ETERNAL JUDGMENT
Thursday – October 26, 2017
Today I will be exploring the final “principles of the doctrine of Christ”, “eternal judgment”. We could accurately substitute justice for judgment. I am told that a part of the foundation with the jury system that we have in trials here in America included this idea of eternal justice (judgment). The Framers of our government believed in ultimate justice, eternal justice. They understood that juries even Judges may convict innocent people or free guilty people however when all was said and done there was a Just Judge who would settle the case and justice would be done. There have been times in recent history when public opinion was strongly on the side of guilt however the person was found innocent by a jury. There were outcries that the person got away with murder. This is looking at things as though this is all there is and if justice does not occur in this life it does not occur at all. That is very wrong, we are all eternal being and there is a God, and He is a God of justice. Before we delve into this fully lets consciously read our primary text from the wonderful Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (KJV)
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.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
I think most of us tend to have a negative definition of eternal judgment however the judgment can be wonderful. When there is a court trial the verdict may be not guilty (wonderful) or guilty (not so wonderful). Each one has a very different outcome. Let us look at a couple of places where Jesus spoke of this issue.
John 3:14-16 (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here we are clearly told that the key to everlasting life (eternal life) is to believe on Jesus and the sure way to perish or experience everlasting death is to reject the gift of eternal life.
Matthew 25:45-46 (KJV)
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
This everlasting punishment or Hell seems to me to be a very undesirable place. Take a look at the Words of the Master in the very real account of the rich man and Lazarus.
Luke 16:23 (KJV)
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Jesus says to avoid Hell at all costs.
Mark 9:43-46 (KJV)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Why are we so lukewarm with the things of God, one side of this coin is as extraordinarily wonderful as the other side is awful. Hell is a place of eternal fire. Very hot for a very long time, no end. That is the result of rejecting the Son of God and you thought the judgment of stoning was bad, that is a piece of cake compared to Hell. Stoning and worldly punishments are very temporal (short compared to eternity) but Hell is eternal, unending. Look at what happened to the angels who rebelled with Lucifer and what happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, all in the same place.
Jude 1:6-7 (KJV)
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
I choose Jesus, I choose eternal life, just show me the way.
Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
The following passage concerns the final judgment of the wicked, we, the house of God will not be at the White Throne Judgment. The wicked are in Hell from the second of their death and they understand exactly why they are there. However, there is a final judgment where the degree Hell given is decided, the opposite of the reward of the righteous. How awful, if you do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior make Him Lord and Savior today, Hell is too hot and too long, and best of all Heaven is wonderfully pleasant and forever pleasant.
Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)
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.
Selah
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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