Introduction to the Judgment

God is moving in human history - He is, whether we believe it or not. Bible Prophecy - Eschatology - is nothing more than the history of the world in reverse. Instead of looking backward at past events, prophecy outlines future events on the horizon. In some cases, God has given us many details that go with those major future events. However, in other cases, God has not deemed it necessary to fill in all the blanks.

For example, we know one main event, called the Rapture will occur, but God has been silent on our understanding the exact day this event will happen. We know the antichrist will rise to power after the rapture, but we do not know how long after the rapture he will begin his rise to prominence. We do, however, know that his prominence will not last for very long in that his rise and fall will all fit within a 7-year period of time.

One thing that can be clearly seen today is the fact that the world scene is lining up for the kingdom of the Antichrist. The stage seems to be already set, and at some point the Rapture will occur and the devil will be free to bring to power his antichrist.

Another situation is also becoming very apparent. God is getting ready to judge the world. With what we, in our generation, are seeing in the world today - and even in America - it must be only God's grace that is staying His hand of judgment upon us.

The idea that somehow we are accountable to God for what we do in this life is met with a number of reactions.

1. This idea is fervently believed by some,

2. It is intuitively felt by others,

3. Most people simply disregard it.

Perhaps how we joke about the judgment reveals that most people do not take seriously the idea of the judgment of God. One of the more familiar pictures of judgment, some of which are humorous, other more serious, speaks about those who die and immediately arrive at the pearly gates where they are met by either Saint Peter or Jesus.

It has been said that the only sure things in life are death and taxes. But there is one more thing we can be sure of - the judgment.

We often make appointments which we later either cannot keep or do not want to keep. In some cases, we are able to postpone, or even cancel, these appointment. There is one appointment which none of us will be able to avoid, cancel or postpone. It is mentioned in Hebrews 9:27.

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Something tremendous, almost frightening, hangs over a life-or-death trial. And yet, whether we believe it or not, or whether we like it or not, each one of us has a case pending in court. And everyone you know, whether a believer or not, has an appointment where a judgment will be issued concerning their case. These court cases will not be decided on earth. In the case of some, their case will be decided in heaven. For others, their case will be tried in the heavens, at a place from which the earth and sky will have fled away (Rev. 20:11).

While court cases in our country can often be appealed, seemingly ad nauseam, to a higher courts, there will be no appeal from the decisions in the judgments about which we are studying today. You see, there is no higher court.

Romans 14:12 (NIV) tells us….

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The youth with quick and almost carefree movement, are striding to judgment. The elderly, with a slow and steady pace, and heading to judgment. The rich, in lavish surroundings, are driving to judgment. Yes, "we must all appear before God, where we will give an account of our lives."

The subject of "judgment" is given a paramount place in Scripture. Over a thousand times this subject is addressed in the Bible There are very few subjects about which you can say every Bible writer addresses it. But that is the case here - every Bible writer mentions judgment. In fact, it may surprise you that the subject of judgment is mentioned far more than the subject of salvation. Christ, Himself, talks about salvation only twice. Once, when He said to Zacchaeus, "this day is salvation come to your house." (Luke 19:9) And then again in John 4:22, He says to the Samaritan woman, "…."You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews."

While Christ only mentions the subject of salvation on two occasions, He addressed "judgment" many times. Listen to John 9:39 NIV

39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world."

Daniel Webster, one of the greatest orators of his day, had just delivered a thrilling after-dinner speech and had resumed his seat amid a thunder of applause. The toastmaster, in thanking the speaker, said in a half-apologetic tone, "I wonder, Mr. Webster, if you could tell us what is the greatest question that has every crossed your mind."

I wonder how I would have answered such a question. How about you? Hesitating only a moment, Daniel Webster arose and with solemnity replied: "Gentlemen, the greatest question that has ever crossed my mind is my personal accountability to God."

That, indeed, is a huge question. And how you answer that issue in your own life, will determine whether or not you will seek God for salvation. If you do not believe in a God to Whom we are accountable, then you will not see the need for salvation.

A few minutes ago, I mentioned that the Bible addresses the subject of Judgment much more than the subject of salvation. For me, this is easy to understand. If there is no judgment of, or penalty for, sin, then there is no need for a Savior.

Earlier we read Hebrews 9:27. Again it says: "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment."

WHY DO WE HAVE TO DIE?

Romans 5:12 NIV

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

Man has to die because of the law of sowing and reaping. If he sows sinful acts, he will reap death.

Genesis 2:15-17 NIV

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Because man disobeyed their Creator, and sinned, he dies. It's all part of the laws of sowing & reaping. All of us have been given the free will to choose whatever path we want to take. But you and I do not have the ability to choose the consequences of our free choices. They are determined by God as part of the laws of sowing & reaping. If you sin, the choice is entirely yours. But you and I have not been given the choice in the consequence of the act of sinning. God ordained that the consequence of an act of sin is death.

So, why do we have to die? We die because of sin - both physically and spiritually.

WHAT HAPPENS TO A PERSON WHEN THEY DIE?

1. Only the body dies

1 Peter 3:4 says the hidden man is incorruptible. Daniel 12:2 speaks of dying as "going back to dust." Only the body came from dust (Gen. 2:7). The soul, on the other hand, came from the breath of God. (same verse)

2. The spiritual part of a saved person returns to its Creator.

2 Cor. 5:8 says "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

3. Unsaved spirits go into hell where there is great torment.

Luke 16:23 (NIV) speaks about the deaths of a rich man and another man named Lazarus.

23 In hell, where he (the rich man) was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

All of this indicates that death is not the end of it all. A person does not cease to exist when their body dies.

So many people think we are in the land of the living, on our way to the land of the dying. But the reality is that we who belong to Christ are currently in the land of the dying on our way to the land of the living. Let me say it again this way: The Bible knows nothing of a concept of death that means the person ceases to exist.

Let's look at a diagram I have created to help us understand the time between when a person dies and their resurrection. Earlier in our series (about one year ago), we studied in much greater detail the subject of death and the resurrection. At that time I showed you this chart. I believe it would do well to show it again to refresh our memory. Some of the things on this chart depict some of the events we have already discussed today. Let me review those and continue through the chart.

First, let me say that I have put the "cross" on the chart to indicate, that this chart depicts how things are since the resurrection of Christ. Prior to His resurrection, Hades, (or Sheol in the Old Testament), had two compartments. Before Christ's own resurrection, all spirits, godly or ungodly, when to Sheol (Hades). The second place was not a place of torment, but was called "paradise." These are both mentioned in Luke 16.

Let's begin one the chart with the line called "LIFE". The first thing we need to know about death is that it is not a random event. As we saw earlier, the Bible says, "It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." (Heb. 9:27).

Unless Christ returns during your lifetime, this is one appointment you will keep. Death is a 100% certainty for all of us - except those taken in the Rapture. The only uncertainty from our standpoint is when it (death) is going to happen. This adds to some people's anxiety about death because people tend to have greater fear of the unknown. And, by the way, anyone who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior, ought to be uncomfortable about facing death.

A few minutes ago, I asked you what happens to a person when they die. At that point, we said that the only part of a person that dies is the body. The body of all people, whether saved or unsaved, go to the grave. That grave can be in a formal cemetery, or out in the open desert, where vultures can pick at the bones, or at the bottom of the sea, surrounded by water and sand.

Unlike the body, the spirits of the saved and unsaved do not take the same road. According to Luke 16:23, the spiritual part of an unsaved person goes to a place of torment. But the spirits of those washed in the blood of Jesus, go immediately to heaven (2 Cor 5:8).

Eventually, the Rapture is going to happen. We do not know the day or the hour when it will happen, but our Heavenly Father does. When the Rapture occurs, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:

1. The bodies of the saved person will be resurrected first and are reunited with their spirit.

2. Then the believers still living will be "caught up with them in the air" to meet Jesus.

Thereafter, these will forever be with our Lord (vs. 18).

This leaves us three areas for which to account.

1. Living people who are unbelievers at the time of the Rapture

2. The bodies of all unbelievers who have died.

3. The spirits of unbelievers, whose bodies have died.

All of these await the Great White Throne Judgment. If any unbeliever dies after the rapture, they will follow the same process as already depicted. Their bodies go to the grave. Their spirits go to the waiting place of torment. According to Revelation 20, all of these will eventually be resurrected. This is called the second resurrection. And subsequent to their appointment with the Great White Throne Judgment, their ultimate destiny is the Lake of Fire.

When you discuss the resurrection and subsequent judgment, the question that naturally arises is:

WILL ALL OF THE DEAD, IN FACT, BE RESURRECTED AT THE SAME TIME?

I believe we can show from Scripture that there will be more than one resurrection, and there will be more than one judgment.

In John 5:28-29 (NKJV), Jesus clearly taught that there would be more than one resurrection.

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The apostle Paul confirmed this concept in his defense before Felix. He stated that he believed the teaching of the prophets "that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15)

If these were the only biblical passages that separate the two groups, it could be argued that the two resurrections referred to could still occur at the same time. The separation between these two groups might occurs after a common resurrection. Fortunately, these are not the only Scriptures speaking about this concept. The Bible established the fact that the resurrection of the godly and the wicked occur at different times. It also teaches that the resurrection of the just occurs in stages.

I do not believe the Bible teaches of a GENERAL RESURRECTION, where everyone is resurrected and all stand before the judge at the same time. The Bible does not teach one resurrection or even two resurrections in number. Rather, it teaches that there will be two resurrections in type, which will occur in stages. One passage that makes this easy to see is in Revelation 20

Revelation 20:4-6 (NIV), reads

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Verses 4 and 5 speak of two different resurrection. And the second one occurs at least 1,000 years after the first one. So, there should be no question that there is no general resurrection where all people are resurrected simultaneously.

Let us first look at the resurrection of the Just. The idea that the resurrection of the righteous will occur in stages is, in my judgment, clearly taught in 1 Cor. 15.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NKJV

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

From this Passage, we learn not only that the resurrection of the just will be occur in stages, but also that the first stage has already occurred. Verse 20 says that "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep." The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the first stage of the resurrection of the righteous. Verse 23 goes on to explain that all who have died in Christ will be made alive, "but each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits, and after that those who are Christ's at his coming." The NIV renders the first phrase, "but each in his own turn….." This phrase is speaking of a sequence of events - or, as I called it earlier, stages. And the last phrase of this verse indicates that the stages, addressed by Paul here, involves only people belonging to Christ. Paul, in this passage, is only talking about the resurrection of the righteous.

The imagery that is being used in this Passage is the imagery of the harvest. In Bible times the harvest was conducted in three primary phases - phases that were actually commanded by God.

It began with the gathering of the firstfruits. This was at the very beginning of the harvest season, where the Jews would take some of the initial fruit that had ripened, and offer them to God as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

The harvest season then proceeded on to the general harvest. But not all the crop was harvested. Some of the crop was left in the field, primarily around the edges. Crops were left in the field to be gathered by the poor and needy. This was called gleanings.

Leviticus 19:9-10 (NKJV)

9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Using the imagery of the harvest with regard to the resurrection, the Bible, as we have seen in 1 Cor. 15:20 & 23, presents the resurrection of Jesus as the "first fruit" of the righteous. The gathering of the church-age saints, both living and dead, at the Rapture would be the general harvest stage. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4:13-18).

But there is a third and final stage to this image of the harvest, relating to the resurrection of the righteous. It is the gleanings - and it occurs at the end of the 7-year Tribulation period. This is when the Lord comes to earth, at which time two final groups of the righteous will be resurrected.

1. The Tribulation martyrs. (Revelation 20:4)

2. The Old Testament saints (Daniel 2:2)

As we see on our chart, we have depicted these 3 stages as all being a part of the first resurrection. Together, these stages represent the first of 2 types of resurrections. This is the resurrection of the righteous.

The second type of resurrection - the resurrection of the unrighteous will take place all at one time at the end of the millennial reign of Christ on earth. Perhaps it would be better to say that those resurrected here are ushered to the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

Every person who ever failed to relate to God in faith will be resurrected at this time, regardless of when he or she may have lived and died. This resurrection will include the unjust of all ages.

Lest there be any that might think I am stretching the idea of linking the laws of the Harvest with the resurrection and judgment, let me make you aware a several other verses.

Jeremiah 51:33 NIV

33 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled; the time to harvest her will soon come."

God, through Jeremiah, is referring to his eventual judgment of Babylon.

Joel 3:12-14 (NIV) is speaking of the Judgment of Gentile Nations, following Christ's second coming.

12 Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe (this is the judgment of these nations). Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow- so great is their wickedness!`
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

We find similar language used in the New Testament.

Matt 13:38-40 NKJV

38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

Revelation 14:14-20 (NIV) speaks of God's judgment at Armageddon.

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.
18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."
19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.
20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia (furlongs).

While the verses, in both the Old and New Testaments, speak of the judgment of God using harvest terms, Christ also uses this metaphor to speak of the gathering together of believer to Himself.

Matthew 9:37-38 NIV

37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Christ also mentions that the harvest actually began at His first coming.

John 4:35 NKJV

35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

If it wasn't before, it should now be clear, that the Bible links the laws of harvest with our resurrection and ultimate judgment.

So, what we have learned thus far is that just as there are going to be several resurrections, there are also going to be several judgments. The resurrections and the judgment of the righteous occur in stages. The resurrection and judgment of the unrighteous occur at a different time from all the rest.

Understanding the concept of separate judgments should not be too difficult for us to understand, since these two groups of people are not even traveling the same road. Some have chosen the wide or broad path leading to destruction. Others have taken the narrow road leading to life everlasting.

HOW MANY JUDGMENTS DO YOU THINK THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT?

Actually, the Bible speaks in detail about seven separate judgments of God. Each of these judgments have a different purpose. And some of these judgments have already taken place.

1. The Judgment of a Believer's Sin

The first judgment concerns the believer's sins.

The Bible assures us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Every person who becomes a believer and enters Heaven must have their personal sin judged and punished according to the holy law of God. If you have appropriated the blood of Jesus Christ to your life by accepting Him as your Lord, then your sins have been judged and forgiven. They have also been forgotten in the sense that God will never remember them against your again (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12).

Let me put it another way. If you are truly born again, having asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, then you will never stand before the Lord and be judged for your sins.

WHERE DOES THIS JUDGMENT TAKE PLACE?

This took place at Calvary.

In the course of time, this judgment took place almost 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bear the eternal punishment for our evil rebellion. All of our sins were placed on Jesus as He hung upon the Cross, and the wrath we deserved was poured out upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The judgment of your and my sins took place at Calvary.

The first judgment is the judgment of our sins on the Cross of Christ.

2. The Judgment of the Believer's Walk

The second judgment mentioned in the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32.

For if we would JUDGE ourselves, we would not be judged.
But when we are JUDGED, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

The fact is, we cannot even begin to understand God's end-time judgment program unless we first understand the following Biblical principle:

1 Peter 4:17

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

This verse is saying that, when judgment comes, God looks first at the disobedience in His own household before looking at the world's. And, if we haven't taken the time to judge ourselves and the walk we have before the Lord, He will do it.

WHERE DOES THIS JUDGMENT TAKE PLACE?

This occurs here on earth, prior to our death. And it is a continuing judgment throughout our daily life where the Holy Spirit awakens our conscience to an active obedience to the will of God.

3. The Judgment of Israel

The Bible repeatedly says that the nation of Israel will face the judgments of God because of their centuries of rebellion.

Ezekiel 20:35-38 NIV

35 I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.
36 As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.
37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

We noted in an earlier lesson, that Zephaniah 13:9 tell us that only one-third of Israel will come through the fire of God's judgment. The Word of God unmistakably describes a future time of intense judgment of Israel.

This judgment takes place here on earth, mnostly in the middle east. Part of the judgments of God during the Tribulation is purposely focused on the Jewish people. On numerous occasions, we are told the times of Jacob's Troubles, are given to Israel so they will know that He is God.

4. The Judgment of the Gentile Nations

WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS JUDGMENT?

The Sheep and Goat Judgment.

WHERE DO WE FIND THE DETAILS OF THIS JUDGMENT MENTIONED?

Matthew 25:31-46

It is also mentioned in a number of Old Testament prophecies as well. Joel 3:2 says God will bring the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them for conspiring to destroy Israel and divide the land. This valley is right in Jerusalem. Today, it is known as the Kidron Valley.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS JUDGMENT TAKES PLACE?

It follows the Second Coming and brings an end to the Battle of Armageddon.

WHAT WILL BE THE BASIS OF THEIR JUDGMENT?

They will be judged on the basis of how they treated the nation of Israel.

5. The Judgment of Fallen Angels

All the angels that joined Lucifer in his rebellion against God, will stand before God in judgment.

2 Peter 2:4 (NIV) says:

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;

Not only do we have an appointment to keep, so do they. Matthew 25:41 describes how the Lake of Fire was, "prepared for the Devil and his angels." Satan, along with all his demonic fallen angel, will be judged by God.

1 Corinthians 6:3 (NIV) adds:

3 Do you not know that we (the Christians) will judge angels?

I am not positive when this judgment occurs. We are, however, told several things about the judgment of fallen angels. We know, according to Revelation 20:10, that Satan will be cast into the lake of fire and this happens shortly after the Millennium. In all likelihood, this is when the fallen angels will meet their judgment as well.

Every theologian or writer that expressed an opinion about when or where this judgment occurs said it is at the Great White Throne, after the 1000 year reign of Christ.

We have briefly looked at five different judgments. There are two remaining. These two are those that most quickly comes to mind when speaking about the Judgment.

WHAT TWO ARE REMAINING?

1. The Judgment Seat of Christ.

2. The Great White Throne Judgment.

We will spend more time on these two judgments in a later lesson. But, let's briefly look at these two.

6. The Judgment Seat of Christ

WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS JUDGMENT

The BEMA judgment.

WHERE DOES THIS JUDGMENT OCCUR?

It will occur in Heaven.

WHEN DOES THIS JUDGMENT TAKE PLACE

Shortly after the Rapture of the Church

.

1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV

5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

7. The Great White Throne Judgment

WHEN DOES THIS JUDGMENT OCCUR?

Following the Millennial reign of Christ - immediately following the judgment of Satan. It is mentioned in Revelation 20:11-15.

WHERE IS THE LOCATION OF THIS JUDGMENT?

Revelation 20:11 says it occurs at a place from where the earth and sky has fled away.

Again, each of us will one day stand before God, when things will be brought to light. The most terrible day since God created man will come when the unbeliever faces a holy God for their sins. Imagination cannot capture nor words convey the horror and anguish of soul that will grip every lost man, woman, boy and girl on that day.

Conclusion

The Bible is filled with many examples of the judgment of God. Sometimes if affects the whole earth such as the flood in the days of Noah. Sometimes it is a national judgment, as in the case of Babylon and the Midianites. At other times, the judgment of God came upon entire families or households, such as Achan and his family following Israel's defeat at AI (Joshua 7).

Last of all, God judges single individuals. There were times when God's judgment actually fell not only on the wicked unbeliever, but on his own people also. Regardless of whom or how severe the judgment is, it is always "according to truth" (Romans 2:2).

When it comes to the final two judgments - the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne - every individual who has ever lived will be personally judged by Christ.

Solomon says, in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV),…..

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's whole duty.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

The apostle Paul also emphasized the urgency surrounding the judgment.

Rom 2:16 NKJV

16 God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,…..

Thank God, the blood has been shed and the sin debt has been paid for all those who put their trust in Christ.

John 3:36 (NIV) says,

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Don't be among those who experience the eternal wrath of God.

We often refer to people who have died and been buried, as "having gone to their resting place." That statement is untrue on two accounts.

1. Firstly, the earthly grave is not a final resting place for either the saved or unsaved. It is a transient one. There is going to be a "great getting' up morning."

2. Secondly, it is NOT a resting place for the unsaved, who will stand for judgment and then be case into the lake of fire for their sins.

There is no need for anyone to be eternally separated from God. He has made an avenue of escape from the flames of torment. I don't want anyone here this morning going to the place where the fire is not quenched. Let the Lord Jesus Christ apply his blood to your life.

Last Updated: Wednesday September 07 2011
©2001 John's Notes