Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

The Last Things

No one can escape the resurrection of the body. The Bible tells us in St. 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." Yes, in the flesh, all people will experience either the joys of eternal life in the new heaven and earth, or they will experience the eternal torments of hell, in the "flesh." That is a reassurance for the believer, and should be a terrible warning for those who do not know Jesus as their personal and loving Savior.

The Final Judgement
The Bible teaches that on that last day, all people, living and dead, will appear before Jesus to be judged in righteousness by His word. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Also, as we have already learned in Acts 17:31, "For he has set a day when he (God the Father) will judge the world with justice by the man (the God-man, Jesus Christ) he has appointed." [Parenthesis are not part of the text, but added for explanation.] Jesus Himself spoke of this final judgement in St. John 12:48, "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." People, by not believing God's Word, the Word of Life that Jesus preached and taught, and who reject the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, have condemned and judged themselves already.

God's judgement is final and severe. There is no room for bargaining or compromising with God. It is a person's faith alone that makes the difference, a faith that is put to work in service to God and those in need of our love.

• Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
• Matthew 25:40-41 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"

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