Sin, The Cause Of The Judgment
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
(1 Corinthians 15: 21-22)
Sin is the transgression of the law causing a separation from God.
God designed a plan to reconcile us to himself by providing a substitute for our death, the sinless Jesus Christ.
This salvation is provided freely to all who will receive it.
God has essentially declared amnesty. He will forget the past and start over, if we accept His offer.
And much as is it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without sin to those who eagerly await Him.
(Hebrews 9: 27-28)
If we reject His offer then we have to face the judgment alone.
The process of justice and judgment brings to mind several concepts:
- There is an accused who may be innocent.
- There is an accuser.
- There is a violation or crime.
- There is a victim (a person, place or thing).
- There is one who is guilty.
- There may be witnesses other than the victim.
- There is an investigation by either party to gather evidence.
- There is the evidence.
- There is a judge.
- There is a jury or ones who impartially reviews the evidence.
- There is an advocate for the accused (Defense Attorney).
- There is an advocate for the person wronged (Prosecutor).
- There is a time set for trial.
- There is a decision. Guilt or innocence.
- There is punishment for the guilty.
- There may be compensation other than vindication for the innocent.
The Timeline: Significant Judgment Events
Because all these events come into play. The entire process of judgment and vindication cannot be defined as any one of its major events.
Consequently, we will use the following terms to describe the phases and important concepts of the judgment.
There are several significant points in this process.
Judgment begins with the house of God.
But the system is in our favor. Christ is our Judge and Defender.
The Judgment is called not to condemn us, but to declare us as God's chosen. To rule in our favor.
Therefore, there is no need to fear the judgment. We go boldly to his throne.
Event: The Crime - Rebellion in Heaven and the Fall of Adam.
Satan and approximately one third of the angels rebelled. They exported this rebellion to earth
and condemned mankind and inherited rulership of this planet from Adam.
- Event: The Everlasting Covenant. Before He created the world, God made a provision to solve the problem by offering Himself as a sacrifice and to pardon those who accept it.
This provision had to be made because His entire creation was based on love and free will and law.
When Adam and Eve sinned, He made a covenant with them that He would save them.
Because of this covenant, He issues a call to every one to come to Him for life.
Event: The Crucifixion.
After living a sinless life Christ was crucified and won back the rights to this planet.
Adam had lost his dominion over this earth when he sinned.
It then belonged to Satan. Satan would use this legal status to tempt Jesus.
He would give Him power over all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would only bow down and worship him.
At the crucifixion, Jesus won back the rights to this planet and that legal status made it possible for
heaven to throw Satan out of heaven. He no longer has access to heaven as the representative from earth.
Jesus was now the representative of earth.
When you read Revelation 12: 10, you can almost feel the attitude of "good riddance" as heaven celebrated
that this thorn in their side was removed.
Heaven was cleansed.
Now Christ needs to identify and cleanse the people from earth who will become a part of heaven.
This started in 1844.
Event: The Investigative (Pre-Advent) Judgment of Yom Kippur.
These events are the fulfillment of the rituals of Yom Kippur.
It is time for God and the rest of the universe to formally decide who will be taken to heaven at the second coming.
He condemns that persecuting power that had almost wiped out the Church and declares that his saints are innocent.
The logic of this is that because God is coming with a reward, then he must have decided who will receive the reward.
We call this formal decision making before the Second Coming, the investigative judgment. That is all this doctrine teaches.
The end of this process will occur at the second coming. God brings his reward with him. He raises the righteous dead and changes the bodies all the righteous.
The living wicked are killed. The wicked dead remain dead.
Look, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according to what he has done.
(Revelation 22: 12)
|People || 2000 BC - 1843 AD ||1844 ||Now ||1000 Years ||Future |
|Evidence Gathered about Christ ||Review of the Book of Life ||Righteous Rewarded |
|Living ||Righteous || |
|Righteous Sealed||Second |
|Righteous in Heaven
|Righteous || ||Unconscious sleep in the grave on earth |
|Wicked ||Wicked Rejected || Unconscious sleep on earth |
|Living ||Wicked ||Killed ||Resurrected |
|Evidence Gathered about Sinners and Written in the Books ||Review of the Books ||Execution |
Event: The Millennium Exile And Incarceration Of Satan (The Case For The Prosecution).
The witnesses and jury are summoned. The saints will judge the angels and the lost by examining the records of their life in the "books".
On earth, the devil is left to contemplate the ruin he has caused amidst a devastated earth. He is the banished scapegoat.
Event: The White Throne Judgment (The Case For The Defence).
After the millennium the new Jerusalem will come to earth with the saints.
The wicked dead are raised and the final judgment takes place.
Having refused God's free gift, they are left to be judged by the record of their own life.
But having disobeyed God's law they cannot be declared innocent by tipping the scales in favor of good works.
If they offend in one point they are guilty of all.
And by refusing to deal with God on God's terms they are exhibiting the same sinful pride that caused the entrance of sin in the first place.
At the end of this judgment "every knee shall bow" and "every tongue confess" that God is just.
They are given a chance to judge and they find God innocent. They declare themselves guilty.
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened which is the book of life;
and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books according to their deeds.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, an death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
(Revelation 20: 12-13)
Their names were not in the book of life. A list of good works does not cancel the bad deeds.
A list of good works does not get their names in the book of life.
Event: The Executive Judgment - The Punishment.
With nothing to lose, the army of wicked try to take the city of God by force,
this is the battle of Armageddon.
It is a short battle. Fire from God destroys them all until they are ashes.
The wicked turn to ashes, even Satan is reduced to ashes (Ezekiel). He is now the scapegoat who is thrown off the mountain called Zion.
The fires were prepared only for the devil and his angels. God did not wish that any man or woman should perish.
And death and Hades were thrown in the fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20: 14-15)
The Time For Judgment
He has set a time for judgment of all people, the living and the dead.
- A Scheduled Day.
Because He has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17: 31.)
- A Scheduled Time.
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. (1 Corinthians 4: 5)
- A Time for Vengeance.
For we know Him who said "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people". (Hebrews 10: 30)
- An Hour For judgment.
And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters." (Revelation 14: 7)
- A Time to Judge the Dead and Reward the Righteous.
And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and to reward Your bond servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11: 18)
The People In The Judgment
Christ is the Judge. He was appointed when the new covenant began.
Christ is the Judge. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10: 42)
All Are Judged by Christ. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5: 10)
The Accused And Their Accusers
This is the order of judgment.
First, the Judge and His government must be judged as not corrupt.
Next the accuser must be judged.
Finally, those who rebelled and the victims caught up in the rebellion are judged.
God was apparently under scrutiny, probably until the murder of Jesus Christ.
From the evidence we see that for some reason, He could not remedy the situation immediately after the sin of Adam and Eve.
Instead, their innocent offspring inherited the death sentence and all the genetic and spiritual abnormalities that resulted from the sin.
One Man Caused Sin.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
One Man Caused Righteousness. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
(Romans 5: 18, 19)
God also has a time when He will be judged.
Verdict: God is Righteous.
... Rather let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,
"That You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged".
(Romans 3: 4)
God was judged before the cross, and He will be judged in the end by the wicked.
This will be the verdict. God is innocent.
Everyone Submits to Christ. ... for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
(Romans 14: 10-11).
Therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2: 9-11)
- Satan And His Angels.
At the Cross Satan was judged. Jesus said "Now the prince of this world is judged" (John 16: 11).
Apparently at that time, the unspeakable act sealed any legal argument he had as utterly false and without merit.
So he no longer had access to heaven.
Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (John 12: 31.)
He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
... Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16: 8, 11.)
After the child was persecuted and caught up to heaven, Revelation 12: 7-10 says there was a war and he was thrown out of
heaven because there was no place for him there anymore.
Now the salvation, and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come,
for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before God day and night.
The Saints (The Church Is Judged First).
Judgment begins with the house of God.
The Saints are those who choose to be covered by Christ. They approach the judgment believing that they are judged by the life of Christ. In faith, they accept that this will be acceptable to God.
In fact we find that they really don't stand to face God in the Judgment, because their names are kept in the book of life.
If your name is in this book you are not judged like the wicked. In fact, you have already been judged innocent.
- Those Scheduled For Life. Although we will all come before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 10), the righteous are judged first and do not appear at the great judgment at the end.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
(John 5: 24)
- The Righteous Are Judged First. This sequence is also seen in the feast of Yom Kippur when the righteous are judged and sealed, then the wicked are judged after the Feast of Tabernacles.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4: 17)
- The Wicked Are Judged Afterwards.
This sequence of events is also prophesied. The church is judged before the wicked. God judges those who come to His temple and those who come to the altar to pray.
Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff, and someone said,
"Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it."
Leave out the outer court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations.
(Revelation 11: 1-2)
- People In Charge.
God will hold leaders responsible for misleading others. But notice that He does not hold the ones who were mislead innocent. They are still responsible for finding the truth and responding to it.
When I say to the wicked, "O wicked man, you will surely die", and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man will die in his iniquity,
but his blood I will require of your hand.
(Ezekiel 33: 8)
» Incompetent Shepherds.
Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture! declares the Lord.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people:
"You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Look, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds" declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 23: 1-2)
God will hold people responsible for not accepting truth when it was offered, for following leaders instead of searching the scriptures for themselves.
Also, there are people who insist on being judged by their own merits or works. Well, they will be judged by all of it. God challenges them to present their case.
Their names are blotted out of the book of life and they are judged according to the "books" (the record of their own life). This is what they wanted. This is what they get.
Come to the Universal Court. Gather yourselves and come. Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations.
They have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idol and pray to a god who cannot save.
Defend Yourselves. Declare and set forth your case. Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from old?
Who has long since declared it? Is it not I the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me. A righteous God and a Savior. There is none except Me.
Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other.
Acknowledge The Righteousness of God.
I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back.
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
They will say of Me, "Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength".
Acknowledge Your Guilt.
Men will come to Him. All who are angry with Him will be put to shame.
In the Lord all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory.
(Isaiah 45: 20-25)
God warns that in the end, you will abandon your own standards because you will acknowledge that He is right.
The angels, humans, the Holy Spirit, the books, the rest of the universe are witnesses.
The Holy Spirit bears witness to our acceptance or rejection and the incredible effort
put forth by God to win the lost. He witnesses not only to the deeds but to the thoughts and motives.
The angels who are messengers of God are witnesses to the deeds and actions of mankind and the fallen angels.
- Christ. He witnessed about God while He was on the earth.
He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him, the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. (John 12: 48)
- Holy Spirit. He witnesses about God. He is also a witness to how we rejected His appeals to us.
There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
(John 5: 32)
- The Two Great Witnesses. God has two witness that He has made available by law. These witnesses cannot contradict each other.
Often people claim that they do what they feel is right. This is a first step but it is dangerous. Our hearts are corrupt and imagine evil continually.
This is why our personal decisions must be tempered by the written word. The will of God is not contradicted by the testimony of these two witnesses.
- Subjective Witness (The Internal Testimony). The Holy Spirit is the inner witness that testifies about the will of God.
» Our Conscience. All people will be judged by the record of their own inner struggles with their conscience. This is the Holy Spirit reasoning with them.
Law Written in The Heart.
For when Gentiles who do not have the law do instinctively the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.
(Romans 2: 14-15)
- Objective Witness (The External Testimony). God has provided written and oral testimony about Himself to agree with the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit.
» Ten Commandments. The ark of the covenant is also called the ark of the testimony. We will be judged according to our works.
... For fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13: 4)
» The Scriptures. The word of God testifies about God and about the will of God.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, it is these that testify about Me.
(John 5: 39)
- Miracles. The evidence of supernatural activity is a witness about the presence of God.
At the very least, it is evidence that compels us to investigate the source.
But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John.
For the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish - the very works I do - testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
(John 5: 36)
- The Great Commission. In Matthew we are told to spread the gospel as a testimony or witness to all nations.
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 14)
- Christians. We are witnesses for God. We are also witnesses to others about the goodness of God.
- Sinners. Sinners will condemn themselves and each other by their own low standards because their rules are based on situation ethics.
Eventually, they bend their own flexible rules to guarantee their own gain as each situation occurs.
The only rule they have is that they must succeed.
- Our Own Standards. Even before God's standards condemn us, we will fail even our own standards.
Our selfishness and inhumanity testify to our hypocrisy.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you give, it shall be measured to you again."
(Matthew 7: 1-2)
Karma. Does this mean that someone can get to heaven by their own good works?
Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?"
And I will declare to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness".
(Matthew 7: 21-23)
Living by your own rules is lawlessness and selfishness.
God will say that they are strangers to Him.
The world to come is His domain. So if sinners claim that they have the right to be judged by their own standards then God can claim the right to invite only those He considers
to be His friends on His own property. Since there are no rules or covenant He can also make up His own rules to satisfy His own needs. He chooses to abandon unrepentant sinners.
If sinners think that they can live without God then they can try.
The record shows that after the judgment is complete and they admit error, God does not destroy them. He waits.
They attack Him first because they are murderers and thieves.
God defends Himself and His people.
- Other Sinners ("The Law of the Jungle"). Other generations will condemn us for the truth we neglected.
The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
(Matthew 12: 41)
The Physical Evidence
The evidence in favor of God is His mercy, His patience, His goodness and the sacrifice of Himself.
The evidence against Satan is all the destruction on earth, the misery, the lives lost and particularly, the murder of Jesus Christ.
The Life Of Christ And The Crucifixion
The life of Christ is taken as the evidence both of the innocence of God and of His trust of the saints who stood with him.
The Books Of Judgment
When the judgment begins the books will be used.
I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His clothes was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him.
Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
the court sat, and the books were opened.
(Daniel 7: 9,10)
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened;
and another book was opened, which is the book of life;
and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20: 12, 15)
So what really matters is whether or not your name is written in the book of life.
There are at least three sets of books:
- The Books.
There is a book of the life of every human being, including Jesus.
It records your deeds, length of life and before you were born it recorded the body that God has given you.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written
the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
(Psalm 139: 16).
» The Books Of Death.
Since our books record all our deeds and thoughts, they are documentary evidence of our sins. They are books that will condemn us.
Revelation 13: 8 also says that the book of life was written from the foundation of the world.
If you choose to live life on your terms you will be judged out of the book of your life, not from the Book of Life.
- The Book Of Life.
This appears to be one of the "Books", but it is the one of Christ's life. Revelation 13: 8 calls it
"the book of life of the Lamb".
If fits all of the criteria of the other Books, His deeds and the body prepared for Him.
|The Books |
It does not matter if the book of the laws and curses condemn us.
It does not matter if Satan accuses us.
What matters is if our names are still written in the book of life.
During the Yom Kippur investigative judgment, God decides if we rely on Christ and His Book of Life.
If we did then our names will not be blotted out.
At the end of time the wicked will rely on their record of their actions. They rely on their book of life.
This is when the book of the laws and curses will condemn them.
Satan will claim them as his own possession.
And God cannot come to their defense because their names will not be in Christ's Book of Life.
Therefore when He comes into the world He says
"Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me".
Then I said, "Look, I have come (In the scroll of the Book it is written of Me)
To do Your will, O God".
(Psalm 40: 7; Hebrews 10: 5,7)
The evidence suggests that before the world began everyone's name was written in the Book of Life. That was the purpose of the death of Christ. He has the right to pardon all the sins that are recorded in our books.
Therefore, at the judgment, God does not need to look into our books first, He looks at the names written in the Book of Life.
» Blotted Out Of The Book Of Life.
The judgment exists to reward those who still have their names written in the book of life.
We are not added to the Book of Life after the judgment, our names are written there from birth.
So how are people lost? We can have our names removed from the book of life, but it is our choice.
Speaking about the enemies of God's people, David says,
May they be blotted out of the book of life, and may they not be recorded with the righteous.
(Psalms 69: 28)
So only the names of the righteous will remain in the book of life.
The idea of the wicked having their names "blotted out" or removed from the book is repeated in
Psalm 9:5, Exodus 32: 32,33 and Philippians 4: 3
If you choose Christ, you will be judged by His book. This is the Book of Life.
Since He was the only one who conquered death, therefore you will conquer death.
- The Book of Remembrance.
This appears to be a book of kind words, praises and concerns voiced for God.
God was remembered, therefore He will memorialize our expressions of concern for His reputation.
Such words demonstrate affection for God and concern for His feelings.
Those who feared [loved] the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord
gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
fear the Lord and who esteem His name.
(Malachi 3: 16)
The Books Of The Law
The previous books were related to a record of our deeds, these records are judged against a standard.
From the experience of Israel, we know that there are other books. These are the books of the law which are the standard of judgment.
- The Book of the Law. The Ten Commandments. They are also the covenant.
- The Book of Curses. The punishment for breaking the law and the covenant with God.
These are the terms of the agreement that we have made through our ancestors, Adam and Eve.
Future Self-Incriminating Testimony
The evidence is that even those who believe that they have been somehow damaged by God will be ashamed when they realize what has been done for them and how they ignored His warnings. Your own lips will condemn you.
They will say of Me, "Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength".
Men will come to Him. All who are angry with Him will be put to shame.
(Isaiah 45: 24)
The Consequences: (Reward And Punishment)
The Reward Of The Sinners (Paradise Temporarily Lost)
There will be a day set aside when every issue will be resolved. Until then, everyone is subject to the curses.
- Death. The wages of sin is death. Everything died and began to wear out. The first death is imposed.
- Disinherited. Adam and Eve were thrown out of Eden because a war had been declared against God.
- Hard Labor. Adam was sentenced to hard labor and Eve was sentenced to hard labor in childbirth.
- Lost Dominion. The earth, sky and animals no longer obey us. The ground and sky are hard, the wild animals attack, thorns grow and the crops do not grow easily.
- Lost Name and Title. They lost communication with God, and lost dominion of the earth to Satan and became his children.
- Mercy ("A Stay of Execution"). God did not give up. He provided an opportunity for us to be reconciled.
During this time God will try to make friends before we die.
All of us will come back from the dead, both righteous and wicked.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
(1 Corinthians 15: 22)
The Reward Of The Righteous (Paradise Restored)
Everything lost at Eden will be restored and we will receive even greater honor.
- Eternal Life. We will live for ever through the gracious gift of a loving God.
- Inheritance. We will inherit the earth and we will no longer be barred form Eden.
- Rest. Instead of hard labor we now have eternal rest beginning at the Second Coming.
- Dominion Restored. We have dominion over the earth.
- A Name and Title. Once again we are sons and daughters of God, with official royal titles and a new name.
The Punishment Of The Wicked (Paradise Permanently Lost)
After the final judgment, the wicked will continue to spurn the friendship of God and each person will openly make himself an enemy of God by starting a war against Him.
Then the final wrath of God will be seen. Although it is called the wrath of God, it is actually the wrath of Satan. God gives the wicked up for punishment designed by them and designed by Satan.
In the end, the wicked will be judged and punished by their own standards.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you give, it shall be measured to you again."
(Matthew 7: 1-2)
It is Satan who chooses his own punishment. When he judged and tortured the innocent Christ, he designed his own execution.
- Universal Court. Christ was unjustly condemned before an illegal court. Satan will be condemned before a righteous court.
- Mocked. Christ was mocked and ridiculed. God will also laugh at the wicked.
How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Because I called and you refused, I stretched out My hand and no one paid attention.
And you neglected all My counsel and you did not want My reproof.
I will also laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your dread comes.
(Proverbs 1: 22, 24-26)
- Disinherited. They lost everything because they threw it away and spurned God's gift.
- No Rest (Hard Labor). In the plagues they receive no rest day or night. In the millennium their bodies are scattered like garbage with no resting place. In the judgment they are condemned and rejected.
- Hail. Christ was assaulted with spit and words until the reproach crushed Him. Satan will be pelted with fiery rocks and words of condemnation.
They will also assault each other, because even the people of Sodom will condemn the wicked of the final generation and everyone will condemn Satan. (Matthew 11: 21-24)
- Fire. The death of Christ was symbolized as the burnt offering on an altar of earth.
Christ survived the burnings because He was righteous.
The wicked will be destroyed in eternal flames which comes out of Satan and which was only prepared for Satan. But they chose to be allied with Satan.
Fire For Satan. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, "Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels". (Matthew 25: 41)
Fire From Satan. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you And I have turned you to ashes on the earth, in the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified and you will cease to be forever. (Ezekiel 28: 18)
» The Laws of Inheritance.
Just as the children of Adam suffered the punishment of Adam even though we had no voice in the original sin, the wicked became children of Satan when they allied themselves with Satan.
But God is not unjust. These children of Satan became his children by choice.
Therefore, as his children, they inherit what he has.
They also become ashes on the earth which the righteous will trample over for eternity.
- The Second Death ("Eternal Death"). The wicked are cut off forever and their name and works will be forgotten.
God systematically destroys His enemies through Christ by removing them from power and then executing them.
|Curses||Satan Expelled ||Babylon the Great Falls ||Wicked Sinners ||Satan ||Death|
|Punishment Reversed||Renegade Governments Destroyed ||All Enemies Destroyed |
|Nailed To The Cross||Christ Is King Of Kings ||Lake of Fire|
- Curses. God nailed our curses to the cross (Colossians 2: 14, 16-17). We have no fear of punishment.
- Satan. Satan was thrown out of heaven after the crucifixion (Luke 10: 18-19).
- Babylon the Great. All earthly kingdoms will fall at the Second Coming.
- Sinners Killed. All the wicked will be killed after a fair judgment at the Third Coming.
- Satan Killed. Satan and His angels will be destroyed.
- Death. Finally, death and sheol (Hades or the grave) are destroyed.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20: 14)
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
(1 Corinthians 15: 26)
- Renegade Governments Subdued. It seems that in the rebellion in heaven they rejected the government of God and demanded their own kings and rulers just as Israel rejected God and demanded a king that they chose.
Then comes the end when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and all power.
For He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet.
(1 Corinthians 15: 24-25)
- The Wicked Are Cut Off Forever. Their name and posterity are gone. They will not even live on in infamy.
Judgment Of Satan
Satan will be found guilty of crimes which are punishable by death through stoning, sword and burning.
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
(Deuteronomy 17: 6)
Satan will be judged and found guilty of breaking laws whose punishment is the death penalty.
He will be found guilty by billions of people.
Among those will be at least three classes of witnesses - God, angels and humans.
As living witnesses we can testify to life under his influence.
He committed all these sins against God and against the human race.
- Breaking Commandments. He broke all the Commandments, many of which incur the death penalty.
- God. Satan wanted to be God.
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
(Isaiah 14: 14)
According to Mark 14: 60-65, even claiming to be the son of God is blasphemy and worthy of death.
» Seduced A Planet.
When a city is seduced, judgment must first proceed with a diligent inquiry.
Satan seduced us to serve him as God.
If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
(Deuteronomy 13: 12-16)
- Idolatry. He points people to a substitute for God where he is the recipient of the worship.
Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
(Leviticus 20: 2)
Witchcraft. He is the lying fiend behind the veil of witchcraft and necromancy.
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
(Leviticus 20: 27)
- Blasphemed The Name Of God. He cursed God, tried to make himself god and encouraged sin.
And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
- Broke Sabbath. He would not give people rest and changed the Sabbath day.
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
(Exodus 31: 14-15)
- Dishonored Parent. He was chosen as the chief created being to honor God. He dishonored God. He lied, rebelled, waged war, cursed and is trying to destroy God's kingdom.
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
(Exodus 21: 17)
At the crucifixion he struck his Creator Jesus, spit in His face, slapped and beat him mercilessly through his agents.
And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
(Exodus 21: 15)
» Rebellious Son. He is the son who led a rebellious insurrecion against his Creator-Father.
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
(Deuteronomy 21: 20-21)
- Murderer. He hated God. He led Adam and Eve to death. He instigated the murder of Jesus Christ. He planned it for at least 4000 years.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning ...
(John 8: 44)
Even hatred is murder. Any method of murder is punishable by death.
And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
(Numbers 35: 17)
- Adultery. Sexual sins are punished by death if the union cannot be legitimized.
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
Homosexuality. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Bestiality. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
(Leviticus 20: 10-13, 15-16)
» Corrupted The Innocent. By tricking Eve, he corrupted the innocent and stole their birthright.
Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
(Deuteronomy 27: 18)
Satan's corruption is considered to be adultery.
Death By Fire.
And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
(Leviticus 20: 14)
- Steal. Through fraud he stole Adam and Eve's birthright and enslaved their children in sin.
He removed the ancient landmarks of the boundaries set by God. He is cursed.
Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen
(Deuteronomy 27: 17)
» Kidnapped Slaves (Man Stealing).
He lured Eve and kidnapped her into slavery and held us for ransom - selling us for the price of blood. Her chidren are found in his possession as slaves of sin.
He possessed Judas and led him to the priests to betray Him and sell Him for the price of a slave.
God paid the ransom to rescue us.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
(Exodus 21: 16)
- Liar. From the beginning he was a liar. He probably was a liar against God. He lied to Eve.
... and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
(John 8: 44)
» Lying Witness.
He is the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12: 10).
He will get the punishment his lies would have caused the innocent. We are sentenced to death.
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
(Deuteronomy 19: 16-21)
» False Prophet.
He misled Adam and Eve and turned them away from God and led them into bondage even though he was one who represented the interests of God.
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
(Deuteronomy 13: 5)
- Covet. We can covet what is ours, but Satan wanted what no created being could ever have. He coveted the throne of God to the extent that he caused an insurrection, war, destruction and the death of billions.
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
(Isaiah 14: 13)
- Grieved The Holy Spirit.
If we have no formal knowledge of the law then our only witness is internal.
He disobeyed his conscience. He knew he was wrong. He will not be forgiven.
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
(Matthew 12: 31)
At the Second Coming, Jesus comes with an army and with a sword to destroy the wicked (Revelation 19: 11-16).
Satan and the wicked will be stoned by a plague of hail stones each weighing a talent (58.9 kilograms or 130 lb) (Revelation 16: 21).
The wicked will die but Satan will be left to consider his crimes for 1000 years (Revelation 20: 1-3).
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
In The Uninhabited Land.
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
(Leviticus 16: 21-22)
At the third coming Satan and all the resurrected wicked with be stoned to death by stones of fire before being burned up in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20: 9-10, 15).
Then the old earth, the wicked and all his works will also be burned up.
Other Judgment Issues
Judgment Of Non-Christians
Judgment is based on faith in Jesus Christ. This faith produces fruits as God writes his law into our hearts.
But for those who never formally heard about Christ, the Spirit of God still works in their hearts.
The evidence that they belong to God is demonstrated by the outward sign of the Spirit writing the law in their hearts.
- Natural Law. All of us know instinctively that certain actions are good or bad. A mother feeds her new baby.
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law;
for it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God but the doers of the law will be justified.
For when Gentiles who do not have the law do instinctively the things of the law, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
In that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
on the day when God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.
(Romans 2: 12-16)
- God Ignores The Sins We Do In Our Ignorance. Some truths are not easily grasped and God cannot expect us to comply.
But if His truth is available, we have a responsibility to investigate it. We cannot avoid responsibility by choosing ignorance.
God says that a time will come when there is no excuse for ignorance. That time is now.
Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.
(Acts 17: 30)
- To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Required. The mentally handicapped cannot be judged like those of normal intelligence.
The rich have greater responsibility than the poor. The teacher is responsible for the student.
... From everyone who has been given much, much will be required ...
(Luke 12: 48)
- Our Behavior Towards Others. Again, the natural law of love is demonstrated in our kindness to strangers.
If someone says, "I love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar.
For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
(1 John 4: 20, 21)
One common phrase that we hear often is "do not be judgmental".
It is a warning about how we judge and how we punish and condemn.
It comes from the warning in Matthew 7: 1-2 that the severity with which we judge is probably the standard that God will use against us.
» No Appointed Judges.
This statement and Acts 10: 42 teach that under the new covenant God has not appointed any judges from among humans.
He has appointed Christ as judge.
The real implication is that we cannot condemn and execute punishment. God does that now.
Unfortunately, this single statement has been used to justify all sorts of errors.
This statement has been used to make sinners feel comfortable and accepted in their sin.
The outcome is that the sinner feels that they cannot change and there is no need to change.
The fact is, that as social morals change for the worse, this statement has been used to stop people from making the
types of judgment that God does command us to make, because such criticism is no longer fashionable and is condemned as harsh and "judgmental".
» Judgment Allowed in Church. The Bible does ask us to make some judgments. Common sense tells us that this is the right of a vigilant person.
As Jesus set the prostitute free from her accusers, He told her not to sin anymore.
Here are some things we can and should judge.
- Leader. They should not be engaged in known sins. Even more than that, he or she should be above reproach.
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
An overseer, then, must be above reproach. The husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
(1 Timothy 3: 1-3)
- Members. We have a duty to warn other members when we see them doing wrong.
One problem is that we need to be careful as people are just beginning to learn the gospel.
The fact is, that there is not much we can judge by looking at the outward appearance.
And, our first instinct should not be to go hunting for sin, but to go searching for new friends.
My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
(James 5: 19-20)
So if a member is selling drugs, having an affair, engaged in sex before marriage we have a duty to speak to these people.
- Others In The World. In fact, Paul says we should judge our members because we have some standards to which we have agreed.
Those who insist on immoral behavior must be removed because they are a corrupting influence, especially on the youth.
However, we should let God judge those in the world because we cannot impose our standards on them.
Only God knows if natural law has convicted them through their conscience.
I wrote you in a letter not to associate with immoral people.
I did not at all mean immoral people of the world ...
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,
or a drunkard, or a swindler, not even to eat with such a one.
For what have I to do with judging outsiders?
Do you not judge those that are in the church? But those who are outside God judges.
Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
(1 Corinthians 5: 9-13)
When we do not make judgments, we make sinners redefine morality and redraw the boundary lines. This is never in favor of God's kingdom.
So we must judge because sin intends to overtake us and destroy us. The problem is where to draw the line. We also tend to perpetually punish those who have sinned.
Even when there is genuine repentance, we are not comfortable with restoration after a period of time.
People will look at outward appearances and make certain assumptions.
People often make judgments on issues that are not clear in the Bible.
The safest measure is to judge based on the ten commandments. That is the line that we should not cross or give up.
Jewish Tradition And The Judgment
It is interesting to note what Jewish tradition teaches about the judgment and its timing in the feast days.
Jewish traditions concerning the feast also have different days for different phases of the judgment.
- Judgment occurs during the fall feasts.
- There are three appointed times for judgment.
- All Living things (Judgment Rendered). Feast of Trumpets, Day 1 (Rosh Hashanah).
Judgment begins on this awesome day and the people have ten days to make sure that they are sealed and that their names remain in the Book of Life.
- The People Of God (Judgment Sealed). Yom Kippur, Day 10. This is the final day to seal the judgment. Judgment is made in favor of the saints. In this process the people and the sanctuary are vindicated. The people are sealed and set aside for God.
- World (Judgment Delivered). Feast of Tabernacles, Day 7 (Hosana Raba). Judgment is delivered on this day. The righteous and wicked get their reward.
The wicked face the throne of God and are later destroyed.
Criticism Of The Investigative Judgment
All the investigative judgment teaches is that God has set a formal period of time before the Second Coming to determine who should be saved.
However, it is still considered to be a unique doctrine.
The doctrine is even based on what happens during Yom Kippur. God sets aside one day to make these decisions.
The doctrine concludes that this phase of the Judgment started in 1844.
Other beliefs claim that God sends people either to heaven or hell at the moment of death.
Therefore, it is implied that God made a decision about their status when they died.
The issues and purpose of the investigative judgment are not different.
We all believe that at some point God makes a decision about whether a person is righteous or wicked.
The decision is clear when one is dead, but since He comes when people are alive at some point He must also make those same decisions about the living.
|The Judgment In Jewish Tradition |
Rosh Hashanah. All living things are judged. Corresponds to the judgment of the Little Horn and the earthly systems.
Yom Kippur. The day of Judgment for God's people. Corresponds to the pre-advent judgment where God formally declares who will be saved.
Feast of Booths. On the seventh day of this feast the world is judged. Corresponding to the final judgment of the wicked.
So we see that the difference in belief is only a question of the timing of events.
Do these events happen before the second coming or after?
Most belief systems see all these as one continuous events on one day after the Second Coming, even though their beliefs about the dead imply that a judgment has occurred.
People have also criticized it as not teaching righteousness by faith, and that it implied that everything was not accomplished at the cross.
I believe the "righteousness by faith" argument stems from the second criticism. If we allegedly do not believe everything was accomplished at the cross, then there is more work to be done and Christ's death was not sufficient.
Christ died and paid for our sins one time. He does not have to die again. This is what we believe.
The book of Hebrews says that even now, Christ does a work of intercession for us. Why? Because we are still sinning and we are still growing in him.
He intercedes for us on the basis of His right to do this through His unjust death.
Every one living now must admit that sin still exists, that nothing we see is perfect. In that sense and ONLY in that sense do we believe that still more is to be done.
The question is what is being done? When will it be done? And How does it affect our relationship with God.
Everything related to our salvation was done on the cross. But sin has not been eliminated in our daily lives. Just listen to the evening news.
So what is left to be done?
The Devil, his angels, sins and sinners must be banished or destroyed.
The Saints must be restored to immortality.
All parties must have their day in court.
In the interest of fairness, we must be able to acknowledge these decisions for ourselves.
The only difference we have with other Protestant beliefs is when some of these things will occur, the doctrine of a second chance and if hell now exists and will burn for ever.
Is there A Second Chance?
Many people teach that there is a second chance after the second coming. When those who rejected God or who postponed their decision about God will have a chance to choose after they have been taught by God during a millennium of peace on the earth.
Others are counting on the chance that God is so loving and forgiving that it does not matter. Any appeals to righteousness and goodness are legalistic.
But how do we define righteousness except by the standards of the God given laws? And if these are the standards, how do we choose which ones are good enough for us?
Underlying this, is the assumption that men and women will respond in an atmosphere of love and power exhibited by God.
But look at the history of the Exodus. The miracles and the miraculous daily presence of God was not a deterrent to sin.
Christ was killed a week later by the crowd who wanted Him to be king.
In fact, it made them more guilty and left them without any excuse.
We are not being evaluated on our knowledge and perfection, but on our ability to submit to God, on faith, denying our sinful desires and on what we naturally want.
Trusting when there may be no reason to do so.
Faith cannot be exercised in an intimidating atmosphere of power.
To evaluate this attitude God does not need to give us a second chance, it will not make a difference.
it is appointed men once to die, after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9: 27)
There is no second chance or reincarnation.
The Mercy Of God.
There are certain conditions that seem to point to the mercy of God.
But the wicked will not take the opportunity.
- The Open Gate. The gates of the New Jerusalem are open after the judgment.
- Crumbs for the Dogs. Matthew 15: 22-28 records the story of a Caananite woman who was able to change God's mind because of her faith.
She believed that even the dogs could get crumbs from the table of the children of God.
Revelation describes those outside the city as dogs (Revelation 22: 15).
- Time to Plot Armageddon. After the decision has been made God still does not destroy them. He gives them time.
They use this time to plot a war against God. God destroys them only after they attack Him.
What would have happened if they had walked peacefully into the open city and, like the Caananite woman, begged the merciful judge to change His decision?
To find something left over for them.
But they will not.
After they attack the city, God is forced to destroy them.
» A Strange Act.
This act is so foreign to God that He calls it His strange act because it is done with reluctance.
For the Lord will rise up ... to do His task, His strange task and to work His work, His alien work.
And now do not carry on as scoffers, or your fetters will be made stronger;
For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts of decisive destruction on all the earth.
(Isaiah 28: 21-22)
» The Patience Of God.
God actually waits for a reason that forces Him to destroy them, because He is reluctant to do it.
Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord, "Therefore, repent and live".
(Ezekiel 18: 31-32)
Why Not Save Everyone?
To be saved means that we are subject to God's rulership in word, thought, deed and motives. We must believe and love these principles.
So, there are many reasons why people cannot be saved. And they all have to do with their choices not with God's choice.
God does not wish anyone to perish.
- Sinners Choose To Have Their Own Way.
God's government is one of free choice. Our selection for heaven is based on our faith and trust.
People who reject God do so because they are a law unto themselves. God's laws are restrictive, heaven is not a fun place, and they cannot do what they want to do.
Soon rebellion will rise up again because they are dissatisfied. They do not "buy in" to God's way of life.
- Sinners choose To Live Apart From God.
But God is the source of life. So ultimately they will die. They cannot have it both ways. They cannot reject God but still require him to keep them alive.
- Mercy Of God.
Without the calming influence of God, men would be worse than the most vicious animals.
If God were to leave them alone to live out their natural lives, they would prey on each other and brutally destroy one another.
If they had children then another generation of innocent would suffer. God has already been trying that theory for 6000 years. When does it end?
If they cannot have children then all that would be accomplished is to watch people brutalize each other until they all perish.
Is this kindness? To watch such suffering and brutality among people who cannot be saved. No it is not. A quick death is more merciful.
- The Physical Presence Of God.
Just as a piece of paper cannot exist in a fire, sinners and God cannot physically coexist in the same place.
The first thing that Adam and Eve did when they heard God calling after the fall was to run and hide. They could not spiritually be in the same place either.
God is not going to force people to love him. If He wanted people like that He could have made Adam and Eve to be so.
Everyone gets an opportunity to know about God. And knowing God, people either rejected Him or refused to learn about Him.
They also rejected God in ways we cannot evaluate because we are not witnesses to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit on their conscience.
God enforces their decision, their rejection is final and eternal.
So everyone cannot be saved, because they do not want to be saved. Living under God's rules would eventually be torture for them and disruptive to the rest of us.
How Many Will Be Saved?
The Bible says that the way to destruction is broad and many choose that way, but the road to life is narrow and few find it.
Is this a numerical triumph of evil over good? Will evil capture the hearts and minds of the majority?
We do not know how many will be saved.
Many people are relying on the fact that if God exists He will save every one because He is so merciful.
And many continue to do wrong and to encourage wrong doing.
But God warns :
God Will Punish Evil. ... I will punish the men who are arrogant in spirit, who say in their hearts, "the Lord will not do good or evil".
(Zephaniah 1: 12)
Note that this does not mean that God does sin and evil. It means that people are wrong when they say that He will
not cause actions that punish people. The period of punishment is the time of sorrow and evil.
God cannot save those who do not want to be saved.
The book of Revelation seems to suggest that a third of the angels defected and chose Satan's side.
Interestingly, Zechariah 13: 8,9 seems to suggest that God will save a third of mankind. Will we replace those who are lost?
The tithing principle also suggests that one tenth of everything belongs to God. Will a tenth be saved?
We do not know how many will be saved, but it is apparently not the majority or God has a surprise.
The Straight and Narrow Road.
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(Matthew 7: 13-14)
Summary: Major Views On Death And The Judgment
These are the major Christian views on death, hell and the judgment.
- Unconscious Sleep. At death people go to sleep in the grave. With the exception of the first fruits, no one goes immediately to heaven or hell.
Before God comes He makes a decision about who He will take to heaven. This is the investigative judgment.
When He comes, the righteous living and dead are taken to heaven. The wicked living are killed.
The righteous get 1000 years to review this judgment and get their questions answered.
At the end of this time, all the wicked are raised and they face the white throne judgment.
Then they are punished in hell until they burn up. The fires of hell will be extinguished and a new earth will be created. This is our view.
|Living ||Righteous ||Persecution||Second |
|Final Judgment for the Wicked ||Righteous ||Heaven|
|Righteous ||Unconscious sleep in the Grave|
|Wicked||All Wicked Are Dead |
Satan imprisoned on Earth
|Wicked ||Hell ||Wicked |
|Living ||Wicked ||Persecute|
|No Judgment ||1844||Investigative Judgment||Saints Judge
||White Throne Judgment
- Eternal Hell.
In a conscious death people go directly to heaven or hell.
Then at the white throne judgment, everyone comes from heaven or hell to be judged and then they are thrown back into heaven or hell forever.
It also seems that it is only the living who will have a millennium on earth with Christ and a second chance. Is this fair for the wicked dead? Where is their second chance?
There also seems to be some form of Apartheid in heaven.
Those who accept God before the second chance seem to have a higher status.
Jews seem to have a different system and standard than other humans and the majority make their decision during the second chance.
| Righteous ||Rapture ||Persecution
|Righteous ||Heaven |
|Wicked || Time of Trouble|
|Wicked ||Hell ||Wicked ||Hell |
||Millennium of Peace on Earth
||White Throne Judgment
- Purgatory And Hell.
Except for a very few people, all go to purgatory to be punished for their sins for an unknown period of time. This could be millions of years. Then they go to heaven. Those with mortal sins go straight to hell.
It also seems that it is only the living who will have a millennium on earth with Christ and Mary ruling.
|Righteous|| Rapture||Heaven ||Second |
|Wicked ||The Great Chastisement |
|Righteous || ||Venial Sins||Purgatory || ||Heaven |
|Wicked || ||Mortal Sins || ||Hell ||Satan chained ||Hell |
|Item or Event ||Satan Vs God || God Vs Satan ||Satan Vs Saints ||God Vs Governments ||God Vs Wicked |
|The Players and Issues |
|Crime or Accusation ||Unjust, domineering || Sin, Rebellion
||Sin ||Sin || Sin |
|Remedy (Rehabilitation Plan) ||Change Laws|| Repent ||Gospel ||Gospel || Gospel |
|Accuser||Satan ||God ||Satan ||God || God|
|Accused||God ||Satan ||Saints ||Evil Systems || Individuals |
|Judge||God || God ||Christ ||Christ || Christ|
|Defence: Advocate for the accused
||God || Satan ||Christ ||None (Self) || None (Self)|
|Prosecutor: Advocate for the wronged
||God || God ||God ||God || God |
|Jury ||Universe || Universe ||Universe || Universe || Universe |
|Witness||Universe || Universe ||Universe, Holy Spirit ||Universe, Holy Spirit|| Universe, Holy Spirit|
|Evidence||Love, Grace, |
| Murder of Christ, broken law, |
Crimes against humanity
|Book of Life |
acceptance of Gospel
Obedience to conscience
persecution of the saints
Crimes against humanity
|The Books, Law, |
Rejection of Gospel
|Guilty ||No || Yes || Yes || Yes || Yes |
|Time of Decision ||Crucifixion || Crucifixion ||1844 - End ||1844 - End || Millennium |
|Time of Punishment or Reward ||1844 ||Armageddon ||Second Coming ||Second Coming || Armageddon|
|Crucial Decision making points |
|Jury ||Heaven || Heaven ||Heaven ||Heaven || Heaven|
|Decision ||Innocent || Guilty || No decision ||No decision ||No decision|
|Investigative Phase |
1844 - Present
|Jury ||Heaven and God || Heaven and God|| Heaven and God ||Heaven and God || Heaven and God|
|Decision ||Innocent || Guilty || Pardon || Guilty || No decision |
After second coming
|Jury ||Saints || Saints ||Saints ||Saints || Saints |
|Decision ||Innocent || Guilty || Pardon ||Guilty ||Guilty |
|White Throne Phase |
|Jury||Universe || Universe ||Universe ||Universe||Universe|
|Decision ||Innocent || Guilty || Pardon || Guilty ||Guilty|
|Executive Phase |
|Result ||Universe in Harmony ||Eternal Death ||Eternal Life ||Eternal Death ||Eternal Death |
Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2: 15
||Time: 60 minutes
Print: 14 pages
Updated : June 2008
Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008)