1. PHYSICAL DEATH. Physical death is variously represented in Scripture. It is spoken of as the death of the body, as distinguished from that of the soul, Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4, as the termination or loss of animal life, Luke 6:9; John 12:25, and as a separation of body and soul, Eccl. 12:7; Jas. 2:26. It is never an annihilation, but may be described as A TERMINATION OF PHYSICAL LIFE BY THE SEPARATION OF BODY AND SOUL. Pelagians and Socinians teach that man was created so that he had to doe, but this is not in harmony with Scripture. It teaches us that death resulted from sin and is a punishment for sin, Gen. 2:17; 3:19; Rom. 5:12, 17; 6:23. Instead of being something natural, it is an expression of divine anger, Ps. 90:7, 11, a judgment, Rom. 1:32, a condemnation, Rom. 5:16, and a curse, Gal. 3:13, filling the hearts of men with dread and fear. But since death is a punishment for sin, and believers are redeemed from the guilt of sin, the question naturally arises, Why must they still die? It is clear that it cannot be a punishment for them, but must be regarded as an important element in the process of sanctification. It is the consummation of their dying unto sin.

2. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE. Opinions differ very much as to the condition of man between death and the general resurrection. The most important theories call for a brief discussion.

a. THE MODERN IDEA OF SHEOL-HADES. The idea is very prevalent at present that at death both the pious and the wicked descend into an intermediate place, which the Old Testament calls SHEOL, and the New Testament, HADES. It is not a place of reward or punishment, but a place where all share the same fate, a dreary abode where life is but a weakened reflection of life on earth, a place of weakened consciousness, of slumbrous inactivity, where life has lost its interests and the joys of living are turned into sadness. But this is hardly a scriptural representation. If the terms SHEOL and HADES always denote a place to which both the pious and the wicked descend, how can the descent into it be held up as a warning to the wicked, Ps. 9:17; Prov. 5.5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:24; 23:14? And how can Scripture speak of God's anger as burning there, Deut. 32:22? It was in HADES that the rich man lifted up his eyes, Luke 16;23, and he calls it a "place of torment," vs. 28. It is better to assume that the words SHEOL and HADES are not always used in the same sense, but sometimes denote the grave, Gen. 42:38: Ps. 16:10, sometimes the state or condition of death, represented as a place, 1 Sam 2:6; Ps. 89:48, and sometimes the place of eternal punishment, Deut. 32Q22; Ps 9:17; Prov. 9:18.

b. PURGATORY, LIMBUS PATRUM, AND LIMBUS INFANTUM. According to the Church of Rome the souls of those who are perfect at death are at once admitted to heaven, Matt. 25:46; Phil. 1:23, but those who are not perfectly cleansed at death -- and this is the condition of most believers --enter a place of purification called purgatory. The length of their stay there varies according to the need of individual cases, and can be shortened by the prayers, good works, and masses of pious friends or relatives. This doctrine finds no support in Scripture. -- The Limbus Patrum is the place where, according to Rome, the Old Testament saints were detained until Christ set them free between His death and resurrection. -- And the Limbus Infantum is the supposed abode of all unbaptized children. They remain there without any hope of deliverance, suffering no positive punishment indeed, but excluded from the blessings of heaven. Neither of these views find any support in Scripture.

c. THE SLEEP OF THE SOUL. The notion that at death the soul enters into a state of unconscious repose or sleep, was advocated by several sects in the past, and is now also a favorite doctrine of the Irvingites in England and of the Russellites in America. It has a peculiar fascination for those who find it hard to believe in a continuance of consciousness apart from the brain. They find support for it in Scripture passages which speak of death as a sleep, Matt. 9:24; Acts 7:60; 1Thess. 4:13, or seem to say that the dead are unconscious, Ps. 6:5; 30;9; 115:17; 146:4. But the former simply speak of death as a sleep because of the similarity between a dead body and a body asleep, and the latter simply stress the fact that the dead can no more take notice of nor share in the activities of the present world. Believers are represented as enjoying a conscious life immediately after death, Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; 2Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Rev. 6:9.

d. ANNIHILATIONISM AND CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY. According to these doctrines there is no conscious existence, if any existence at all, of the wicked after death. Annihilationism teaches that man was created immortal, but that they who continue in sin are by a positive act of God deprived of immortality and finally destroyed or bereft forever of consciousness. According to the doctrine of conditional immortality, however, man was created mortal, and only believers receive the gift of immortality in Christ. The wicked ultimately perish completely or lose all consciousness. The result is the same in both cases. These doctrines are supposed to find support in the fact that the Bible represents eternal life as a gift of God in Christ, John 10:27-28; Rom. 2:7; 6:23, and threatens sinners with death and destruction, Ps. 73:27; Mal. 4:1; 2Pet. 2:12. But the Bible clearly teaches that sinners will continue to exist, Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:11; 20:10, and that there will be degrees of punishment of the wicked, Luke 12:47-48; Rom. 2:12. e. SECOND PROBATION. Some scholars hold that they who die in their sins will have another opportunity after death to accept Christ. No man will perish without having been offered a favorable opportunity to know and accept Jesus. They appeal to such passages as Eph. 4:8-9; 1Cor. 15:24-28; Phil. 2:9-11; Col. 1:19,20; 1Pet. 3:19; 4:6. But these do not prove the point. Moreover, Scripture represents the state of unbelievers after death as a fixed state, which cannot be altered, Eccl. 11:3; Luke 16:19-31: John 8:21, 24; 2Pet 2:4,9; Jude 7, 13. Their judgment depends on what they have done in the flesh, Matt. 7:22-23; 10:32-33: 25:34-46; 2Cor 5:9-10; 2Thess. 1:8.

TO MEMORIZE. Passages proving:

a. THAT DEATH IS A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN:

Rom. 5:12. "Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned."

Rom. 6:23. "For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

b. THAT BELIEVERS ARE VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH:

1 Cor. 15:55-57. "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

c. THAT SHEOL-HADES IS IN SOME CASES A PLACE OF PUNISHMENT:

Ps. 9:17. "The wicked shall be turned back unto SHEOL, Even all the nations that forget God."

Prov. 15:24. "To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from SHEOL beneath."

Luke 16:23. "And in HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments."

d. THAT BELIEVERS ARE WITH CHRIST IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH:

2 Cor. 5:8. "We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord."

Phil. 1:23. "But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better."

e. THAT UNBELIEVERS CONTINUE TO EXIST AFTER DEATH:

Matt. 25:46. "And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life."

Luke 12:47-48. "And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes."

Rev. 14:11. "And the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name."

f. THAT THERE IS NO ESCAPE AFTER DEATH:

Luke 16:26. "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us."

2 Pet. 2:9. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment."

For Further Study:

a. What do the following passages teach respecting death? 1 Cor. 15:55-57; 2Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 1:18; 20:14.

b. Do you think the following passages support the doctrine of purgatory? Isa. 4:4; Mic. 7:8; Zech. 9:11; Mal. 3:2; Matt. 12:32; 1 Cor. 3:13-15.

c. Does the word of Jesus to the dying thief on the cross fit in with the doctrine of the sleep of the soul? Luke 23:43.

Questions for Review

1. How is physical death represented in Scripture?

2. How can you prove that death is not something natural?

3. What is the connection between sin and death?

4. Is death a punishment for believers? What purpose does it serve?

5. What is the modern idea of sheol-hades?

6. What objections are there to this theory?

7. What do these terms denote in Scripture?

8. How do the doctrines of annihilation and conditional immortality differ?

9. What is the supposed Scripture basis for these?

10. How can you disprove them?

11. What is the Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, Limbus Patrum, and Limbus Infantum?

12. What is the doctrine of the sleep of the soul?

13. What is its supposed Scripture basis? How would you refute it?

14. What is the doctrine of second probation?

15. Does Scripture support or contradict this doctrine?

The New Testament clearly teaches us that the first coming of Christ will be followed by a second. Jesus referred to His return more than once, Matt. 24:30, 25:19; 26:64; John 14:3; angels called attention to it at the ascension, Acts 1:11; and the Epistles speak of it repeatedly, Phil. 3:20; 1Thess. 4:15-16; 2Thess. 1:7, 10; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 9:28.

1. GREAT EVENTS PRECEDING THE SECOND COMING. According to Scripture several important events must precede the return of Christ.

a. THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. The gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations before the coming of Christ, Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10; Rom. 11:25. This means that the nations as a whole must be so thoroughly evangelized that the gospel becomes a power in the life of the people, a sign that calls for decision.

b. THE CONVERSION OF THE FULL NUMBER OF ISRAEL. 2Cor. 3:15 and Rom. 11:25-29 refer to a conversion of Israel, and the passage in Romans seems to connect this with the end of time. Some take these passages to teach that Israel as a whole, Israel as a nation, will finally turn to the Lord. It is more likely, however, that the expression "all Israel" in Rom. 11:26 simply refers to the full number of the elect out of the ancient covenant people. The whole passage does seem to imply that in the end large numbers of Israel will turn to the Lord.

c. THE GREAT APOSTASY AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION. The Bible teaches repeatedly that toward the end of time there will be a great falling away. Iniquity will increase, and the love of many will wax cold, Matt. 24:12; 2Thess. 2:3; 2Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-4. Wickedness crying to high heaven will result in a terrible tribulation "such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be." Matt. 24:21. If those days were not shortened no flesh would be saved; but they will be shortened for the sake of the elect.

d. THE COMING OF ANTICHRIST. The spirit of Antichrist was already in evidence in the apostolic age, 1John 4:3, and many antichrists had made their appearance, 1John 2:18. But the Bible leads us to expect that at the end of the age a single individual will stand out as the incarnation of all wickedness, "the man of sin," "the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God." 2Thess. 2:3-4.

e. SIGNS AND WONDERS. The Bible also refers to striking signs as marking the beginning of the end. There will be wars, famines, and earthquakes in diverse places, which are called the beginning of travail, to be followed by the rebirth of the universe; and also fearful portents in heaven, when the powers of the heavens will be shaken, Matt. 24:29-30; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-26.

2. THE SECOND COMING ITSELF. After these signs the Son of Man will be seen coming on the clouds of heaven.

a. THE TIME OF HIS COMING. Some believe that the coming of Christ is imminent, that is, may now occur at any time. But the Bible teaches us that the events and signs mentioned in the foregoing must precede the return. From God's point of view the coming is always near, Heb. 10;25; Jas. 5:9; 1Pet. 4:5; but no one can determine the exact time, not even the angels nor the Son of Man, Matt. 24:36.

b. THE MANNER OF HIS COMING. The person of Christ will return. He has already come in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but He will return in the body, so that He can be seen, Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 1:7. Though several signs will precede His coming, yet it will be unexpected and take people by surprise, Matt. 24:37-44; 25:1-12; 1Thess. 5:2-3; Rev. 3:3. Moreover, it will be a glorious and triumphant coming. The clouds of heaven will be His chariot, Matt. 24:30, the angels His bodyguard, 2Thess. 1:7, the archangels His heralds, 1Thess. 4:16, and the saints of God His glorious retinue, 1Thess. 3:13; 2Thess. 1:10.

c. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING. Christ will return to introduce the future age, the eternal state of things, and will do this by two mighty events, the resurrection and the final judgment, John 5:25-29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:3-16; 2Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; 1Thess. 4:13-17; 2Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11-15; 22:12

3. THE QUESTION OF THE MILLENNIUM. Some believe that the second coming of Christ will either be preceded or followed by a millennium.

a. POST-MILLENNIALISM. Post-millennialism teaches that the second coming of Christ will follow the millennium. The millennium is expected during the gospel dispensation, in which we are now living, and at the end of which Christ will appear. The expectation is that the gospel will in the end become much more effective than it is at present and will usher in a period of righteousness and peace and of rich spiritual blessings. In our days some even expect that this will be the grand result of a purely natural process of evolution. This whole idea, however, does not seem to fit in with what the Bible tells us respecting the great apostasy toward the end of time.

b. PRE-MILLENNIALISM. According to Pre-millennialism Christ at His return will re-establish the kingdom of David on earth, and will reign at Jerusalem for a thousand years. This theory is based on a literalistic interpretation of the prophets and of Rev. 20:1-6. It makes the kingdom of God an earthly and national kingdom, while the New Testament represents it as spiritual and universal, a kingdom that is even now in existence, Matt. 11:12; 12:28; Luke 17:21: John 18:36-37; Col. 1:13. The New Testament knows nothing of such an earthly and temporal kingdom of Christ, but does speak of His heavenly (2Tim. 4:18) and eternal (2Pet. 1:11) kingdom. Moreover, this theory seeks its main support in a passage (Rev. 20:1-6), which represents a scene in heaven, and makes no mention of the Jews, of an earthly and national kingdom, nor of the land of Palestine, as the place where Jesus will rule.

TO MEMORIZE. Passages pertaining to:

a. THE CALLING OF THE GENTILE:

Matt. 24:14. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come."

Rom. 11:25-26a. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved."

b. THE CONVERSION OF ISRAEL:

Rom. 11:26. Cf. above under a.

2 Cor. 3:15-16. "But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away."

c. THE GREAT APOSTASY AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION:

Matt. 24:9-13. "Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."

Matt. 24:21-22. "For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

d. THE REVELATION OF ANTICHRIST:

2 Thess. 2:8-9. "And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."

1 John 2:18a, 22. "Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists... Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, [even] he that denieth the Father and the Son."

e. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

Matt. 24:44. "Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh."

Phil. 3:20. "For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Tit. 2:13. "Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

For Further Study:

a. How would you explain the passages that speak of the coming of Christ as near? Matt. 16:28; 24:34; Heb. 10:25; Jas. 5:9; 1 Pet. 4:5; 1 John 2:18.

b. Who are the "false Christs" or "antichrists," of which the Bible speaks, Matt. 24:24; 1John 2:18?

C. What would you say in reply to the idea that the second coming of Christ belongs to the past, since He returned in the Spirit, John 14:18, 28.

Questions for Review

1. What great events will precede the second coming of Christ?

2. In what sense must the nations be evangelized?

3. How must we understand the predicted conversion of Israel?

4. What is the great apostasy and the great tribulation?

5. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the Antichrist?

6. In what sense are there antichrists even now?

7. What signs will precede the second coming?

8. In what sense can it be regarded as near?

9. Can we regard the second coming as a past event? If not, why not?

10. Can you prove that it will be physical and visible?

11. How can it be sudden, when it will be preceded by signs?

12. What will be the purpose of Christ's return?

13. What is the difference between post- and pre-millennialism?

14. What objections are there to these theories?

1. THE RESURRECTION. Scripture teaches us that at the return of Christ the dead will be raised up. The Old Testament clearly speaks of it in Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2. The New Testament contains more abundant proof if it, John 5:25-29; 6:39-40, 44; 11:24-25; 1Cor 15; 1Thess. 4:13-17; Rev. 20:13.

a. THE CHARACTER OF THE RESURRECTION. Scripture teaches us to look forward to a BODILY resurrection, similar to the resurrection of Christ. The redemption in Christ will include the body, Rom. 8:23; 1Cor. 6:13-20. Such a resurrection is clearly taught in 1Cor. 15, and in Rom. 8:11. It will include both the righteous and the wicked, but will be an act of deliverance and glorification only for the former. For the latter the re-union of body and soul will issue in the extreme penalty of eternal death.

b. THE TIME OF THE RESURRECTION. According to Scripture the general resurrection will coincide with the return of Christ and the end of the world, and will immediately precede the final judgment, John 5:27-29; 6:39-40, 44, 54; 11:24; 1Cor. 15:23; Phil. 3:20-21; Rev. 20:11-15. Pre-millennarians teach a double resurrection: one of the just at the return of Christ, and another of the unjust a thousand years later, at the end of the world. But the Bible speaks of the resurrection of both in a single breath. Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15. It connects the judgment of the wicked with the coming of Christ, 2Thess. 1:7-10, and places the resurrection of the just at the last day, John 6:39-40, 44, 54; 11:24.

2. THE LAST JUDGMENT. The doctrine of the resurrection leads right on to that of the last judgment. The Bible speaks of the coming of a final judgment in no uncertain terms, Ps. 96:13; 98:9; Eccl. 3:17; 12:14; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-10; 2Cor. 5:10. 2Tim. 4:1; 1Pet. 4:5; Rev. 20:11-14.

a. THE JUDGE AND HIS ASSISTANTS. Christ as the Mediator will be the Judge, Matt. 25:31-32; John 5:27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Phil. 2:10; 1Tim. 4:1. This honour was conferred on Christ as the reward for His atoning work. The angels will assist Him, Matt. 13:41-42; 24:31; 25:31, and the saints will also have some share in His judicial work, 1Cor. 6:2-3; Rev. 20:4.

b. THE PARTIES THAT WILL BE JUDGED. It is perfectly evident from Scripture that every individual of the human race will have to appear before the judgment seat, Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 12:36-37; 25:32; Rom. 14:10; 2Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12. Some think that the righteous will be excepted, but this is contrary to Matt. 13:30, 40-43, 49; 25:31-36; 2Cor. 5:10. Clearly the demons will also be judged, Matt. 8:29; 1Cor. 6:3; 2Pet 2:4; Jude 6.

c. THE TIME OF THE JUDGMENT. The final judgment will naturally be at the end of the world, and will follow immediately after the resurrection of the dead, John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:12-13. The duration of the judgment cannot be determined. The Bible speaks of "the day of judgment", but this does not necessarily mean that it will be a day of twenty-four hours. Neither is there any ground to assert with the Pre-millennarians that it will be a day of a thousand years.

d. THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT. The standard by which saints and sinners will be judged will evidently be the revealed will of God. Gentiles will be judged by the law of nature; Jews by the Old Testament revelation, and those acquainted with the fuller revelation of the gospel will be judged by it, Rom. 2:12. God will give every man his due.

3. THE FINAL STATE. The final judgment serves the purpose of setting forth clearly what the final state of each person will be.

a. THE FINAL STATE OF THE WICKED. The wicked are consigned to the place of punishment called "hell". Some deny that hell is a place and regard it merely as a condition, but the Bible uses local terms right along. It speaks, for instance, of a "furnace of fire", Matt. 13:42, a "lake of fire", Rev. 20:14-15, and of a "prison", 1Pet. 3:19, all of which are local terms. In this place they will be totally deprived of the divine favour, will experience an endless disturbance of life, will suffer positive pains in body and soul, and will be subject to pangs of conscience, anguish, and despair, Matt. 8:12-13; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 16:23, 28; Rev. 14:10; 21:8. There will be degrees in their punishment, Matt. 11:22, 24; Luke 12:47-48; 20:47. It is evident that their punishment will be eternal. Some deny this, because the words 'eternal' and 'everlasting' may simply denote a long period of time. Yet this is not the usual meaning of the words, and there is no reason to think that they have that meaning when applied to the future punishment of the wicked. Moreover, other terms are used, which point to endless punishment, Mark 9:43, 48; Luke 16:26.

b. THE FINAL STATE OF THE RIGHTEOUS. The final state of believers will be preceded by the passing of the present world and the establishment of a new creation. This will not be an entirely new creation, but rather a renewal of the present creation. Ps. 102:26-27; Heb. 12:26-28. Heaven will be the eternal abode of believers. Some think of heaven merely as a condition, but the Bible clearly represents it as a place, John 14:2; Matt. 22:12-13; 25:10-12. The righteous will not only inherit heaven, but the entire new creation, Matt. 55:; Rev. 21:1-3. The reward of the righteous is described as eternal life, that is, not merely endless life, but life in all its fulness, without any of the imperfections and disturbances of the present. This fulness of life is enjoyed in communion with God, which is really the essence of eternal life, Rev. 21:3. While all will enjoy perfect bliss, there will be degrees also in the enjoyments of heaven, Dan. 12:3; 2Cor. 9:6.

TO MEMORIZE. Passages proving:

a. A GENERAL RESURRECTION:

Dan. 12:2. "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

John 5:28-29. "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment."

Acts 24:15. "Having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust."

b. A RESURRECTION OF THE BODY:

Rom. 8:11. "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you."

1 Cor. 15:35. "But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?" Also verse 44. "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

c. A RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY OR AT THE COMING OF CHRIST:

1 Cor. 15:22-23. "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming."

1 Thess. 4:16. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

John 6:40. "For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on Him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

d. A FINAL JUDGMENT WITH CHRIST AS JUDGE:

2 Cor. 5:10. "For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad."

2 Tim 4:1. "I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead..."

Rev. 20;12. "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works."

e. ETERNAL AWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS:

Matt. 25:46. "And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life."

Rom. 2:6-8. "Who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation."

2 Thess. 1:9. "Who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might."

f. DEGREES IN AWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS:

Dan. 12:3. "And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

Luke 12:47-48. "And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more."

2 Cor. 9:6. "But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

For Further Study:

a. How does Jesus argue the resurrection in Matt. 22:23-33?

b. Does Paul in 2 Thess. 1:7-10 place the judgment of the wicked a thousand years after the coming of Christ?

c. Does 1 Cor. 6:3 prove that the good angels will also be judged?

Questions for Review

1. How can you prove the resurrection of the body from the New Testament?

2. What Bible proof is there for the resurrection of the wicked?

3. How does their resurrection differ from that of the righteous?

4. What does the Bible teach respecting the time of the resurrection?

5. How would you disprove the doctrine of a double resurrection?

6. What Scripture proof is there for a last judgment?

7. Who will be the Judge, and who will assist Him?

8. What parties will be judged?

9. When will the last judgment be, and how long will it last?

10. By what standard will men be judged?

11. In what will the punishment of the wicked consist?

12. How can you prove that it will be unending?

13. Will the new creation be an entirely new creation?

14. What will be the reward of the righteous?