Eternal Judgement
2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing”
In the Old Testament, the word ‘judgement’ is used in two ways. It refers to statutes, testimonies and the law of God and is usually in the plural. The other way it is used is in dealing with God’s judgements on the affairs of men and nations both in history and at the end of history. The latter is the sense in which the word is used in the New Testament.
1- Why must there be judgement?
Because of sin against God’s law.
Romans 2:12
“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law”
2 Peter 3:7
“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men.”
Jude 1:15
“to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgement,
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the great day;
2- Who is the judge?
A- God
Acts 17:31 (Amplified Bible) Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.
Romans 3:6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
Hebrews 12:23 to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
1 Peter 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
B- The Son (Jesus)
John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son,
John 5:27 and has given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man.
Acts 10:42 (Amplified Bible) And He charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.
C- The saints
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
3- Three aspects of Divine Judgement
A- Judgement unto restoration
God chastises and punishes or judges in order that He may restore a person to fellowship with Himself. This is the purpose of divine discipline in the Church. Correction is to bring restoration.
Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 Corinthians 6:2-3
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”
1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Read Revelation chapters 1, 2 + 3 and the book of Isaiah.
B- The sin open to Divine Judgement is unbelief.
Jesus Christ was made sin for us at Calvary and as such our substitute. He was judged that we might be restored back to God and reconciled with God in unbroken fellowship.
John 3:14-21
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 16:7-11
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
C- Judgement unto Damnation
If men refuse to accept God’s judgement of sin at Calvary in Christ, and refuse to judge themselves by the Word of God as the only infallible standard, then there is nothing left but divine judgement unto condemnation or damnation.
If God could not look upon His son whom He made to be sin for all, what is the fate of the wilful and the rebellious?
John 5:24-29
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
1 Corinthians 11:31-32
“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”
John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
4- Examples of Divine Judgement
A- Personal Judgement
The mark of Cain – Genesis 4
The sin of Achan – Joshua 7
The rebellion of Korah – Numbers 16
The sorcerer Elymas – Acts
B- Local Judgement
The days of Noah – Genesis 6, 7 + 8, Luke 17:26
Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18 + 19, Jude 7, Matthew 11:20-24
The Nation of Egypt – Genesis 15:14, Exodus 5:21
Judah and Jerusalem – Matthew 24:2, Luke 21:20-24
The Second Advent – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Isaiah 26:8-9
C- Church Judgement
Ananias and Sapphira – Acts 5
The Corinthian fornicator – 1 Corinthians 5:12, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10
There is a sin not unto death – 1 John 5:16-17
But all sin must be judged – Matthew 18:15-20, 2 Thessalonians3:6-11
The scriptures make the distinction between sins of ignorance and sins of presumption – Numbers 16:22-32
5- The day of Judgement
The Scripture teaches that though judgement is often administered during man’s lifetime, there is a coming day of judgement for all.
A- For believers - The judgement seat of Christ
This is a judgement of believers’ works
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
1 John 4:17
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.”
Matthew 12:36-37
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Romans 14:10
“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.”
Revelation 11:18
“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
2 Timothy 4:1
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:”
2 Timothy 4:8
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Hebrews 6:1-2
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.”
Read Revelation, chapters 2 + 3
B- For unbelievers - The Great White Judgement throne
Revelation 20:12-15
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
There are several viewpoints as to when this will be. We do not feel it is wise to make a dogmatic statement as to timing.
Karina Maile