The Judgments
The Judgments
INTRODUCTION In our last lesson we spoke about the certainty of judgment and listed seven different judgments in the introduction. In this lesson we propose to outline briefly some broad details of these seven events, as they have transpired or will transpire in the world.
These are not the only judgments; there was the judgment by flood in the days of Noah and the judgment of confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel.
There have been lesser judgments that have fallen upon individuals, nations or even groups of nations at various times.
Let us study these under five basic points for each judgment. This lesson was originally prepared for the Philippine Christian College in Manila, in 1961, in response to a Numbers 1 nber of queries from the question box.
Perhaps the first major judgment was the catastrophe that fell on the pre-Adamite race between the first two verses of chapter one of Genesis.
THE JUDGMENT THAT FELL AT CALVARY
Subject: Christ bearing our sin, John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Also Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2.
Time: About A.D. 30, when Christ was on the cross.
Place: Calvary, John 19:17-18, the actual crucifixion; Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. "
This wrath was revealed at Calvary; God pulled down the curtain of darkness, Matthew 27:45.
Basis: The law, Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death." Also Ezekiel 18:4, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Sin was judged by the perfect law, James 1:25.
Results: Physical death for Christ; justification for believers- 1 Timothy 4:10, ". . . who is the Saviour of all men" specially of those that believe."
DAILY SELF-JUDGMENT
Subjects: The saints judge themselves, 1 Corinthians 11:28, "... but let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread. . ."; Psalms 26:1-2, "Judge me, 0 Lord. . . examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.?
Time: Anytime, not only Communion but daily, particularly in our morning Quiet Time.
Place: Any place; let us be constantly in communion with the Lord and ready to heed the rebuke or pleading of the Holy Spirit.
Basis: Sonship, Hebrews 12:6-7, "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons."
Results: Purging, delivered from weakness, sickness and death- 1 Corinthians 11:30. Forgiveness to the believer with joy and peace, 1 John 1:9, ?If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
THE BEMA, THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (covered in lesson 84)
Subject: The saints are being judged for their works.
Time: At the Second Coming of Christ, Luke 14:14, and after the first resurrection, Matthew 16:27.
Place: In the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Basis: The believer’s works, 1 Corinthians 3:13.
Results:
Rewards and crowns for the faithful, 1 Corinthians 3:14.
Loss to those who produce hay, wood, and stubble, 1 Corinthians 3:15.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE JEWS
Subjects: The Jewish nation or people, Ezekiel 20:34-38.
Time: During the Great Tribulation.
Place: Jerusalem and vicinity, Jeremiah 33:7.
Basis: Rejection of the God-head, 1 Samuel 8:7; Luke 23:18; Acts 7:51.
Results: The conversion of the Jews and their acceptance of Christ as Messiah. Jeremiah 30:7; Isaiah 66:8.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS
Subjects: The Gentile nations, Matthew 25:32, "And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd. "
Time: At the second coming of Christ, Matthew 25:31, "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory."
Place: The Valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel 3:2, "I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat."
Basis: Treatment of the Jews. Matthew 25:40, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Christ’s brethren were the Jews.
Results: Punishment for the goat nations, Matthew 25:41, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Blessing for the sheep nations, Matthew 25:34, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. "
THE JUDGMENT OF THE FALLEN ANGELS
Subjects: The fallen angels.
Time: Unknown (probably at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment)
Place: Unknown
Probably the rebellion led by Lucifer, Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-17. Revelation 12:4.
1 Corinthians 6:3, "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?"
Jude 1:6, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
1 Peter 2:4, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. "
THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED DEAD
Subjects: The wicked dead, Revelation 20:12; those who have never been born again; those who do not rise at the first resurrection or have not been raptured.
Time: After the thousand year millennial period, Revelation 20:5, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
Place: At the Great White Throne, Revelation 20:11, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it. "
Basis: Whether or not the names were recorded in the book of life and the works of these individuals.
Revelation 20:12, "And the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Results: Revelation 20:15, the ungodly are to be cast into the lake of fire.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
CONCLUSION The Great White Throne judgment is personal and final; it is not a trial to discover whether the person is guilty or not; it is a pronouncement of judgment by the Lord God Almighty on the ungodly and doomed.
Differences between the Great White Throne judgment and an earthly court case.
One of the living; the other of the resurrected dead.
One with witnesses; the other has no witnesses, lawyers, juries.
One with questions; the other, no questions to answer (information recorded).
One with rebuttal; the other with no speeches, law books, cross-examination.
One with human law; the other with Divine law.
One with physical death; the other with eternal death.
One with bribery; the other with absolute justice, honesty and full measure.
One presents evidence; the other produces evidence filed and recorded years before while the person was living; probably with films, tape recorders and machines that visualize the thought life of the prisoner.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
List 3 major judgments that fell in the book of Genesis.
Was Jesus judged for the billions of human beings or just for those who would be saved? (1 Timothy 4:10)
Is self-judgment of believers compulsory? Explain.
What is the relationship between John 15:2, and Hebrews 12:6?
Is Ezekiel 20:34-38, history or prophecy? Explain.
Does Zechariah 12:10 to Zechariah 13:1 explain Isaiah 66:8? How?
What part does the Church have in Matthew 25:31-46?
When will the Great White Throne Judgment take place?
Will some be judged righteous at the Great White Throne judgment and go to heaven?
List 7 differences between the Great White Throne judgment and an earthly court case.