One's judgment occurs throughout the time of his opportunity for salvation. Beginning with God opening the individual's mind to understand His way of life, the judgment extends to the end of his life, and its consequences are eternal. God looks upon the heart, mercifully judging a person based on his attitude, his knowledge of God and His way, his application of what he understands, and his personal relationship with the Father and Son. By this judgment, God determines who will be in His Family. The vast majority of mankind will receive the gift of eternal life, and only the few who deliberately and willfully reject God's salvation will not. The judgments are broken into three broad periods: from Adam to Christ's return, the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ, and a period following the Millennium when all those who have not had an opportunity for salvation will be resurrected to physical life.

Scripture References:

Hebrews 6:2; I Samuel 16:7; Hebrews 9:27; Hebrews 10:26-27; I Peter 4:17; Romans 2:16; Acts 10:42; John 5:26-30; Romans 14:10-12; II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 11:20-24; Matthew 12:41-42; Ezekiel 37:12-14; Revelation 20:5-6, 11-14



From the Library: Eternal Judgment

Basic Doctrines: Eternal Judgment

Bible Study by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

One of God's roles is as Judge, and His judgments are eternally binding. But what does this mean? Who is judged? How? When? For what?


The Judgments

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Multiple billions of people have lived and died without even hearing the name of Jesus Christ. But God has distinct periods of judgment and resurrection.


Basic Doctrines: The Fate of the Wicked

Bible Study by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

For centuries, preachers have scared churchgoers with the image of a fiery hell where sinners spend eternity. But is such a place or state biblical?


Basic Doctrines: The Third Resurrection

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Most of Christianity ignores the third resurrection, but it shows God's ultimate justice and how He will deal with incorrigibly evil people in godly love.


Is There a Hell?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

If hell exists, where is it? Can people leave it? Will those in hell leave hell at the time of the resurrection, or are they confined eternally to hell?


Benefits of the Third Resurrection

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Lake of Fire (Second Death or Third Resurrection), dreadful as it initially appears, produces both immediate as well as ultimate benefits or good.


Basic Doctrines: Doctrine

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In these days of psychology and feeling, doctrine is not very popular. But it is absolutely necessary for the salvation! Here are the basic doctrines.


What Happens to Those Who Don't Obey the Gospel?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Mankind has a problem with finality, especially the prospect of eternal death. Those who reject the Gospel are choosing the second death in the Lake of Fire.


For more resources, please see the library topic for Eternal Judgment