Although beliefs in the ending of the present age, the final great Judgement " and the resurrection of the righteous are reflected in John's gospel 5:29, 6 :40, 11 :24, 12 :48), the main emphasis is on the judgement of God taking place in the present response of all those who meet Jesus, 3: 18-19, 3:36,5:22-24,12:48,16:8-11. 'Whoever believes in the Son is not judged: but whoever does not believe has already been judged because he has not believed in God's only Son. This is how judgement works; the light has come into the world but people love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil'. 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment'. 'I am telling you the truth; whoever hears my words and believes in him who sent me has eternal life. He will not be judged but has already passed from death to life'. 'Whoever rejects me and does not accept my message has one who will judge him. The words I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.'

What this teaching means is that there is no waiting until a final judgement Day for the separation of those who have been reconciled with God and those who remain in the grip of evil. How each person responds to Jesus Christ as he or she meets him is of vital importance. Those who believe that God's truth is revealed in Jesus have already been given eternal life. This does not mean that in this present life they can fully understand what eternal life means, but they have found the right road which will bring them ultimately to the full joys of heaven. In Mark's gospel there is the idea of the 'stages' of the Kingdom of God. The coming of the Kingdom of God is manifested in Jesus Christ but the final manifestation and glory of the Kingdom is not yet. The Kingdom of God may be entered or found by the believer now, in this present life, but the full glory still lies ahead.

In John's gospel, the gift of eternal life which Jesus gives now to all who believe in him is a central theme. John writes so that 'in him you may have life' (20:31, 3:16, 6:51, 10:58, 10:28, and 11:25-26).

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