Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

The Last Things

There is also eternal life in hell for those who, by Jesus Christ, have been judged to eternal damnation. Jesus, in Matthew 10:28, warns about hell. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Isaiah prophesied concerning what hell is like and describes the eternal nature of suffering in hell. "And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind" (Is. 66:24).

Jesus tells about a man's torment in hell through a parable. "In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire'" (St. Luke 16:23-24).

All of this still applies to us today. Nothing has changed just because we are in a new millennium. You and I, and all people, must face the reality that on the last day, there will be eternal joy in heaven for all believers. There will also be eternal damnation and torment in hell for every person who has not repented and does not believe in Christ as Redeemer and Lord.

The Millennium and Rapture: The Millennium
Some Christians have an understanding about the millennium, referred to in Revelations 20:1-6, which tries to establish a chronology or timetable to this apocalyptic message. The Bible does speak about a 1000-year reign of Christ with Satan in chains. This Word of God comes to us in the vision of St. John the Divine. Neither Moses nor the prophets, nor Jesus during his ministry here on earth, nor His disciples, made this period of time clear to us. Reading about the millennium in the book of Revelations is interesting and worth our prayerful consideration. However, it must be emphasized that the millennium is not a Biblical doctrine that is necessary for salvation. It is not a matter of saving faith. Thus, believing or not believing the various understandings of the millennial time must not be considered a test of ones faith.

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