Eternal Death

In sharp contrast to the joys and glory of heaven are the sorrows and disgrace of those who suffer eternal death. Scripture describes eternal death in symbolic language as well, with analogies related to experiences in this earthly life. It is compared to fire, but it is the eternal fire that God prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:43-44; Isaiah 66:15-16, 24). Those who reject the only Savior from sin will be put "with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:51). The lost "shall be an abhorrence to all flesh" (Isaiah 66:24); they will be seen as objects of "shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). The Lutheran Confessions, therfore, reject the doctrine that "the devils and condemned human beings will not suffer eternal torture and torment".

In reality, eternal death is beyond human description, for it is being forsaken by God, "away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might" (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is being cut off from the very source and preserver of life. At the same time, Scripture is clear in stating that eternal death is not annihilation. It is the destruction of both the body and the soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

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Eternal Life, Part 3

In eternity, the people of God will be delivered also from the physical consequences of sin. "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain" (Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 44, 53-57). "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17). Eternal life will be a time of rest. This is not a time of inactivity and idleness, but a Sabbath rest when the drudgery, toil, competition, failures, and frustrations that characterize present existence will end (Isaiah 32:15-29; Hebrews 4:9-11). It will be a time of joyous and satisfying activity, which will find perfect fulfillment in seeing God and living in his presence.

Eternal life will bring undeserved glory to the people of God. On earth their status as heirs of heaven is not recognized, and their works done in the Savior's name are rarely rewarded (Matthew 10:22). In eternity, however, God will reveal their true status as children of God. Their bodies will be raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43). "The righteous will shine like the sun of the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). In a unique way God will graciously reward the good works of those who demonstrate their faith by serving Christ and those in need (Matthew 24:45-47; Matthew 25:21, 23, 34-36, 40; Revelation 14:13). Especially will God bless those who have been instrumental in turning "many to righteousness" (Daniel 12:3), and those who have suffered for his name's sake (Matthew 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Peter 4:12-16; Revelation 2:10).  God in his grace will bestow on them and on all his people degrees of glory commensurate with work and fidelity flowing from the fount of their faith in this life.

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Eternal Life, Part 2

What Christians will experience when they see Christ as he is transcends all human experience. It will be "what no eye has seen, no ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him " (1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 John 3:2). St. Paul saw a vision of heaven when he was caught up to paradise: there "He heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter...to keep him from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given him in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass him" (2 Corinthians 12:4,7).

Living in God's presence, Christians will have a blissful knowledge of him. Scripture does not reveal the scope and depth of that knowledge, other than to draw this comparison: "Now I know in part; then I shall know him fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). In eternal life, when Christians see Jesus face-to-face, the divine image lost in the fall will be fully and completely restored (1 John 3:2). Christians will be completely "renewed in knowledge after the image of their creator" (Colossians 3:10). They will possess a knowledge of him that is unclouded by sin (Ephesians 4:24), one that will reflect the perfect knowledge of him who created, redeemed, and sanctified them.

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Eternal Life

After the destruction of this world, God will create a new heaven and a new earth to serve as the dwelling place of God with his people (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1). There in God's presence will be freedom from sin and all its consequences (Revelation 21:27), fullness of joy, and, at his right hand, pleasures forevermore. "I shall be satisfied with your likeness" (Psalm 17:15).

In describing the transcending joy and glory of heaven, the Bible often uses symbolic language (Revelation 21; Isaiah 65) and analogies familiar to present existence. Eternal life is dwelling in the Father's house where there are many rooms, where Christians will live in his presence (John 14:2). It is being the bride of the Lamb and attending the marriage supper (Revelation 19:7-9). It is being part of God's royal family, sitting on thrones, eating and drinking at Christ's table in the heavenly kingdom (Luke 22:29-30). It is being awarded the "crown of life" (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:8). It is being granted "to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

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The End of the World

The first coming of Christ marked the beginning of the end of the present era and of the creation as it now exists. The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this era. Scripture uses a variety of terms to describe this momentous event. The gospels describe heaven and earth as passing away (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). Saint Paul writes: "The present form of this world is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:31). Again, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:21). The apostle Peter states: "The heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10). The book of Hebrews adds that the earth and the heavens will perish, "like a garment they will be changed" (Hebrews 1:10-12). Scripture stops short of stating that this world will be totally annihilated. Whether the destruction of this world will be total annihilation or renovation is debatable. It is certain, however, that the world as it now exists, bearing the marks of sin and "subjected to futility" and decay, will cease to exist (Romans 8:20).

The Final Judgment

At the final judgment all earthly dominion, authority, and power, including death, will be destroyed. The Savior, despised and rejected by the world, wil be seen in all his divine majesty and glory, reigning over all things until he has put all his enemies under his feet. Every knee will bow to him, and every tongue will acknowledge that he is Lord (Isaiah 45:23; Matthew 25:31; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 15:25-27; Philippians 2:10-11; Hebrews 2:8). On the day of the final judgment, the one true God will be revealed as the Lord of all things in heaven and on earth. When Christ "delivers the kingdom" to the Father, the triune God will be manifested as "all in all," as the Lord beside whom there is no other. His eternal purposes as he puts everything under Christ's feet will be made known, and God will be manifested as holy and just but also merciful and gracious (1 Corinthians 15:24, 27-28; Isaiah 40:6-26).

Scripture does not indicate the precise day and hour of the final judgment. It does, however, reveal that it will occur as one in a series of historical events that will begin with Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead. It will be followed by the end of the world and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 24:3, 30-31, 36; Matthew 25:31-33, 46; Mark 13:26-27, 32; Luke 21:27-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Peter 3:4, 10; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1). Scripture does not reveal the precise sequence of these events, but it does imply that they will occur in one time frame. The Bible gives no reason to conclude that there will be more than one such day when Christ will return to this earth for judgment, when the dead will be raised, and the world will be destroyed.

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The Final Judgment

The final judgment is the divine act by which Christ publicly separates the just from the unjust and pronounces his verdict before all the world (Matthew 13:40-43; Matthew 25:31-46). While on earth the righteous and the unrighteous are permitted to exist together, in the final judgment a separation will occur. Judgment will be administered on the basis of their deeds. The wicked will be condemned on the basis of the law, which they have not kept (Revelation 20:12). They will be seen in the shame of rejecting the Savior, and they will be looked on with contempt (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 66:24). For the faithful people of God, however, it will be a day of redemption. Having been declared righteous through faith, they will be pronounced blessed by the Father and will inherit his everlasting kingdom (Matthew 25:34). They will be publicly vindicated, and their good deeds will be seen as a service to Christ and as evidence of their faith. Their exalted and glorious status as the children of God will be seen by all the world.

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