In this third and final installment on God’s judgment, we will examine the foundational teaching of “eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:1,2). This teaching is inherently prophetic since it encompasses the future fate of every person who has died outside the faith, which includes, nearly everyone! That is tens of billions of people. What is God’s plan for the vast majority of His human creation which falls outside His grace? The answer is found in one of the most inspiring and encouraging teachings in the Bible.

All Christians are familiar with the terms Old and New Testaments, which are the names for the two sections of the Bible. But fewer are aware that these sections could have also been called the old and new covenants, because the Bible refers to an old or “first covenant” and a “new covenant,” (Heb. 8:6-9). The word covenant simply means an agreement, which may come in many forms. In the biblical context, we see that the old covenant was an agreement between God and ancient Israel. But what kind of covenant was it?

Most people, including many Christians, would not even understand the meaning behind this question, let alone know the answer. Yet it may be the most important question to ask when it comes to biblical eschatology, or the study of end time prophecy. The premise for this question is found in Revelation 20:1-3,7-9.

Long ago God delivered a vital prophecy to the patriarch Abraham in which He cited “the iniquity of the Amorites.” What was that iniquity, or sin? But more importantly, does it have any significance for us today?

Anti-Semitism is the single most-enduring and lethal genocidal hatred that has coursed through civilizations since the earliest times. Why is this? What are its origins, and why is it as pervasive and virulent as ever? Further, does it have any eschatological significance?

A study of the derivation of the word paradise reveals that it was often used in reference to a park, orchard, or garden. Hence in biblical terms: the Garden of Eden, as we read in Revelation 2:7: “…To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Elsewhere we read that the Garden of Eden is also called the “Garden of God” (Ezek. 31,8,9). Why? Because God dwells in a garden! Let’s learn more.

The millennium doctrine springs from Revelation 20:2-7, where the words “thousand years” are mentioned six times. The teaching is extrapolated from this passage and many others to show that following Jesus’ return, he will usher in a literal thousand years of peace and abundance on the earth. Since millions of Christians embrace this teaching, especially among so-called Evangelicals, the purpose of this article is to examine whether it is biblically sound.

First, we know that God loves all saints and sinners equally, as we read: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). And secondly, we read, “God, who made the world and everything in it…And he has made from one blood every nation of men…therefore…we are the offspring of God” (Acts. 17:26,29). That last statement bears qualification. In what way are we God’s offspring, or His children?

In Genesis 1:26,27 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness’…So God created man in his own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 5:1,2). The enormous importance of this truth stated by God cannot be overemphasized.

Consult any good biblical concordance and look up the words inherit, inheritance, heritage, heir, and heirs, and see how many times these terms are ascribed to Christians. It soon becomes plain that God considers His children as His heirs and heiresses. Why is that? What circumstances could possibly take place to allow you and I to become heirs of the wealthiest Being in the universe?