What an exciting day awaits us, as we are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). At the time of His return, all the dead will be raised and the earth will be destroyed. What a sight all of that will be! But what will happen next?
“When the Lord is revealed from heaven” and after “the earth and the heaven [have] fled away” (Rev. 20:11-12), the Lord “will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matt. 25:31) to judge mankind. God has “appointed” Christ (Acts 17:31) as “the righteous Judge” (2 Tim. 4:8), and all judgment will take place “before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10).
Scripture teaches that the day of judgment is certain. The English word “appointed” is used twice of this day and from two different Greek words. Just as “appointed” as it is “to die,” so is “the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). The Greek word here means “unavoidable, certain, destined.” Paul said that God “has appointed a day on which He will judge” (Acts 17:30-31). The Greek word here means to “set/fix a time.” As certain as death (Heb. 9:27) and as certain as the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the day of judgment.
Scripture teaches that all will be judged. “All nations will be gathered before Him” (Matt. 25:32), and He will judge the “righteous” and the “unrighteous” (Matt. 25:31-46), “the living and the dead” (2 Tim. 4:1), the “small and great” (Rev. 20:11-12). “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10).
Scripture teaches the standard that will be used in judgment. Man will not be judged by opinions, feelings, personal beliefs, church traditions, a preacher’s doctrine, etc. The all-authoritative Word of God will be the standard of judgment (John 12:48), when “the books” are “opened” on that day (Rev. 20:12). “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12), according to “the things done in the body” (2 Cor. 5:10).
Scripture teaches that the day of judgment will be a day of separation and sentencing. “He will separate them one from another” (Matt. 25:32-33). One’s final destiny is already known upon death, based upon what he has “done in the body” and how that compares to God’s Word (2 Cor. 5:10; John 12:48; cf. Luke 16:19-31). The purpose of the day of judgment will be to reveal “the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5) and to pronounce final sentences. There are only two possible sentences on that day: to the righteous, eternal life (Matt. 25:23, 34, 46); to the unrighteous, eternal punishment (Matt. 7:23; 25:41, 46).
On that day, “every knee shall bow” (Rom. 14:11) and “eternal” sentences pronounced (Matt. 25:46). Are you ready?