John 5:28-30 Offers No Optimism!

AGAIN>> John 5:28-30 also offers no optimism, so you are still in error.

ME>> That is another excellent point of discussion. John 5:28-30 (WEB) says,

28) Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, 29)  and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 30)  I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.


The first questions we need to ask of this Scripture is when is this judgment, who is being judged, and what is the duration of the judgment?  We agree that judgment is certain, but what is the nature of the judgment?  Traditional theology concludes that only the judgment of human beings is in view.

It may take you time to study and time to reconsider, yet I hope that this book has at least introduced you to three very important concepts.  First, the Hebrew "olam" and Greek "aion" are best interpreted as "age" or the "life" of the noun in view.  Thus, we see that God is working out his plan of redemption through the "ages," and not merely in one epoch.  Thus the judgment of John 5 could point to a number of points in the future.  Second, when interpreting passages about judgment we need to consider that fallen angels may be in view just as much as unbelieving men.  John 16:11 and the judgment of Satan is a reminder of that important point.  Jude 6 also reminds us that fallen angels are being held for judgment on that "Great Day."  Third, since "aion" usually does not mean eternal except when referring to God and perhaps the Lake of Fire, we must consider that at least some of the after death judgments are not eternal, for example the punishments of Hades.

That said, I think this passage is speaking about the Sheep and the Goat judgment, synonymous with Great White Throne Judgment.  This final judgment will save the remainder of mankind just extracted from Hades and condemn demons to the Lake of Fire for The Ages of The Ages.  This seems clear because a resurrection to both death and life is in view.  It is important to note that the confirmation of the salvation of the believing elect has already happened for Christians through faith and at the Rapture!  So if there are both saved and unsaved at the Great White Throne Judgment, who else would it be except the confirmation of the salvation of the unbelieving elect and the damnation of the non-elect fallen angels?