What is the Final Judgment?

What is the final judgment? Although some may believe this can go without saying. There is however significant debate over what the final judgment is; and in more ways than one.

Matthew 25:46 KJVS

[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The first is to understand that we see two main judgments. One shall be “everlasting punishment” the other is “life eternal”. But life eternal is only granted to the righteous. And “these” mentioned, being the wicked, will go into a punishment that will be everlasting or eternal. And when we identify a punishment we understand it is not something meant to be enjoyable or good. So we know they will have to deal with something bad forever.

Matthew 8:28-29 KJVS

[28] And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. [29] And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Satan and his angels understand that there is a time appointed that they will be tormented. Because their purpose will be fulfilled and they are not clean spirits they are unclean spirits created to do only evil; created to be crooked. When their time is up they will be sent to the everlasting punishment to be “tormented” at the appropriate time.

Revelation 12:12 KJVS

[12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The judgment is not something they are happy about. They have great anger knowing the time until that judgment is short. Although they had thousands of years to do as they please and be as wicked as they wanted to be. It does not compare to an eternity of suffering with no end.

Isaiah 33:14 KJVS

[14] The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Zion is an epithet used to describe Jerusalem. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem are known as the “Jews” who make up the southern kingdom of Israel. It is the sinners or wicked of Israel that will be afraid because they have walked as hypocrites. They have acted like they are good yet have done many things God deems as evil. And after that we see a rhetorical question posed. Which also leads to the punishment to be inflicted. Devouring fire will be the judgement that will befall the wicked. Which will also be everlasting burning. That is why the sinners in Zion are afraid and why fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites because they thought one of a few main things. 1. I have time. 2. It won’t happen, 3. And if it does at least not to me. And now time is up and you are in trouble. This is a major source from the Old Testament. Now lets us look at the New Testament.

Matthew 18:8 KJVS

[8] Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

You want to be in a space to righteously do whatever is necessary to ensure you are not caught up in anything that could jeopardize your salvation. Cutting off any part of your life (job, family, friends) things precious and close to you that may hurt. All so you may ensure you make it in, with any of those close to you who choose to do what is required in order to do the same. And better to do that, than to be cast into everlasting fire! So the judgment is pretty clear as to what can be expected.

Hebrews 10:26-27 KJVS

[26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The scriptures let it be known that if we choose to live a life of sin although we know the truth you cannot simply be forgiven. Because you are not sincerely repenting. So you will be in a place where you will find a fiery judgment because you have returned to a wicked lifestyle.

Matthew 25:40-41 KJVS

[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

This ties together scriptures we covered earlier above. That when the Most High and Christ shall divide the sheep from the goats. He will say unto those on his left hand (the goats; the wicked) depart from me. And they shall live in a perpetual cursed state in everlasting fire. Which last I checked fire does not feel good. And it is prepared for the devil and his angels. But if you choose to be wicked it will include you as well. As Satan and his angles knew what was going to happen from the beginning. They had a role to play and a purpose to fulfill.

Revelation 19:19-20 KJVS

[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

So what exactly is the final judgement? Well, when you imagine a lake what do you think of? A large area or body of water that lacks strong directional flow or movemment yet contains its own ecosystem. Now when you think of fire what comes to mind? You think of a brightly colored usually orange or red substance that is hot to the touch and will burn you are anything it touches. Now what would it look like if I were to combine these two substances? What would a “lake of fire” look like? We are dealing with a massive area likened unto what we would currently identify as lava or magma that once in it you will be burning in it for all eternaty.

Revelation 20:8-15 KJVS

[8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

All other forms of punishment and torment are only temporary. Everything and everyone wicked or vile or unclean, will be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented with burning forever.

Hebrews 6:1-2 KJVS

[1] Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

From here, let us meditate on these words and keep them in our minds so that once learned we no longer have to go back and re-teach these things unto those who should have learned them already. And no longer being as children tossed to and fro from doctrine to doctrine. And let us continue to strive for the kingdom waxing toward perfection in the word of righteousness. Full of faith that our reward is the kingdom of heaven if we maintain the course of righteousness.

2 Esdras 9:13 KJVA

And therefore be thou not curious how the ungodly shall be punished, and when: but enquire how the righteous shall be saved, whose the world is, and for whom the world is created.