J. Last Things (WCF 32-33; WLC 84-85,87-90; WSC 37-38)

Question 1

What happens to believers at death? What happens to unbelievers at death? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 1

• Believers will be with God (Phil 1 - to depart and be with Christ, Luke 23 - today you will be with me in paradise).
• Unbelievers will be in hell (Luke 16 - the rich man and Lazarus).
• Both awaiting for the final resurrection and judgment.

WCF 32:1 The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption:(1) but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them:(2) the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect of holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.(3) And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.(4) Beside these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.

(1) Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36
(2) Luke 23:43; Eccl. 12:7
(3) Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23 with Acts 3:21; Eph. 4:10
(4) Luke 16:23,24; Acts 1:25; Jude 6,7; 1 Pet. 3:19

Question 2

Who will be raised to life at the last day?

Answer 2

• The just and unjust- one to life the other to dishonor (John 5 - dead will rise to live or condemnation)

Question 3

Who will be judged at the last day? By Whom? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs

Answer 3

All men and angels will be judged by Christ (Rev 20 - judgment of man, 2 Peter 2 - angels thrown in hell, Acts 17 - God will judge through Jesus)

WCF 33:1 God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ,(1) to whom all power and judgement is given of the Father.(2) In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,(3) but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.(4)

(1) Acts 17:31
(2) John 5:22,27
(3) 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4

Question 4

Will any receive a second chance? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 4

• No, for “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)

Question 5

What practical use is the doctrine of the final judgment? Include Scripture proofs.

Answer 5

It deters us from sin and comforts the godly in affliction (2 Peter 3 - judgement, 2 Thess 1 - comfort for the afflicted)

WCF 33:3 As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity:(1) so will He have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, Amen.(2)

(1) 2 Pet. 3:11,14; 2 Cor. 5:10,11; 2 Thess. 1:5-7; Luke 21:7,28; Rom. 8:23-25
(2) Matt. 24:36,42,43,44; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35,36; Rev. 22:20

Question 6

What will heaven be like?

Answer 6

• A physical place (1 Cor 15, Rev 21-22)
• Where God will dwell with his people in love (Rev 21, John 14)
• A place of Feasting (Rev 19)
• Where His people we no longer sin, thus no death, pain, tears, sickness, etc. (Rev 7, 21-22)

Question 7

Is there a hell? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 7

• 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell
• Mark 9:43,45,47 to be cast into hell (Rev 20)

Question 8

What is “annihilationism?” Evaluate it biblically

Answer 8

• A doctrine that says that unbelievers, either immediately upon death, or else after suffering for a period of time, will simply cease to exist- God will annihilate them and they will no longer be.
• Eternal blessing/punishment (Matthew 25:46); Revelation talks about punishment extending to the wicked day and night forever (Rev 14:11; 20:10)

Question 9

What is your view of the millennium? Briefly defend your view from Scripture.

Answer 9

Amillennialism
• There is only one passage, and an obscure one at that, that speaks of a millennium.
• Scripture teaches only one resurrection, when both believers and unbelievers will be raised (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15)
• Believers reign even now with Christ in the intermediate state
• If Christ comes in glory to reign on the earth, then how could people still persist in sin?
• What would be the purpose of such a millennium?
• Scripture seems to indicate that all the major events yet to come before the eternal state will occur at once

Question 10

When will Christ return? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 10

• We do not know (Matt 24)

- Unexpectedly (1 Thess 5, 2 Peter 3) and imminently (Rev 22, James 5)