Eternal Judgment is a follow through teaching of the Resurrection of the Dead teaching. At the root of this teaching is the creation process in which man was formed.
Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul.
Nowhere else in the creation process is seen this activity whereby the LORD made such a deposit by breathing directly into any other of His creations. By this process, man received an eternal element, whereby he will continue to exist forever and ever, just like the LORD. As we all know, in Genesis chapter 3 mankind fell into sin and rebelled against the LORD. However, this did not negate the eternal nature of man, and the LORD had to put a redemption plan into process in order for reconciliation to take place. This plan was ultimately consummated when the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, to sacrifice himself for all our sins once and for all.
Therefore with the appropriation of the blood of Christ we can now all be redeemed. However, there are eternal consequences when this provision for redemption is rejected.
Hebrews 9:24-28
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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.
There are two (2) judgment events:
o The Judgment Seat of Christ
o The Great White Throne Judgment
The saints that have been found worthy to be part of the First Resurrection will be the only ones to appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and they will not be subject to appear at the Great White Throne Judgment for assessment. Here the works of each saint will be assessed and fantastic rewards will be granted accordingly.
II Corinthians 5:8-10
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The Great White Throne Judgment takes place at the last day, and everyone else, no matter their location or status will be assembled to stand before this throne. This is the Second Resurrection.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The lake of fire will be the final abode of all the persons who did not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Backsliders and Christians that are considered to be workers of iniquity, will also be cast into the lake of fire. It is a place of unimaginable torment, and it will last forever and ever.
All the redeemed of the LORD will then go on to spend eternity with Him. However, there will be certain differences between the First Resurrection saints and the Second Resurrection saints, in terms of body capabilities and performance status. To be noted also is that only the First Resurrection saints would have had the experience of the Millennium Reign with Christ.
John 5:25-29
25 Verily, Verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.