Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789 rather humorously, “In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes.” That’s right. But what about the next world? Some people don’t think there will be one, but that this life is all there ever will be.
Not according to Jesus. Like many Jews of his time, he spoke of “the world-to-come” (Matt. 12.32; Mark 10.30; Luke 18.30; cf. Hebrews 2.5; 6.5) And he believed every human who has ever lived will be there, at least for a while. And in this world-to-come, two things are certain: resurrection and judgment.
About resurrection, Daniel relates in his Bible book that an angel told him, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12.2).
About judgment, wise King Solomon wrote in the Bible, “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12.13-14 NRSV).
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