The Final Judgement

Those who have believed in Christ will be resurrected during the Rapture, when Christ comes back to earth.  For a thousand years, Christ will reign as king in a world with none of the problems of this present world.  After a thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a little while, and unbelievable as it seems, a majority of those alive in that day will choose Satan as their ruler.  This time God simply sends fire from heaven to destroy them and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer throughout eternity.  This final rebellion will be the last straw.  Neither Satan nor mankind will be given any more chances. 

All those who have died will be resurrected to stand judgement for what they did during their lives, as described in Revelation 20:11-15.  “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the 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 which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

In Romans 14:10-12, Paul states, “…for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  The records of what each person has done in their life will be checked and they will be punished or commended accordingly.  The records are extremely detailed, including even the words we spoke, as Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37.  “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Fortunately, I John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Those who have accepted him have had all record of their sin erased, as Colossians 2:13-14 tells us.   “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

Finally another book, the Book of Life is opened and anyone whose name is not in it is cast into the Lake of Fire, regardless how much good or evil they may have done during their life.  John 3:16-18 explains what is required to have one’s name written in the book of life.  ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  They are cast into the Lake of Fire because of their refusal to believe in Jesus Christ.  This is the second death, as Revelation 20:14 tells us.   Mark 9:44, 46, and 48 describe it as a place where he soul, the living part never dies, and the fire never goes out.  It is the same picture as that in Revelation 20:10.  “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  Perhaps the best illustration we have here on earth is of a burn victim, who though still alive feels as though his body is still on fire and nothing will alleviate his pain.