JUDGMENT DAY
Selected Scriptures
INTRODUCTION
Every few months, it seems, some celebrity has committed an offense which generates intense media coverage…Ever since the OJ Simpson case from a decade ago, we are bombarded with stories of the transgressions of everyone from Martha Stewart to Paris Hilton.
The interest and attention given to such cases is a reflection of our fascination with the crime & punishment as much as our obsession with the rich and powerful…TV series featuring clever detectives or crafty lawyers have long been favorites in our land.
And while perhaps only a few of us gathered here today have had extensive experience in the courtroom, God's Word assures us that each of us will one day face a trial of our own...Indeed, I wish that we were as concerned about our future judgment as we are in the trials that are publicized on CNN & FOX News.
This morning, we are going to survey a number of Scripture passages as we consider this coming Judgment Day for all humanity.
I. THE REALITY OF JUDGMENT
I want to begin today by emphasizing the certainty of a future judgment.
HEBREWS 9:27 is perhaps the most familiar verse of Scripture which confirms the reality of a day of judgment for all men...In our legal system, there is often a great deal of uncertainty surrounding whether a defendant who has been charged with a crime will even face a judge and jury.
o Will there be enough evidence to bind them over for trial?...Will the person accused of the crime plea bargain?... Will the case be thrown out on a technicality?
HEBREWS 9:27 assures us of our judgment: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; (Hebrews 9:27-28a)
I like the way the MESSAGE puts it: Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences
Just as surely as you were born, you will die...And just as surely as you will die, you will be judged...No one released on a technicality... Nobody will be able to plea to a lesser charge in order to escape judgment.
Scripture teaches us, in fact, the reality of several judgments...But two of them are of concern to those of us who are here today:
A. The Great White Throne Judgment
The Great White Throne Judgment is mentioned in REVELATION 20:11-13
This is the judgment faced by those who have rejected Christ...It occurs at the end of the millennium.
PROPHETIC TIMETABLE (Some differences of opinion):
• 7 year tribulation (3 1/2 + 3 1/2).
• Rapture: Beginning, middle, end.
• Return of Christ--Battle of Armageddon...Satan & forces
defeated...Satan bound...Saints resurrected...1000 year reign.
• Beast is loosed for short time...mobilizes army to rebel against
Christ & Saints...Satan's forces are defeated.
Brings us to the White Throne Judgment: REVELATION 20:11-13 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
There is most certainly going to be a day of judgment for all who have rejected Christ--great and small...rich and poor...those with status and power as well as those without.
VERSE 12--BOOK OF LIFE = reference to the Lamb's Book of Life containing names of the saved; these people's names were not in that book, so they had to be judged by what they had done as recorded in the books…
• KJV: THE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS.
I sometimes hear people say that they don't need Christ--they live good, clean lives...They think that this will be good enough to save them...WELL my friend, if you want to be judged by your works, you will be....Most assuredly you will.
B. The Judgment Seat of Christ
Over in ROMANS 14, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of The Judgment Seat of Christ.
Just as the unsaved will stand before a righteous judge, so will those who have been saved… This judgement occurs between the Battle of Armageddon and the Millennial Reign of Christ...Paul makes specific reference to this judgment in
ROMANS 14:10-12 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
(v.10) ...for we [who are saved] will all stand before God’s Judgment seat.
Paul makes another reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 CORINTHIANS 5.
• In a few minutes we are going to talk about the significance of these judgments, but for now, I simply want to take note of the reality of judgment as evidenced in God's Word.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
So there you have it...God has already determined the fact of future judgment...THE UNSAVED: the G W T Judgement...THE SAVED: The J S of C
The reality of judgment couldn't be more certain.
II. THE ROLES OF JUDGMENT
Just as there are various people playing various roles in the trials of our system of justice, so there will be a variety of participants in our day of judgment.
A. The Judged: Write in Your Own Name
The subject of judgment is every individual who has ever lived...We have already spent much of our time stressing the reality that each of us will face judgment...The key question: Whom do you say Jesus is?
Let’s turn over to JOHN 12:48...The person who rejects Jesus will stand before the G W T judgment...John 12:48 gives us some additional insight concerning the person who rejects Jesus as Savior...These people will get just what they wanted: to be judged on the basis of their works, deeds, actions...JOHN 12:48 (Jesus speaking) There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
The person who rejects Christ will be judged in light of God's Word.
The saved will be judged as well...Not as to their salvation (that's already been determined), but concerning their works.
A moment ago we looked at Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:10, where Paul makes reference to the J S of C...He said that this judgment will be a judgment of …what is due him [the saved person] for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Turn to 1 CORINTHIANS 3...Here again Paul emphasizes that our works are the subject of this judgement...1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-13 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
As you think about the reality of judgment and the role you will play in it, which judgment will you face?...Becomes a very important question because, as we will see shortly, it has a tremendous impact upon where you will spend eternity.
B. The Judge: Jesus Christ
JOHN 5:22 speaks of the role Jesus will play on that day.
Jesus today acts in a variety of important roles on our behalf: He is our ADVOCATE… INTERCESSOR…MEDIATOR.
But a day is coming in which Jesus Himself will play a very different role...for on the judgment day, He will be sitting upon the throne, judging mankind...JOHN 5:22 (NLT) …the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge,
Not only will Jesus judge the saved on the J S of C, but He is also the One to whom the Father has given authority to be the judge at the G W T.
On the judgment day, Christ will no longer be standing before the Father, seeking to reconcile sinful man and a holy God...His work as advocate, intercessor and mediator will cease...On the Judgment Day, you will not be able to plea for mercy--that should be your plea today, while there is time and opportunity...For on the judgment day, Christ will be the righteous judge before whom you will stand.
LOST PERSON: How do you think you will try to justify yourself that day when you stand before the son of God, who gave His life for you? What will say that will excuse your rejection of Christ?
III. THE RESOLUTION OF JUDGMENT
Let me assure you of this: There will be no hung jury on that day...We will not be faced with an indecisive judge...A righteous and holy verdict will be rendered...Let us note how judgment will resolved:
A. The Trusting Will Be Saved
JOHN 3:18 gives us this promise: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
Similarly, Jesus tells us in JOHN 5:24: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
You will not stand before Jesus speculating about your status...You will not be standing there with sweaty palms wondering "Will I make it or not?"...Your status is determined in this life...If you trust in Jesus Christ, you stand "Not guilty" before the Lord today...It is not your guilt or innocence which will be judged, but your works.
B. The Faithful Will Be Rewarded
Turn back to 1 CORINTHIANS 3 once more...As we have already seen, the saved will stand before the J S of C...not to find out whether we will get to heaven, but to judge our works...Because salvation is by grace through faith, many dismiss works as unimportant or irrelevant... But let's read 1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-15 and you tell me what you think about the relevance of works.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Notice: even if our works are consumed, the saved are still saved.
C. The Unsaved Will Be Punished
Let's return to the 20th chapter of REVELATION and take a closer look at the scene which John describes at the G W T...Jesus is seated on the G W T...the lost of previous generations stand before Christ...2 sets of books: one containing the names of those who have trusted in Jesus as Savior; the other: the deeds of men...Because these people had rejected Christ, they were being judged out of the books of their deeds: REVELATION 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Confirming the axiom: Born once, die twice; Born twice, die once.
Make no mistake about it: There are different destinies for the saved and the unsaved... Both will be resurrected...Both will be given bodies that will last eternally...Both will face judgment...But that is where the similarities end...For as Jesus makes plain in JOHN 5:28-29, there are different destinies for the saved and the lost: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
Kind of blows a whole in that theory that we’re all headed to the same place, huh?
D. Satan Will Be Finished
Look up to verse 10 of Revelation 20: REVELATION 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
No more liar…accuser...murderer...deceiver.
I don’t know about you, but I get some pleasure and satisfaction to know that Satan will be finished once and for all.
CONCLUSION
The trials in the courts of this world will pale in comparison to the judgment that is yet to come upon mankind of all the ages...It is a real and certain event...No one will escape this judgment.
And the decision you make today may very well determine which judgment you face.
Reject Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary...refuse the gift of eternal life made available through the grace and the love of God...Decline God's offer for the pardon and forgiveness of your sins, and your fate is determined....You will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ at the G W T.
Accept Jesus Christ, and you won't have to wonder or worry about that judgement...BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED.
Saved person: Rejoice in the knowledge and assurance of the security of your soul, resting firmly in the marvelous, matchless grace of Jesus...BUT Keep in mind: Our works will be judged, and our faithful efforts will be rewarded.
• What are you doing for the Lord?...Can you truly say that the things that occupy most of your time and attention have eternal value?...Will your works make it through or be consumed by the fire?
Every time you watch the coverage of some sensationalistic trial in the coming days, weeks and months--I hope you are reminded of this message and the REALITY...the ROLES...and the RESOLUTION of JUDGMENT...and that you remember that your judgment day is coming.
