Jacob Wrestle with an Angel – What are you wrestling with?
Two Inescapable Realities
By Michael Dewar, Author
October 20th,2025
There are two inescapable events all humans must face; they are death and judgment. These two events are in the near future for everyone of us. Each day of life moves us closer toward these two realities. Have you made any plans yet? I am not talking buying life insurance, writing a will or securing burial spots. Those are fine but I mean something else that is of far greater importance.
Death and judgment are not things we like to think or talk about, but the wise person talks about and plans for these two realities. This article discusses these two subjects and connects you to more resources to better prepare you to benefit from them. Yes, death and judgment are opportunities to exploit for your benefit, if you plan for them, and plan early.
The Reality of Death
Moses during the Exodus prayed, “So teach us Lord to number our days that we might apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Stated another way, “Teach me Lord to take my days into account that I might plan wisely. ” The implication here is that our days of physical life are numbered. Each of us is marked with an expiration date like a supermarket product. The normal expiration dates are 70, 80, or 120 years (Genesis 6:3; Psalm 90:10-12). Few live to 120 and many do not get to 70 much more 80. Our expiration date is hid from most of us until it happens.
Physical death is universal, but it is not the end of human existence. It is more a transition from life to life. There is life and after-life. The physical body is our earth suit; that is what has the expiration date. We must this earth suit off, but the real you that wears the suit continues to exist after you put it off. The apostle Paul says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6). This does not mean that everyone goes a happy place after putting his or her earth suit. You choose your destination before you put off your earth suit; God just direct your spirit to the destination you choose.
Back to Life in a Body
Again, the apostle Paul tells us, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In other words, all humans have an appointment to die, and all will rise again (John 5:28). But the resurrection body will be slightly different in the sense that it cannot die again.
Therefore, it must live somewhere. And that somewhere will be a happy place or an unhappy place. In other words, both the righteous and the unrighteous will come back to life again in two groups: righteous and unrighteous. But for what?
Facing Judgment
The apostle John records these words of Jesus, “Marvel not for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have done good will rise to resurrection of life and they that have done evil to resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28).
Note that in the preceding verse, there are two groups of people, two resurrections, and two destinations. Those who have done good will rise to resurrection of life; these are the righteous. And those who have done evil to resurrection of damnation; these are the unrighteous. The two groups will not rise at the same time, and they will not go to the same place. And both groups will judged, then assigned to ther destination.
The righteous group are the believers in Christ. After their resurrection, they will appear at the Believers’ Judgment in heaven. They will be judge and rewarded (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1Thess. 4:16). The unbelievers will be resurrected and judged on earth and sentenced to the lake of burning sulfur also called hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
Some people will say, “I don’t believe that!” But not believing the truth does not mean it is not true. The pilot announces, “Ladies and gentlemen we have lost both engines and we are going down in the Pacific Ocean.” Your response, “I don’t believe it!” That is why the Bible labels the unrighteous as “unbelievers” They are diving into the bowels of hell at high speed, and they don’t believe it.
The Righteous
Who are the righteous? From a biblical perspective, what is it that makes people righteous? You are righteous not because you give to charity and go to church, temple, or synagogue. You can do all that on a regular basis and still go to hell (Matthew 7:21-23).
You are righteous because you have repented of your sins, you asked for forgiveness and received it, and you turned away from that sinful lifestyle because you have acknowledged Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. We commonly say, you are born again into the kingdom of God (John 3:5-7). Outside of that you are an unbeliever heading for a dangerous place. You must repent!
It is hard for people to understand that apart from Jesus Christ, there is no righteous person, not one! (Romans 3:9-15). Below are two resources, add them to your reading list.
The Believers’ Judgment The Final or Unbelievers Judgment.
Tags: #Believers Judgment, #Final Judgment, #Death, #Resurrection, unseen Realities