Expert: Phillip Senn - 6/12/2004

Question
If we, as believers, go directly to be with Jesus after our death, what happens to the unbelievers?  They have the White throne judgement to deal with, which is after we reign with Jesus for one thousand years.  Are they just in a state of limbo until their judgement?  If so, is hell empty until after that judgement?

Answer
The Scriptures say, "He that believeth on him is not  condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God". It is clear from this passage that the lost need not wait to have judgement pronounced upon them at the great white throne judgement before they can enter their place of punishment.

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the tale of two men that died. Many refer to this as a parable, however, there are evidences that it is not a parable, one being that Jesus names the man that died and was carried into Abraham's Bosom. In this story, Jesus indicates that those that die in a condemned state, enter into torments of hot flame. In this passage it is called Hell. Some theologians indicate that it merely speaks of the realm of the dead rather than the "lake of fire". Even if this is true, these individuals are in hot flames and are thus tormented.

At the "great white throne" judgement, these individuals will be delivered up from their torment in the flame to stand before the Lord, who offered Eternal Life to them through His Son Jesus Christ, to hear that their punishment is just and righteous, because their name is not written in the "Book of Life". All of their deeds that are written in "the books" will, in my opinion, determine their level of punishment, just as those that stand at the "judgement seat of Christ" will have rewards for those things that they have done to glorify the Lord.

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With Love in Christ,
Phillip Senn