Eternal Judgment: As taught by Jesus

Preface: From the Jewish perspective the teachings of Christ were always based on Old Testament records which literally came through the Jewish nation and Jewish men of God. Within these records we have:

1. The Torah (Law and 613 commandments) (First 5 books)
2. The Prophets
3. The Psalms

The teachings of the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms were confirmed by the words of Christ in the four Gospels.

1. Matthew
2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John

The subject of Eternal Judgment from the Old Testament is remarkably interesting yet very vague unless one studies the Old Testament in detail.

Life beyond the grave is the Eternal picture of an unseen world and spiritual abode of the dead. Within this Eternal and unseen world, you have reward and punishment; spiritual life and death; and body resurrection. All of which were opinionated even documented by the mysticism of Talmudic teaching and/or other doctrines of Jewish men that are not scripturally based.

If we examine the teachings of Christ who was considered a teacher at the age of twelve, even teachers of the Sanhedrin were amazed at how this boy Jesus knew God’s Word.

• Luke 2:46-47… And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
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At the age of 30 Jesus according to Law Jesus was legally allowed to teach in the Jewish Temple and customarily allowed to teach in the synagogues. Behind the scenes of man’s Law Jesus, the Messiah and son of God was actually the author of God’s moral Law for Israel.

• John 1:1-2…In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

• John 1:14… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,

Jesus taught and elaborated on “Abrahams Bosom” a Jewish perspective on the unseen world and spiritual abode of the dead. Abraham’s Bosom was an Eternal place for God’s punishment or God’s reward.

• Luke 16:22-23… And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Jesus taught Abraham’s Bosom was a place of Eternal Judgment. It was recognized as a place of Eternal Life known as Heaven or Eternal punishment known as Hell. Heaven and/or Hell was the picture of Jesus’ teaching of Eternal life with the Father in the unseen world and the spiritual abode of the faithful in God. Jesus said:

• John 14:2-3… In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Even though Jesus (God in the flesh) was born and lived as a man for 33 years He knew the “moral righteousness of the Law for humanity” and taught it. Moral righteousness is what saved the Jewish man from an adverse “life beyond the grave” called Eternal Damnation.

• Mark 3:29… But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Jesus a Jew and teacher of Judaism taught Eternal punishment from the Jewish perspective.

 

• Matthew 25:45-46… Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry He taught consequences as well as rewards of Eternal Judgment. Consequently, He taught more about Hell and Hell’s damnation and fire more than He did Heaven.

• Mark 9:43… And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

• Matthew 23:33… Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Within the realm of Eternal Judgment inside the Old Testament and teachings of Christ - you also had the subject of body resurrection. Body resurrection is the union made between body and soul, beyond the grave.

• John 5:28, 29… Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves 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 damnation.

• Matthew 22:31, 32… But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

At the crucifixion of Christ Jesus spoke of life beyond the grave in a glimpse of the spiritual abode of the dead. As He spoke to the two thieves, He mentioned the condemnation and reward. He termed the reward as “Paradise” where they would make their abode together in Heaven (Abrahams’s Bosom).

• Luke 23:39-43… And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore 

1. Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ. The principles of the doctrine of Christ were the teaching of the Law of Moses. Christ was born under Law; Grew up under Law; practiced the Law to the letter; taught the Law; died on the cross to abolish the Law and became God’s sacrificial Lamb to bring in the everlasting Grace Covenant we now live under. 

2. Let us go on unto perfection. Perfection was the product of the Grace of God that flows from the cross at Calvary and is ministered to the believing soul by the power and omnipresence of the Holy Spirit. 

3. Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. Repentance under the Law of Moses required a man to bring sacrifices to the Priest and do as Moses commanded. Old Testament repentance makes a reference to obeying the Law of Moses and keeping it. Constant repentance without peace with God was the picture. 

4. And of faith toward God – The faithfulness of the Old Testament Jew was to hear, learn, and practice the ordinances and teachings of Moses and Levitical Law. Under Law men struggled to learn and keep the Law and 613 commandments. Struggle alone was enough to cause men to miss God and thus becoming unfaithful. Under Grace the sacrifice of Christ took away human struggle and allowed man to receive an “inner moral work of the Holy Spirit”. Salvation and redemption were produced by such Grace that flows through the ministry of the Holy Spirit from the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. 

5. Of the doctrine of baptisms – Many ceremonial baptisms and not necessarily body immersion in water, many various washings of Levitical instruments, sprinkling of the blood and water with Hyssop as means of atonement. Dipping. These practices with water and blood of animals were many according to Jewish Law. Some baptisms were even customary by Jewish elders and teachers and not actual scriptural practice according to Law. Traditional influence and Talmudical based. 

6. And of laying on of hands – Due to Christ’s atoning sacrifice and Israel’s final sin offering Great Grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit birthed the Church upon humanity. Not for Jews only but also for the Gentiles. Impartation of sin with the laying on of hands by a Levitical priest was ministered upon sacrificial goats, lambs, turtledoves, pigeons etc. This method of impartation of sin to an animal sacrifice as a means of yearly atonement for faithful Jewish families in Israel was no longer needed. 

7. And of resurrection of the dead – Resurrection of the dead has always existed in Biblical perspective. Body resurrection (raising from the grave) is the God given form of Eternal Blessing or Eternal Punishment and deals specifically with the physical make-up of the human being. The Pharisees and Sadducees were divided on the scriptural doctrine of resurrection of the body which is very vague in Old Testament records. Resurrection of the dead was proven to be realistic and actual through Biblical records of the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ was the greatest of blessings in Biblical history. Today under Grace in the Church the body of Christ resurrection power is what morally and spiritually changes the sinner into a child of God. The actual body (physical) resurrection will unite with the redeemed soul in the Rapture of the Church. 

8. And of eternal judgment – The Bible says Christ will come (again) in flaming fire taking vengeance upon those who obey not the Gospel. Jewish and Hebrew people of faith know the Messiah came the first time at Calvary - in suffering, death on a cross, and resurrection from the tomb. God’s determination of Judgment took place at that time and will not be a flood like the days of Noah but with fire from Heaven unlike anything known to human comprehension. Tribulation will take place after the Rapture. God’s wrath will be unleashed for seven years beginning in Jerusalem. Judgments will take place at the end of the great Tribulation and at the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ on planet Earth. The final Judgment of the Great White Throne will take place at the end of the 1000 years as Hell, and death, and the Devil himself are cast into the lake of fire and experience the “second death”. 

9. And this will we do if God permit.