Thread: The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Admin
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Posted : 3 Jul, 2011 11:48 AM
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
by Louis Berkhof
1. The Resurrection
Scripture teaches us that at the return of Christ the dead will be raised up. The Old Testament
clearly speaks of it in Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2. The New Testament contains more abundant
proof of it, John 5:25-29; 6:39, 40, 44; 11:24, 25; I Cor. 15; I Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 20:13.
a. The character of the resurrection
Scripture teaches us to look forward to a bodily resurrection, similar to the resurrection of Christ. The redemption in Christ will include the body, Rom. 8:23; I Cor. 6:13-20. Such a resurrection is clearly taught in I Cor. 15, and in Rom. 8:11. It will include both the righteous and the wicked, but will be an act of deliverance and glorification only for the former. For the latter the re-union of body and soul will issue in the extreme penalty of eternal death.
b. The time of the resurrection
According to Scripture the general resurrection will coincide with the return of Christ and the end of the world, and will immediately precede the final judgment, John 5:27-29; 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24; I Cor. 15:23; Phil. 3:20, 21; Rev. 20:11-15. Pre-millenarians teach a double resurrection: one of the just at the return of Christ, and another of the unjust a thousand years later, at the end of the world. But the Bible speaks of the resurrection of both in a single breath. Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15. It connects the judgment of the wicked with the coming of Christ, II Thess. 1:7-10, and places the resurrection of the just at the last day, John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24.
2. The Last Judgment
The doctrine of the resurrection leads right on to that of the last judgment. The Bible speaks of the coming of a final judgment in no uncertain terms, Ps. 96:13; 98:9; Eccl. 3:17; 12:14; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-10; II Cor. 5:10. II Tim. 4:1; I Pet. 4:5; Rev. 20:11-14.
a. The Judge and His Assistants Christ as the Mediator will be the Judge, Matt. 25:31, 32; John 5:27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Phil. 2:10; I Tim. 4:1. This honor was conferred on Christ as a reward for His atoning work. The angels will assist Him, Matt. 13:41, 42; 24:31; 25:31, and the saints will also have some share in His judicial work, I Cor. 6:2, 3; Rev. 20:4.
b. The parties that will be judged
It is perfectly evident from Scripture that every individual of the human race will have to appear before the judgment seat, Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 12:36, 37; 25:32; Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12. Some think that the righteous will be excepted, but this is contrary to Matt. 13:30, 40-43, 49; 25:31-36; II Cor. 5:10. Clearly the demons will also be judged, Matt. 8:29; I Cor. 6:3; II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6.
c. The time of the judgment
The final judgment will naturally be at the end of the world, and will follow immediately after the resurrection of the dead, John 5:28, 29; Rev. 20:12, 13. The duration of the judgment cannot be determined. The Bible speaks of "the day of judgment," but this does not necessarily mean that it will be a day of twenty-four hours. Neither is
195 there any ground to assert with the Pre-millenarians that it will be a day of a thousand years.
d. The standard of judgment
The standard by which saints and sinners will be judged will evidently be the revealed will of God. Gentiles will be judged by the law of nature; Jews by the Old Testament revelation, and those acquainted with the fuller revelation of the gospel will be judged by it, Rom. 2:12. God will give every man his due.
3. The Final State
The final judgment serves the purpose of setting forth clearly what the final state of each person will be.
a. The final state of the wicked
The wicked are consigned to the place of punishment called "hell". Some deny that hell is a place and regard it merely as a condition, but the Bible uses local terms right along. It speaks, for instance, of a "furnace of fire," Matt. 13:42, a "lake of fire", Rev. 20:14, 15, and of a "prison," I Pet. 3:19, all of which are local terms. In this place they will be totally deprived of the divine favor, will experience an endless disturbance of life, will suffer positive pains in body and soul, and will be subject to pangs of conscience, anguish, and despair, Matt. 8:12, 13; Mark 9:47, 48; Luke 16:23, 28; Rev. 4:10; 21:8. There will be degrees in their punishment, Matt. 11:22, 24; Luke 12:47, 48; 20:47. It is evident that their punishment will be eternal. Some deny this, because the words 'eternal' and 'everlasting' may simply denote a long period of time. Yet this is not the usual meaning of the words, and there is no reason to think that they have that meaning when applied to the future punishment of the wicked. Moreover, other terms are used, which point to endless punishment, Mark 9:43, 48; Luke 16:26.
b. The final state of the righteous
The final state of believers will be preceded by the passing of the present world and the establishment of a new creation. This will not be an entirely new creation, but rather a renewal of the present 196 creation, Ps. 102:26, 27; Heb. 12:26-28. Heaven will be the eternal abode of believers. Some think of heaven merely as a condition, but the Bible clearly represents it as a place, John 14:2; Matt. 22:12, 13; 25:10-12. The righteous will not only inherit heaven, but the entire new creation, Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-3. The reward of the righteous is described as eternal life, that is, not merely endless life, but life in all its fulness, without any of the imperfections and disturbances of the present. This fullness of life is enjoyed in communion with God, which is really the essence of eternal life, Rev. 21:3. While all will enjoy perfect bliss, there will be degrees also in the enjoyments of heaven, Dan. 12:3; II Cor. 9:6.
To memorize. Passages proving:
a. A general resurrection:
Dan. 12:2. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
John 5:28, 29. "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment."
Acts 24:15. "Having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust."
b. A resurrection of the body:
Rom. 8:11. "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
I Cor. 15:35. "But some will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do
they come?" Also verse 44. "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."
c. A resurrection at the last day or at the coming of Christ:
I Cor. 15:22, 23. "But as in Adam all die, so also in Christ
shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits; then they that are Christ's at His coming."
I Thess. 4:16. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
John 6:40. "For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on Him, should have eternal life; and I will raise Him up at the last day."
d. A final judgment with Christ as Judge:
II Cor. 5:10. "For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, be it good or evil."
II Tim. 4:1. "I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead."
To memorize. Passages proving:
a. A general resurrection:
Dan. 12:2. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
John 5:28, 29. "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment."
Acts 24:15. "Having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust."
b. A resurrection of the body:
Rom. 8:11. "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
I Cor. 15:35. "But some will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?" Also verse 44. "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."
c. A resurrection at the last day or at the coming of Christ:
I Cor. 15:22, 23. "But as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits; then they that are Christ's at His coming."
I Thess. 4:16. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
John 6:40. "For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on Him, should have eternal life; and I will raise Him up at the last day."
d. A final judgment with Christ as Judge:
II Cor. 5:10. "For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, be it good or evil."
II Tim. 4:1. "I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead."
For Further Study:
a. How does Jesus argue the resurrection in Matt. 22:23-33?
b. Does Paul in II Thess. 1:7-10 place the judgment of the wicked a thousand years after the coming of Christ?
c. Does I Cor. 6:3 prove that the good angels will also be judged?
Questions for Review
1. How can you prove the resurrection of the body from the New Testament?
2. What Bible proof is there for the resurrection of the wicked?
3. How does their resurrection differ from that of the righteous?
4. What does the Bible teach respecting the time of the resurrection?
5. How would you disprove the doctrine of a double resurrection?
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Posted : 3 Jul, 2011 12:31 PM
WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE LAST DAY AT THE 2ND COMING OF JESUS??
Luke 21:25,26: Jesus says, �Immediately after the distress of those {1260} days{See Rev 13:5-10, Dan 7:25 & Dan 12:1,2,7b} The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. See also Mark:13:24,25; Matt 24:29 & Rev 6:12-17
Luke 21:28: When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Rev 1:7: Look, He is coming with the clouds, and **EVERY** eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. Just before His 2nd Coming every saved and lost person will be awakened to witness His 2nd Coming as per Matt 26:64; John 5:28,29 & Daniel 12:2 This will not include the martyrs and the 24 Elders on thrones who will already be awake as per Rev 4:4; 6:9-11; 7:9,14,15 & Rev 20:4-6.
Matt 24:30,31; Mark 13:24,25; & Luke 21:27: At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will *SEE the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels:angel::angel: with a loud trumpet call {the 7th and Last Trumpet}, and they will gather his elect from the 4 winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.� I Thess 4:16b,17: �The dead in Christ will rise first, After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.� Mark 13:27b adds �He will gather His elect from the ends of the earth {Saints on earth} to the ends of the heavens. {Saints in Heaven}
Jesus, Paul, John and Daniel were all Post-Tribbers!!
I Corinthians 15:49,51,52: Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the Man from Heaven {See Rev 1:13-16}...We will not all sleep, but we will **ALL** be changed�in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the {7th &} Last Trumpet!�
Then all of God's saints with their new heavenly bodies will celebrate the marriage Feast of the Lamb: Rev 19:7,8: �Hallelujah!... for the Wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear!�
There will be 2 comings of Jesus on the same Last Day. The First will be **FOR** His saints and the Second Coming will be **WITH** His saints just after the marriage Feast of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:11,13;14, 19-21:.�I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True... He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is the Word of God. The armies of Heaven were following Him riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean {See Rev 19:8}.... Then I saw the Beast {666} and the {10} kings { See Rev 17:12-14 below} of the earth and their {10} armies gathered together to make war against the Rider on the horse and His army. But the Beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf... The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the Rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. {See Rev 17:12-14 and Jude 14-16}
Rev 17:12-14; The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings... They will give their power and authority to the Beast {666}. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.�
Then Satan {See Rev 16:13,14,16} and the rest of the armies of the world surrounded Jerusalem {After arriving at Armageddon just 55 miles North of Jerusalem} Rev 20:9,10: �But fire came down from Heaven and devoured them. And the Devil who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the Beast {666} and the False Prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.�
I Cor 15:20-24: �But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the FIRSTFRUITS of those who have fallen asleep...For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS;; then when He comes, those who belong to Him. {*THEN*} the {*END*} will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.�
Luke 21:33: Jesus says �Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will never pass away!� 2 Peter 7,10,13: �The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men... But the Day of the Lord {See I Cor 1:7,8} will come like a thief.{To unbelievers} The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up... But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH, the Home of righteousness.�
Revelation 20:11-14: �Then I saw a great white **THRONE** {See Matt 25:31b below} and Him {Jesus} who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled away from His presence {See 2 Peter 3:10-12; I Cor 15:24 & Rev 21:1}, 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 and each person was judged according to what he had done {See Rev 22:12}. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. If anyone's name was not found written in the {Lamb's-Rev 13:8; 17:8} Book of Life {Dan 12:1b,2}, he was thrown into the lake of fire.�
Matthew 25:31-34,41,46: �**WHEN** the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on **HIS THRONE** {See Rev 20:11 above} in Heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left.�
�*THEN* the King will say to those on the right, �Come you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.� {The New Jerusalem with its New Heaven and New Earth�See Rev 21:1-5 & 2 Peter 3:10-13}
�**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.� ....{See John 12:48; John 5:28,29; 2 Thess 1:6-10; Daniel 12:2}
�*THEN* they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.�
Rev 21 1:1-3: Then I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. {THEN} I saw the NEW JERUSALEM, coming down out of heaven from God...,And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, �Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them!!� {You will note that the New Jerusalem will come only *AFTER the present heaven and earth have passed away.} �They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.!! He who was seated on the Throne said, �I am making **EVERYTHING NEW**!!� :applause::peace: See John 14:1-3; Hebrews 11:10,16; 2 Peter 3:10-13
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Posted : 3 Jul, 2011 01:08 PM
@Everyone:
Without the Resurrection of Yeshua,we are all doomed!
For without the resurrection of Yeshua nothing in all of eternity matters.
For the Christians hope is in the Resurrection of Yeshua.
Mat 28:6 He is not here, for He was raised, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
Mat 28:7 And going quickly say to His disciples that He was raised from the dead. And behold! He goes before you into Galilee. You will see Him there. Behold! I told you.
Mar 16:6 But he said to them, Do not be amazed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene who has been crucified. He was raised. He is not here. See the place where they put Him?
Mar 16:7 But go, say to the disciples and to Peter, He goes before you into Galilee. You will see Him there, even as He told you.
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but was raised. Remember how He spoke to you, yet being in Galilee,
Luk 24:7 saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and the third day to rise again.
Luk 24:8 And they remembered His Words.
Luk 24:21 But we were hoping that He is the One going to redeem Israel. But then with all these things, this third day comes today since these things happened.
Luk 24:22 And also some of our women astounded us, having been early at the tomb,
Luk 24:23 and not finding His body, they came saying to have seen a vision of angels also, who say Him to be alive.
Luk 24:25 And He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe on all things which the prophets spoke!
Luk 24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory?
Luk 24:27 And beginning from Moses, and from all the prophets, He explained to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures.
John 20:30 Then truly Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.
John 20:31 But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Posted : 3 Jul, 2011 05:21 PM
Sir James,
Thanks for sharing this good word. The only thing I don't understand is under standard of judgement, it says the Jews will be judged differently than other believers?
The Resurrection, the Last Judgment and the Final State
Posted : 3 Jul, 2011 07:44 PM
d. The standard of judgment
The standard by which saints and sinners will be judged will evidently be the revealed will of God. Gentiles will be judged by the law of nature; Jews by the Old Testament revelation, and those acquainted with the fuller revelation of the gospel will be judged by it, Rom. 2:12. God will give every man his due.
