The Kingdom on the Day of Judgment

By Royce Frederick

When Christ returns, all people who have ever lived will be raised to life and judged (Jn. 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; Rev. 20:11-15). Citizens of the kingdom will be judged, too. Judgment will “...begin at the house of God...” (1 Pet. 4:17; see Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10).

Some citizens of the kingdom will not enter heaven:

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41-42).

“...the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they...gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:47-50).

Christians who return to sin — and remain in it — will not enter heaven: “...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12; see 1 Cor. 9:27).

But great joy awaits faithful Christians who grow: “...an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:11)!