Chapter 20 - Final Judgment

Heaven Past Present Future Ministries

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

Chapter 19 Chapter 21 Chapter Time Link Map

Final Judgment

What happens in the Great White Throne Judgment?

Chapter is under construction at this time time.

Myth: God perfects this earth in restoration to Eden like existence
Myth: All people will eventually be saved
Myth:
Myth:

+ Larger Font | + Smaller Font

God's Word shares great details about the events surrounding the final judgment of all in this separated creation and those who reject the Father's loving offer in Jesus Christ. Let us consider....

Final Judgment

The Destiny of the Second Resurrection

Those that have died from Adam onward that rejected the grace of God in salvation from sin are raised in a second resurrection.

Revelation 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and 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. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NASB

Isaiah 24:21-22

21 So it will happen in that day,

That the Lord will punish the host of heaven, on high,

And the kings of the earth, on earth.

22 And they will be gathered together

Like prisoners in the dungeon,

And will be confined in prison;

And after many days they will be punished. NASB (Emphasis mine)

The Degrees of Separation from God

Matthew 23:14 (Not in Greek manuscripts)

14 ["Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation.] NASB

The Devil, Demons and Associates Cast Into the Lake of Fire

Revelation 20:10

10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NASB

The Destruction of this Earth

What will happen to everything on this earthly creation before Christ Body is assembled as His Bride? The first question to arise is what about the old where we live now? What will happen to all we see around us? While we enjoy the earthly blessings of this world Scripture shares an interesting destiny for the creation God designed for man in the plan of redemption.

2 Peter 3

3 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

NASB

Peter wants his readers to recall the prophetic inspired word about this current material creation. Those prophets shared it is “reserved for fire” and “kept for the Day of Judgment.” All will be destroyed.

From an earthly perspective it appears this promise will never happen. Due to his limited under the heaven view man thinks everything has and will continue as always. Nothing has changed for a long period of time in the heaven and earth, so they are expecting nothing will change in the future. This incorrect temporal worldview of an unchanging creation brings a false sense of stability that temps man to constantly scoff at God and His promises.

Peter reminds us of the forgotten judgment of the world in the past. Chapter 2 – In Beginning showed this judgment Peter refers is probably before the judgment of the flood of Noah. A Just and Holy God had long before the flood begun dealing with sin in His Kingdom when an angel of light began sowing weeds in his beautiful garden. Just as God’s judgment was begun at Satan’s fall that judgment will come to completion. The “present heavens and earth” and “ungodly men” have a reservation for a day of judgment by fire in destruction.

The Duration of the Last Day

2 Peter 3:8

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. NASB

The Diligence of God's Patience

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. NASB

Some may think God is taking a long time to bring this promise of finishing His judgment and ultimate reunion of the creation to Himself. Peter reminds of an important principle in interpreting God’s plan in the redemption of the creation. God’s time is different from the creation’s time. Apart from the light energy of God, time in the present material creation is slowed. In God’s domain of time, He being Light, this period allotted to redeem the creation passes quickly. Our thousands of years are mere days to God the Father.

There is a special reason God waits patiently allowing this sinful decaying creation to continue to exist. God wants to allow time for every possible person to repent so as not to perish. He lovingly waits for the last possible soul to accept His Son as Savior and Lord.

The Day Will Come As Promised

2 Peter 3:10-13

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (Emphasis mine)

When the last possible soul is saved the “day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Everything we see will be melted down to its smallest parts by heat. The heavens that separate God from this creation will disappear with a roar. The stars, planets and earth will dissolve in the destruction by fire. The Apostle Paul tells how the creation, just like believers, groans patiently for this day to come together in unity and oneness through the completed work of Jesus Christ in the plan of God the Father.

Romans 8:18-25

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. NIV (Emphasis mine)

Out of this destruction by fire and heat, our new home of righteousness will be born. On this day of judgment of the creation the “sons of God” will be “revealed.[1]” The adoption of God’s children is completed this day. Believers in Jesus Christ will be unveiled before everyone in God’s kingdom – before kings, powers and principalities. We will live eternally in a new heaven and earth. The last chapters of God’s Word foretell this wonderful place we will call “home” forever.

The Desires Such Destruction Brings to God's Children

2 Peter 3:11-18

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (Emphasis mine)

Chapter 19 Chapter 21 Chapter Time Link Map

End Notes

[1] ‘revealed’ apokalupsis NT:602, "an uncovering" Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Meditation and Discussion Questions

Under construction at this time

Operated by William Henry Publishing, LLC PO Box 2651, Batesville, AR 72503-2651 williamhenry@heavenpastpresentfuture.com Email Response Form Permissions