Last Things (Eschatology)

Since the fall in the garden, it has been the fate of all mankind to die and return to the dust from which they came (Gen 3); and this death is not the end but the beginning of eternal life (Heb 9:27). For the unbeliever, hell is the destination, which is away from the presence of God and a place of conscious torment (Luke 16:22-23).  On the other hand, the believer is destined for paradise, an intermediate heaven where they will be in the presence of Christ and a place far better than anything in this world (Luke 23:42-43, Phil 1:23, 2 Cor 5:8).  Each is awaiting a further and final judgment (2 Cor 5:10) where the believer will receive a fully redeemed body with which to serve, reign and worship in Christ’s new kingdom (1 Cor 15:51-57, Phil 3:21).  At the same time, the unbeliever is waiting to be cast into the lake of eternal fire where they will receive torment, being forever out of God’s presence (Matt 7:23, Rev 20:15). All creation is waiting eagerly for the day when their blessed hope will come to realization (Titus 2:13) and they will be redeemed from sin and corruption (Rom 8:19-23).

When Jesus returns, he will make an end to all evil and all the sad things will be undone (Rev 20:9-10). He will return and then will come the final judgement; after the final judgment, those whose names were not found written in the Lamb’s Book of life will be cast into the eternal torments of hell (Rev. 20:15).  Believers will, bodily, enter into the full enjoyment of God’s presence forever on the renewed earth and in the New Jerusalem, where there will no longer be pain, tears, mourning, or death (Rev 21:1-4) and every adventure with Christ will be better than the one beforehand. This will go on for all eternity! “Come soon, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20)!