It’s Not All Harps and Cream Cheese

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. – Revelation 21:1-4 HCSB

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to funerals and heard ministers tell those gathered that their dead loved one was in a place where there are no more tears. That is an absolutely wrong and very harmful thing to say.

Dead saints are aware of what is transpiring on earth.[1] All the dead are awaiting judgment.[2] Everyone – whether righteous or wicked - will face a throne and have to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of the Universe.[3] Both the living and the dead will be brought before Christ to be judged.[4] Their social status will be irrelevant when faced by God Almighty. Kings, princes, freemen and slaves will all be equal at that time.[5] Even the fallen angels, as mighty as they are, will be forced to come and acknowledge Christ’s sovereignty.[6] Our every action, word and thought will be made public and judged as to its worth.[7]

There will be two “seats” or times of judgment. The first one[8] is called the “Bema Seat” and is a time of judgment for the saved. At that seat, what we did with the resources God gave us and not the question of our salvation will be considered. God will reward us based on our faithful service.[9]

The second “seat” is called the “Great White Throne of Judgment.”[10] It will take place after the millennial reign of Christ. The doom of those who appear before this seat is a foregone conclusion. Since they did not accept Christ’s sovereignty in this life, their names have been blotted out of the Book of Life.[11]

It is actually not until after this Great White Throne judgment takes place that the old universe is destroyed and a new universe is created. And it is not until then that God will wipe away all our tears.[12]

This message is an important part of the Good News.[13] We must teach our children that there will be an accounting for everything we do. Hopefully this will engender a godly fear that will lead to a godly life.[14]


[1] Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 6:9-11
[2] Hebrews 9:27
[3] Ecclesiastes 3:17; Romans 14:10-12; Hebrews 9:27; Jude 1:14-15
[4] Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5
[5] Revelation 6:15-16
[6] 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6
[7] Mark 4:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10
[8] 1 Peter 4:17
[9] Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
[10] Revelation 20:7-15
[11] Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12-15; 21:27
[12] 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1-4
[13] Acts 17:30-31
[14] 2 Corinthians 5:9-11