Jesus will be the Judge

---

THE AFTERLIFE: PART FOUR: THE JUDGMENT REVELATION 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Jesus will be the Judge; 2 TIMOTHY 4:1 …Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead… ACTS 10:42 And he commanded us … testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. JOHN 5: 27 And [the Father] has given [Jesus Christ] authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Whom will be judged? All humans; REVELATION 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. The fallen angels; JUDE 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority…he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day-The devil; REVELATION 20:10 …and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Righteous angels; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? Scripture speaks of an all-encompassing judgment; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?... HEBREWS 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Every unbeliever will be repaid according to his works; ROMANS 2:6 He will render to each one according to his works: REVELATION 20:13 …and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Their punishment will be in varying degrees, according to their sins; MATTHEW 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. LUKE 20:46-47 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Everything will be exposed at the judgment; MATTHEW 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ECCLESIASTES 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. LUKE 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. JUDE 1:14-15 …"Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Believers will also be judged according to what we’ve done; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Believers will receive a judgment for the purpose of rewards; JOHN 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Believers will not be judged for sin—that has been put away by Christ; MICAH 7:19 …he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. PSALM 103:12 …as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. ISAIAH 43:25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. HEBREWS 8:12 …I will remember their sins no more. Believers’ judgment will be for assessing rewards; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-15 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. The giving of rewards in light of the removal of our sin nature should cause us to devote ourselves to stirring up others for the purpose of their rewards; HEBREWS 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Why a final judgment? PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The judgment will be the ultimate display of God’s holiness and grace; 1 PETER 1:17 …[the] Father…judges impartially according to each one's deeds… All complaining against God will cease; ROMANS 3:19 …every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Complaining will be turned to praise; REVELATION 19:1-2 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just..."

Application 1. The final judgment satisfies our inward sense of need for justice in the world COLOSSIANS 3:25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 PETER 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 2. The final judgment enables us to forgive others freely and completely ROMANS 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 3. The final judgment provides a motive for righteous living MATTHEW 6:20 …lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 4. The final judgment should be great motivation for evangelism