The conclusion of life on this earth: Satan and his evil angels, and all those who reject God—who refuse to believe in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior and in His holy words as preserved in the Bible—will face eternal judgment.
Revelation 20:
After the rapture of the church, the Great Tribulation begins. In short, this is the period when God judges the world by permitting the devil to set up his Antichrist on the earth to gain control of it. Eventually, however, the Antichrist will be judged by God, removed from power, and cast into an everlasting fiery judgment called the lake of fire. After the Lord establishes His 1,000-year reign, Satan is bound and cast into a spiritual prison for that duration. At the end of the millennium he is released; in his final attempt to revolt against Jesus the King, he gathers those humans who survived the Great Tribulation and who choose to rise up against Christ. They too will be judged, and once and for all Satan will at last be cast into the lake of fire.
Verses 11–15 At last comes the great day of all prophetic foretelling—the Day of Judgment. Here God Himself manifests His glory to all creation, causing the current earth and heavens to flee from His presence. Nothing remains except the souls of all the dead standing before His great white throne to give an account of their works against God. These are the souls who, throughout history—and especially after the incarnation, death, and resurrection of God’s Son—refused to believe in Jesus as Savior. The books are opened: record books containing the actions of all unbelievers. From these books every accusation is brought forth, leaving them without excuse. Their doom? They likewise are cast into the lake of fire along with Satan. Why? Because they are guilty. All the evil they committed against God and man must finally be accounted for and judged. Having refused God’s pardon and having rejected Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross for their sins, they themselves must now pay the penalty. Who might stand before God on that day? Perhaps our great-great-grandparents, loved ones, family members, or friends. This is why we must preach the gospel of Christ to them, urging and pleading with them to repent and receive God’s gift of forgiveness while they are still alive on the earth.
Revelation 21:
God will create an entirely new heaven and earth (so much for climate activism!). This present earth and the heavens that surround it will once and for all be destroyed because of the effects of sin and evil that have contaminated them. In this new heaven and new earth, all humans who survive the 1,000-year reign of Christ and remain faithful will be granted permission to live eternally before God, finally free from the devil, sin, and evil. Those of us who make up the Bride of Christ—the universal church of all born-again believers—will live in a heavenly city that God has prepared, called the New Jerusalem. In this glorious abode, all born-again Christians will dwell, with freedom to come and go. What is most spectacular about this future creation? God Himself will become personally visible to man, and man to God, restoring the Edenic fellowship of Genesis where man walked freely in God’s presence. Best of all, in that eternal state God will personally wipe away all tears from the eyes of His people and remove pain, sorrow, and death—the very things that plague us right now. God the Father and His Son will be visibly present in the heavenly Jerusalem, fulfilling the scripture: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10, KJV). This is the future eternal state of glory that every Christian should eagerly anticipate, look forward to, and long to enjoy. In that glory we shall inherit all the things promised us in Christ. When a child of God ponders and meditates on these truths, the cares of this life immediately fade away; temporal pursuits are replaced by longing for the eternal things to come.
Revelation 22:
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
(Revelation 22:6–7, KJV)
Behold the day when we shall see the face of the Father and of the Lamb clearly!
But, Brother Carlos, what if some professing believers are not fully convinced of these things and continue living after the flesh and temporary pursuits? It is not that they are unconvinced; the Scriptures have been revealed. Rather, they simply do not care. To such believers John writes:
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11, KJV).
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Revelation 22:12–13, KJV)
Believers who read, love, and keep the words of the Lord await His return with eager excitement in every generation. Until then, His promised coming prepares us for our personal judgment—not regarding salvation, but regarding rewards for our works as believers. May this reminder stir every Christian reader to personal responsibility: to obey the Lord’s will as fully as possible, to abound in good works, to maintain consistency, and to keep zeal for the things of God and His church.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14, KJV)
We are required to obey His commandments. Could it be that Christians who persistently disobey forfeit certain privileges in the age to come? Rather than dwell on the negative, let us simply maintain obedience so that worry never hinders our good works.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16, KJV)
The book of Revelation is for every assembly of born-again believers in Jesus. Receive its closing chapters as the Lord’s final personal words of expectation for your life, your responsibilities, and your duties until He returns.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20–21, KJV)
Christians who read their Lord’s words with love, sincerity, eagerness, and zeal gladly await His return from heaven. Some even call out for Him to come sooner than planned, for His words produce such devotion in hearts fixed on Him.
O Christian friend, I pray that from this day forward you will consider the full reality of everything God has revealed in this Book, and that you will live in such a way that your life clearly reflects belief in all that is written here.
With love, Brother Carlos
