The Study Of “the Judgment, Heaven, And Hell” Series

The Study Of “The Judgment, Heaven, And Hell”

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The day of judgment is coming! God will judge the world. He has appointed His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the judge. "God . . . commands all men everywhere to repent . . . He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained" (Acts 17:30,31). The judgment will take place on the day that Christ comes again.

NONE WILL ESCAPE

No person can escape the judgment! All who have ever lived will be there. All who are now living will be there. All who will live in the future will be there. The rich will be judged, the poor will be judged. Kings, presidents, and the common man will be judged. All will be judged alike. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive . . . according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS

We will be judged according to our works! All the good things we have done will be revealed. All of the bad things we have done will be revealed. "Who will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor; and immortality; but to those who . . . do not obey . . . indignation and wrath" (Romans 2:6-8).

HELL

All the wicked and all who have never obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ will be cast into Hell. Hell is a place which was prepared for the Devil and his angels. "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

Hell is a terrible place! The Bible uses three pictures to tell us how terrible Hell is:

• First, Hell is often described as a fire which never stops burning. Jesus said, "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire - where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:47,48).

• Second, Hell is often described as a place of great darkness where people in pain and anguish weep and gnash their teeth, "And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30).

• Third, Hell is described as the second death. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

Hell is eternal! Those cast into Hell will be punished forever and ever. Jesus said, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46).

The Bible plainly teaches that Hell is a real place. It is a place of punishment for the wicked and for all who do not obey Christ. "You who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and . . . do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

HEAVEN

On the Day of Judgment, the wicked and unbelievers will be cast into Hell, but the faithful Christians will receive eternal life. They will be given a home in Heaven which Jesus has prepared for them. "In My Father's house are many mansions . . . I go to prepare a place for you . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know" (John 14:2-4).

Jesus is now preparing a place in Heaven for us if we will become his faithful disciples. Heaven is a beautiful place. In Heaven there are no bad things. There is no pain, sickness, sadness, trouble, or death. There is no hate or fear in Heaven. In Heaven there is only peace and happiness and every good thing.

The apostle John tells us about this beautiful home which Jesus is preparing for us. "I, John, saw the holy city . . . coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband . . . I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men . . . God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:1-4). Read Revelation 21 and Revelation 22, for a full description of the beautiful place called Heaven.