Evergreen Faith : What is the 'Final Judgment' and Why is it Part of God's Justice?
- Boundless Team
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
The 'Final Judgment' is the future event where all who have rejected Christ will be judged and assigned to eternal punishment. According to the Assemblies of God Fundamental Truth #15, this is the moment when God’s perfect justice is fully realized, ensuring that every wrong is addressed and His holiness is vindicated before the start of the new heaven and new earth.
The Final Judgment is a future biblical event where God evaluates the lives of those who rejected Jesus Christ. Grounded in Scripture and Assemblies of God Fundamental Truth #15, it serves as the ultimate expression of God’s justice. This judgment results in eternal punishment for the wicked, demonstrating God's holiness and making way for a perfectly righteous new creation where sin and suffering no longer exist.
Bible Verses
Matthew 25:46 "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Revelation 20:11-12 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done."
Romans 2:5-6 "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works."
2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Pastoral Insight: Understanding the Need for Justice
When we look at the world around us, it’s hard not to feel a sense of frustration. We see headlines every day about things that just aren't right. We see people getting away with harming others, we see systemic unfairness, and we see the innocent suffering while the wicked seem to prosper.
Deep down, every human being has a "justice meter." We crave a world where things are made right.
The Final Judgment is God's promise that one day, the meter will finally hit zero. It is the ultimate "Memphis Scrub" for the soul of the universe, a total cleansing where evil is no longer allowed to roam free.
As your Online and Connection Pastor, I want to help you see that the Final Judgment isn't just a scary story meant to keep people in line. It is actually a vital part of God’s love and His character. If God did not judge sin, He would not be good. A judge who lets a criminal walk free without a trial isn't a "kind" judge; they are an unjust judge.
What Exactly Happens at the Final Judgment?
The Final Judgment is often referred to as the "Great White Throne Judgment." This is described vividly in the book of Revelation. It is an event that takes place after the millennial reign of Christ and after the final defeat of Satan.
According to the Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths, specifically Truth #15, there will be a real, literal judgment. It says:
"There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
This is heavy stuff, I know. But it's important to be clear about what the Bible teaches. The "wicked" in this context aren't just people who were "extra bad" by human standards. They are those who rejected the gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
Because God is holy, He cannot exist in the presence of sin. For those who choose to hold onto their sin instead of giving it to Jesus at the cross, the Final Judgment is the formal recognition of that choice.
Why Is This Part of God’s Justice?
You might wonder, "If God is a God of love, why does He have to punish people forever?"
The answer lies in the nature of justice itself. For justice to be served, there must be an accounting. If someone hurts your family, you want justice. If someone destroys a community, you want justice.
God’s justice is much higher than ours. He sees every secret thought, every hidden motive, and every act of rebellion against His goodness.
It Vindicates the Suffering of the Innocent: Throughout history, millions have suffered under tyrants and abusers who never faced a human court. The Final Judgment ensures that no one "gets away with it."
It Maintains the Moral Order: A universe where good and evil end up in the same place is a universe without meaning. God’s judgment separates the two forever.
It Respects Human Will: God is a gentleman. He offers us eternal life and fellowship with Him. If someone spends their entire life saying, "I don't want anything to do with God," the Final Judgment is God finally saying, "Okay, have it your way." Eternal separation (hell) is the result of that choice.
The Difference for the Believer
It is important to distinguish the Final Judgment (the Great White Throne) from what is often called the "Judgment Seat of Christ" (the Bema Seat).
For those of us who follow Jesus, our "judgment" happened 2,000 years ago on a hill called Calvary. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment that we deserved. Our names are written in the "Lamb's Book of Life."
When we stand before God, we don't stand on our own record of "good deeds." We stand covered in the righteousness of Jesus. Our judgment is not about whether we are saved, that's already settled, but about receiving rewards for how we served Him with our lives.
This is why we talk so much about rejoicing in redemption. It’s the peace of knowing that the "Day of Wrath" is not something we have to fear.
Is There Hope for the World?
We often ask, is there hope for Memphis or hope for our families?
Yes, because the Final Judgment hasn't happened yet. We are currently living in a season of grace. God is "patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The reality of a coming judgment should move our hearts to share the Gospel. If we know the bridge is out ahead, the most loving thing we can do is warn people and point them to the safe path. That path is Jesus.
If you have questions about how to walk this path, I encourage you to check out our Bible studies or listen to our podcasts where we dive deeper into these truths.
Practical Encouragement
If the idea of judgment makes you feel anxious, I want to encourage you to do three things today:
Assurance: Check your heart. Have you truly placed your trust in Jesus? If you have, you are safe in His hands. The Judge is also your Savior.
Action: Who in your life doesn't know about the hope of Christ? Say a prayer for them today.
Appreciation: Thank God that He is just. Thank Him that evil will not win in the end. We serve a King who will set everything right.
We help people meet Jesus and grow in faith online. This mission is so important because the stakes are eternal. We want as many people as possible to have their names written in that Book of Life.
A Prayer for Peace and Clarity
Lord, we thank You that You are a God of perfect justice and perfect mercy. We admit that the thought of a final judgment can be overwhelming, but we trust in Your holiness. Thank You for sending Jesus to take our place and for making a way for us to be reconciled to You. Help us to live with eternity in mind. Soften the hearts of those who have rejected You, and use us to show them Your love. We rest in the promise that You will one day make all things new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Next Steps
If you’re wrestling with these big questions, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to walk with you.
Join a Group: We believe growth happens in community. Check out why Wednesday night family groups are essential for a look at how we support each other.
Deepen Your Knowledge: Learn more about our roots and what we believe in our post about the Assemblies of God.
Ask a Question: If this post raised more questions for you, reach out! We love exploring the Word together.
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Boundless Online Church is a ministry of FA Memphis.
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