Resurrection of Life or Resurrection of Judging
John 5:24-29
"I am saying to you that he who is hearing My word and believing Him Who sends Me, has everlasting life and is not coming into judging, but has proceeded out of death into life. I am saying to you that coming is an hour, and now is, when the dead shall be hearing the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall be living. For even as the Father has life in Himself, to the Son also He gives to have life in Himself. And He gives Him authority to do judging, seeing that He is a son of humanity. Marvel not at this, for coming is the hour in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and those who do good shall go out into a resurrection of life, yet those who commit bad things, into a resurrection of judging"
John 5:24–29 presents a contrast.
Those who do good enter a resurrection of life.
Those who commit bad things enter a resurrection of judging.
But what does “judging” mean?
My understanding is this:
To do good is to hear and believe what God says through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Those who believe in this present age are raised to reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Those who do not believe are raised AFTER the thousand years.
Then they stand before the Great White Throne.
Revelation 20:11–15
“The dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls... And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.”
THE judging does not mean eternal torment in fire, but ending life a second time by that fire – a second death.
It is he process in which all humanity is finally brought to a knowledge of their salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord.
Paul points to a future in which death itself is abolished.
1 Corinthians 15:22, 25–28
“In Adam, all are dying; thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive... The last enemy is being abolished: death.”
Philippians 2:10–13
“Every knee shall bow... and every tongue shall be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.”
2 Timothy 1:10–11
“Christ Jesus... abolishes death, yet illuminates life and incorruption through the gospel.”
Faith in what God the Father says about His Son gives hope for humanity.
Resurrection. Judgment. Death Abolished. Abundant Life. Expectation.