Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 12

THE JUDGEMENT

The state of the world now is similar to that which existed in the days of Lot, when Sodom's corruption called for the angel's visit to that wicked city, to see whether the cries coming up before heaven were of such a character that the inhabitants of beautiful Sodom - a city that had been so highly favoured of God - had so corrupted their ways before the Lord that there was no hope of their redemption. God's wrath was revealed so signally because the corruption of the Sodomites was so deep. The heavenly visitants could see for themselves that the Sodomites had passed the limits of divine forbearance.

The angels took Lot and his wife and daughters by the hand, to hasten their flight from the city, lest the storm of divine judgement should break upon the place they hesitated so much to leave. They were solemnly commanded to hasten, for the fiery storm would be delayed but a little longer. But one of the fugitives presumptuously ventured to cast a regretful look backward to the doomed city, and she became a monument of God's judgement, - showing how he regards unbelief and presumptuous rebellion.

The Lord rained brimstone and fire out of heaven upon the cities and the fruitful plain; its palaces and temples, costly dwellings, gardens and vineyards, and the gay, pleasure-seeking throngs that only the night before had insulted the messengers of heaven - all were consumed. The smoke of the conflagration went up like the smoke of a great furnace. And the fair vale of Siddim became a desolation, a place never to be built up or inhabited - a witness to all generations of the certainty of God's judgements upon transgression.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. What assurance do we have that there will be a judgement? Acts 17:30,31.

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Acts 17:30, 31.

2. Was the judgement still future in Paul's day? Acts 24:25.

"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:25.

3. How many must meet the test of judgement? Ecclesiastes 3:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

"I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." Ecclesiastes 3:17.

"For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 1 Corinthians 5:10.

4. What reason did Solomon give for urging all to fear God and keep His commandments? Ecclesiastes 12:14. (Also see 1 Corinthians 3:8.)

"For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14.

Also see -

"Now he that supplanter and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." 1 Corinthians 3:8.

5. What did Daniel see opened in the judgement? Daniel 7:9, 10.

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:9, 10.

6. Out of what will all be judged? Revelation 20:12.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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." Revelation 20:12.

7. For whom has a book of remembrance been written? Malachi 3:16.

"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." Malachi 3:16.

8. Who opens the judgement and presides over it? Daniel 7:9.

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." Daniel 7:9.

9. To whom is all judgement given? John 5:22, 26, 27.

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son: For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgement also, because he is the Son of man." John 5:22, 26, 27.

10. What does Christ as advocate of His people confess before the Father and His angels? Revelation 3:5. (Also see Matthew 10:32, 33; Mark 8:38.)

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Revelation 3:5.

Also see -

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32, 33.

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38.

11. After the subjects of the kingdom have been determined by the judgement, what is given to Christ? Daniel 7:14.

"And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14.

12. When He comes the second time, what title will He bear? Revelation 19:16.

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:16.

13. What will He then do for each one? Matthew 16:27. (Also see Revelation 22:12.)

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27.

(Also see)

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.

14. Where will Christ then take His people? John 14:2, 3.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:2, 3.

15. How many of the dead will be raised? John 5:28, 29. (Also see Acts 24:15.)

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29.

(Also see)

"And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." Acts 24:15.

16. What time intervenes between the two resurrections? Revelation 20:4, 5.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." Revelation 20:4, 5.

17. How was the opening of the judgement to be made known to the world? Revelation 14:6, 7.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6, 7.

18. What work did Daniel see finally assigned to the saints? Daniel 7:21, 22.

"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." Daniel 7:21, 22.

19. How long will the saints engage in this work of judgement? Revelation 20:4.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4.

20. Who will thus be judged by the saints? 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3.

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3.

There are three phases of the judgement mentioned in the Scriptures - the investigative judgement, preceding the second advent; the judgement of the lost world and wicked angels by Christ and the saints during the one thousand years following the second advent; and the executive judgement, or punishment of the wicked at the close of this period. The investigative judgement takes place in heaven before Christ comes, in order to ascertain who are worthy to be raised in the first resurrection, at His coming, and who among the living are to be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trump (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). It is necessary for this to take place before the second advent, as there will be no time for such a work between the coming of Christ and the raising of the righteous dead. The executive judgement of the wicked occurs after their cases have been examined by the saints during the thousand years. Revelation 20:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3. The investigative judgement is that which is announced to the world by the angel's message of Revelation 14:6, 7.