| by Rhoda Foust (Lehigh Acres, Florida) |
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| What is meant by “Judgment” anyway? Does it mean that anyone who is judged will be severely punished? Does it lead to destruction “? We are all familiar with the term “Judge”. We understand when one breaks the law of the land, he/she normally will stand before a judge in a court room, one who determines the cost of the offense. But is this what God’s judgments mean? In studying we find that in the Old Testament when the Hebrew word according to Strong’s concordance #0494 it means “act of deciding a case, decision, case, cause” etc. This word is used in Gen. 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” We find in many places that judgments are connected with a part of keeping God’s laws and His judgments. When the Hebrew word #08201 is used it means something a little different as in “act of judging”. Ex 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. But when the Hebrew word #04941 is used, it can mean, “manner, ordinance, fashion, plan, fitness, measure” etc. The scriptures below are examples. Lev. 26:46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. 26:32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day. Deu. 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that you live upon the earth. Deu. 6:20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, what mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Deu. 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: Here we find that judgments are also connected with the covenant God made with the people. A covenant is defined as: “a binding (legal) agreement or promise between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action”. When using the term “judgments” God refers to the people keeping the covenant made between Him and them. An example of this is found in 2 Chr.34:29-33. · 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. · 30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD. · 31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. · 32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. · 33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. The covenant was that if the people would do as they had agreed in Ex.19:3-8 He would fulfill all the promises of greatness He had made to them as we saw in De.12:1. · Ex.19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; · 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. · 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: · 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. · 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. · 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. The judgments God referred to were the details of the covenant. He would decide (judge) how well they kept their part of the covenant (agreement) and would determine what His decision would be toward their actions (attitudes), how well they kept their part of the covenant (agreement). If one wants to go into greater study of the terms “judgment” or “judging” there are many locations that can be found in any reference concordance. The above scriptures are for the purpose of laying ground work for the study of “the day of God’s judgment “, or “the Great White Throne Judgment”. When one is critical or condemning, we use the term that that person is “sitting in judgment” of someone. That isn’t that anyone is being punished or destroyed, but simply that a decision has been reached concerning the one being judged. However, when one of authority judges a perpetrator, he considers the details of the crime (sin) and to what penalty is to be paid depending on the seriousness of the offense. One may have run a red light resulting in a small penalty. One may have killed another person, making the offense more serious, deserving a larger penalty. On the other hand, one may be judged to receive a prize as a reward for having performed a heroic deed. There is much said about judgments in the Bible. · 1Sa 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. We see where judgment is perverted and also where it is practiced in justice. · 2Sa 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. God makes righteous judgments. · Isa 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. · Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. · Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. · Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. · Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. · Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. So we see that much judging is being made by man and God. But when does the great judgment of God begin on the whole world? In Jn.12:31 Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world”. Jesus explained to the unbelievers that judgment was beginning then and there and would lead to Satan being cast out. 1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Now the question: If we, who are believers, live a justified life, why would we have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ as Paul stated in Heb 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment “. The answer, of course, is that we are presently being judged as we have already saw. And how are we being judged? By our deeds (actions and attitudes). Jude says in v.14-15. · 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, · 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. How will these ungodly people be recognized? By the same as the Godly. Php 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other of my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. · Re 3:5 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. · Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. · Re 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. · Re 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. Before one is judged by their deeds, they have to have the opportunity to do deeds, either good or bad. God evidently has a method of keeping records of every one that has been given life and at some point, the judgment is made as to whether their name will be entered into the book of life. Since we are told many times in the scriptures that God is a righteous judge, a God of love and mercy we conclude that anyone who will be in this last judgment will have been given an opportunity to decide whether to follow the ways of a loving God or reject Him. Before judging the millions that have died without knowing God, He would have given them knowledge of Himself and His plan for mankind. They would have to know right from wrong to make the right or wrong choice. God would not, in His mercy, judge and condemn His innocent children to eternal death if they hadn’t first learned right from wrong. Below we see those who have died standing before God being judged according to their works. Rev. 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. These people who had been dead have to be living at the time of their being judged. They also have been given time before their death to do either good or bad deeds. Some who have done bad deeds could also have repented and accepted God’s way of life before their death just as we, as believers, have. Otherwise, God would not be a just, loving, merciful, and forgiving God. We will take a look at some of these people who died long ago and are presently dead. Jesus is sending some disciples out to witness to certain people who have already heard about Him. Mr 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. Lu 10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Jesus does not say that the people who refuse to accept the disciples are condemned to eternal life, or the lake of fire. What He does say is: it will be more tolerable for the sinners of Sodom than for these people, when they (both) are judged. Rev.20:13 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. This statement shows that sinners (nations such as Sodom) will be resurrected “in their lot” and given an opportunity to make a choice, (by their deeds), which will allow them to repent, to do either good or bad deeds, to determine whether their names will be written in the book of life or not. Daniel questioned about this subject and was told by an angel. · Dan.12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. · 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. · 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. · 13 But go your way till the end be; for you shall rest and stand in your lot (to your inheritance) at the end of days. Then we pick back up in Rev. Of course, this all takes place in a future age, at the end of days, prior to when the new city of Jerusalem appears from heaven. Jesus tells who can and cannot enter into this awesome city. · Re 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The next verse in Rev.22 shows us God sitting on a great white throne, the earth and the heaven no longer being found. We see that the second (eternal) death no longer is a curse to mankind. · 22:11 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. · 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. · 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. To better understand this study, it would help to understand the seven ages of mankind. However, the first 19 chapters of Revelation is about this age (Age 3). Then chapter 20 goes into the next age and extends on into the ages following the one-thousand-year period, leading us to the age when “all things will be made new” in chapter 21. In conclusion: God is not going to send anyone to burn in the lake of fire until He gives them time to make a decision, to do deeds of either bad or good. This will happen in a future age long after the fourth age or 1000 yr. Period, (when Satan will be bound). Mankind has a long time yet to make it into that great city, New Jerusalem when death will be no more. |
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