Lesson 38 — The Seven Judgments of Scripture

1. 1 THE SEVEN JUDGMENTS OF SCRIPTURE

THE SEVEN JUDGMENTS OF SCRIPTURE

The Scriptures do not teach that there is a general judgment of all the righteous and wicked at the same time and place. There will be angels and different classes of men to be judged and each class will be judged separately and at different times. There has been and will be seven judgments for angels and men. We shall study them under the following headings: those judged, the time of the judgment, the place of the judgment, the basis of the judgment, and the result of the judgment. The seven judgments are as follows:

1. Subject: The believer as to sin Romans 6:10Hebrews 9:25-28.

2. Time: On the cross John 3:141 Peter 2:24John 17:4.

3. Place: Calvary Luke 23:33John 19:17-24.

4. Basis: Christ’s perfect work John 3:16John 5:24Romans 6:8.

5. Result: Death to Christ, justification to believers Romans 4:1-25Romans 5:1-11, 15Romans 8:1-16. This judgment deals with the believer as a sinner.

II. The Believer’s Judgment of Himself 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32

1. Subjects: Believers walking in the light 1 John 1:7.

2. Time: During this life Ephesians 4:22-32Colossians 3:5-17.

3. Place: In his own life Romans 8:1-16Hebrews 12:5-11.

4. Basis: Obedience to God and His Word James 1:22-25.

5. Result: Chastisement or approval from God Hebrews 12:5-11. This judgment deals with the believer as a son during his earthly pilgrimage.

III. The Judgment of the Believer’s Works Romans 14:102 Corinthians 5:10

1. Subjects: Believers Galatians 6:8Ephesians 6:8Colossians 3:242 Corinthians 5:10.

2. Time: Between the rapture and the second advent Luke 14:14.

3. Place: In Heaven 1 Corinthians 9:24-27Romans 14:102 Corinthians 5:10.

4. Basis: Works, both good and bad 1 Corinthians 3:11-152 Corinthians 5:10Matthew 16:27Romans 2:62 Timothy 4:14Revelation 2:23Revelation 22:12. Believers will be judged concerning:

(1) Doctrines Romans 2:14-16.

(2) Conduct to others (Mt. 18; Rom. 14).

(3) Carnal traits (Col. 3; Rom. 1-2; 8:1-13; 14:1-23).

(4) Words Matthew 12:32-37.

(5) Things that affect others: slander, quarrels, idle words, foolishness, joking, debts, broken promises, wrong dealings, etc. Romans 1:29-321 Corinthians 6:9-11Galatians 5:19-21Ephesians 4:1-32Ephesians 5:1-33Romans 12:1-21Romans 14:1-23.

(6) Things that affect themselves: neglected opportunities, talents wasted, loose living, lack of spirituality, etc. Romans 2:14-16Hebrews 2:1-4Galatians 5:1-26Galatians 6:1-10.

(7) Things that affect God: refusal to walk in the light, disobedience, rejection, failure to cooperate and yield to the Spirit, etc. Ephesians 4:1-32Ephesians 5:1-33.

5. Result: Reward or loss of reward, but never the loss of the soul for those wrong doings providing they have been forgiven 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. This judgment deals with the believer as a servant 2 Corinthians 5:10, 111 Corinthians 3:11-15.

6. Illustration: Analysis of the zeal of a candidate for a crown in glory.

The following analysis was taken from the experience of a prominent Christian worker who was successful above the ordinary minister. His church was crowded, souls were being saved and everything was going along fine. One day he went home after a successful Sunday at church and fell asleep in a parlor chair. An angel appeared to him and asked him, “How is your zeal?” He was proud of his zeal and answered, “Fine!” The angel then asked him for his zeal and he pulled it out of his bosom and gave it to him. The angel put it in a crucible and put a fire under it until it melted. He then poured it out on the hearth and it formed strata. He then broke it in pieces and put each piece on scales and weighed it and gave the following analysis to the minister:

TOTAL WEIGHT 100 POUNDS. Of this analysis there proves to be:

This Christian worker said his anger arose and he began to deny the truth of this analysis, but the angel walked toward the door, stopped and looked back with pity in his eyes and said, “May God save you,” and walked out the door. When the minister awoke the conviction seized his heart and he got down and prayed more to be saved from himself than he had ever prayed to be saved from Hell. He prayed until the refining fire of the Spirit purged him of self and thereafter he was a greater success than ever. This refining process is no doubt the greatest need of the modern church (Rom. 6; 12; Gal. 5; Col. 3; Eph. 4 and 5).

IV. The Judgment of Israel Ezekiel 20:33-44

1. Subjects: The living Jews Zechariah 12:10-13.

2. Time: During the Tribulation Jeremiah 30:3-11Matthew 24:15-22Daniel 9:27.

3. Place: Palestine, Edom and Moab Zechariah 12:4-13Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 14:1-21Ezekiel 20:33-44Hosea 2:14-17Matthew 24:15-31.

4. Basis: Obedience to God and His Word James 1:22-25.

5. Result: Conversion of Israel as a nation at the second coming of Christ Romans 11:25-29Zechariah 12:10–13Ezekiel 22:19-22Jeremiah 30:3-11Isaiah 66:7, 8Matthew 23:37-39.

1. Subjects: Gentile nations Matthew 25:32.

2. Time: At the revelation of Christ before the Millennium Matthew 25:31-46.

3. Place: Palestine Matthew 25:31Revelation 19:11-21.

4. Basis: Their treatment of Christ’s brethren—the Jews Matthew 25:31-46.

5. Result: Some saved to go into the Millennium and some destroyed Matthew 25:34, 41Matthew 13:41-50Matthew 24:51.

A study of Mt. 25:31-46 with Rev. 20:11-15 will reveal that this judgment is entirely different from the Great White Throne Judgment of Point VII, below. A few points of contrast are as follows:

Judgment of the Nations Great White Throne Judgment

1. 1 Living nations Matthew 25:31-46. 1. Wicked dead resurrected Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 Before the Millennium Matthew 25:41-46. 2. After the Millennium Revelation 20:1-15.

1. 1 Christ the judge Matthew 25:31. 3. God the judge Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 On Earth Matthew 25:31-46. 4. In Heaven Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 Two classes Matthew 25:31-46. 5. One class Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 Some saved Matthew 25:34Zechariah 14:16. 6. None saved Revelation 20:4-15.

1. 1 Some destroyed Matthew 25:41, 46. 7. All destroyed Revelation 20:4-15.

1. 1 No resurrection Matthew 25:32. 8. A resurrection Revelation 20:4-15.

1. 1 No books opened Matthew 25:31-46. 9. Books opened Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 Basis: sins, especially one sin— 10. Basis: sins of all the ages recorded in

persecution of Israel Matthew 25:31-46. the books Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 One generation Matthew 25:31-46. 11. All generations (Rev. 20:11-15; Acts

17:31).

1. 1 Gentiles only Matthew 25:32. 12. Jews and Gentiles (Rev. 20:11-15;

Acts 17:31).

1. 1 Angels help in this judgment 13. No angels mentioned at this judgment.

Matthew 13:42-50Matthew 24:31Matthew 25:31.

VI. The Judgment of Angels 2 Peter 2:4

1. Subjects: Fallen angels 2 Peter 2:4.

2. Time: After the Millennium 2 Peter 2:4Revelation 20:7-15.

3. Place: In Heaven Revelation 20:12.

4. Basis: Sins 2 Peter 2:4.

5. Result: Eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire Revelation 20:10Matthew 25:41.

Satan and demons will perhaps be judged at the same time Ephesians 6:12Mark 8:28Luke 8:31.

VII. The Great White Throne Judgment Revelation 20:11-15

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, smell 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” Revelation 20:11-15.

This passage will be fulfilled after the Millennium and the revolt of Saran, for immediately after these events Revelation 20:1-10 John saw a great white throne occupied by God, from whose face the Earth and Heaven fled away. This is no doubt the same throne seen throughout the book of Revelation. However, here is the only place that a description of the throne is given. God, the occupant of the throne, is described previously, but the throne itself is not Revelation 4:2-3, 9Revelation 5:1-14Revelation 6:16Revelation 7:7-9Revelation 14:1-5Revelation 19:4Revelation 21:5Revelation 22:1-5.

The Greek for “face” is prosopon, meaning “the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface, front view, outward appearance, face, and person.” It is used nine times in Revelation and is the only word translated as “face,” in the singular and plural. It shows that God has a real body and an outward appearance, as is proven in the passages in which it is used Revelation 4:7Revelation 7:11Revelation 9:7Revelation 10:1Revelation 11:16Revelation 12:14Revelation 22:4. This fact is further proven by its usage in the rest of the New Testament where it appears forty-eight times, and always refers to bodily presence, actual faces, or external appearance. The Earth and Heaven fleeing away will be dealt with in Lesson Fifty.

The fact that Christ and His throne are not mentioned here does not necessarily imply that they will be absent. Both Christ and the Father will be present and have a part in the final judgment. In its varied aspects, this judgment may be understood from the following facts in Scripture:

1. 1 The Judges

(1) God the Father is spoken of as the judge of all men Hebrews 12:23-24Hebrews 13:4Revelation 6:10Acts 17:30, 31Romans 2:12-16.

(2) God the Son is also spoken of as the judge of the world John 5:19-27Acts 10:42Acts 17:30, 312 Timothy 4:8.

(3) Both the Father and the Son will be judges Acts 17:31Romans 2:16.

(4) God the Father will judge by His Son Acts 17:31Romans 2:16.

(5) God the Father will decree; the Son will execute John 5:22-27John 2:5.

(6) The saints will have part in this judgment 1 Corinthians 6:2-3Revelation 3:21.

1. 1 The Subjects Judged

(1) Wicked men of the whole human race except the beast, false prophet, the goat nations, tares, etc., will be the subjects judged Acts 17:31Revelation 20:11-15. That those judged at the judgment of the nations will not be judged at the final judgment seems clear from Mt. 13:30, 39-43, 49, 50; 24:51; 25:30, 41, 46; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20, 21; 20:10. These already will have had sentence pronounced upon them a thousand years before the final judgment, so it would not be necessary to judge them again. The ones judged at this judgment will be the wicked dead of all ages, whereas those judged at the judgment of the nations will be the living nations on Earth at the return of Christ to set up His eternal Kingdom.

(2) The angels “that sinned” and “are now bound” in Tartarus will also be loosed from their long confinement in chains and be judged at this judgment 2 Peter 2:4.

1. 1 The Time of the Judgment

The time of this judgment will be after the Millennium and after the doom of Satan in the Lake of Fire is realized Revelation 20:7-15. It is called “the day of judgment” and so there must be a definite time set for it Matthew 10:15Matthew 11:24Matthew 12:36Acts 17:312 Peter 2:4.

1. 1 The Place of the Judgment

The judgment is to be before the great white throne of God, which will still be in Heaven, for it is not to come down to the Earth until after the renovation of the Earth by fire and after the New Heaven and the New Earth are completed Revelation 21:1-5. This seems to be proven further by 2 Pet. 3:7 where it states that the renovation of the Earth takes place during the final judgment. It seems to be pictured also in Rev. 20:11 at the same time of the final judgment.

1. 1 The Purpose of the Judgment

(1) To give every man a fair trial before his condemnation and punishment Acts 17:31.

(2) To judge the “secrets of men” Romans 2:16.

(3) To judge all idle words Matthew 12:36.

To judge all the works, thoughts, actions and sins of man 1 Timothy 5:241 Peter 1:17Revelation 20:12, 13Revelation 22:12Romans 2:5-6.

1. 1 The Basis of Judgment

(1) The law of conscience Romans 2:12-16Hebrews 10:27.

(2) The law of memory Luke 16:25.

(3) The Law of Moses Romans 2:12-16Revelation 20:11-15.

(4) The law of character Hebrews 3:8-10, 15Ephesians 4:19.

(5) The gospel Romans 2:12-16John 12:47, 48Revelation 20:11-15.

(6) All acts and words Matthew 12:36Luke 12:2-9John 3:18.

(7) The Book of Life Revelation 20:11-15.

A man who passes through this judgment will have no excuse or criticism of the sentence passed regardless of what the decision will be, for in a sense he will be his own judge. The actual manifestation of his failure to live up to his conscience, the law, or the gospel, the fact that his sins and misdeeds are like mountains before him, in his conscience and in his character, and the absence of his name in the Book of Life, will automatically condemn him.

The “books” mentioned in Rev. 20:12 do not refer to the records of men written in books and kept by a recording angel, for we have no knowledge of such in Scripture, but they contain the Word of God which is to judge man in the day of judgment, as seen above. The Book of Life is mentioned in Exod. 32:32-33; Ps. 69:25-29; Dan. 12:1; Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19, and has reference to the book in which the name of every man who is to enter into eternal life is recorded. This book alone will be sufficient to condemn a man. It will show such hypocrites as mentioned in Mt. 7:21-23 that their names are not written therein.

It is not clear from Rev. 20:11-15 what will be the basis of judgment for the angels in Tartarus, but they probably know upon what basis their judgment is to be as well as does man. It seems clear that only “the dead are judged out of those things which are written in the books,” and that they are judged “according to their works.” It is also clear that it will be an individual judgment, for it is recorded that “every man” will be judged according to his works.

The dead who are dealt with here could not include the angels, for the former are the occupants of “death and hell.” This proves that Hades, the present and temporary Hell, is different from the Lake of Fire or eternal Hell. The sinner is placed in Hades to await his committal to the Lake of Fire, even as the criminal is placed in a jail before he is tried and sentenced to the penitentiary. The sinner is guilty while in Hades, although he is not formally condemned before the final judgment. Therefore, he suffers fire in Hades as well as in the Lake of Fire Luke 16:19-31, just like a man suffers confinement in jail before he goes to the penitentiary.

1. 1 The Nature of the Judgment

It will be one of justice and righteousness to every man Psalms 9:82 Timothy 1:51 Peter 2:23. It will not be a spiritual, invisible, endless process of meting out to men as they sow, but it will be an outward and visible trial and judgment occurring at a particular time and place Hebrews 9:272 Peter 2:4-92 Peter 3:7-10Revelation 20:11-15.

1. 1 The Result of the Judgment

(1) If a person’s name is not written in the Book of Life, he will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Hades is the present abiding place for the souls of the wicked dead. It never means the grave where the body of man goes. It is a place of consciousness, where men are in torment until the resurrection, as we have seen in Lesson Thirty-seven. All human beings in Hades and in death, the angels in Tartarus, the demons in the Abyss and every rebel against God will be cast into the Lake of Fire to be punished forever and forever Revelation 2:11Revelation 14:9-11Revelation 20:10-15Revelation 21:8Mark 9:42-48Matthew 18:9Matthew 24:51Matthew 25:41, 46Isaiah 66:22-24.

(2) The degrees of punishment will be the result of this judgment, as degrees of reward will be the result of the judgment of the saints at the Judgment Seat of Christ Matthew 7:2Matthew 10:15Matthew 11:22-24Matthew 12:41-45Matthew 23:12-14Mark 6:11Luke 10:14Luke 11:31, 32Revelation 20:11-15. Hell, as far as the torment of fire is concerned, will be alike for all the lost, as much as Heaven, as far as bliss and comfort are concerned, will be alike for all the redeemed. The degrees of punishment will come through the torment of the conscience and the inward self over the deeds committed, which will eat more deeply into the innermost being as the ages come and go into the eternal future. This is just the opposite of the rewards for the saints, which will be ever increasing in glory and splendor as the ages come and go into all eternity.

1. 1 The Length of the Judgment

The judgment passed upon each individual will be eternal. The same terms that are used in describing the eternity of God are used in describing the eternity of Hell, so if one is eternal, the other one must be Isaiah 66:22-24Matthew 5:22, 29Matthew 10:28Matthew 13:42, 50Matthew 18:9Matthew 23:15, 33Matthew 24:51Matthew 25:30, 41Mark 9:42-48Luke 12:5Hebrews 6:2Hebrews 10:26-31Revelation 14:9-11Revelation 19:20Revelation 20:10-15Revelation 21:8. See Lesson Nine, Point VIII, 4 and Lesson Thirty-seven for arguments why man’s punishment must be eternal.