Pentecostal Judgment Day Beliefs

Pentecostals' beliefs about judgment day are well stated in the official doctrinal statement of the largest Pentecostal fellowship, the Assemblies of God: "There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Pentecostals believe that all mankind will be subject to a final judgment. They believe that those who are saved will then have eternal life in heaven and those who are not saved will be subject to the "second death," which is eternal separation from God in Hell. Most Pentecostals believe that the soul has eternal existence and that both the redeemed and the damned will be eternally conscious and aware of their condition.

Pentecostals hold to the belief that all people are sinners. They believe that God offers forgiveness and the complete cleansing of sin and guilt through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. Thus, according to Pentecostal teaching, salvation is made available to all who will receive it by grace through faith. By extension, those who do not receive forgiveness and cleansing of sin through Jesus Christ die in their sins and are deemed the wicked dead. This does not imply that they lived a better or worse life than others, but rather that they shared in mankind's sinful nature.

Pentecostals believe that all saved believers have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. This book is mentioned several times in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Paul also alludes to it in his letter to the Philippians. Some Pentecostals believe that everyone's name is initially written in the Book of Life, but that those who die in their sins without receiving Christ have their names blotted out. Pentecostals agree that all whose names are not found in the Book of Life at the Final Judgment are destined for the lake of fire.

The final judgment, according to Pentecostals, will take place before a great white throne. They believe that all the dead will be raised to stand before the throne to be judged by Jesus Christ according to what they have done. Most Pentecostals believe that those who are saved will not be present at this judgment. This belief is based on Revelation 20:12, which says that "the dead, both small and great" will face judgment, and the belief that those who are saved have eternal life and are therefore not included among the dead, but among the living.

Pentecostals believe, as do most Protestant Christians, that every person has an eternal soul that will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell and that all will be conscious and aware of their final state. According to Pentecostal teachings, those who are found righteous in Christ will enjoy eternal bliss in His presence in Heaven and those who die in their sins will receive eternal punishment and separation from God in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.