I agree with most of your long letter about free will. It was well written. Could you send me your thoughts on Isa 65:20 and the new heaven and new earth of Rev 21. I read of death in Isaiah but not Revelation 21. Do you have any idea why that is? Oh, by the way, I said I agree with most of your message, when in reality, I really don’t recall anything I disagree with. PLEASE RETURN MY EMAIL; NOT TOO MANY DO. God Bless!

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your words of encouragement. .

You ask about ‘Why death is mentioned in the ‘new heavens and the new earth,’ of Isa 65:20, but Rev 21, speaking of this same “a new heaven and a new earth,” says, “there was no more death.”

Let’s just quote both scriptures, and analyze them in the light of the rest of the scriptures:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Notice what I have emboldened. John mentions the

1. ‘new heavens and the new earth,’ he states that
2. “there was no more sea.”
   He mentions the
3. ‘new Jerusalem,’
4. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and he says
5. “There shall be no more death… for [Greek – gar, ‘because‘]
6. the former things are passed away.”

Now notice how similar Isaiah is to this passage in Revelation:

Isa 65:17 For, behold,

1) I create new heavens and a new earth: and

6) the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold,

3) I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and

4) the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

You will notice that Numbers 2 and 5 seem to be missing from Isaiah’s prophecy. This is only the case if we are looking at the letters of these verses. Number two in Revelation is “and there was no more sea.” Those who teach against ‘spiritualizing’ scripture will tell you that this means that after the millennium the earth will become one great land mass with no oceans. After all it is right there: “There was no more sea.” To these folks, when Revelation 13 tells them that “a beast came up out of the sea,” it apparently means that a seven-headed beast came up out of the sea.

Almost all who deny the spiritual application of the scriptures would agree that Revelation 13:1 “I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast come up out of the sea” is a symbol for something. Yet these same individuals would spiritually assassinate you for believing that ‘there was no more sea’ is also a symbol. However, it is a symbol, as is the entire book of Revelation:

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and sign ified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The above verse is the truth of how this book is written. It is not a book that is to be taken in “letter.” Rather this entire book is “SIGNified.” That is, it is a book of ‘signs’ and symbols which can only be understood in the light of the rest of the scriptures which interpret these signs. Be sure to read The Key Meaning of Words in Scripture.

If you insist that ‘there was no more sea’ means what it says, then you must believe that…

Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth…

… is also a literal statement, and that…

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy…

… is also a literal statement.

I could take any verse of this book, especially the last three verses of this 13th chapter…:

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

… and I could make the same point. John is not telling us that a seven-headed beast will rise up out of the Mediterranean Sea. Neither is he telling us that a barn-yard animal called a ‘lamb… having seven horns and seven eyes’ is standing in the middle of those around the throne of God. Yet when it comes to the “mark of the beast”, we are always led to believe that the only spiritual lesson in these words is the warning that you should physically resist receiving this physical ‘mark in your right hand and in your forehead.’

The apostle John was well aware that “your body IS the temple of God.”

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

He was also well aware that this is the only temple in which God dwells.

Act 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Paul tells us that the “man of sin’ sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God’:

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

So where is this man of sin sitting? He is sitting in the temple of God. What is the ‘temple of God?’ “Your body IS the temple of God.”

The number of the beast is 666. What does this number represent? “It is the number of a man.”

The indefinite article ‘a’ is not in the Greek. The Concordant Version correctly reads :”… It is the number of mankind…”

Are you ‘a man’ as the KJV translates this verse? Are you part of ‘mankind’ as the Concordant Version reads? Then you have the mark of the beast. Yes, you do. You and I were one and all born with this mark. Who are we told receives this mark?

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

So each of us being born in the first Adam, are all born with the “mark of mankind.” That mark is “signified” by the trice repeated number 6 or 666. Man then IS the ‘beast.’ Is that a truly scriptural statement? You be the judge:

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

The worst enemy any man faces is the one he sees in the mirror every morning. The Lord Himself tells us this:

Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Mat 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
Mat 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Mat 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Nothing coming from without defiles any man. The Biblical ‘mark of the beast’ is within defiling us all. Those who stand on the ‘sea of glass mingled with fire’ are not those who never had the mark of the beast. They are rather “them that had gotten the victory over his mark.’

Those who ‘get the victory over the beast’ are those who experience the beast, experience his deadly wound with the sword of the word of God, experience the healing of that wound as they backslide right back to becoming a healthy beast worshiping the ‘image of the beast.’ This ‘image’ of the first beast is said to be created by none other than the “second beast, coming up out of the earth, the orthodox, incorporated, organized church, with “two horns like a lamb [appearing as an angel of light (2Co 11:14)], but speaking [its doctrines] as a dragon” (Rev 13:11)

The ‘earth’ in scripture is always that part of mankind that is pushed up out of the sea of mankind, and is but inches closer to God than are those of ‘the sea.’ Nevertheless they are those who are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1Co 1:2) who “are yet carnal.”

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

This seems like a contradiction to most Christians. Can we be “sanctified of Christ, called to be saints” and yet be “carnal?”

The answer straight from the mouth of Christ is a powerful, “Yes!” Not only can we be “yet carnal,” but just as these “carnal” Corinthians, who “came behind in no [spiritual] gift” (1Co 1:7), we can receive the ‘gifts of the Spirit” and never have even known the ‘Giver’ of the gifts.

Here are the scriptures. First Paul:

1Co 1:7 So that ye [carnal Corinthian Christians] come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

And now Christ:

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits [Not their gifts]. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit [“The fruit of the spirit is love…]; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Verses 20-23 are not the words of desperate liars. Rather they are the words of those who prefer the gifts over the Giver. They are the words of those who prefer their own way to the way of the cross.

These are not called simply ‘enemies of Christ.’ Not at all. No, they actually “profess Christ” and at the same time are “enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

These are those professing Christians who teach that Christ did it all for you on the cross. While they would never come right out and say it, their doctrine constantly insinuates that if you are suffering in any way, it is because you are not serving God as you ought. ‘If you are in the perfect will of God you will never be sick or suffer any financial difficulties.’ That is the teaching of those who are the “enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Here is the Truth of the ‘cross of Christ:’

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Who today teaches, like Paul, that there is anything “behind of the afflictions of Christ?” Those who do not see anything “behind of the afflictions of Christ” are the same ones who are called “enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Php 3:18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

All those who teach that ‘grace through faith means that Christ did everything for you on the cross, and there is nothing that He wants you to do now but accept His free gift of life,’ are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” This is most of the Christian world. Many times they contradict themselves and admit that you need to live a righteous life as a Christian, but it is few indeed who teach that Christ must ‘work’ in us at “filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.”

To these people, this Pauline teaching robs both the cross and grace of their power. To these Christians I am the “enemy of the cross of Christ” for even suggesting that Christ died to the flesh daily and died on the cross SO THAT He could do the the same IN me, so that I, too, could die to the flesh daily and present my body a living sacrifice to Him. This teaching they contend “robs grace of its power, robs the cross of its efficacy and turns salvation by grace right back into salvation by works.” They simply have not been given the eyes to see nor the ears to hear that though it is all done through “Christ in us,” the Truth is that ‘grace… faith… and works’ are all “His achievement.”

“For in grace through faith are you saved, and this [faith] not out of you; it is God’s approach present, not of [our] works, lest anyone should be boasting. For His achievement [“His workmanship” – KJV] we are being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them” (Eph 2:8-10).

I know, dear reader, that you probably think that I have forgotten what your question was. Well, I have not. We now come to the scripture that answers your question. If you do not see this need for ‘dying to self’ and replacing self will with the will of Christ, I will have no success in explaining Isaiah 65:20 to you. Here is the scripture that explains how we are to live our lives now as well as how those in the new heavens and the new earth are to live their lives:

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

In spite of all the twisting by the newer translations to make this verse read “[my] faith IN the Son of God,” instead of the “faith of [that is, Christ’s faith which He gives me] the Son of God,” the Truth is still the Truth, and we contribute virtually nothing toward our own salvation. Even the ‘faith’ is a “gift of God.” It is “the faith of the Son of God.”

With all of this in mind, let’s go back to Isaiah 65:20.

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die [to self through fiery trials of this life.  This is a positive statement] an hundred years old; but the sinner [who has not yet died to self in the ‘lake of fire] being an hundred years old shall be accursed [this is not a positive statement].

There is only one ‘new heavens and new earth.’ It comes down from God out of heaven after the millennium. It is then, and not until then, that “the fulness of the Gentiles comes in”. Sodom returning to God as resurrected spiritual bodies at the great white throne judgment symbolizes the fullness of the Gentiles.

To understand the scriptures on this subject, be sure to read Are People Being Saved During the Millennium?

Just click on this title and read the scriptures revealing what the ‘lake of fire’ is and when those who are “cast into the lake of fire” are raised to that fate. This is an eye opening revelation right from the Word of God.

Eze 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate [this is at the white throne judgment, after the millennium], then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

Many who teach universal reconciliation use this scripture to prove that even Sodom will be saved. However, even they do not notice the “when?… then!…” part of this verse.

When eschatology is not the subject, as in the book of Revelation, we sometimes make it the point. When eschatology is the point of a scripture (“when?… then!) we some times ignore it. The subject of Ezekiel 16 is the salvation of ‘Judah and Jerusalem’ who have committed sins that are greater than her sisters ‘Sodom and Samaria.’ In spite of this fact, God declares that He is yet going to honor His promise to redeem His people ‘Israel… according to the flesh.’ Nevertheless, this will be done on His timetable, and He tells us that His time for the salvation of Israel is “when Sodom and her daughters” are saved.

Before I get bombarded with e-mails accusing me of saying there is no eschatology in Revelation, let me point out that I did not say that. What I did say is, “Eschatology is not the subject… of the book of Revelation.” The subject of the book of Revelation is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” While that is accomplished in a process of opening seven seals, the seals and their order is not the subject.

The subject is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and since it is addressed to “him that hath an ear” in “the seven churches”, it is therefore Jesus Christ in us that is the subject of this book. Eschatology is a distant second to this, the main theme, of this book.

Now since “Judah and Jerusalem” are the subject of both Ezekiel 16 and Isaiah 65:20, it should be clear that this is one and the same event being discussed in these two scriptures. This is the time of the day of the ‘second resurrection,’ the “great white throne judgment” and the “lake of fire.”

While this is certainly not the “better resurrection” of Hebrews 11, neither is it the negative thing the Christian religion has made it out to be. After all, “Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire.” The “lake of fire” is nothing less than the “destruction of death” mentioned by Paul in 1Corinthians 15.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

How is this accomplished? Who is it that will “judge this world?

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?

Are “the saints” then the distributors of this “lake of fire?” What say the scriptures?

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Yes, it was the three Hebrew children who were, in type, right at home with “one like unto the son of God” in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. Now since “our God is a consuming fire” and since “when He shall appear, we shall be like Him” why would not those who are in Christ be represented by a “lake (not an ‘ocean because “many are called but few are chosen’) of fire?”

Lake of Fire Revealed In Genesis

Those in that lake of fire are typified by Joseph’s brothers. They were ‘tormented’ in Joseph’s presence.

Gen 42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Gen 42:9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
Gen 42:10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
Gen 42:11 We are all one man’s sons; we are true [honest] men, thy servants are no spies.
Gen 42:12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
Gen 42:13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
Gen 42:14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
Gen 42:15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
Gen 42:16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
Gen 42:17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
Gen 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
Gen 42:19 If ye be true [honest] men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
Gen 42:20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
Gen 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
Gen 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
Gen 42:23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

This is just the beginning of the torment of Joseph’s brothers, not because Joseph wanted to torment them so long, but because they could never believe that Joseph was not like them and would not seek revenge as soon as Jacob died.

Joseph never bothered to correct this view of himself until after the death of his father. In other words:

Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Did Christ bother to correct this evil man? No, that is neither the time nor the way in which Christ operates. Here are His own words:

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

What Is The ‘Fire?’

What exactly is this fire? It is the same fire in every case.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

This ‘fire’ comes to some “predestined… few” while they are yet in this body of flesh. These are those referred to by Christ when He said:

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die [to self and to the flesh], it abideth alone: but if it die [to self and the flesh], it bringeth forth much fruit.

Christ spoke of this “blessed and holy” few when he said:

Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Paul spoke of these few also:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Peter spoke of this same group of overcomers in every generation since Christ:

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

The Sinner

And what of the rest of mankind?

There will be everything from Joseph Stalin, who killed millions of his own people, to aborted babies cast into the lake of fire. Here Christ reveals the principle on which they will all be judged:

Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion [as a messenger of Satan in the lake of fire] with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

This is just Christ’s way of repeating the message of Isaiah 65:20:

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the [repentant] child shall die [to self] an hundred years old; but the [unrepentant] sinner being an hundred years old [and still not ‘dead to self’] shall be accursed.

What and When is Judgment Day?

We are led to believe that ‘judgment’ is a negative experience. Indeed it is negative for the flesh, but it is always positive for the spirit:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

This verse echoes the teaching Paul had just given these Corinthian brothers concerning judgment:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

When does this take place? It is at different times for different groups. There are two scriptural groups for two separate judgments. Those who are ‘chosen’ out of the ‘called’ are being judged even as we speak. All others will be judged at the ‘great white throne judgment.’

Here are the scriptures:

First Christ:

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone [called but not judged in this present time] shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall [judged in this present time], it will grind him to powder.

Now Paul:

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves [now], we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are [now] judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned [to the great white throne judgment] with the world.

“When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord” is just as true of the white throne judgment as it is of our “chastening of the Lord” at this time. Judgment is good!

Here is Paul again:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Finally, here is Peter:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If God is gracious enough to us that we are in the first resurrection, it will be because He has seen fit to “first begin at us” with judgment. However, judgment always follows death. It is not visa-versa.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Those who receive these words in a natural sense are not being ‘judged… now.’ “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God…”

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die [now while yet in the flesh], it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

So, if you are wondering what judgment day will be like if you are the chosen of Christ, wonder no longer. You are in that day.

It is a day of being “crushed to powder by that rejected stone.” It is a day of “falling into the ground and dying to bring forth much fruit.” It is a day that will burn and purify the “gold, silver and precious stones.”

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

We may suffer now, but the reward that awaits us is beyond our wildest dreams. “When his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

I hope I have been of some service,

Mike