The Destiny of Mankind

The Destiny of Mankind from the Garden of Eden to the New Earth                 (D.P Weary, 4-7-18)

From Adam to Jesus

There are Biblical people, humans, on the earth from Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, and Enoch to Noah when God destroyed the earth in the great flood. These people all died except Enoch.

[Gen 5:24 NKJV] 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he [was] not, for God took him.

[Heb 11:5 NKJV] 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

  [Gen 6:8-9, 22 NKJV] 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. ... 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

[Gen 7:1 NKJV] 1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen [that] you [are] righteous before Me in this generation.

All of the offspring of Noah including Abraham and his offspring eventually died except Elijah.

[2Ki 2:11 NKJV] 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire [appeared] with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

However we know that Abraham found favor in the sight of God because of his faith, he believed God and was obedient and it was accounted to him for righteous.

[Rom 4:3, 9 NKJV] 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." ... 9 [Does] this blessedness then [come] upon the circumcised [only], or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

[Gal 3:6 NKJV] 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

[Jas 2:23 NKJV] 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

[Gen 25:8 NKJV] 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full [of years], and was gathered to his people.

When Abraham died he was gathered to his people. So there we people before Abraham who had died that were in “a place of the dead” the OT calls Sheol. This place where Abraham goes is later identified as “Abraham’s Bosom”.

[Luk 16:22-23 NKJV] 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The message here is that many of the OT people’s faith was accounted to then as righteousness and after their death their souls/spirits are found in a place of the dead (Sheol) called Abraham’s bosom where they find comfort and peace.

After Abraham there are the souls/spirits of many others found in this place of the righteous in heaven including Noah, Daniel, and Job. And we can safely assume Moses and King David are there also.

[Deu 34:7 NKJV] 7 Moses [was] one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.

[Eze 14:14, 20 NKJV] 14 "Even [if] these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD. ... 20 "even [though] Noah, Daniel, and Job [were] in it, [as] I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness."

[Eze 34:24 NKJV] 24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

[Eze 37:25 NKJV] 25 "Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David [shall be] their prince forever

I think that we can safely assume that the many other OT fathers of Israel and saints are also to be found in this place of comfort called Abraham’s Bosom.

Like: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Note that in the NT listing of the 12 tribes of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists of Revelation 2, Dan and Ephraim are missing, Joseph replacing Ephraim and Levi of Leah replacing Dan of Bilhah.

We also know that these saints who are in “Abraham’s Bosom” are also in the presence of Jesus.  Moses (who died) and Elijah (who was just taken to heaven) appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

[Mat 17:1-4 NKJV] 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

The book of Hebrews confirms all of this in Chapter 11.

[Heb 11:1-40 NKJV] 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a [good] testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as [in] a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born [as many] as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced [them] and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that [country] from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly [country]. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son], 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, [leaning] on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw [he was] a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. 24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry [land], [whereas] the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also [of] David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, [in] dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

These saints (Elders of Israel) did not receive the promise. What promise? They were looking for a city made by God, a new homeland, a better resurrection. They were looking for the New Jerusalem and immortality (immortal new bodies).

Made perfect also implies getting new, imperishable bodies. Many souls/spirits are already in heaven (in Abraham’s bosom) the place or abode of the dead in great comfort. Heb 11:40 implies that they will be get these new bodies (be made perfect) when all who are saved by faith (“apart from us”) are given new bodies.

Then there is Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom before the Lord’s death and resurrection.

[Luk 16:22-26 NKJV] 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

Commentary by David Guzik

 (Lk. 16:22-23) Lazarus and the rich man in Hades.

 “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

a. So it was that the beggar died…The rich man also died and was buried: Both men eventually died. Lazarus did not even have the honor of a burial in this life, yet heaven honored him, being carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man had the honor of a burial, but no angelic escort or pleasant destination.

i. It would seem obvious that when the beggar was carried by the angels, it was his soul or spirit that was carried; the immaterial and eternal aspect of his being. Except for the angel’s carrying work, the same was true of the rich man. His body was buried and remained on earth, but he was in torments in Hades.

ii. “The idea of Abraham’s bosom can be explained in one of three ways.” (Pate)

· The idea that in death, the righteous are gathered to the patriarchs in the faith (Genesis 15:15, 25:8).

· The thought of a parent’s love and care, as in John 1:18 (The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father…).

· The idea of sitting at the place of honor at a banquet, as in John 13:23

iii. We should not think that Lazarus was saved by his poverty, any more than we should think that the rich man was damned by his wealth. Lazarus must have had a true relationship of faith with the true God, and the rich man did not. Their life circumstances made that faith easier or more difficult, but did not create it.

b. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: The rich man was not far from Lazarus; yet he was a world apart. His place was full of torment and pain, while Lazarus enjoyed the comfort and care of Abraham.

i. “Having punishment without pity, misery without mercy, sorrow without succor, crying without compassion, mischief without measure, torments without end, and past imagination.” (Trapp)

c. Being in torments in Hades: In this story Jesus described a place He called Hades, which seems to have been the common abode of the dead. The rich man and Lazarus were not in the same place, but they were not far from each other. It may be best to say that they were in two areas of the same place (Hades), one a place of torments and the other a place of comfort (the bosom of Abraham).

i. From this story of Jesus, we find some hints regarding the world beyond as it existed in the past and as it exists now. From Jesus’ description, one may say that at that time – before the finished work of Jesus on the cross – that the spirit or soul of the human dead went to a place called Hades. Some in Hades rested in comfort; others suffered under torments of fire.

ii. Hades is a Greek word, but it seems to carry much the same idea asSheol, a Hebrew word with the idea of the “place of the dead.” Sheol has no direct reference to either torment or eternal happiness. The idea ofSheol is often simply “the grave” and the understanding of the afterlife in the Old Testament is much less clear than in the New Testament.

iii. Hades is technically not hell, or what is also known as the Lake of Fire. That place is called Gehenna, a Greek word borrowed from the Hebrew language. In Mark 9:43-44, Jesus spoke of hell (gehenna), a Greek translation of the Hebrew “Valley of Hinnom,” a place outside Jerusalem’s walls desecrated by Molech worship and human sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:1-3; Jeremiah 32:35). It was also a garbage dump where rubbish and refuse were burned. The smoldering fires and festering worms of the Valley of Hinnom made it a graphic and effective picture of the fate of the damned. This place is also called the “lake of fire” in Revelation 20:13-15, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

iv. Hades is something of a waiting place until the day of final judgment (Revelation 20:11-13). Yet since Jesus’ finished work on the cross, there is no waiting for believers who die; they go directly to heaven, to the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). It is reasonable to think that when Jesus visited Hades as part of His redemptive work (Acts 2:24-27,Acts 2:31) and when Jesus preached in Hades (1 Peter 3:18-19), that Jesus set the captives in Hades free (Ephesians 4:8-9, Isaiah 61:1). Jesus’ work and preaching offered salvation for those like Lazarus, who in faith awaited it (Hebrews 11:39-40), and it also sealed the condemnation of the wicked and unbelieving. (Guzik)

In the days of the OT there were many around the world, who far away from the Middle East never heard of the Hebrews or the story of the OT. These people died without any knowledge of the God of Abraham and the Hebrews. Even in Jesus’ day, there were undoubtedly people in the far reaches of the earth that did not know anything about this Jesus or the Gospel. At their death, the souls of these people must have found themselves in some part of Sheol, the place of the dead.  Even these days, there are probably many who have not heard the Gospel and had the chance to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But God is loving, righteous, and fair to all. He does give these souls a change to hear the Gospel.

Then Jesus comes and gives His life as a ransom for many.

After His death and resurrection, Jesus did something very interesting; He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in “prison”. These were people who were once disobedient as in the days of Noah, the ones that died in the flood. Only eight persons were brought safely through the water.

[1Pe 3:18-22 NASB] 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

[1Pe 4:5-6 NKJV] 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

It would appear that these spirits now in prison is a reference to spirits in the place of the dead within Hades or Sheol in the OT, where those that died without “righteousness” are found; the place where the “rich young man” in Hades found himself. If so then Jesus preached the Gospel to them. Perhaps some accepted the atonement for their sins that Jesus offered and were led out of the Hades/Sheol of torment into the Sheol/Hades of comfort (Abraham’s Bosom). Is this part of the prophecy of Jesus proclaiming liberty to the captives (Isa. 61:1, Lk 4:18)?

[Isa 61:1 NASB] 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

So the Gospel is preached also to those who are dead from all the ages. When these are resurrected in the second resurrection at the Great White Throne Judgment seat of Christ, they will have had the opportunity to accept Jesus’ gift of life through His death and resurrection.

After Christ’s resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those by faith that accepted and confessed Him as their Lord and Savior. These people were born again by the Spirit and when they died they were taken into the Lord’s presence to a place Jesus called Paradise. A word that defined in Thayer's Greek Lexicon as meaning:

3. that part of Hades which was thought by the later Jews to be the abode of the souls of the pious until the resurrection: Luke 23:43, cf. 16:23f. But some (e. g. Dillmann (as below, p. 379)) understand that passage of the heavenly paradise.
4. an upper region in the heavens: 2 Corinthians 12:4 (where some maintain, others deny, that the term is equivalent to ὁ τρίτος οὐρανός in 2 Corinthians 12:2); with the addition of τοῦ Θεοῦ, genitive of possessor, the abode of God and heavenly beings, to which true Christians will be taken after death, Revelation 2:7 (cf.Genesis 13:10; Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8). 

Since Moses and Elijah were seen with the Lord and they were in Abraham’s Bosom, perhaps this place is just the state of the souls/spirits of all those made righteous by accepting the gospel of the death and resurrection of God’s son, Jesus whether preached to them after their death or while still alive. On the other hand, this “Paradise” may be a special place reserved for Jesus’ Church, those called the Bride of Christ. In any case, all of the righteous in “heaven” are souls/spirits without bodies. The gift of new imperishable, immortal bodies is given to the Church or Bride as a part of Jesus’ second coming. The implications of Heb. 11:40 are that the OT saints are “made complete” or given these new bodies at about the same time.

Heb. 11:39 -  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Then Jesus returns to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords

When believers in Jesus are saved they are taken to be in Christ’s presence at their death but without the new bodies until He comes in the air and we are changed in the blink of an eye, the dead first, then we who are alive at His coming. Is this state, in heaven with Christ but without the new bodies Abraham’s bosom?

At some point in time, Jesus comes in the air to take His Bride away.

[1Th 4:13-18 NKJV] 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

[1Co 15:51-53 NKJV] 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

When the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom. 11:25-27) Jesus will come for His Church, His Bride, and in a twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed. We will be given new, immortal bodies and be with the Lord forever. We will be “like” Him.

[1Jo 3:2 NKJV] 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

I believe that this catching away of the church and believers being given new imperishable bodies occurs at the Feast of Trumpets just as the 7 years of tribulation on earth begins. At this time the church, the Bride of Christ in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile, is taken to the wedding ceremony of Jesus and His Bride. Now God turns to complete His covenant promises to the Jews and Israel.

[Rom 11:25 NKJV] For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

[Rom 11:26 NKJV] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

[Rom 11:27 NKJV] For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."

This takes us to the final 7 years just before Jesus returns to the earth.

During the seven years of tribulation just before the Lord Jesus returns to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, many Jews accept Jesus as their Lord and are saved. Many die because of their faith and some live through these 7 years. Those that die are joined with the other saints in heaven and at some point are also given new, imperishable bodies. Those that survive the 7 years are mortal humans that enter a 1000 year period of Jesus’ reign on earth as King. There are apparently other people around the world that also survive these 7 years and enter the 1000 years as mortal humans but whether they are true believers in Jesus or not, they all recognize and confesses Him as King of all the earth. All the nations will bow before Him (Matthew 24:7; Philippians 2:10–11; Psalm 22:27, Psalm 86:9)

The Jews that are saved during the 7 years of tribulation find themselves in Abraham’s Bosom along with all of the OT saints. Then, at the end of the 7 years, at Christ’s return, there is another reaping, a reaping of these Jewish saints, another “resurrection”.

[Rev 14:13 NKJV] Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

[Rev 14:14 NKJV] Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat [One] like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.

[Rev 14:15 NKJV] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

[Rev 14:16 NKJV] So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

It is at this point that the Jewish saints of God from before the Church age and after the Church age (after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in) are resurrected and given new imperishable bodies.

This is confirmed in Daniel 12:1-2 where we are told that during the great time of trouble (the 7 years of tribulation) Israel (Jews) will be delivered because their names are found written in a book.

[Dan 12:1 NKJV] "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands [watch] over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, [Even] to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

[Dan 12:2 NKJV] And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.

These resurrected Jews who are not a part of the Church ( the Bride of Christ the King, the Queen)  make up administrators in Jesus’ court of the Kingdom of His 1000 year reign on earth. Some make up a sort of Supreme Court (a heavenly Sanhedrin who are teachers of the Law and Judges), some are the priests who keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it. Many are to sit on thrones of judgment (Rev 20:4) and King David of old who sits as the Prince and rules over all Israel. (Isaiah 2:3–4, 11:1–5; Zechariah 14:9; Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23–24, 37:24, 44:10-24)

At the Lord’s coming the great war of Armageddon is ended with a great slaughter. The dead enemies of God then find themselves in Hades in torment.  The Antichrist and the False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire which is the second death, a place of eternal punishment. Those that took the mark of the beast during the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation are also destined for the Lake of Fire. It is uncertain if they find themselves there at the end of the 7 years of tribulation or at the Great White Throne Judgment after the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth when all of the dead from all ages are resurrected and brought before Jesus to be judged by their works.

During the 1000 years of Christ reign on earth, there are mortals that have the capacity to sin, and they can live to a very old age. Some do die and other are found still living at the end of the 1000 years. There are immortals on earth during these years also. They are the Bride of Christ and the Jewish rulers (priests, kings, rulers and judges) of the earth under the authority of Jesus (Revelation 2:26–28; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4, 6; 21:7; 1 Peter 2:9).

[1Pe 2:9 NKJV] 9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

[Rev 5:10 NKJV] 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

[Rev 20:4 NKJV] And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Then after 1000 years comes the Great White Throne Judgment.

[Rev 20:11-15 NKJV] 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

At the Great White Throne Judgment, books are opened and the dead from all ages are resurrected to stand before the Great Judge Jesus to be tried by their works. Only by faith and not by works may mankind be saved and those saved by faith are either in Abraham’s bosom or already immortals in God’s Kingdom.  These are all whose names are written in the Book of Life. The rest are doomed to the second death which is the lake of fire.

The “book of life” is probably the same book as the “Lamb’s book of life” and it contains the names of all the “saved”, the righteous (the redeemed) who are made “righteous” by the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

The other books that are opened are probably the Law and the Prophets, and books that record the “works” of the dead who were resurrected at the great white throne judgment after the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth.  

Commentary by Pastor John Bornschein

 “In Rev 20:12, the dead before this throne are evidently the mortals who lived during the millennium (1,000-year reign of Christ) and the unsaved of all ages that now stand resurrected (Revelation 20:5; Daniel 12:2). They come from all classes and groups of humanity. There are multiple books opened in addition to the Book of Life. The identity of the other books is not specifically revealed. We can only speculate from a comparison of other Scriptures and from the nature of these verses. The first book opened will probably be the Scriptures, which contains the revelation of God’s holy character, the moral law, the declaration of the sinfulness of man and God’s plan of salvation by faith in the Savior. This book also reveals that even when men do not have the written Word, they have (1) the law of God written in their hearts (Romans 2:14–16) and (2) the revelation of God consciousness in creation (Romans 1:19–20). Because of this they are without excuse (Romans 1:20, 2:12). All men are responsible for the revelation they have and for those who reject Him, they stand at this judgment because of their own negative volition to God’s grace (Romans 1:18, 2:4, 14; John 7:17). So then, Scripture will be used to demonstrate the clearness of the plan of God and that man is without excuse (John 12:48–50;
1 John 3:23).

The “Book of Life” contains the names of God’s elect. God will condemn those who are not found in this book, and they have been raised to face this judgment because of their works including failure to believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:29).

The second book will be the Book of Works (deeds – Ezekiel 18:20). Verses 12 and 13 state that the unbelieving dead will be “judged according to their deeds” (works).

“Deeds” (erga) refers to anything that is done, a deed, action, or work. It is used of good deeds (Matthew 26:10; Mark 14:6; Romans 2:7), of evil deeds (Colossians 1:21; 2 John 11), of dead works (Hebrews 6:1, 9:14), of unfruitful deeds (Ephesians 5:11), of ungodly deeds (Jude 15), of deeds of darkness (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11), and of works of the Law (Romans 2:15).

God will evaluate their deeds – even every word they ever spoke (Matthew 12:36). The principle here is that Jesus Christ died for their sins, for their evil deeds, to forgive them, and to provide them with a righteousness from God so that they might have a perfect standing before Him. But when men reject the knowledge of God and His plan of salvation, they determine to stand on their own merit or in their own righteousness. So the Book of Works will contain a record of all their deeds, good and bad (1 Corinthians 6:9–10), to demonstrate Romans 3:23, that they fall short of God’s righteousness and have therefore no basis upon which to stand accepted (justified) before God. This judgment proves them sinners and in need of Christ’s righteousness by faith.

“2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God…16 God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. (Romans 2:2–11, 16)” (Pastor John Bornschein)

At some point, all humans are presented with the Gospel of salvation through Jesus, even the dead. All will have the opportunity to either accept or reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The ultimate fate of all humans depends on being clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.

[1Pe 4:5-6 NKJV] 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

[Jhn 14:6 NKJV] 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

[Act 4:12 NKJV] 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

[ [Jhn 3:36 NKJV] 36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

[1Co 3:11 NKJV] 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

[1Jo 5:12 NKJV] 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

There is still the question about those mortal people who live until the end of, the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth. Can they be saved by faith in, love for, and obedience to, Jesus the King? We also see that there are nations, people, on the new earth that is created after the millennium reign of Jesus. Where do they come from and what is the nature of these new “nations/people”? Are these those that survive the 1000 years? It would seem that these are “those who are saved” in Rev. 21:24.

[Rev 21:24 NKJV] 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Then comes the New Heaven and the New Earth.

[Rev 21:1-2, 9-10, 22-27 NKJV] 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ... 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ... 22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The picture here is hard to image. There is a new earth and on it nations of those who are saved and kings. The light for this earth is provided by the New Jerusalem, it in effect is the sun of this new earth. These “saved” people could be those that have lived at the end of the 1000 years of Christ’s reign on the old earth and whose faith in, love for, and obedience to Jesus the King has saved them.

[Rev 21:26 NASB] and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;

It is difficult to understand about these saved nations and their kings. Possibly these are the mortal remnants of the old earth who survived the 1000 year reign of Christ who were “saved” by their love for, worshipped of, and obedience to their King Jesus.

i. “How encouraging to note that not all were destroyed when the nations came to do battle against Jerusalem and the Lord Himself. There will also be ‘kings of the earth’ who will be a part of the eternal state.” (Hocking)

ii. “Among the mysteries of this new heaven and earth this is set forth to us: that, besides the glorified church, there shall still be dwelling on the renewed earth nations, organized by kings, and [Rev. 22:2] saved by means of the influences of the heavenly city.” (Alford)

[Rev 21:27 NASB] and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Nothing unclean can even come into the New Jerusalem. The “kings” who bring their glory (praise, worship, deference, reverence) are “clean” or righteous.

[Rev 22:1 NASB] Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

 [Rev 22:2 NASB] in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

This river of life is the source of life, provision, and healing for the “nations that are saved” on the new earth.

 “The word for ‘healing’ is therapeian, from which the English word therapeutic is derived, almost directly transliterated from the Greek. Rather than meaning ‘healing,’ it should be understood as ‘health-giving,’ as the word in its root meaning has the idea of serving or ministering.” (Walvoord)

And for the saints of the New Jerusalem:

[Rev 22:3-5 NKJV] 3 And there shall be no more curse (Genesis 3:16-19), but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name [shall be] on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

. “As the Bible opens with the story of ‘Paradise Lost,’ so it here closes with the story of ‘Paradise Regained.’ ” (Erdman)

We see the return of Paradise in the ideas of a river, a tree of life, revocation of the curse, intimacy restored, and reigning resumed. It is a perfect consummation:

No more curse Perfect Restoration
Throne in their midst Perfect Administration
Servants shall serve Perfect Subordination
Shall see His face Perfect Transformation
Name on foreheads Perfect Identification
God is the light Perfect Illumination
Reigning forever Perfect Exultation (Guzik)

[Rev 22:10-12 NKJV] 10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." 12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward [is] with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

The thought here is probably “since Jesus is coming so suddenly, there won’t be time for change.” There will be no time for last minute repentance, but there is time now. If what you have read in Revelation hasn’t changed you, there isn’t much hope! (Guzik)

 “It is the hopelessness of the final state of the wicked which is here pictured. The states of both the evil and the good are now fixed forever. There is no word here about a ‘second chance’ hereafter.” (Robertson)

 “If the warnings of this book are not sufficient, there is no more that God has to say.” (Walvoord)

We can never miss the note of urgency and warning in all what Jesus tells us about His coming. His message is always be ready! (Matthew 24:44)

As to fate of the unrighteous from all ages of the old earth, their eternal destiny is the Lake of Fire, an eternal place for outside of the new heaven and new earth.

[Rev 22:15 NASB] Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Then with a warning not to add to or take from any of the words of the book of Revelation, Jesus closes the NT with these words:

[Rev 22:18-19 NKJV] 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

[Rev 22:20-21 NKJV] 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

Summarizing:

All of the dead from before Jesus’ death and resurrection are found in Sheol/Hades. Those found righteous in the sight of God are in a part of the place of the dead called Abraham’s Bosom where they are “comforted”. The unrighteous, are like the rich young man in Luke 16:22-23 are also in Hades/Sheol but in a place of torment. Lazarus in this story is on the other hand “comforted” in Abraham’s Bosom.

After Christ’s resurrection, He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah. The gospel was preached to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. It seems that some of these “captives” were set free in response to the gospel and were lead into the place of comfort, Abraham’s Bosom.

After Christ’s resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those that accepted and confessed Him as their Lord and Savior. These people were born again by the Spirit and when they died they were taken into the Lord’s presence to a place Jesus called Paradise. This “Paradise” could be a special place in heaven reserved for the Bride of Christ, or just a part of what is called Abraham’s Bosom.

All of the righteous in “heaven” are souls/spirits without bodies. The gift of new imperishable, immortal bodies is given to the Church or Bride as a part of Jesus’ second coming. The Church or Bride is given these new imperishable bodies at the rapture of the church just before the 7 years of tribulation for those on the earth. The implications of Heb. 11:40 and Daniel 12:1-2 are that the OT saints are “made complete” or given these new bodies at the return of Christ at the end of the 7 years.

At the return of Jesus to the earth at His second coming, the saints of God are seen with Him. On earth the great war of Armageddon is ended with a great slaughter. The dead enemies of God then find themselves in Hades in torment. The Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all those people who took the mark of the beast are thrown into the Lake of Fire which is called the second death. This is the eternal abode of all the unrighteous from all ages. It is not clear if those that take the mark of the beast during the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation are thrown into the Lake of Fire at the end of the seven years along with the beast and the false prophet, or are thrown into the Lake of Fire at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Satan is chained and bound in the “bottomless pit” or abyss. This word, abyssos is taken to mean: a prison for certain demons (Luke 8:31, 2 Peter 2:4, and Jude 6). This prison for demons is probably the same place as this bottomless pit. More generally, this place is considered the realm of the dead, the same as Hades (Romans 10:7); from 2 Pet. 2:4, perhaps Tartarus (Tártaros - the deepest abyss of Hades).

As the 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth begins we find mortal humans on the earth. They are believers who survived the tribulation or are people all over the earth who now bow their knee to Jesus as the King of the earth. The saints of God are now immortals with new immortal bodies and are the Bride of Christ  and the ruling “kings and priests” of the earth under Christ’s authority as King. Those people that die during these 1000 years find themselves in Hades/Sheol, some probably in torment and some possibly in comfort.

At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released from the abyss to once again lead a rebellion against Jesus. This very great rebel army surrounds the holy city Jerusalem, but God sends fire down from heaven and destroys them all and they find themselves in Hades/Sheol. Satan is then cast into the Lake of Fire, the eternal place of torment.

At this point all of the dead from all ages that are in Hades/Sheol are resurrected to stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment Seat. They are tried by their works. If their names are not found in the  Book of Life (meaning that they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are covered in His righteousness), they are then cast into the Lake of Fire with Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and those that took the mark of the beast. Since the gospel has been preached to both the living and the dead, only those that have accept Jesus and their Lord and Savior and are covered by His righteous are written in the Book of Life. All others are cast into the Lake of Fire. Death and Hades are also thrown into the Lake of Fire at this point.

God now creates a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth pass away. The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and is the light for, and the source of life and health for the new earth. The residents of the New Jerusalem are the immortal saints of God and the Bride of Christ. These shall rule and reign with Jesus as kings and priests forever.

There are “saved” nations on the new earth and the kings thereof bring their “glory and honor” (praise, worship, deference, reverence) into the New Jerusalem.

It is difficult to understand about these saved nations and their kings. Possibly these are the mortal remnants of the old earth who survived the 1000 year reign of Christ who were “saved” by their love for, worshipped of, and obedience to their King Jesus

At this point God’s story as presented by the Bible ends. But it is only the beginning of a new       story that will last for all eternity.