While "Waiting for Godot" to arrive, Vladymir (Didi) banters with Estragon (Gogo) about the two thieves crucified along with Christ. Didi recalls that one was saved and the other was . . . he can't seem to remember, oh yes, "damned."
Funny how such little things (such as damnation) seem to slip just to the edge of recall. In like manner the subject of coming judgment for most is not a matter of great importance--if it were on the tip of the tongue, the matter could be swallowed by accident--who would miss it? Or like Gogo's old carrot--the more one eats, the worse it gets, so it gets spit out. Most treat the subject of judgment the way Didi does with Gogo's bad dreams--we just don't want to hear it. This (universe) is enough for us.
Judgment is coming. Last post we observed that the judgment of the cross has come and gone, which produced two kinds of people: those who enjoy the benefits of that judgment, and those who will not. Those who reject the judgment of the cross take upon themselves the Great White Throne Judgment, as described in
Revelation 20:10-15: Satan will be the first cast into the lake of fire, followed by a resurrection and judgment of the unsaved dead. These souls will be raised from Hades and their bodies from death (the grave) or even the sea. They are then judged according to their evil works. Since their names are not found in the Book of Life, they are cast into the Lake of Fire, Gehenna, the final abode of the suffering ungodly forever.
So we have described different judgments: the judgment of the believer at the cross, and the judgment of the unbeliever at the Great White Throne.
The believer is judged in heaven (
1 Corinthians 3:8-15), or at least "in the air." The unbeliever is judged at a place where there is no heaven or earth, but before the Great White Throne (
Revelation 20:11). There are none saved at the Great White Throne, and there are no unsaved at the Bema Seat.
The "dead in Christ" are resurrected and the living saints meet Christ in the air (
1 Thessalonians 4:1-18;
1 Corinthians 15:23). At the Great White Throne, only the dead are called to appear (
Revelation 20:12).
As for results: rewards and loss of rewards (see previous post) for the believer. For the unbeliever, damnation. Unflinchingly and without second thought. If this is a problem, stop complaining about it and repent from your sins and put your faith and trust in what God has provided for you by the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ so you don't have to face this day. Either you want to jettison your sins and miss damnation, or you want to cling to all you have and welcome this judgment with full knowledge. That's all there is to it.
One would be correct to think that judgment is not one single event, but part of a divine program, involving several distinct events, at different times and places. With that in mind, let us not let the Judgment of the Nations slip our grasp, and for this we begin with
Matthew 25:31-46, to be studied in conjuntion with
Joel 3. Dr. Gerald McGraw writes, "It is conceivable that God's judgment of the Jews (
Mal. 3:2-6) should be considered as a prelude to the judgment of the Gentiles that will occur quite soon after Christ's return to the earth. The Jews seem to be described quite certainly by Christ in Matthew 25 as "my brethren" (
25:40).
Joel 3:1-3 declares that treatment of the Jews is an important criterion in this judgment." This final statement means that the Judgment of the Nations is based on works; that is, how the brethren, the Jews, are treated.
Who is involved in this Judgment of the Nations?
The judge is the Son of Man (
Matt 25:31), the Son of God (
Matt 25:34 ), the King (
Matt 25:34,
40);
The witnesses are the angels (
Matt 25:31), and the Christian (
1 Corinthians 6:2);
Those to be judged: all nations (
Matthew 25:32).
What does this judgment involve? Separation of evil from good (
Matthew 25:32) and evil from God (
Matthew 25:41).
What does this mean for those who reject Jesus and mistreat the Jews? For these unsaved individuals (nations are comprised of individuals), it means eternal damnation. Rightous nations, on the other hand, will enjoy the benefits of being the earthly population when Christ establishes his Millennial reign (
Matthew 25:34 ), which includes eternal life for all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (
Matthew 25:46).
So here we conclude with a judgment that occurs on the earth (
Joel 3) among the nations (described as sheep, goats and "brethren"). There is no resurrection in this judgment, but those living are held accountable--the righteous will enter the kingdom and those judged are hell-bound.
