By
Jimmy E. Lathan
The end of all
things as we know it is at hand. We know from the study of the Holy Scriptures
that we are living in the last of the last days. And as the end of this age approaches,
the Holy Scriptures faithfully points us to the Judgments of our God. It is
natural for sinful men not to think of a God who is going to judge them some
day. Satan and the powers of darkness are constantly working so that men will
never know until it is too late. But what about us who are Christian; We who
know that there is a day of judgment to come, how do we live, and think in the
light of this truth? We say we believe in the Day of Judgment, but do we really
believe in the Day of Judgment? Think of it: Do we as “Christians” live, think,
and speak as if we are in the last days and are swiftly approaching the day of
reckoning? Many times I have thought on this as I am sure you have as well; I
have tried to imagine what it is going to be like on the day when God shall
judge the secrets of men’s hearts by Jesus Christ. Recently as I thought on the
subject of the Judgment to come, I have had to ask myself in all honesty: Do I
really believe in the day of God’s awesome and dreadful judgment? I think that
often we are too quick to answer such a serious question and we don’t seem to
take into account our lifestyles in light of the judgment to come. Maybe we
have convinced ourselves that we believe something we really don’t. We know
that the world lies in darkness, because Satan has blinded their minds to light
of the Gospel, but what of us; what is our excuse for living so worldly, and
are so dominated by the flesh and yet we say we believe in the day of judgment.
Are we under a delusion of thinking that attending church every Sunday morning
that we are true saints of God while we live to ourselves, and worldly pursuits
the rest of the week? My brothers and sisters, if this is true of us, then I
would say we really do not believe in the judgment to come; or at least not
like we should. If only we believed that we would give an account like we
should believe it; O how it would change our lives; O how life’s distraction
won’t distract us so easily; O how life’s attractions will lose it’s pull on
our lives; O how we would set our affections on things above.
What of our
Elders and Church-Leaders: Do they preach as if there is a day of judgment to
come? I can not remember the last time I have heard a message on Hell, or the
judgment to come. The message of judgment is a lost and a forgotten message; a
message for a generation of an archaic age, and not for the twenty-first
century, backslidden, apostate, “purpose-driven”,
church of today. Keith Green once said in a conversation with friend, and
mentor, Leonard Ravenhill: “. . . All roads lead to the judgment” this
statement is true; it is true of the saint as well as the sinner. We as
Christians need to be concerned about the Day of Judgment, and not be
high-minded or arrogant. There is something to be feared in god for the saint
as well as the sinner. And because of the fear of the Lord, we should be ever
conscience of the reality of that day as the apostle Paul was. The apostles
were not only motivated by love but also by fear; fear of that day when they before
angels, cherubim, seraphim, and all the sainted dead of all ages will give an
account before the one who has eyes as a flame of fire.
I. The judgment on sin.
II. The
judgment of the believer.
III. The
judgment of the nation of
IV. The
judgment of the gentile nations.
V. The
judgment of the wicked dead.
THE JUDGMENT ON
SIN
This judgment
took place on the cross as our Lord Jesus offered up himself a Holy sacrifice
to bear the penalty for sin. In the epistle of first Peter chapter three, verse
eighteen, we read, “For
Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit.”
This was the primary purpose of his first coming. He came to die in our place
for our sins. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter fifty-three which is
one of the greatest chapters in all of the word of God; verse six reads, “All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquity of us all.” This WAS THE reason for HIS
FIRST coming to this planet was to address the sin question. God who is holy
could not overlook our guilt and shame; his holiness required him to judge us
for the broken commandment. How would God provide salvation for man, and at the
same time judge sin? This would seem like the greatest of all dilemmas of the
universe. But it was all planned out in eternity past that god would provide a
Lamb for himself; a lamb that would bear our sins in our place and be judged
for our sins so that we could go free from the AWFUL penalty of our sins. In
the book of Romans chapter eight, verse three we read these wonderful words, “for what the law
could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” The
problem between God and man is sin. This is the issue when we are faced with
THE QUESTION: what must WE do to be reconciled to God. The PENALTY FOR sin must
first and foremost be dealt with and this is why Jesus came to take away our
sins. John the beloved writes is first
general epistle, chapter two, verse two, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” God judged sin in
the Savior on the cross so that whosoever comes to him by faith in the finished
work of Christ, can be pardon and justified from all sin. Now having been
justified by his blood, we shall be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
life.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVERS
“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present
or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things dOne in the body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:9-10. Hear is
where it will all culminate, at the judgment seat or, “Bema seat.” The bema seat in
ancient times was a place WHERE an umpire judge would sit in the Greek games.
He would watch attentively all contestants whether they were runners, or the
wrestlers, etc. to see if all are striving lawfully, and to be able to
disqualify a contestant if necessary and to reward the VICTOR. Paul said in II
Timothy 2:5, “And
if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive
lawfully.” Paul had in view the judgment of believers before the
Bema seat of Christ when all the sainted dead in Christ will be assembled
before him. But there was something about this day that Paul understood that
I’m afraid we in the 21st. century seem to lack in our
understanding. Notice the next verse after verse ten in II Corinthians five; “Knowing therefore
the terror of the Lord, we
persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made
manifest in your consciences.” (vs. 11) What was it that terrified
Paul about the judgment set of Christ that doesn’t seem to shock and terrify
none in the Church of today? What ever the first century believers understood
about that day, we need to understand about that day.
This judgment of
the believers will involve THEIR works, not whether or not he or she will be
saved. This question was settled for them in their lives on earth when they
came to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The judgment of the Christian
will display his or her works before all to see what the real substance of our
works is. Our motives, intentions, and our obedience will be judged before all.
Paul warned us of how we SHOULD build on the true foundation. First, he says in
I Corinthians 3: 11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
is Jesus Christ.” Paul continues with the succeeding verse; “Now if any man
build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because
it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what
sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (vs.12-15). the
ancient Greek runner who would prevail received a “laurel leaves” in the shape
of a crown. This is a corruptible crown, but we as believers can obtain an
incorruptible crown, and an inheritance that fades not away. What are our lives
producing gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble? Why do
we do the things that we do if we do anything at all? Should we be content with
faithful Church attendance, or should we take comfort and security in the denomination
we associate with? Will our lives go up in smoke before the Lord, and all of
the holy angels on that day? One thing we must bear in mind is that the Lord
God doesn’t judge us according to our own assessment. We may think that we are
doing REALLY well because we may teach a Sunday school class, or usher, or
preach, or sing in the choir, but not necessarily, we may do one or all of
these things and still bring forth wood, hay, and stubble. Is it really worth
it that we be ashamed on that day, and not receive all of the crowns we should
have, or worse yet, no crown at all?
THE CROWNS OF REWARD
According to the
Holy Scriptures, there are five crowns that will be given to those who ARE able
to obtain them. Just as the contestant of the Greek games assembled before the
Bema to receive the laurels crown, we will assemble to be given a victor’s
crown on that day. The greatest joy of receiving as many crowns as we can is
that there will be more to lay at the master’s feet on that glorious day. He is
King of kings, and Lord or lords.
- The crown of life.
This is the Martyr’s crown, and mentioned twice in Scripture. In the
book of
- The crown of glory.
This crown seems to be for the Elder’s, or the Pastor’s who faithfully
preach the word of God without compromise, or fear of men. This crown will not
be giving to those who squandered the people for the sake of filthy lucre. In the
first epistle of the apostle Peter 5: 2-4 he writes, “Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Sheppard shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” This is the crown
that awaits every true and faithful Gospel preacher. The sacrifices that are
made; the toil; the labor; the long hours; the hospital visits; the praying for
the sick and afflicted will not be in vain on that day. Those faithful
ministers will see that it was all worth it, because it was for Jesus sake.
3.
The crown of rejoicing.
This crown is for those who win souls to the Lord. Those who we
personally brought to the Lord, or had a part in the support of such, will
receive this wonderful crown. It can not be overstated the worth of a precious
soul that will live forever in a state of bliss and glory; or in agonizing,
fiery torment forever. The bible says in Proverbs 15:11; “Hell and destruction are before the Lord. . .”
God see everyone who is slipping into Hell, and he is angry at our
lack of concern, and self-centered lives that demonstrate no concern for our
fellowman who we know is on his way to this place called, Hell. We are indebted
to all men to take the gospel to them, because all are under the wrath of God
until they turn from their sins to Christ, and his finished work. I
Thessalonians 2:19-20 says, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of out Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our
glory and joy.”
4. The crown of
righteousness.
This is the crown for those who love his appearing. Some will be ashamed
of his appearing. Will you and I be ashamed when Christ returns for his Church?
If we are not ashamed on that day of his return, we will immediately receive
this crown that will never perish. In 2 Timothy 4:8 we read, “Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing.” The righteous judge shall give a crown of
righteousness to those who are waiting for his return.
5.
The “incorruptible” crown.
In the book of first Peter chapter one, verse four says, “To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you.” This is the victor’s crown for those who keep their bodies
under subjection (I Corinthians 9:25-27); who do not yield to their fleshly
lust; who do not live in defilement of the body; who do not allow themselves to
lose site of the Harvest fields. Jesus said that we should raise our eyes upon
the fields, for they are white and falling to the ground. But there is some
else indicated in the Scriptures just beyond that harvest field; and that is a
gathering, and billowing storm clouds of the wrath of God Almighty. We can hear
the thunder in the not so distant future for we are in the last of the last
days. Do we really believe in the Day of Judgment? Do we really believe that
men are falling into Hellfire at this moment? Let us pray that we will have an
understanding of the Judgment to come, and know as Paul knew the terror of the Lord.
JUDGMENT ON THE NATION OF ISRAEL
The judgment of the church will
take place in heaven before the “Bema”, or
judgment seat of Christ. But the judgment of the Jews will take place on the
earth. The Jews are an earthly people with promises of an earthly kingdom, and
therefore their judgment must be an earthly judgment. The Church however is a
heavenly people, and therefore their judgment is reserved in the heavenlies.
The bases of their judgment is their rejection of God as there ruler. In the
days of Samuel the prophet they had rejected the Lord God and desired a king
like all the nations around them. In the book of first Samuel chapter eight,
verse seven we read, “And the Lord said unto Samuel, hearken unto the voice of the
people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but
they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
“Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at
once? For as soon as
THE JUDGMENT OF THE GENTILE NATIONS
The nations of the world are on a collision course with
the judgment of God. No nation on this planet will escape the judgment to come;
(this would also include
The judgment
of the “Goat”
nations that “. .
. did it not to one of the least of these my, ye did it not unto me. And these
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal.” The end of these
nations that did not feed, or clothe, or provide shelter, or visit the Jewish
remnant in the prison house is made clear according to the forty-six verse.
They shall be thrown into Hellfire to be punished forever and ever. The nations
that will be allowed to enter the thousand year reign of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ will enjoy the blessing of a world without hunger, disease,
murder, rape, war, and unrest. There will be enough resources for all. The
animals will also be affected by the glory of the Lord. There will be no animal
preying upon another, but “. . . The lion shall eat straw like the Ox.” (Isaiah
11)
THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED DEAD
None can deny that this is one of
the most disturbing of all the judgments that we have discussed thus far. This
is dooms day for all who have died in their sins. Those who are the subjects of
this judgment have already spent so time in Hell awaiting this official day of
reckoning. Those who die in their sins go to Hell and are tormented in Hellfire
until the day they must be judged by God, and officially sentenced and
punishment measured out according to their crimes. The righteous and the wicked
shall both have a resurrection. The resurrection of the just, will takes place
a thousand years before the resurrection of the wicked. And just as the just
shall receive bodies that can not be destroyed; the wicked also shall have
bodies that are indestructible. The resurrected bodies of the wicked shall not
bear the glories of that of the righteous in their bodies, for the righteous
shall have glorified bodies like the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the
resurrections, the soul and spirit of those who have experienced physical death
are reunited with their own bodies. In the case of the righteous, they will be
made totally perfect in every way, but in the case of the wicked dead, they will
be brought to a perfect ruin and thereby, rendered utterly useless as a vessel
that is of no use except to be destroyed. In the twentieth chapter of the book
of the Revelation, we have the most doleful, and horrifying picture that one
can imagine. First, we are told of the final end of the Devil and his angels in
verse ten, which reads, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.” We also are told in the
holy scriptures of another group of angels who rebelled in the days of Noah
when the Sons of God (The angels) married the daughters of men. In the second
epistle of the apostle Peter, we read in the second chapter, verse four, “For if God spared
not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into
chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” Also in the book
of St. Jude, he enlarges on the words of Peter when wrote, “And the angels which kept not their first
estate , but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains
under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Vs. 6) One can
only imagine the seen of that woeful day of eternal doom. There is no greater
description of that day than what we find in the book of the Revelation; I’ll
simply let the passage speak for itself. “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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake
of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Vs. 11-15)
The lake of
fire and brimstone is the final and eternal separation from God forever and
ever. This doesn’t mean that God’s presence will not be with them in one sense.
His presence will be felt, and experienced by the righteous, and the wicked.
But the righteous shall experience his love and fellowship to all eternity
while the wicked shall experience his wrath and displeasure as they are
tormented with fire and brimstone for ever and ever. In the book of Isaiah the
prophet, he gives us a graphic picture of the torment of those who are
eternally lost. In the sixty-sixth chapter, verse twenty-four, we read, “And they shall go
forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against
me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and
they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” The wicked are like the
troubled sea that can not rest. We can not imagine what eternity is, for we are
but finite creatures. But one thing we must understand about the condition of
the wicked, that just as with the righteous, their eternal condition will not
be altered. Unless there is some change in God, there will not be a change in
the plight of the wicked. God still hates sin, and his holy wrath must burn
against it forever in accord with his holy and pure nature. “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the
lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the
foundations of the mountains.” (Deuteronomy 32:22)
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