Theme verse for this series:
1 Peter 3:15-16 [NLT] Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.
The fifteenth statement we are going to unpack in our What We Believe series is…
15. THE FINAL JUDGMENT
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
Revelation 20:11-15 [NLT] And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
What is the Final Judgment?
The Final Judgment is also called the Great White Throne Judgment. (Revelation 20:11)
The Final Judgment is the judgment of those who have chosen to rebel against God and refuse to commit to Jesus.
The scary thing about this judgment is that it will be based upon the person’s deeds and life. (Romans 3:23)
Because we have all sinned against God, we all deserve punishment.(Romans 6:23)
When is the Final Judgment?
This judgment will take place at the end of the Millennium immediately following Satan’s final rebellion. (Revelation 20:7-10)
Following this rebellion, God will judge Satan and he will be thrown into the lake of fire.
The Final Judgment will then occur as described in Revelation 20:11-15.
Who will be judged in the Final Judgment?
This judgment is reserved for those people who have not committed their lives to Jesus and who have rebelled against God. (Revelation 20:12)
The angels who rebelled against God during Satan’s rebellion. (Jude 6)
Since Christians have already been resurrected at the Rapture before the Great Tribulation, this judgment does not apply to those who have followed Jesus.
Satan will be judged. The Antichrist (the Beast), and the false prophet had been previously judged and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10)
Why is there a Final Judgment?
God must satisfy His justice for those who have chosen to ignore or reject His offer of salvation through Jesus.
The Final Judgment reminds us how important it is for everyone to hear about the free gift of salvation made available to us through Jesus.
APPLICATION FOR TODAY:
The Final Judgment is to be avoided at all costs.
The only way to avoid it is to commit your life to God through the sacrifice of Jesus.
The lake of fire was prepared for Satan and the rebellious angels, not for people.
God desires all people to be with Him forever.
The sad reality is that some people will not avoid this fate.
We must do all we can to make sure everyone has a chance to respond to God’s gracious offer of salvation.
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