The principles of the doctrine of Christ.
Part 7 – Eternal Judgment
… the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
1. CERTAINTY
Scripture could not be more direct or clear about the certainty of the judgment of GOD against unrepentant men (1). Despite this, many people believe that judgment is not a reality. They think that GOD either does not exist, or that HE has “forgotten”, or that HE simply would not do that. But scripture offers the following warnings.
Romans 9:22 KJV
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
What if GOD is storing up wrath and vengeance? What if GOD is waiting until our sin and iniquity has reached its fullest expression before HE pours out HIS wrath. We should not think, because GOD has not punished us yet, that HE will never punish us. HE has not forgotten, and HIS arm has not shortened.
Galatians 6:7 KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
2. CHRIST AS JUDGE
Many people associate wrath and judgment with the “god of the old testament”. There is a common view that fearing GOD and trembling at HIS word is outdated. After all, the “god of the new testament” is about love and relationships. Those who hold this opinion choose to focus on the gentle and loving characteristics and examples of JESUS in the new testament. They mistakenly suppose that CHRIST has replaced judgment with love. But HE has not. If HE had, then GOD’s love would be unjust. Instead, because of HIS love, CHRIST suffered in our place. CHRIST took the judgment that we deserved, so that GOD could show us the love that CHRIST deserved.
To say that GOD’s judgment was simply annulled is to demean CHRIST’s suffering. Unthinkable offence! How will the Lord Jesus deal with these men?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 KJV
… the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Romans 14:10 KJV
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
In both of these scriptures, it is the Lord Jesus who is judging. HE is on the throne. He is revealed in flaming fire. HE is taking vengeance. Do not be deceived: the Lord Jesus is King and Judge. Terrible is the wrath of the Lamb.
Revelation 6:15-17 KJV
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
3. WHAT IS JUDGED
It is right for GOD to judge because HE is all powerful, all wise, and perfectly just. Therefore in every case HE will judge perfectly (no bias), with perfect understanding (no mistake), and perfect application of the sentence (no leniency).
But it is also right for GOD to judge because HE is all knowing. This means that HE has the perfect set of facts. If we are indicted at HIS judgment seat, each and every single one of our sins will be submitted into evidence against us (2).
Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Not one of our sins will be missed. The very words that we speak will be used to convict us. Everything will be judged.
Matthew 12:36-37 KJV
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
This would leave man with absolutely no hope. And yet there is hope, if we are in CHRIST! Oh what a joy and wonder, that our sins should be removed from us. This is the magnitude of CHRIST’s sacrifice for his bride; the SON was punished by the FATHER for each and every sin of HIS people.
4. TEMPORAL JUDGMENT
There are many passages in scripture which speak of GOD’s judgment on the earth (3). We know that GOD has judged the earth with water, and HE will judge the earth with fire. In that day, the heavens and the earth will pass away; they will be ended.
2 Peter 3:10-12 KJV
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
In one sense this judgment is finite: it is temporal. One day the earth will be destroyed, and then it will be no more. So this wrath, this burning, does not continue forever. It will be terrible, it will be absolute, and it will bring an end to this present earth.
5. ETERNAL JUDGMENT
The eternal judgment of GOD will be similar to the temporal in scale, extent, degree and intensity; in each case it is the infinite wrath of GOD which will be poured out. However, eternal judgment is also infinite in its duration. It does not end. It continues forever. The horror of the infinite wrath of GOD, poured out through unending ages without pause or respite, is more dreadful than man can imagine.
Matthew 25 KJV
(31)When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
(34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
(41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
(46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The Lord Jesus Christ himself will condemn those on his left hand (the unrepentant) to everlasting fire and punishment. And in this same passage of scripture Jesus says the righteous will inherit eternal life. So to the degree that we believe in everlasting life and eternity in heaven with GOD, we must believe in everlasting fire and eternity in hell for the wicked.
This judgment is final, eternal, and immutable. There is no more hope for those in hell. No grace. No forgiveness.
Revelation 14:11 KJV
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…
CONCLUSION
Now is the time of grace and mercy. Do not wait. Jesus warned us in the strongest possible terms that we should escape the wrath to come; that we should escape hell.
Matthew 18:8-9 KJV
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
All men everywhere are commanded to repent and believe. This is the only proper response of a sinner toward the Holy GOD.
Mark 1:15 KJV
…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
REFERENCES
(1) Judgment of GOD
a. Ecclesiastes 12:14
b. Matthew 10:26
c. 2 Peter 3:7
d. Romans 14:10-12
e. Hebrews 9:27-28
f. Revelation 6:12-17
g. Revelation 14:9-10
h. Revelation 20:11-15
(2) Everything will be judged
a. Numbers 32:23
b. Psalms 90:8
c. Ecclesiastes 12:14
d. Matthew 10:26
e. Matthew 12:36-37
f. Mark 4:22
g. Luke 8:17
h. Luke 12:2-3
i. 1 Corinthians 4:5
j. Hebrews 4:12-13
(3) Temporal Judgment
a. The Curse Genesis 3:14-19
b. The Flood Genesis 7:21-23
c. Confusion Genesis 11:6-9
d. Sodom and Gomorrah
e. The Famine Genesis 41:54-57
f. Egypt
g. Egyptian Army Exodus 14:27-28
h. Israelites Numbers 14:35
i. Amorites Joshua 10:11
j. Assyrians Isaiah 37:36
k. The Fire 2 Peter 3:5-10
(4) Eternal Judgment
a. Matthew 18:8
b. Matthew 25:41-46
c. Mark 9:43-49
d. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
e. Revelation 14:9-11
f. Revelation 20:10
(5) Escape Hell
a. Matthew 10:28
b. Matthew 18:8-9
c. Mark 9:43-48
d. Luke 12:4-5
e. Luke 13:23-24