You may think you will never face a final judgment but you’re mistaken as it cannot be avoided. Whatever way you choose to interpret prophecy on the end times, we are told that “it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Modern liberals claim that a loving God would not harshly judge mankind, even though Scripture is very clear that God’s righteousness demands judgment.

Great White Throne Judgment

“And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

All unbelievers will be judged by Christ at the “great white throne,” and they will receive their punishment according to the works they have done. Dire consequences await those whose name is not written the Book of Life. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (Romans 2:5-6).

Regarding the Doctrine of Hell, Charles Colson writes in his book, “A Dangerous Grace”…

“When the Church does not clearly teach the doctrine of hell, society loses an important anchor.”

“In a sense, hell gives meaning to our lives. It tells us that the moral choices we make day by day have eternal significance; that our behavior has consequences lasting to eternity; that God Himself takes our choices seriously.

When people don’t believe in a final judgement, they don’t feel ultimately accountable for their actions. There is no firm least holding back sinful impulses. As the book of Judges puts it, there is “no fear of God” in their hearts, and everyone does what is right in his own eyes.

The doctrine of hell is not just some dusty theological holdover from the Middle Ages. It has significant social consequences. Without a conviction of ultimate justice, people’s sense of moral obligation dissolves; social bonds are broken.

People who have no fear of God soon have no fear of man — no respect for human laws and authorities.”

Excerpted from A Dangerous Grace Daily Readings by Charles Colson, pg. 22.

Judgment Seat of Christ

Believers will also be judged, only at a different judgment called the “judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10). Since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to those who’ve accepted Christ as their Savior and our names are written in the Book of Life, we will not be punished, but rewarded for our deeds. Because our sin was judged at the cross, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

A day of reckoning will come.
There will be an end.