The short answer is that there will not be any physical people after the time period called “the Great White Throne Judgment,” which is described in Revelation 20:11-15.
We read in Revelation 21:4 that after that time, there will be no more death. We also read in Revelation 20:14 that “Death” was cast into the lake of fire. This means, that whatever physical human being existed, they will, by that time, either have been burned up and destroyed in the lake of fire (thereby ceasing to exist forever), or they will have been changed into immortal spirit beings, unable to die. Physical people die. One cannot keep a physical human being alive forever. Therefore, since there will be no more death, there cannot exist physical people for all eternity at that future time.
We also read that we cannot enter the kingdom of God, unless we are spirit beings. Since God is not a respecter of persons, what He is offering us now He will offer to all of mankind later — during the Great White Throne Judgment. If He were only to offer eternal life to us today, but not later to the rest of mankind (not being called today), God would arbitrarily discriminate against all of mankind — as we are called today by grace, not by our works so that no one should boast in God’s sight.
A few Scriptures may at first sight perhaps imply that there will still be physical people around, after the Great White Throne Judgment. However, those Scriptures do not teach that.
For instance, Isaiah 25: 6-9; 65:17-20; 66:22-23; Ezekiel 48:30-35 and the book of Joel speak of the time of the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment, not after that time (For more information on the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment, please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days”).
It is correct that Revelation 21:24-26; 22:2 speaks, indeed, of the time after the Great White Throne Judgment. These Scriptures do not state, however, that at that time, physical humans will still exist. Rather, God the Father will dwell on earth and those on earth will see His face (Revelation 22:4) — and no human can look at God the Father in His glory and live. The fact that these Scriptures speak of “nations” or “kings of the earth” does not allow us to reach a different conclusion.
Please note, first, that Christ, a Spirit being, is still referred to in Scripture as “the MAN,” even in His glorified state (1 Timothy 2:5). One may read that Scripture and misconstrue it to mean that Christ is still a physical Man today. We know, of course, that He is not. With that same rationale, we might look at the passages in Revelation 21:24-26 and 22:2, speaking of “kings” and “nations,” and conclude that these passages speak of physical human beings. They might, however, only refer to those spirit beings who WERE, during their physical state of existence, kings or subjects. The point being made in Revelation 21 and 22 would be then, that regardless of what they had been in their physical life (“kings” or “nations” or “subjects”), they all will enter Jerusalem to worship God. Everyone will come to bring glory and honor to Jerusalem. Even though all of us, as spirit beings, will be members of the God Family and “sons” of God the Father (Revelation 21:7), we will always remain UNDER God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ — we will always remain His servants (Revelation 22:3), but we will be spirit beings, of course, no more flesh and bone.
In addition, there may be another reason why the Bible talks about “kings” and “the nations of them which are saved” (Revelation 21:24). The Lamsa translation says: “And the people who have been saved…” Why is there still a differentiation made between kings, and nations or people?
It is possible that these passages speak of former human beings who will by that time make up the nations of spirit beings, who will have qualified for different levels of rulership. If so, the spirit beings would then be grouped or organized as “nations” and “kings” after the Great White Throne Judgment. That is, the “kings” would be ruling over other spirit beings (“the nations” or “people that have been saved”). We are being rewarded according to our works. Some will rule over more than others. In the end, though, we all will rule forever and ever (Revelation 22:5).
Some feel that Revelation 22:2 proves that there will still be physical human beings in existence after the Great White Throne Judgment. Revelation 22:2 speaks of healing of the nations, but this is not talking about physical healing, but spiritual healing or refreshment. As spirit beings, we still have emotions. God can feel joy or anger, depending on what we do. It says that when God had ended His recreation work of the earth, He was refreshed (compare Exodus 31:17).
Taking all the Scriptures together, it is clear that there will be no human physical life in existence after the Great White Throne Judgment, when God will create everything new (Revelation 21:5). For more information regarding that “new” world, please read our free booklet, “God Is A Family.”
