Everyone is on Fire
Q: “What happens at the final judgment?”
What I would like to do in this teaching is to identify what I consider to be a major, glaring theological problem in modern Christianity and the ways that it negatively impacts our modern spiritual living.
Then what I’ll do is provide an unconventional but scriptural and logical alternative that can more adequately empower us in the present moment. Of course, we’ll look at several Scriptures surrounding this topic as well.
So, what’s the problem? Stated plainly, here it is:
The classical Christian concept of a delayed judgment from God - the judgment of the afterlife (Hebrews 9:27) - disempowers us from fully pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and power in the present moment.
Why? Because it takes an essential attribute of God’s character - the righteous judge - and it transfers that attribute into a distant future which is divorced from our present reality. With judgment delayed into the shadowy future, it is much easier for us to become apathetic, rebellious, or swept away into delusion.
So while the classical concept of heaven and hell, post-earthly judgment, is a reality that is justified in the Scriptures (and the Christian tradition) it shouldn’t be our focus. Why?
The desire of future reward or fear of punishment does not have any lasting transformative power to change us in the present moment. This is a fact. This is something that has radically shifted my approach to life and my faith.
What do I consider a better way to think about things?
Well, the Scriptures make clear that Jesus Christ hanging on the cross was God’s ultimate judgment - not on humanity, but on the evil, death, and decay of the old creation order, an age that is passing away in light of God’s kingdom, which is a present reality, because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in mind, body, and spirit.
"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:31-32 (NIV)
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17 (NIV)
“Having disarmed the [spiritual] powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
In the sacrifice of the Cross, there is forgiveness, the defeat of evil, healing and, most importantly, there is union with God.
This union with God - Jesus says that on the cross he will draw all people to Himself - is now our judgment. Having been united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Ephesians 2:6, Romans 6:5), we now steward the glory of the divine image, the inner Christ.
Our responsibility is to steward, protect, and enhance that restoration and renewal that is already happening within us. The divine image in us, the inner Christ, is this fire that is burning away everything within us that does not belong in God’s kingdom - in mind, body, and spirit. This is the true fire of judgment, otherwise called the “baptism of fire” or the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” in the Scriptures.
Our role as true Christians is to stoke this fire - to fan into flame the gift which has been given through our union with Christ. This fire is intense, it’s purifying, and it costs us something. It’s the burning away of our idolatrous desires, our egoic delusions, and anything else that has no place in the kingdom of Christ. This is why Hebrews says this:
“For the Word of God [the inner Christ] is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sign. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)
The Word of God is Jesus Christ, who lives within all, because all are made in His image (Colossians 1:15-17). This Word, the fire of Jesus Christ, currently burns in all of humanity. We can partner with that purifying fire, or we can suppress it. Our suppression and rejection of the inner Christ is the root cause of all sin, sickness, and disease.
Jesus says the following:
“All will be salted with fire.” Mark 9:49 (NIV)
Jesus uses the word “all.” He doesn’t say “some” or “believers” will be salted with fire.
Joel says the following about the Holy Spirit:
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Joel 2:28 (NIV)
Joel uses the words “all people.” The Holy Spirit has been poured out on all. Believing is participating in this reality. Unbelief is the rejection of this reality. God’s kingdom is a present reality that we must choose to participate in.
"For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)
Peter implies in this verse that our responsibility is to steward the divine life that is in us through the Holy Spirit. We are active, present participants in God’s refining and renewing process. This process begins within those who believe, and radiates into the world. If we don’t change - the world won’t change.
Let’s look at one crucial passage on God’s judgment, through the framework of what has been discussed:
“ All these [trials] are evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled…This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (NIV)
Through the classical understanding of judgment, this passage seems to suggest that a literal Christ will appear in the sky with a host of angels and sort humans into lines for heaven and hell. I would argue that this understanding is far from Paul’s intention.
The key is in understanding the glory motif in this passage. Glory is the presence and revelation of Jesus Christ in mind, body, and spirit. Remember, Christ in us is the hope of glory - or the revelation of God’s presence (Colossians 1:27). Therefore, Christ’s revelation from the heavenly realm occurs within and through man, God’s new temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). God’s ultimate goal is a new humanity that radiates the life and glory of Christ.
The “blazing fire” of this passage is the manifestation of God’s presence (and angelic host) from the heavenly realm (not off in the sky somewhere, but in, through, and around mankind). This fire is judgment - the reality of trials and temptations in our human experience.
The fire of this judgment - this baptism of fire - will bring “punishment” for those who choose not to participate in God’s reality. This punishment is the spiritual consequence of living out of alignment with God’s design for our lives - consider this as trouble, sickness, decay, delusion, and spiritual death.
For true believers who are participating in God’s reality, the revelation of Christ in man will bring glorification - this is the manifestation of the life of Christ in mind, body, and spirit.
Paul uses the word “day” - this implies an accelerated time period where God’s judgment and manifestation in and through man will be hastened and clear for all to witness, especially believers. Despite Paul’s use of this word - we can clearly see these spiritual principles playing out now in our current experience. So perhaps the word “day” is less of a literal day, and more of a period of time, or era. After all, to the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day (2 Peter 3:8). We currently live in this era.
The truth is that we can participate in God’s reality. This reality is the purifying fire of the divine image. This reality includes the life and power of God, but also judgment and refining. We can suppress this reality and bring the appropriate spiritual consequences upon ourselves.
Ultimately, we judge ourselves through our actions and behaviors. As this passage from 2 Thessalonians suggests, our destiny as believers is to reveal and manifest the glory of Christ - in mind, body, and spirit. This destiny is truly something to marvel at.
To summarize, while realms of heaven and hell are realities for destiny beyond earth, we should focus on the present moment in regards to God’s judgment. There is a divine design - the inner Christ - that we are all called to live in alignment with. Living out of alignment with this design manifests decay and death - in mind, body and spirit. This is the baptism of fire - a participation in God’s cleansing and renewal project.
God’s fire has come upon the old creation order and is burning away everything that does not belong in God’s new creation reality - a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
An understanding of divine judgment as a present, fiery reality empowers us in the present moment to pursue power, righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on God out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
