The pivot point between history as we know it (the kingdoms of this world) and the eternal realm promised in Scripture (the kingdom of our LORD) will be a great gathering of all the persons who have ever lived on this planet.
Imagine billions of individuals, now with resurrected bodies, standing in the presence of Almighty God, who is aware of every outward action and inward intention of the heart. How or where this gathering will take place is not made clear in Scripture, but we do know that at this time “EVERY KNEE WILL BOW … and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11, NASB). Those with faith in Jesus Christ, who have responded to his offer of salvation, will shout these words with joy and anticipation of what lies ahead. Those who have not responded to the Spirit’s work and have turned to their own way will say these words with fear and dread of the judgment that awaits them.
Everyone will stand before the crucified and risen Christ, who in that moment will be the judge of all humanity. Those who have put their trust in Christ will find their names have been written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12). They will be welcomed into a realm of existence that is eternal and sublime. This dwelling place of the righteous is frequently called “heaven” and described by images of golden streets, angelic throngs and ceaseless singing of praise to God. Some Christians see this eternal realm in a totally different dimension from our present earthly existence; others imagine a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1), where our planet that has seen the ravages of sin and corruption will be restored to the original Eden that God designed ages ago. The consequences of the first sin of Eve and Adam — pain, suffering and violence — will be abolished.
Wherever heaven may be, the ultimate joy will be to live with the great company of believers in the eternal presence of the Almighty who created us, the Son who died for us and the Holy Spirit whose presence surrounds and energizes us (Revelation 21:3).
But what of those who neglect the good news of Christ’s work on the cross and the prompting of the Holy Spirit in their lives? They will likewise live forever, but in a realm of agony and remorse where they will suffer the consequences of a life of unbelief and sin. This realm is most frequently identified as “hell” and is described with various images of darkness, fire, decay (worms) and continual suffering (Mark 9:48). Whether these are literal or figurative descriptions we do not need to know. However, the reality is that people who are condemned to this destiny will encounter an experience where the presence and love of God are absent.
Scripture further teaches that beyond the question of whether they believed in God’s saving work in Christ, the righteous will be asked to give an account of the deeds they have done while living on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). This response will include not only what they have done as individuals, but how they have conducted themselves in community with others. Passages in the Bible speak of nations, cities and other groups being judged for their action or lack of action toward others.
Will such an accounting result in a system of rewards (crowns) or rebuke, as some of Jesus’ parables suggest? Or will divine grace atone for all our shortcomings, with eternal life as the only reward that should be expected in a future kingdom that will be devoid of status and discrimination? Perhaps there are those who will receive higher praise, for their faithful service, but it is more likely that in the words of Charles Wesley’s hymn, we will “cast our crowns before him (Jesus), lost in wonder, love and praise.” We should all live in such a way that we might hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Wesleyans believe that an all-knowing God, unto whom “all thoughts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid,”[1] will combine justice and love in his final decisions. No one will be in hell by accident. We affirm with Abraham, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).
More important than having the answers to all the questions about the world to come, we should commit ourselves to lives of faith and obedience so that we can joyfully sing with believers throughout all times, “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”[2]
Clarence (Bud) Bence has served The Wesleyan Church as a pastor, college teacher, writer and speaker in many denominational settings.
Questions for reflection and conversation
- Philippians 2:10-11 tells us that all will one day stand before God who is aware of every outward action and inward intention of the heart. At the time “every knee will bow” and “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What do you anticipate your physical, spiritual and emotional experience as a believer to be on that day? What do you anticipate the experience of non-believers to be on that day?
- Those who have chosen to place their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are assured of spending all eternity in heaven. What do you imagine heaven to be? What do you understand of heaven from your own reading of Scripture?
- Those who have neglected the good news of Christ’s work and the prompting of the Holy Spirit in their lives will experience an entirely different eternal reality. According to Mark 9:48 what does this eternal “hell” hold in store for those who have rejected God?
- In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we are given the understanding that we will be required to come before God and give an account of the deeds we have done while living on earth. This can be a sobering thought for many believers as in our human condition we all fall short. However, God’s Word tells us repeatedly of the divine atonement Jesus endured for our restoration. Knowing this to be true, in what ways are you able to look forward to the day of judgement? How do you celebrate this gift in your life? How do you share this hope with others?
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
[1] “Prayer for Purity,” Book of Common Prayer (Oxford: University of Oxford Press, 2019).
[2] James Milton Black, “When the Roll is Called up Yonder,” Sing to the Lord (Kansas City, MO: Lillineas Publishing, 1993).
