on sin that occurs in this life, but the final judgment will occur at
the end of time. Revelation
19:17–21 records a great battle in which the enemies of God are slaughtered
(and this may well be the image that most people think of when they think of
Judgment Day). However, this is only a temporal judgment on the people alive at
the time of the great battle. The final judgment will encompass everyone who
has ever lived and will consign people to their final destiny.
Revelation
20:11–15 contains one of the most vivid descriptions of Judgment Day: “Then
I saw a great
white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled
from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great
and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they
had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it,
and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was
judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into
the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was
not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
In this passage, we see that God is the final judge.
According to Jesus, it is the Son who will render final judgment, so it must be
He who is sitting on the throne (John
5:16–30; cf. Revelation 7:17).
Also, we see that this judgment is comprehensive.
This is all who have ever died, small and great (insignificant as well as
significant). No one escapes Judgment Day.
The judgment of Judgment Day is carried out
according to what individuals have done in their lives—they are judged
according to their works. A person will not be judged according to what others
did or didn’t do; he stands judgment alone, responsible for his own actions.
Although the judgment is based on works, it is not a
weighing of good deeds against bad. Ultimately, our entrance into heaven or
hell is based on whether or not our names are recorded in the book of life.
Those who are not recorded in the book of life will be cast into the lake of
fire. Revelation
21:27 reiterates that only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book
of Life will enter the new heaven and new earth.
In light of the high stakes involved (eternal
destiny) it would behoove one to make sure that he or she is prepared for final
Judgment Day in advance. How can a guilty sinner (and we all are guilty) have
his or her name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life
and therefore stand before Him in final judgment and be pronounced “not
guilty”? How can a sinner be justified before a holy and righteous God and
avoid His wrath? The Bible gives us a clear answer.
Romans 5:1
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
King James Version (KJV)
The person who has faith in Christ has already had
judgment rendered. That person has been justified—that is, declared
righteous—by God on the basis of Christ’s perfect work on his behalf. It is as
if the final judgment that would have happened on Judgment Day has been
rendered in advance. All who have faith in Christ are declared righteous, and
their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They have nothing to fear
on Judgment Day because their punishment has already been borne by Christ on
the cross (Romans
8:1). For those who have faith in Christ, Judgment Day will be the day of
final salvation when they are rescued from all of the adverse effects of sin (Malachi
4:2–3).
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of
many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation
to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews
9:27–28).
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“What
are all the different judgments in the Bible?”
There are several judgments mentioned in the Bible.
Our God is a God of justice, as the psalmist says, “A scepter of justice will
be the scepter of your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6).
It is the Lord Jesus Himself who is the Judge of all the earth: “The Father
judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll (Revelation
5:5). Here is a list of significant judgments in their likely chronological
sequence:
Judgments
that have already occurred:
The
judgment of Adam and Eve (Genesis
3:14–24). God banished the first couple from the Garden of Eden for
violating His clear command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil. This judgment affected all of creation (Genesis
3:17–18; Romans 8:20–22).
The
judgment of the antediluvian world (Genesis
7:17–24). God sent a worldwide flood in
judgment of mankind’s sin in Noah’s time. The flood destroyed all of mankind
and the animal world, except for Noah and his family, whose faith led them to
obey God’s command to build the ark.
The
judgment at the Tower of Babel (Genesis
11:5–9). Noah’s post-flood descendants remained in one location in defiance
of God’s command, so God confused their language,
causing them to disperse over the earth.
The
judgment of Egypt and their gods (Exodus
7—12). The ten
plagues against Egypt at the time of the exodus were “mighty acts of
judgment” (Exodus
7:4) against a stubborn, cruel king and an idolatrous people and their gods
(Exodus
12:12).
The
judgment of believers’ sins (Isaiah
53:4–8). Jesus took this judgment upon Himself by His crucifixion and
death. “He suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for
everyone” (Hebrews
2:9). Because our sin was judged at the cross, “There is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
It was also at the cross that God pronounced judgment on the unbelieving world
and on the enemy of our souls, Satan. As Jesus said shortly before His arrest,
“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will
be driven out” (John 12:31).
Judgments
occurring now in the church age:
Self-evaluation
(1
Corinthians 11:28). Believers practice self-examination, prayerfully and
honestly assessing their own spiritual condition. The church helps in this
endeavor to purify the Body of Christ (Matthew
18:15–17). Self-judgment requires each believer to be spiritually discerning,
with a goal of being more like Christ (Ephesians
4:21–23).
Divine
discipline (Hebrews
12:5–11). As a father lovingly corrects his children, so the Lord
disciplines His own; that is, He brings His followers to a place of
repentance and restoration when they sin. In so doing, He makes a distinction
between us and the world: “When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are
being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1
Corinthians 11:32). Whom Christ loves, He chastens (Revelation
3:19).
Judgments
to occur in the future:
The
judgments of the tribulation period (Revelation
6—16). These terrible judgments are pictured as seven seals
opened, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. God’s judgment
against the wicked will leave no doubt as to His wrath against sin. Besides
punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of
Israel to repentance.
The judgment seat of
Christ (2
Corinthians 5:10). Resurrected (and raptured) believers in heaven will be
judged for their works. Sin is not in view at this judgment, as that was paid
for by Christ, but only faithfulness in Christian service. Selfish works or
those done with wrong motives will be burned up (the “wood, hay, and stubble”
of 1
Corinthians 3:12). Works of lasting value to the Lord will survive (the
“gold, silver, and precious stones”). Rewards, which the Bible calls “crowns” (Revelation
3:11) will be given by the One who is “not unjust; he will not forget your
work and the love you have shown him” (Hebrews 6:10).
The
judgment of the nations (Matthew
25:31–46). After the tribulation, the Lord Jesus will sit in judgment over
the Gentile nations. They will be judged according to their treatment of Israel
during the tribulation. This judgment is also called the judgment of the sheep and the
goats because of the imagery Jesus uses in the Olivet Discourse.
Those who showed faith in God by treating Israel favorably (giving them aid and
comfort during the tribulation) are the “sheep” who will enter into the
Millennial Kingdom. Those who followed the Antichrist’s lead and persecuted
Israel are the “goats” who will be consigned to hell.
The judgment
of angels (1
Corinthians 6:2–3). Paul says that Christians will judge angels. We aren’t
exactly sure what this means, but the angels facing judgment would have to be
the fallen angels. It seems that Satan’s hordes of demons will be judged by the
redeemed ones of the Lamb. Some of these demons are already imprisoned in
darkness and awaiting judgment, according Jude 1:6,
due to their leaving their proper dwelling place.
The
Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation
20:11–15). This final judgment of unbelievers for their sins occurs at the
end of the Millennium, before the creation of the new heaven and earth. At this
judgment, unbelievers from all the ages are judged for their sins and consigned
to the lake of fire.
In Job 8:3,
Bildad, one of Job’s friends, asks, “Does God pervert justice? Does the
Almighty pervert what is right?” The answer, of course, is “no.” “He is the
Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy
32:4), and God’s judgments will make His perfection shine forth in all its
glory.
One of the Holy Spirit’s tasks in this world is to convict the world of coming judgment (John 16:8–11). When a person truly understands his sin, he will acknowledge his guilty position before a Holy God. The surety of judgment should cause the sinner to turn to the Savior and cast himself on the mercy of God in Christ. Praise the Lord that, in Christ, “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
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“What
is the Judgment Seat of Christ / Bema Seat of Christ?”
********Romans Chapter 14
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Second
Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while
in the body, whether good or bad.” In context, it is clear that both passages
refer to Christians, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Christ, therefore,
involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ.
The judgment seat of Christ does not determine
salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John
2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16).
All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1).
We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather
as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give
an account of ourselves. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we
committed. However, that is not going to be the primary focus of the judgment
seat of Christ.
At the judgment seat of Christ, believers are
rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ (1
Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). Some of the things we might be judged on
are how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew
28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans
6:1-4), and how well we controlled our tongues (James
3:1-9). The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for
different things based on how faithfully they served Christ (1
Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy
2:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12,
1
Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. James 1:12
is a good summary of how we should think about the judgment seat of Christ:
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the
test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love
him.”
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“What
are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven?”
There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life. The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful. Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 best defines for us how these crowns are awarded.
The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
1 Corinthians Chapter 9
All things on this earth are subject to decay
and will perish. Jesus urges us to not store our treasures on earth “where moth
and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew
6:19). This is analogous to what Paul was saying about that wreath of
leaves that was soon to turn brittle and fall apart. But not so the heavenly
crown; faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for
you” (1
Peter 1:4).
The Crown of Rejoicing
– (1 Thessalonians 2:19) “For what is our hope,
or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at His coming?” The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians
4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord” for all the bountiful blessings our
gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to
rejoice about than anyone else. Luke tells us there is rejoicing even now in
heaven (Luke
15:7). The crown of rejoicing will be our reward where “God will wipe away
every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There
shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation
21:4).
The Crown of Righteousness
– (2
Timothy 4:8) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me
only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” We inherit this crown
through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, and
without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed in a
righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it
is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for
His return. Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or
even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity (Philippians
3:20). This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of
righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and
pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord.
The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4) “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” Though Peter is addressing the elders, we must also remember that the crown will be awarded to all those who long for or love His appearing. This word “glory” is an interesting word referring to the very nature of God and His actions. It entails His great splendor and brightness. Recall Stephen who, while being stoned to death, was able to look into the heavens and see the glory of God (Acts 7:55-56). This word also means that the praise and honor we bestow to God alone is due Him because of who He is (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11; Galatians 1:5). It also recognizes that believers are incredibly blessed to enter into the kingdom, into the very likeness of Christ Himself. For as Paul so eloquently put it,
Romans 8:18
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
King James Version (KJV)
The
Crown of Life – (Revelation
2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I
will give you the crown of life.” This crown is for all believers, but is
especially dear to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront
persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death. In Scripture the word “life”
is often used to show a relationship that is right with God. It was Jesus who
said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more
abundantly” (John 10:10). Just as things such as air, food,
and water are vital for our physical lives, Jesus provides us what is required
for our spiritual lives. He is the One who provides “living water.” He is the
“bread of life” (John 4:10, 6:35).
We know that our earthly lives will end. But we have the amazing promise that
comes only to those who come to God through Jesus: “And this is the promise
that He has promised us—eternal life” (1
John 2:25).
James tells us that this crown of
life is for all those who love God (James
1:12). The question then is how do we demonstrate our love for God? The
apostle John answers this for us: “For this is the love of God, that we keep
His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1
John 5:3). As His children we must keep His commandments, obeying Him, always
remaining faithful. So, as we endure the inevitable trials, pains, heartaches,
and tribulations—as long as we live—may we ever move forward, always “looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews
12:2) and receive the crown of life that awaits us.
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“What
happens at the final judgment?”
The first thing to understand about the final
judgment is that it cannot be avoided. Regardless of how we may choose to
interpret prophecy on the end times, we are told that “it is appointed to men
once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
We all have a divine appointment with our Creator. The apostle John recorded
some details of the final judgment:
“And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on
it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not
found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God.
And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and
hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according
to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the
second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of
Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire” (Revelation
20:11-15).
This remarkable passage introduces to us the final
judgment—the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state. We
can be sure of this: no mistakes will be made in our hearings because we will
be judged by a perfect God (Matthew
5:48; 1 John 1:5). This will manifest itself in many undeniable
proofs. First, God will be perfectly just and fair (Acts 10:34;
Galatians
3:28). Second, God cannot be deceived (Galatians 6:7).
Third, God cannot be swayed by any prejudices, excuses or lies (Luke
14:16-24).
As God the Son, Jesus Christ will be the judge (John 5:22).
All unbelievers will be judged by Christ at the “great white throne,” and they
will be punished according to the works they have done. The Bible is very clear
that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves (Romans 2:5)
and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (Romans 2:6).
(Believers will also be judged, at a different judgment called the “judgment
seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10), but since Christ’s righteousness has been
imputed to us and our names are written in the Book of Life, we will be
rewarded, not punished, according to our deeds.) At the final judgment the fate
of the unsaved will be in the hands of the omniscient God who will judge
everyone according to his soul’s condition.
For now, our fate is in our own hands. The end of our soul’s journey will be either in an eternal heaven or in an eternal hell (Matthew 25:46). We must choose where we will be by accepting or rejecting the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, and we must make that choice before our physical lives on this earth come to an end. After death, there is no longer a choice, and our fate is to stand before the throne of God, where everything will be open and naked before Him (Hebrews 4:13). Romans 2:6 declares that God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”
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“What
is the Great White Throne Judgment?”
The great white throne judgment is described in Revelation
20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake
of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after
the millennium and after Satan is thrown into the lake of fire where the beast
and the false prophet are (Revelation
19:19-20; 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Revelation
20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil,
because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought,
and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4;
62:12;
Romans 2:6;
Revelation
2:23; 18:6; 22:12).
Also at this time, another book is opened, called
the “book of life” (Revelation 20:12). It is this book that determines whether
a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment
in the lake of fire. Although Christians are held accountable for their
actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book
of life from the creation of the world” (Revelation
17:8). We also know from Scripture that it is at this judgment when the
dead will be “judged according to what they had done” (Revelation
20:12) and that “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of
life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation
20:15).
The fact that there is going to be a final judgment
for all men, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly confirmed in many
passages of Scripture. Every person will one day stand before Christ and be
judged for his or her deeds. While it is very clear that the great white throne
judgment is the final judgment, Christians disagree on how it relates to the
other judgments mentioned in the Bible, specifically, who will be judged at the
great white throne judgment.
Some Christians believe that the Scriptures reveal
three different judgments to come. The first is the judgment of the sheep and
the goats or a judgment of the nations (Matthew
25:31-36). This takes place after the tribulation period but prior to the
millennium; its purpose is to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom.
The second is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the
“judgment seat [bema] of Christ” (2
Corinthians 5:10). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of
reward for their works or service to God. The third is the great white throne
judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation
20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged
according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of
fire.
Other Christians believe that all three of these
judgments speak of the same final judgment, not of three separate judgments. In
other words, the great white throne judgment in Revelation
20:11-15 will be the time that believers and unbelievers alike are judged.
Those whose names are found in the book of life will be judged for their deeds
in order to determine the rewards they will receive or lose. Those whose names
are not in the book of life will be judged according to their deeds to
determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Those
who hold this view believe that Matthew
25:31-46 is another description of what takes place at the great white
throne judgment. They point to the fact that the result of this judgment is the
same as what is seen after the great white throne judgment in Revelation
20:11-15. The sheep (believers) enter into eternal life, while the goats
(unbelievers) are cast into “eternal punishment” (Matthew
25:46).
Whichever view one holds of the great white throne
judgment, it is important to never lose sight of the facts concerning the
coming judgment(s). First, Jesus Christ will be the judge, all unbelievers will
be judged by Christ, and they will be punished according to the works they have
done. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against
themselves (Romans
2:5) and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done”
(Romans
2:6). Believers will also be judged by Christ, but since Christ’s
righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the book of
life, we will be rewarded, but not punished, according to our deeds. Romans
14:10-12 says that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and
that each one of us will give an account to God.
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“How
can I not go to hell?”
Not going to hell is easier than you think. Some people believe they have to obey the Ten Commandments for their entire lives to not go to hell. Some people believe they must observe certain rites and rituals in order to not go to hell. Some people believe there is no way we can know for sure whether or not we will go to hell. None of these views are correct. The Bible is very clear on how a person can avoid going to hell after death.
The Bible describes hell as a terrifying and
horrible place. Hell is described as “eternal fire” (Matthew
25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew
3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2),
a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark
9:44-49), and “everlasting destruction” (2
Thessalonians 1:9). Revelation 20:10 describes hell as a “lake of burning
sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Obviously, hell is a place we should avoid.
Why does hell even exist, and why does God send some
people there? The Bible tells us that God “prepared” hell for the devil and the
fallen angels after they rebelled against Him (Matthew
25:41). Those who refuse God’s offer of forgiveness will suffer the same
eternal destiny of the devil and the fallen angels. Why is hell necessary? All
sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4),
and since God is an infinite and eternal being, only an infinite and eternal
penalty is sufficient. Hell is the place where God’s holy and righteous demands
of justice are carried out. Hell is where God condemns sin and all those who
reject Him. The Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes
7:20; Romans 3:10-23), so, as a result, we all deserve to go to
hell.
So, how can we not go to hell? Since only an
infinite and eternal penalty is sufficient, an infinite and eternal price must
be paid. God became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1,
14).
In Jesus Christ, God lived among us, taught us, and healed us—but those things
were not His ultimate mission. God became a human being so that He could die
for us. Jesus, God in human form, died on the cross. As God, His death was
infinite and eternal in value, paying the full price for sin (1 John
2:2). God invites us to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, accepting His death
as the full and just payment for our sins. God promises that anyone who
believes in Jesus (John 3:16), trusting Him alone as the Savior (John 14:6),
will be saved, i.e., not go to hell.
God does not want anyone to go to hell (2 Peter
3:9). That is why God made the ultimate, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice
on our behalf. If you want to not go to hell, receive Jesus as your Savior. It
is as simple as that. Tell God that you recognize that you are a sinner and
that you deserve to go to hell. Declare to God that you are trusting in Jesus
Christ as your Savior. Thank God for providing for your salvation and
deliverance from hell. Simple faith, trusting in Jesus Christ as the Savior, is
how you can avoid going to hell!
How can I not go to Hell? | What is Hell? |
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“Going
to Heaven – how can I guarantee my eternal destination?”
Face it. The day we step into eternity may come sooner than we think. In preparation for that moment, we need to know this truth—not everyone is going to heaven. How can we know for sure that we are going to heaven? Some 2,000 years ago, the apostles Peter and John were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a large crowd in Jerusalem. Peter made a profound statement that resonates even in our postmodern world: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Now as then, Acts 4:12
is not politically correct. Today it’s popular to say, “Everyone’s going to
heaven” or “All paths lead to heaven.” There are many who think they can have
heaven without having Jesus. They want the glory, but they don’t want to be
bothered by the cross, much less the One who died there. Many don’t want to
accept Jesus as the only way of going to heaven and are determined to find
another path. But Jesus warns us that no other path exists and that the
consequence for rejecting this truth is an eternity in hell. He told us that
“whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will
not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).
Faith in Christ is the key to going to heaven.
Some will argue that it’s extremely narrow-minded of
God to provide only one way to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s
rebellion against God, it’s extremely broad-minded for Him to provide us with any
way to heaven. We deserve judgment, but God gives us the way of escape by
sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as
narrow or broad, it’s the truth. The good news is that Jesus died and rose
again; those who are going to heaven have received this gospel by faith.
Many people today hold to a watered-down gospel that
does away with the need for repentance. They want to believe in a “loving”
(nonjudgmental) God who never mentions sin and who requires no change in their
lifestyle. They may say things like, “My God would never send a person to
hell.” But Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven, and He
presented Himself as the Savior who offers the only means of going to heaven:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me” (John 14:6).
Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I
guarantee that I’m going to heaven? The Bible makes a clear distinction between
those who have eternal life and those who do not: “He who has the Son has life;
he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John
5:12). It all goes back to faith. Those who
believe in Christ are made the children of God (John 1:12).
Those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for their sins and who believe
in His resurrection are going to heaven. Those who reject Christ are not.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only
Son” (John
3:18).
As awesome as heaven will be for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, hell will be that much more awful for those who reject Him. One cannot read the Bible seriously without seeing it over and over again—the line is drawn. The Bible says there is one and only one way to heaven—Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus’ command: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there. Do you trust in Jesus?
Going to Heaven – How can I Guarantee my Eternal Destination? |
What does the Bible say about going to heaven and the way to heaven in passages like, John 14:6, and Matthew 7:13-14, among others? What does Christian theology say about, how to go to Heaven, receive God’s forgiveness, be born again, and enter for all eternity the Kingdom of God? When speaking of going to heaven, how can I guarantee my eternal destination? In this video Pastor Nelson answers the question, “Going to Heaven – how can I guarantee my eternal destination?”
———————————————–
“Who
will go to hell?”
Hell has become a controversial subject in recent years, even among Christians. However, the controversy is entirely man-made. The rejection of the reality of hell stems from a human inability to reconcile the love of God with eternal punishment or from an outright rejection of God’s Word. Even some professing Christians have come to unbiblical conclusions. Some have tried to redefine hell, create an intermediate state not found in Scripture, or deny hell altogether.
In doing so, they are ignoring Jesus’ warning in Revelation 22:19, “If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”
Hell is mentioned 167 times in the Bible, sometimes
called Gehenna, Hades, the pit, the Abyss, or everlasting punishment (Proverbs
7:27; Luke
8:31; 10:15; 2
Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus spoke of heaven and hell as real places (Matthew
13:41–42; 23:33; Mark
9:43–47; Luke 12:5). The story Jesus told about the rich man and
Lazarus was an actual event that demonstrated the reality of the two eternal
destinations (Luke 16:19–31). Heaven is the dwelling place of God (2
Chronicles 30:27) where Jesus has gone to “prepare a place” for those who
love Him (John
14:2). Hell was created for “the devil and his angels” (Matthew
25:41). But because every human being is a sinner, every person past the
age of accountability has already been condemned to hell (Romans 3:10;
5:12;
John
3:18). We all deserve hell as the just punishment for our rebellion against
God (Romans
6:23).
Jesus was clear that “no one can see the kingdom of
God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).
He was also clear that hell is an eternal punishment for those who do
not obey Him (Matthew 25:46). Second Thessalonians 1:8–9 says that in the end God “will
punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” John the Baptist said
about Jesus, “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his
threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff
with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).
John 3:18
explains in the simplest terms who will go to heaven and who will go to hell:
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and
only Son.” So, those who go to hell are specifically those who do not believe
in Jesus’ name. To “believe” goes beyond a mental recognition of the truth. To
believe in Christ for salvation requires a transfer of allegiance. We stop
worshiping ourselves, we forsake our sin, and we begin to worship God with our
heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew
22:36–37; Mark 12:30).
God desires that every person spend eternity with
Him (Matthew
18:14; 2 Peter 3:9), but He honors our free will (John 4:14).
Anyone who so desires can go to heaven (John 1:12).
Jesus already paid the price for our salvation, but we must accept that gift
and transfer ownership of our lives to Him (Luke 9:23).
Heaven is perfect, and God cannot take anyone there who insists on holding on
to his or her sin. We must allow Him to cleanse us of our sin and make us
righteous in His sight (2
Corinthians 5:21). John
1:10–12 shows us the problem and the solution: “He was in the world, and
though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came
to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did
receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God.”
We can choose to trust in Jesus’ payment for our
sin, or we can choose to pay for our sins ourselves—but we must remember that
the payment for our sin is eternity in hell. C. S. Lewis said it this way:
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will
be done,’ and those to whom God says in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’”
Who will go to hell?
——————————————–
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
————————————————————–
Romans
6:1-2 KJV
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
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Matthew 7:21-23 King James Version (KJV)
21 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.
22 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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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Matthew 7:15-20 King James Version (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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|
Galatians 4:16
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” |
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2 Thessalonians 2:11
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”
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2 Corinthians 11:13-15 King James Version (KJV)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
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Psa_104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
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Heb_1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
——————————————-
2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 King James Version (KJV)
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.