Jesus Appearance (8) - Last Judgment

John saw the same events when heaven was opened.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them (Rev 20:11.

When the glory of Jesus is revealed, the earth and sky shrink into insignificance.

The appearance of Jesus leads to the last judgment.

I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done (Rev 20:12-13).

When the last judgment is complete, death is destroyed forever.

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death(Rev 20:14).

Paul described the same event in his letter to the Corinthians.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:28).

When heaven and earth merge, Christians will fulfil their hope and experience the joy of eternal life in the presence of Jesus.

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you (1 Thes 2:19)?

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus appears with all his holy ones (1 Thes 3:13).

Those who have rejected Jesus, will go to eternal destruction.

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he appears to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed (2 Thes 1:9-10).

After Life (8) - Two Classes of People

There will be two classes of people at the last judgment.

1. People who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ will be judged on whether they have accepted or rejected him. Those who have placed their trust in Jesus will go to eternal life. They are the ones whose names are written in the book of life (Rev 20:12,15). Those who have rejected Jesus will be condemned (Matt 10:32,33; John 12:48; 2 Thes 1:6-10).

   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:18).

2. Those who have not heard the gospel will be judged on the basis of what they have known of God's ways. Every person has some knowledge of God. His power and divine nature is made plain in creation, and his requirements are revealed to each one by his conscience (Rom 1:20; 2:14,15).

   All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law (Rom 2:12).

   In the same way those who have not heard the gospel will be judged apart from the gospel, on the basis of the truth they have known. (This applies especially to children.)

More here.

After Life (7) - The Nature of the Judgement

The Bible makes a number of important points about the last judgment.

1. The judgment is a definite future event. Each person will appear before God, where their eternal destiny will be determined and manifested (Rom 2:5).

   He has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he appointed Acts 17:31).

2. The man appointed to be judge is Jesus (Acts 10:42).

   The Father judges no one, but has trusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father (John 5:22,23).

   Jesus is the right person to be the judge of all mankind. He is a man, so he understands all the trials and temptations that we face. No one will be able to say that Jesus does not understand the reason why they have sinned. He knows all things, so he will be able to judge perfectly. Jesus will be absolutely fair, and because he is full of mercy, he will treat everyone with compassion. He is the best person we could possibly have as our judge. His personality, character and experience make him ideal for this role.
3. The last judgment takes place at the general resurrection, immediately after the second coming. It does not take place when we die, so it is not going on now. Jesus will return and the last judgment will follow (1 Cor 4:5; Acts 17:31).

   The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done (Matt 16:27).

4. All humans must face judgment. No person who has lived on earth will be immune (Matt 25:31-46; Matt 13:37-43; Romans 14:10,12; 2 Tim 4:1). Jesus will judge both the living and the dead.

   We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Cor 5:10).

   The angels will also appear for judgment (2 Pet 2:4). Satan will also be judged (Rev 20:10.
5. People will be judged according to their works while on the earth. Judgment will not be based on what people may claim to have done, but on their actual deeds as God sees them. The good deeds or sins of parents will not count; each person will be judged on the basis of their own life (Rev 22:12; 1 Tim 5:24,25).

   God will give to each person according to what he has done (Rom 2:6).

6. Both the character and deeds of each person will be revealed to God. Each person will have their whole life revealed in a moment of time. They will see themselves as God sees them. Every word, deed, and thought, and all secrets will be revealed (Rom 2:16). No one will feel unfairly treated, because Jesus will see them as they really are. They will know that their fate is deserved.

   Men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matt 12:36).

After Life (6) - Final Judgement

The last judgment is the great watershed between history and eternity. The second coming marks the end of history. The final judgment marks the beginning of eternity. Each person will be judged on the basis of all that they have done while living on earth, and will receive their reward in eternity. There is a picture of the last judgment in Revelation 20:11-13.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

Every person will stand before the judgment throne of Christ. All that they have ever done will be revealed to them from the records that have been kept. The books are probably not literal, but each person will see their whole life pass before their eyes. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be saved.

All people will rise and face Jesus. Those who have been in Hades will be brought before his throne. Even the sea will give up its dead. This is the general resurrection that was spoken of by Jesus in John 5:28,29:

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out — those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

All people will share in this resurrection. But only those whose names are in the book of life will rise to true life. The rest will rise to condemnation (Acts 24:15; John 11:24).