God is an impartial Judge and will judge “the dead, small and great… according to their works.” He keeps record of everything everyone has done. All that have ever lived from the creation of the earth until the time of the great white throne judgment have their records with Him and those who lived and died as sinners will be judged. “And the sea gave up the dead, which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead, which were in them: and they were judged everyman according to their works.”

The final day of reckoning will soon come when “the dead, small and great, (shall) stand before God… and (be) …judged … according to their works.” God keeps the record of activity, character, action and behaviour of both the young and the old.

Young people who postpone their salvation until they are much older risk the wrath and judgment of God. Hence, the scripture admonishes: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” God’s judgment is for everyone,including small and great. But He will “give reward to the saints, and them that fear (His) name, small and great…”

Damnation and fearful retribution await the unconverted “small and great, (who will) stand before God (and be) judged.” This should arouse concern in us for our children and youths who are under our teaching or training. We should be bothered about their salvation. The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah came on the young and old, small and great. When the Antichrist shall come after the Church is raptured, he shall cause “all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” To escape the damnation that awaits both small and great, sinners must repent of their sins and receive the grace that exonerates from the imminent judgment.

Christ died so that everyone will escape the judgment of God and the foremost decision, therefore, of everyoneis to become unashamed of Christ and surrender to Him. The soul of everyone matters in the sight of the Lord just like Paul the apostle admonished Timothy and all believers saying: “Be not…ashamed of the testimony of our Lord… but be… partaker(s) of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” If anyone rejects the gospel or is ashamed of the salvation of the Lord, judgment will come on them.

Heaven is a place of infinite joy for saints in glory. Death will not function anymore, as it will be inactive on everyone in heaven. People who are in heaven will live forever in eternal bliss, while those in hell will live forever in eternal pain and agony.

There is eternal joy, happiness and excitement for those who have their names written in the book of life. While the 70 disciples came back rejoicing because of what God did through them, Jesus told them to “rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto (them); but rather rejoice, because (their) names are written in heaven.” How we need to tell recipients of miracles that the greatest miracle is for them to be saved and their names written in heaven!

There is endless suffering in hell for “whosoever (will not be) found written in the book of life.” People who practice religion, but do not have assurance that their names are written in the book of life should retrace their steps, make a decision and settle with the Lord to escape the eternal suffering that will come upon sinners and backsliders.

All whose names are written in the book of life will experience everlasting state of happiness and blessedness. Paul the apostle, having gone to the third heavens and seen angels, gave assurance to the brethren to “rejoice in the Lord always,” because they were not just servants of God, but people whose names were written in the book of life. As believers, irrespective of what we may be going through at the moment, we should always “rejoice” because our names are written in the book of life.

• Further reading (King James Version): Revelation 20:11-13,15; Daniel 7:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; Psalm 96:10-13. Genesis 18:25; Psalm 9:8,17; Amos 3:2-4,8; Acts 17:30,31. Matthew 27:4,19,24,46; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:5-10. Revelation 20:12,13; 11:18; 19:18,21; Ecclesiastes 12:1,13,14. Genesis 19:4,11,24; Jude 1:7; Revelation 13:16; 14:9-11. Acts 26:22,23,28,29; 2 Timothy 1:8,9; Romans 1:16; Mark 8:36-38. Revelation 20:14,15; Luke 10:20-24; Revelation 3:5; 21:1-7,27; 19:7-9.Exodus 32:31-33; Revelation 22:18,19; Luke 13:23-27. Philippians 4:3,4; Luke 6:22,23; 1 Peter 4:13-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:16,22-24.