THE JUDGMENT OF THE LOST
When the thousand year reign is ended, and Satan is released (Revelation 20:7), he will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the holy city (Revelation 20:9).
At that time, Satan and his army will be destroyed by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9). Then, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day an' night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10) Jesus, discussing this event, stated in Matthew 25:41, "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." Then Christ, who is the judge of all men (John 5:22), will resurrect and judge the great and small at the Great White Throne of Judgment. "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away." (Revelation 20:11)
This resurrection of the unsaved dead will be a physical resurrection, and those receiving that judgment (Romans 14: 10-13) will be committed to an eternal conscious punishment. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15). This city is the saints dwelling place where they will forever enjoy fellowship with God, and one another. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." (John 17:3) Having fulfilled His redemptive mission, then the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, (Ephesians 1:18-23; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28), and the triune God will reign forever and ever in all spheres. "And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject into Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Regardless of the time of the return of Christ to set up His theocratic kingdom on earth, and whether it be pre, mid, or post tribulation, and regardless of whether this present evil era shall be terminated and a new earth ushered in by God, the common goal and confession of all Christians should be that God shall be all in all at last!
While the eschatology of the unbelieving world of modern science is death for the individual, species, and universe, then certainly, the only truth they can live by is the popular phrase, "let us eat, and drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die".
We, as Christians, however, do not believe death is the end, but only the beginning of a new glorious life of which Christ has earned for us by His resurrection from the dead and His defeat of death for us!
The point we should remember is that heaven will be glorious for all that spend eternity there, however, the reason all will be there is not for personal enjoyment, but to praise and glorify God, and to fellowship with Him! Many picture heaven as being a boring place where we will be floating on clouds, lazily twanging our harps, but the scene will actually be as the book of Revelation describes it, having God in the center, adored by His creatures, who continually praise Him in a roar like the sea, and all of His glory, He will reveal to them! Because of all the conflicting and controversial opinions and interpretations of Bible prophecy, it sometimes becomes inviting to fall into a "rut" and just "cop out" so to speak and forget about, or not study eschatology at all! However, a Christian should occupy until the return of Christ, fulfilling any service offered, and enjoying the present life as a gift of God to its fullest, and live like we expect to live our lives to a ripe old, productive age in God's service. At the same time, we should be looking forward to the glorious return of Christ for us, being prepared and ready to meet Him at any moment! It is productive to study eschatology in order to gain the best understanding possible, and we all should do that, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate the written revelation for us in the best understanding possible, but, we should also keep in mind, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then, face to face (when we meet Christ at His return): now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
The End,……………for some,…..and “beginning” for others!
Blessings!
Marked Elect
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