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.

At the point of death...

At the point of death the soul of man goes to the spiritual abode of the dead. Eternal life or Eternal damnation. Old Testament picture of “Abraham’s bosom”.

Draw a circle and draw a line through the middle. The picture is Paradise which is divided into Heaven or Hell. The unseen world.

Redeemed saints receive Heaven’s Bliss. Those lost men and women are without redemption receive Eternal Damnation like Jesus spoke of in Luke 16 concerning Lazarus and the rich man.

The physical bodies of the redeemed or lost always go to the grave (a place and physical abode of the body until it returns to dust).

The word Hell in the Old Testament (Sheol) is often interpreted the grave (where the physical body is placed) and what takes place at the point of death.

Life is a vapor and then its gone (a Biblical perspective)

No Christian knows what tomorrow will bring. Christians must be accountable to God every minute, every hour, every day. The Bible teaches that today is the day of salvation and holy living. Don't wait for tomorrow. Christians are to live according to the will of God  in the present tense for this very reason. Never should salvation be taken lightly or for granted enough to miss the mark today. Life is only vapor and then it vanishes away. Reasons are many to stay in harmony with Christ who saved you and redeemed your soul with His amazing Grace. Boasting is a sin. High-mindedness is dangerous. Be careful how you behave. You're accountable. Do good because the heart is cleansed by Christ who bought you for a price. The Bible teaches life is a vapor and lasts for a little while and then its gone. I like what James had to say about this.

James 4:14-17...Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation?

The clean heart (made clean by the redemptive work of Christ) makes man eligible to receive Eternal Life. The clean heart is proven in the life of obedience to God. Man’s act of faith brings in the Grace of God which thus enacts holiness of character; the divine nature; and the new birth that are found after every sin is forgiven by the Grace and Mercy of God found in a Saviour. The biblical term for this Divine Operation is termed Justification by Grace. Holiness of heart begins when the human soul is made clean by Justification found in the Grace of God. Only the clean and holy heart makes man eligible to receive “Eternal Life”. Eternal Life does begin in this life as long as the heart of man remains clean and holy. The Bible says, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord”. Eternal Death (damnation upon the human soul in this life) is God’s Judgment for those whose die in sin and unholiness of heart. The condition of the sinner’s heart is not clean or holy and thus not entitled to Eternal Life with God Almighty…in this life or on the other side in Heaven.