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for my path.
Psalms 119:105


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THE JUDGMENT DAY


“The term judgment signifies more than simply the rendering of a verdict. It includes the idea of a trial, as well as a decision based upon that trial. And this is true not only of the English word judgment, but also of the Greek word which it translates.
The term day, both in the Scriptures and in common usage, though most frequently used to represent a period of twelve or twenty-four hours, really signifies any definite or special period of time. Thus, for instance, we speak of Luther’s Day, Washington’s Day, and in Scripture read of the ‘day of salvation,’ the ‘day of trouble,’ etc.


While the Scriptures speak of a great judgment or trial day yet future, and show that the masses of mankind are to have their complete trial and final sentence in that day, they also teach that there have been other judgment days, during 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 its head, Adam, stood on trial before God. The result of that trial was the verdict — Guilty, disobedient, unworthy of life; and the penalty inflicted was death.

The Jewish Age was another Judgment Day, in which a class, spoken of in the Bible as the ‘House of Servants,’ was tried and judged.”


“The Gospel Age again is a Judgment Day, and in it the Church is being tried and its members one by one judged and sentenced as either worthy or unworthy of being joint heirs with Christ.”


After the resurrection, the whole race of mankind will be again tried. Not collectively in Adam this time, but each one individually, and each will be judged either worthy or unworthy of life, but it will be life as human beings, life upon the earth.

To those judged worthy the sentence will be, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matt. 25:34)


To those judged unworthy it will be, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting [destruction]” (Matt. 25:41; cf., Acts 3:23; Rev. 20:14, the second death.


SCRIPTURES SHOWING THAT THE COMING JUDGMENT DAY IS A DAY OF BLESSING RATHER THAN OF 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 ye 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 shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Ps. 9:7-9)


Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice. Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. (Ps. 96:11-13)


Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Ps. 98:7-9)

SCRIPTURES SHOWING THAT THE CHURCH IS BEING JUDGED NOW


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 Tim. 5:24)


For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Pet. 4:17)

 

SHOWING THAT THE CHURCH, WITH CHRIST, IS TO JUDGE THE WORLD


Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)


Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Cor. 6:2,3)


And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh 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 14,15)


OTHER SCRIPTURES, SHOWING HOW MINUTE THE WORK OF THE JUDGMENT DAY 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 hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)


But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Rom. 14:10)


In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Rom. 2:16)


For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Eccle. 12:14)


For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto 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. (Rev. 14:7)

 

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