The Afterlife
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved will be raised to life, and the lost to judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
The saved will be raised to life
- Believers pass immediately into the presence of God when they die. ( 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Luke 23:43)
- Believers will be judged for rewards (Bema Seat Judgment)
- The judgment that believers will face is a judgment to evaluate and bestow eternal rewards. (Ro 14:10-12; 2 Cor 5:9-10) It is important to note that this judgment will not include condemnation. (John 5:24; Ro 8:1)
- Based on this judgment, believers will receive varying degrees of reward. (1 Cor 3:12-15)
- Although there will be degrees of reward in heaven, the joy of each person will be full and complete for eternity.
- The body of the believer will be raised as well and will be redeemed into a glorified body. (1 Cor 15:12-58)
- Believers will live eternally with God in new heavens and a new earth. After their final rewards judgment, believers enter into the full enjoyment of eternal life in the presence of God forever. (Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1-3)
The Lost to judgment
- Unbelievers pass immediately into eternal punishment. (Luke 16:22-26)
- Although unbelievers pass into a state of eternal punishment immediately upon death, their bodies won’t be raised until the day of final judgment. (Matt 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Rev 20:12,15)
- Many passages teach about the final judgment of men and women who never received Christ. (Rev 20:11-15; Acts 17:30-31; Ro 2:5
- The Nature of the final judgment (Great White Throne Judgment)
- Jesus Christ will be the Judge (2 Tim 4:1; Acts 10:42; John 5:26-27)
- Every wrong deed will be called into account (Matt 12:36; Eccl 12:14)
- Unbelievers will be sent for an eternity to Hell. Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the unbeliever. (Matt 25:30; 25:41; 25:46; Rev 14:9-11)