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 Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2. The New Testament contains more abundant proof of it. (John 5:25-29; 6:39-40, 44; 11:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:13)
- 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. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20) Such a resurrection is clearly taught in 1 Corinthians 15, and in Romans 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.
- 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; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 20:11-15) Premillennarians 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. (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) It connects the judgment of the wicked with the coming of Christ (2 Thessalonians 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. (Psalms 96:13; 98:9; Ecclesiastes 3:17; 12:14; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 2:5-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10. 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:11-14)
- THE JUDGE AND HIS ASSISTANTS. Christ as the Mediator will be the Judge. (Matthew 25:31-32; John 5:27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Philippians 2:10; 1 Timothy 4:1) This honor was conferred on Christ as the reward for His atoning work. The angels will assist Him (Matthew 13:41-42; 24:31; 25:31), and the saints will also have some share in His judicial work. (1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 20:4)
- 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. (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36-37; 25:32; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12) Some think that the righteous will be excepted, but this is contrary to Matthew 13:30, 40-43, 49; 25:31-36; 2 Corinthians 5:10. Clearly the demons will also be judged. (Matthew 8:29; 1 Corinthians 6:3; 2Pet 2:4; Jude 6)
- 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; Revelation 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 there any ground to assert with the premillennarians that it will be a day of a thousand years.
- 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. ( Romans 2:12) God will give every man his due.
THE FINAL STATE. The final judgment serves the purpose of setting forth clearly what the final state of each person will be.
- 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” (Matthew 13:42), a “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15), and of a “prison” (1 Peter 3:19), all of which are local terms. In this place they will be totally deprived of the divine favour, 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. (Matthew 8:12-13; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 16:23, 28; Revelation 14:10; 21:8) There will be degrees in their punishment. (Matthew 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)
- 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 creation. (Psalms 102:26-27; Hebrews 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; Matthew 22:12-13; 25:10-12) The righteous will not only inherit heaven, but the entire new creation. (Matthew 55:; Revelation 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 fulness of life is enjoyed in communion with God, which is really the essence of eternal life. (Revelation 21:3) While all will enjoy perfect bliss, there will be degrees also in the enjoyments of heaven. (Daniel 12:3; 2 Corinthians 9:6)
To Memorize:
Passages proving:
A GENERAL RESURRECTION:
- Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace [and] everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)
- Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil [deeds] to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-29)
- …having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (Acts 24:15)
A RESURRECTION OF THE BODY:
- But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
- But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” (1 Corinthians 15:35)
A RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY OR AT THE COMING OF CHRIST:
- For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)
- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)
A FINAL JUDGMENT WITH CHRIST AS JUDGE:
- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
- I solemnly charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)
- And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:12)
ETERNAL AWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS:
- These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
- …who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; (8) but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. (Romans 2:6-8)
- These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
DEGREES IN AWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS:
- Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)
- And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know [it,] and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:47-48)
- Now this [I say,] he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
For Further Study:
How does Jesus argue the resurrection in Matthew 22:23-33?
On that day [some] Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, (24) asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’ (25) “Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; (26) so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. (27) “Last of all, the woman died. (28) “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had [married] her.” (29) But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. (30) “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (31) “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: (32) ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (33) When the crowds heard [this,] they were astonished at His teaching. (Matthew 22:23-33)
Does Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 place the judgment of the wicked a thousand years after the coming of Christ?
…and [to give] relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, (8) dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (9) These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (10) when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed for our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
Does 1 Corinthians 6:3 prove that the good angels will also be judged?
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? (1 Corinthians 6:3)
Questions for Review
- How can you prove the resurrection of the body from the New Testament?
- What Bible proof is there for the resurrection of the wicked?
- How does their resurrection differ from that of the righteous?
- What does the Bible teach respecting the time of the resurrection?
- How would you disprove the doctrine of a double resurrection?
- What Scripture proof is there for a last judgment?
- Who will be the Judge, and who will assist Him?
- What parties will be judged?
- When will the last judgment be, and how long will it last?
- By what standard will men be judged?
- In what will the punishment of the wicked consist?
- How can you prove that it will be unending?
- Will the new creation be an entirely new creation?
- What will be the reward of the righteous?