FOUNDATIONS We Believe in Eternal Life and Death December 6 & 7, FOUNDATIONS We Believe in Eternal Life and Death December 6 & 7, 2014

Transcription

1 FOUNDATIONS We Believe in Eternal Life and Death December 6 & 7, What does the Old Testament say about the afterlife? Answer: In the Old Testament, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is Sheol. It means the place of the dead. The New Testament Greek equivalent to Sheol is Hades. The O.T. suggests that all people go to Sheol when they die. Sheol has two sections, one for the righteous (also called Paradise, or Abraham s bosom) and one for the unrighteous. Souls in Sheol await the final resurrection and judgment, leading to either eternal life or eternal death. Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up (1Sam. 28:15). There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. He answered, Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. Abraham replied, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. No, father Abraham, he said, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke (Luke 16:19-31). 1 12/7/14 FOUNDATIONS We Believe in Eternal Life and Death December 6 & 7, What does the Old Testament say about the afterlife? Answer: In the Old Testament, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is Sheol. It means the place of the dead. The New Testament Greek equivalent to Sheol is Hades. The O.T. suggests that all people go to Sheol when they die. Sheol has two sections, one for the righteous (also called Paradise, or Abraham s bosom) and one for the unrighteous. Souls in Sheol await the final resurrection and judgment, leading to either eternal life or eternal death. Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up (1Sam. 28:15). There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. He answered, Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. Abraham replied, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. No, father Abraham, he said, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke (Luke 16:19-31). 1 12/7/14

2 He answered, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live. But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me (2Samuel 12:22,23). Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:2,3). 2. How did the resurrection/ascension of Jesus change the afterlife picture? Answer: The souls of believers now go directly to Heaven to be with Jesus. The body decays until the final day of physical resurrection. It also seems that Jesus removed Paradise from Sheol to Heaven, taking with Him all of the righteous people of the O.T. period; while leaving the unrighteous souls in the other part of Sheol to await final judgment. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body (Philippians 1:21-24).... to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2Corinthians 5:8). 3. How will the 2 nd coming of Jesus change the afterlife picture? Answer: At His 2 nd coming, Jesus will raise the bodies of believers to be united with their souls. This is called the first resurrection. Believers will inhabit glorified bodies, much like the body Jesus inhabited after His physical resurrection. Jesus will also enter into judgment with all of humanity, separating them into two groups. He answered, While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live. But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me (2Samuel 12:22,23). Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:2,3). 2. How did the resurrection/ascension of Jesus change the afterlife picture? Answer: The souls of believers now go directly to Heaven to be with Jesus. The body decays until the final day of physical resurrection. It also seems that Jesus removed Paradise from Sheol to Heaven, taking with Him all of the righteous people of the O.T. period; while leaving the unrighteous souls in the other part of Sheol to await final judgment. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body (Philippians 1:21-24).... to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2Corinthians 5:8). 3. How will the 2 nd coming of Jesus change the afterlife picture? Answer: At His 2 nd coming, Jesus will raise the bodies of believers to be united with their souls. This is called the first resurrection. Believers will inhabit glorified bodies, much like the body Jesus inhabited after His physical resurrection. Jesus will also enter into judgment with all of humanity, separating them into two groups. 2 12/7/ /7/14

3 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory (1Corinthians 15:51-54). When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me. Then He will say to those on His left, Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me. They also will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You? He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:31-46). Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory (1Corinthians 15:51-54). When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me. Then He will say to those on His left, Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me. They also will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You? He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:31-46). 3 12/7/ /7/14

4 4. What is the millennium described in Revelation 20? Answer: Many believe that Christ will establish a perfect earthly kingdom for a period of 1,000 years, prior to the onset of the eternal kingdom (new heavens and new earth). During this 1,000-year earthly rule, it is thought that Christ will rule the nations personally, along with His glorified saints. Satan will be bound away until the end of the 1,000 years, after which he leads one last rebellion, leading to the final judgment. And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog - and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:1-10). 5. What is the Great White Throne judgment? Answer: After the 1,000 years, and after Satan s final rebellion, there will follow a general judgment of all of humanity, prior to the coming of the eternal kingdom. Every human being who has ever lived appears before the Great White Throne, to be assigned a place either with God or apart from God eternally. 4 12/7/14 4. What is the millennium described in Revelation 20? Answer: Many believe that Christ will establish a perfect earthly kingdom for a period of 1,000 years, prior to the onset of the eternal kingdom (new heavens and new earth). During this 1,000-year earthly rule, it is thought that Christ will rule the nations personally, along with His glorified saints. Satan will be bound away until the end of the 1,000 years, after which he leads one last rebellion, leading to the final judgment. And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog - and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:1-10). 5. What is the Great White Throne judgment? Answer: After the 1,000 years, and after Satan s final rebellion, there will follow a general judgment of all of humanity, prior to the coming of the eternal kingdom. Every human being who has ever lived appears before the Great White Throne, to be assigned a place either with God or apart from God eternally. 4 12/7/14

5 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). 6. What is eternity going to be like? Answer: Heaven will come to earth, making all things new. God will make His dwelling place among His people. Those who have rejected God will spend eternity separated from Him. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation (Revelation 21:1-8). Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). 6. What is eternity going to be like? Answer: Heaven will come to earth, making all things new. God will make His dwelling place among His people. Those who have rejected God will spend eternity separated from Him. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation (Revelation 21:1-8). 5 12/7/ /7/14

6 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 21:22 22:5). Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Revelation 22:12-15). 6 12/7/14 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 21:22 22:5). Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Revelation 22:12-15). 6 12/7/14

7 We Believe in Eternal Life and Death Summary Statement Human beings were made to be with God forever (life). Because of sin, death entered the world. Death is not just a physical concept; it is also a spiritual concept, having the idea of separation from God. The result of sin is that human beings are destined to live eternally dead, or separated from God... unless we avail of the life of Christ that is offered to us by the grace of God. Eternal life (heaven) and eternal death (hell) are the two final destinations of every human being that has ever lived. The Old Testament describes the afterlife as Sheol, a place divided into two compartments one a place of comfort (also called Paradise, or Abraham s bosom) and one a place of torment. In that time period, all human beings went to Sheol upon death, there to await the final resurrection and judgment (Luke 16:19-31 and Daniel 12:2,3). After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, it seems that the good compartment of Sheol became inoperative. The souls of believers now go directly to Heaven to be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21-24 and 2Corinthians 5:8). It seems reasonable to conclude that Jesus removed the good compartment of Sheol (Paradise) to heaven, taking with Him the souls of all the righteous people therein. At His 2 nd coming, Jesus will raise the bodies of believers to be united with their souls. This is called the first resurrection. Believers will inhabit glorified bodies, much like the body Jesus inhabited after His physical resurrection. Jesus will also enter into judgment with all of humanity, separating them into two groups the sheep and the goats (1Corinthians 15:51-54 and Matthew 25:31-46). 7 12/7/14 We Believe in Eternal Life and Death Summary Statement Human beings were made to be with God forever (life). Because of sin, death entered the world. Death is not just a physical concept; it is also a spiritual concept, having the idea of separation from God. The result of sin is that human beings are destined to live eternally dead, or separated from God... unless we avail of the life of Christ that is offered to us by the grace of God. Eternal life (heaven) and eternal death (hell) are the two final destinations of every human being that has ever lived. The Old Testament describes the afterlife as Sheol, a place divided into two compartments one a place of comfort (also called Paradise, or Abraham s bosom) and one a place of torment. In that time period, all human beings went to Sheol upon death, there to await the final resurrection and judgment (Luke 16:19-31 and Daniel 12:2,3). After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, it seems that the good compartment of Sheol became inoperative. The souls of believers now go directly to Heaven to be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21-24 and 2Corinthians 5:8). It seems reasonable to conclude that Jesus removed the good compartment of Sheol (Paradise) to heaven, taking with Him the souls of all the righteous people therein. At His 2 nd coming, Jesus will raise the bodies of believers to be united with their souls. This is called the first resurrection. Believers will inhabit glorified bodies, much like the body Jesus inhabited after His physical resurrection. Jesus will also enter into judgment with all of humanity, separating them into two groups the sheep and the goats (1Corinthians 15:51-54 and Matthew 25:31-46). 7 12/7/14

8 After His 2 nd coming, many believe that Christ will establish a perfect earthly kingdom for a period of 1,000 years, prior to the onset of the eternal kingdom (Revelation 20:1-10). During this 1,000-year earthly rule ( the millennium ) it is thought that Christ will rule the nations personally, along with His glorified saints. Satan will be bound away until the end of the 1,000 years, after which he leads one last rebellion, leading to the final judgment. (Many other students of Scripture see Revelation 20 as a figurative description of the reign of Christ on earth through the Church, right now. On this view, the eternal form of the kingdom begins immediately after the 2 nd coming of Christ.) The final judgment occurs at the Great White Throne, as described in Revelation 20:11-15). This is the last act before eternity begins: One final judgment of everyone who has ever lived. In the eternal kingdom, heaven will come to earth, making all things new. God will make His dwelling place among His people. Those who have rejected God will spend eternity separated from Him (Revelation 21:1-8). The closing description in the Bible provides a clear enough picture of the final destiny of every human being: Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Revelation 22:12-15). 8 12/7/14 After His 2 nd coming, many believe that Christ will establish a perfect earthly kingdom for a period of 1,000 years, prior to the onset of the eternal kingdom (Revelation 20:1-10). During this 1,000-year earthly rule ( the millennium ) it is thought that Christ will rule the nations personally, along with His glorified saints. Satan will be bound away until the end of the 1,000 years, after which he leads one last rebellion, leading to the final judgment. (Many other students of Scripture see Revelation 20 as a figurative description of the reign of Christ on earth through the Church, right now. On this view, the eternal form of the kingdom begins immediately after the 2 nd coming of Christ.) The final judgment occurs at the Great White Throne, as described in Revelation 20:11-15). This is the last act before eternity begins: One final judgment of everyone who has ever lived. In the eternal kingdom, heaven will come to earth, making all things new. God will make His dwelling place among His people. Those who have rejected God will spend eternity separated from Him (Revelation 21:1-8). The closing description in the Bible provides a clear enough picture of the final destiny of every human being: Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (Revelation 22:12-15). 8 12/7/14