WHY ARE LOST PEOPLE NOT JUDGED FOR THEIR WORKS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PHYSICAL DEATH?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Bible says in Revelation 20:11-15: “[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that 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, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

In verses 12-13, the dead are “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works… they were judged every man according to their works.” This occurs at the Great White Throne Judgment, not immediately after physical death. When unsaved people (those without Jesus Christ) die and go to Hell today, they are not judged according to their works. There is a great delay until Judgment Day. Why?

The Great White Throne Judgment (see passage above) will occur after the 1,000 years (Millennial Reign—see Revelation 20:1-10). Those 1,000 years will follow the seven-year Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ (see Revelation chapters 1–19). The seven-year Tribulation will come after the Rapture (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-13). The Rapture will conclude the Dispensation of Grace (see prior Thessalonian verses). In other words, there is a long time between physical death and lost people being judged according to their works. Why is there a delay between suffering in Hell and being sentenced to agonize in the Lake of Fire? Why are the unsaved not instantly judged after death and immediately enter the Lake of Fire?

It is really quite simple. Lost people’s “works” are not over yet. Although they may be physically dead, their writings remain with us even now, their policies still affect us, the religions they invented remain, and so on. They are still inflicting damage on society, still misleading the masses, and still promoting Satan’s policy of evil. These are their “works,” although they are no longer physically present here on Earth. God is letting the fruit of their work bear out entirely. Until all that influence is destroyed with the present heaven and earth (see Revelation 20:11), the degree of eternal penalty of the lost will not be determined.

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Also see:
» Can Jews who believe in God, the Father, but who reject Jesus, be saved from eternal damnation?
» Why did God not accept Cain’s sacrifice?
» Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?