“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Revelation 22:12 ESV

Greetings Everyone!

This month, we will finish looking at the sixth and final essential teaching written in Hebrews 6:1-2 (NKJV). We will look at verse 2, “…of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

In the past eight months, we learned much about the five essential teachings: repentance, faith, baptism, hand laying, and resurrection. This month, we will look at eternal judgment. In the Old Testament, judgment day was called the “Day of Yahweh,” the day of the Lord. Zephaniah wrote about this in 1:14 (ESV), saying, “The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.” In the New Testament, judgment day is called the “day of Christ.” Paul mentions this in Philippians 1:10-11 (ESV), “So that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:1 that Christ judges the living and the dead when He comes to set up his Kingdom. Christ will judge us for our works based on what we have done or failed to do. As children of God, did we use our gifts according to God’s purpose or for our gain?

Ephesians 5:17 (ESV) says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” God wants everyone to repent and seek salvation so they will not be condemned (Mark 16:16). That is why God sent prophets in the Old Testament to tell the Israelites to repent (Joel 2: 12-13). God sent Jesus Christ so that we can experience His grace and mercy in our lives (Titus 2:11). The writer of Hebrews is telling the readers the building block to receive salvation through repentance and baptism, using our spiritual gifts and eschatology.

In Matthew 25, Christ talks about how we should be ready for His return and the final judgment. Starting at verse 32, Christ said He would gather all nations and separate people, the sheep from the goats. The sheep will go to His right and inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the beginning. Their work in the Lord has blessed them. The goats will go to His left and enter the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. They are being cursed for lack of compassion and relationship with God. In verse 46, Christ also said, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Those who are spiritually dead, the unsaved, will be judged before the Great White Throne.  

In Revelation 20:11-15, the judgment didn’t happen on earth because it’s gone (2 Peter 3:10-13) nor in heaven because sinners are not allowed there. The books are open, and the dead (unsaved) that are kept in hell are judged, even those in the sea. Those souls will experience the second death. “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire “(Rev. 20:14, ESV). The eternal judgment is for sinners, based on their refusal to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior, repent now because God loves you and doesn’t wish anyone to perish. Rev. 20:15 (ESV), “And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

I pray that this teaching was a blessing to you like it was for me. Happy Holidays, and may God continue to bless you in every area of your life.