The term “judgment” signifies more than simply rendering a verdict. It includes the idea of a trial and a decision based on that trial. This is true of the English word “judgment” and also the original Greek word translated as “judgment”.
The term “day” signifies a definite period of time. For example, we speak of “in Washington’s day” and in Scriptures we have the “day of salvation” or the “day of trouble”, etc.
The Scriptures speak of a great judgment or trial day in the future and show that all mankind will have their complete trial and final sentence in that day. The scriptures also teach there have been other judgment days in which certain elect classes have been on trial.
The first great judgment (trial and sentence) was at the beginning, in Eden, when the whole human race (as represented in Adam) stood on trial before God. The result of the trial was a guilty verdict; disobedient, unworthy of life. The penalty was death.
The Jewish Age was another Judgment Day in which the class spoken of in the Bible as “the house of servants” was tried and judged.
The Gospel Age is another Judgment Day in which the Church was tried, judged, and sentenced as either worthy or unworthy of being “joint heirs with Christ”.
After the resurrection, all of mankind will be tried again. This time it will be individually. Each will be judged worthy or unworthy of eternal human life on earth. The sentence of those judged worthy will be:
...” Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)
To the unworthy it will be complete destruction in the second death:
…” Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)
Scriptures That Show Judgment Day is a Blessing Not a Terror
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:12-14)
But the LORD will endure for ever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. And he will judge the world in righteousness, he will minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalms 9:7-9)
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of them. Let the field be joyful, and all that is there: then will all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Psalms 96:11-13)
Let the sea roar, and the fullness of them; the world, and they that dwell there. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness will he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalms 98:7-9)
Scriptures Showing the Church is Judged in the Gospel Age
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. (John 9:39)
Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. (1 Timothy 5:24)
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what will the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
Scriptures Showing the Church and Christ will Judge the World
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; where he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? and if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we will judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2,3)
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, 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. (Jude 1:14,15)
Scriptures Showing How Minute the Work of Judgment Will be
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
But why do you judge your brother? or why do you look down at your brother? for we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)
In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16)
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: (John 5:22)
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:7)
The term “day” signifies a definite period of time. For example, we speak of “in Washington’s day” and in Scriptures we have the “day of salvation” or the “day of trouble”, etc.
The Scriptures speak of a great judgment or trial day in the future and show that all mankind will have their complete trial and final sentence in that day. The scriptures also teach there have been other judgment days in which certain elect classes have been on trial.
The first great judgment (trial and sentence) was at the beginning, in Eden, when the whole human race (as represented in Adam) stood on trial before God. The result of the trial was a guilty verdict; disobedient, unworthy of life. The penalty was death.
The Jewish Age was another Judgment Day in which the class spoken of in the Bible as “the house of servants” was tried and judged.
The Gospel Age is another Judgment Day in which the Church was tried, judged, and sentenced as either worthy or unworthy of being “joint heirs with Christ”.
After the resurrection, all of mankind will be tried again. This time it will be individually. Each will be judged worthy or unworthy of eternal human life on earth. The sentence of those judged worthy will be:
...” Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)
To the unworthy it will be complete destruction in the second death:
…” Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)
Scriptures That Show Judgment Day is a Blessing Not a Terror
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:12-14)
But the LORD will endure for ever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. And he will judge the world in righteousness, he will minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalms 9:7-9)
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of them. Let the field be joyful, and all that is there: then will all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Psalms 96:11-13)
Let the sea roar, and the fullness of them; the world, and they that dwell there. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness will he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalms 98:7-9)
Scriptures Showing the Church is Judged in the Gospel Age
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. (John 9:39)
Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. (1 Timothy 5:24)
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what will the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
Scriptures Showing the Church and Christ will Judge the World
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; where he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? and if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we will judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2,3)
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, 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. (Jude 1:14,15)
Scriptures Showing How Minute the Work of Judgment Will be
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
But why do you judge your brother? or why do you look down at your brother? for we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10)
In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16)
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: (John 5:22)
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:7)
