The Nature Of The Judgement

The erroneous idea that there is to be one great general judgement which is to take place at the end of the world, when all mankind shall stand before the great white throne, is to be guarded against. The judgement of the Bible differ as to time, place, subjects, and results.

1. THERE IS A JUDGEMENT THAT IS ALREADY PAST -- THE JUDGEMENT AT THE CROSS.

John 5:24; 12:31; 2 Cor.5:21; Gal.3:13; 1 Pet.3:24. At this judgement bar Satan was judged and his power over the believer broken. Here also the sins of the believer were judged and put away.

2. THERE IS A PRESENT JUDGEMENT WHICH IS TAKING PLACE DAILY IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER.

1 Cor.11:31, 32; 5:5; 1 Tim.1:20; cf., for illustration, 2 Sam.7:14, 15; 12:13,14. This continual judgement must be going on in the life of the believer or there will be judgement from God because of the consequent failure to grow in grace. There must be constant and continual judging of sin as it comes up in the believer's life (1 John 1:5-7).

3. THERE IS A FUTURE JUDGEMENT.

a) Of the Saints.

1 Cor.3:8-16; 2 Cor.5:10; 1 Cor.4:5. This is to be a judgement with reference to the works, not the salvation, of the believer. It is called "the judgement seat of Christ." That the saints are here referred to is clear from 2 Cor.5:1, 5, 7, 9; also 1 Cor.4:5 which says that those who are judged "shall have praise of God." This is not true of the wicked. This is a judgement, not for destiny, but for adjustment, for reward or loss according to our works, for position in the kingdom; every man according as his work shall be.

b) Of the Living Nations.

Matt.25:31-46. This judgement will take place at the coming of Christ with His saints. Note three things in this chapter: first, the marriage supper of the Lamb (w.1-13); second, the judgement of the saints (vv.14-30); third, the judgement of the living nations (vv.31-46). This is not a general judgement of good and bad, for there are three classes here. "My brethren" can hardly refer to the saints, for then it would be "inasmuch as ye have done it unto yourselves, ye have done it unto me." Nor is the Church in this judgement, for she is already translated and rewarded as we have seen. The Church no more belongs to the nations than does Israel. The nations are those who deal with Israel through the great tribulation. The "brethren" are probably the Jewish remnants who have turned to Christ during the great tribulation and whom the Antichrist has severely persecuted as also have many of the wicked nations, like Russia today. This is a judgement of nations that are living; there is no mention of the dead.

c) Of the Great White Throne.

Rev.20:11-15. It is called the final judgement and takes place at the close of the millennium, after the judgement of the living nations (Matt.25). It is a judgement of "the dead"; no mention is made of the living in connection therewith.

Note the difference between the judgement of the Living Nation and of the Great White Throne: the former at the beginning, the latter at the close of the millennium; one deal with the living, the other with the dead; one deal with conduct towards "the brethren," the other with general sins recorded in the books.

d) Of Israel.

Ezek.20:33-44; Psa.50:16-22. Takes place probably at the end of the great tribulation.

e) Of the Fallen Angels.

Jude 6; 2 Pet.2:4. Believers are associated with Christ in this judgement (1 Cor.6:3).