Eternal Judgment
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, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2
This is the last foundation listed in Hebrews Chapter 12.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. NIV – 2 Corinthians 5:10
One may wonder why eternal Judgment is a foundation on which we are to build our Christian life and walk with God. This foundation or truth is there in order to keep us on a straight course; it is there to anchor us into a solid awareness of eternal values.
Without an understanding of this foundation we will tend to live lives that do not reflect the reality of eternity. Eternity is where we will spend the rest of our lives after the probation we are now serving on this planet earth is over.
This foundation will keep our ultimate focus in place.
Abraham had a glimpse of this truth which caused him to look for the ultimate purpose in his life.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:9-10
Out of billions of planets in the universe God chose earth as a schoolhouse for His sons to train in. The conditions of this planet are perfect for the making of sons. The conditions and challenges are just right for us to overcome adversity, to learn to love under all conditions and to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. It is a place where we learn and qualify for eternal roles. It is a place where we learn courage, reliability, determination, faithfulness, a place where we learn to choose righteousness over evil. These are qualities that when achieved and made a reality in or lives qualify us for eternal roles. Earth is a place where Abraham had a glimpse of this truth which caused him to look for the ultimate purpose in his life, we learn to be like Jesus.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, Galatians 4:19
The Final Exam- We shall all stand before God to have our lifes reviewed.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why do you show for your brother ? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Romans 14:10
God has decreed that we all shall stand before the Judgment seat of Christ.
What is this Judgment seat? The Greek word for Judgment seat is the word bema, a rostrum, i.e. tribunal. Paul was taking this word bema from the Greek culture regarding the trying of anyone sent to trial. A rostrum was set up on a platform where the trial was to take place.
If the person was found guilty they were given a black stone, if the person was found innocent they were given a white stone. This is what Jesus was referring to in Revelation Chapter 2.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:16-17
We all must give an account for our lives on this earth.
Accountability is a requirement of the Kingdom of God.
As Christians we will all stand before God to give an account of our lives. God built into human beings a warning, especially for those who are not Christians. Many people at the point of death, often at the point of drowning, have the experience of their whole life being played out before them. This is a built-in warning to that person of accountability after death. Those who survive this and are somehow saved from death at that time have had a severe warning in regard to accountability to God. However in this study we are primarily referring to Christians.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:23
A record of your life is kept in heaven; it is written up in detail. And we will be judged according to another book in heaven (the comparison of the two)-our destiny scroll, the good works prepared for us before the foundation of the heavens and the earth that we were destined to walk in.
The books in heaven are amazing, they are living, when you read one about a saint, you can see their intentions, you can feel their emotions.
How many missed opportunities have we already experienced since we have been a Christian? Just acknowledging a person and saying Hi, and showing them kindness is a good work, giving them a cup of water, let alone saying a prayer for their salvation, and sharing the hope we have in us as we radiate the glory of God when we have a walk with Him, the walking out of our destiny.
Thank God for the blood of Jesus, and the forgiveness of our sins. When God forgives us sin, the word forgiveness means to remove it from us, to send the force and the power of it away from us, as far as the east is from the west. It is blotted out, it no longer exists. God has the power to forget, and no one in heaven will remember any offense we may have caused them on earth. But all unrepented and unconfessed sin we shall give an account To Jesus Christ for. Confession is just coming into agreement and unity with God, saying the same thing He says. If we judge ourselves now, we will not have to give an account for it later.
When God says “well done thou good and faithful servant,” He symbolically bows to us and honors us, can you imagine that? That is why we throw our crowns at His feet.
In heaven there is a storehouse and in that storehouse there is a book with your name on it. When we stand before God to give an account our book is brought out and our life is played back. This seems to occur like a hologram and happens incredibly fast but we are able to keep up with it. This is not just a visual presentation, every emotion and every motive is displayed clearly.
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. Revelation 20:12
There is a ripple effect of our actions. If you throw a stone into the middle of a large pond the effect is not just where the stone landed, the effect is felt all the way to the edge of the pond.
A man who kills someone causes a ripple effect. The effect on the murdered man’s wife and his children shapes their lives from that point on. There is a financial affect on the family; there is an emotional affect on the family.
Many things we do and say in this life have a ripple effect for either good or evil that can continue on for generations.
This review of our lives covers everything in our lives that has not been repented of.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Romans 2:4-6
For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:11
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2:16
We need to understand what outer darkness is.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12
These are children of the Kingdom, but they were cast into outer darkness.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:11-14
This person did not have on a wedding garment. The bride had not made herself ready.
The bride company is made up of those who are overcomers out of all generations and those who are without spot and wrinkle at the coming of the Lord. Not all Christians fit this category.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Matthew 25:1-12
These were all virgins signifying that they were at least born again. However not all of these made it into the bride company.
To be a part of the bride company is a high reward. These are the helpmates of the Lord Jesus who stand at His side and in the ages to come rule with him.
The five foolish virgins missed being in the bride company because they did not have on the bridal garment and they did not have oil in their lamps.
What is outer darkness?
To be cast into outer darkness has the meaning of being placed for a season or for a time outside of the door in a dark place.
This occurs before the Judgment seat of Christ when our life is played back before us, and if we have not lived for the Lord and repented of all of our sins committed as Christians.
If we have wasted the time God gave to us on this earth and have not been faithful servants a great darkness of sorrow and regret will envelop us; this outer darkness will remain until we cry out to God for forgiveness.
Once we cry to God for forgiveness, He will forgive, wiping way the tears and give us entrance into paradise. If even like the wise foolish virgins we were not ready, we still have an entrance into the Kingdom at a lower level.
How long this outer darkness is experienced we cannot tell as time as we know it does not exist as we know it in the realm of the spirit.
We need to ask God to judge us while we are still in the flesh on this earth.
This means that we ask God to reveal to us our heart, and as the Holy Spirit convicts us we need to repent. Part of God’s grace to us is that of TIME. We still have time if we are alive and like King David we need to ask God to search our hearts and in all sincerity and humility. The Holy Spirit can bring back to our memory things that we need to put right. Motives are important to God. Wrong motives are deadly to us and must be repented of.
Do not search your own heart. Ask God to search your heart.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalms 24:3-5
This foundation or truth, knowing that there is a day coming where we will have to give an account to the Lord should be a stabilizing factor in our lives keeping us grounded in true reality.
It is not how you start the race, it is how you finish the race that counts. You may fall at times, get it wrong at times, and be deceived at times. But if our heart is turned towards the Lord desiring purity, and we are quick to repent, and determined in our hearts to follow the Lord, allowing Him bring to the surface in our lives that which needs to be repented of, He is well able to cause us to finish with the words. Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.