Judgment Day
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
Hebrews 10:27 Hebrews 12:29 1 John 4:17-18 Romans 8:33-34 2 Timothy 4:8 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
Several biblical terms are closely related to the concept of the judgment day. These refer to the wrath of God, judgment, judging, condemn, punishment, penalty, vengeance, judgment seat, destruction, and ruin.
Old Testament Background The idea of the judgment day reaches back into the Old Testament concepts of divine judgment and the day of the Lord. See 1 Chronicles 27:24; 2 Chronicles 24:18; 2 Chronicles 29:8; Amos 3:2; Amos 5:18; Hosea 13:9-11 ) as well as her wicked rulers ( 1 Samuel 15:1; 2 Kings 23:26-27; 1 Chronicles 13:10; 2 Chronicles 19:2 ). Other individuals became the object of God's wrath: Moses ( Exodus 4:14 , Exodus 4:24; Deuteronomy 1:37 ); Aaron ( Deuteronomy 9:20 ), Miriam ( Numbers 12:9 ), Nadab and Abihu ( Leviticus 10:1-2 ). Surrounding nations and their rulers became objects of God's wrath ( Psalm 2:5 ,Psalms 2:5, 2:11; Psalm 110:5; Isaiah 13:3 ,Isaiah 13:3, 13:5 ,Isaiah 13:5, 13:9 ,Isaiah 13:9, 13:13; Jeremiah 50:13 ,Jeremiah 50:13, 50:15; Jeremiah 51:45; Ezekiel 25:14; Ezekiel 30:15 ).
His wrath is fierce ( Exodus 32:12; Ezra 10:14 ), is kindled like a fire ( Psalm 106:40 ), and waxes hot like molten wax ( Exodus 22:24; Exodus 32:10 ). A day of wrath was spoken of as a specific time in which God would act in temporal judgment ( Job 21:30; Proverbs 11:4; Ezekiel 7:12; Zephaniah 1:15 ,Zephaniah 1:15, 1:18 ). God's wrath came to be so closely identified with divine action in judgment that its character as an emotion in the being of God receded into the background.
Also significant is the concept of God as Judge rendering judgments. The Hebrew mishpat brings together the ideas of judging and ruling into a single concept focused in the authority of God as Sovereign over the nation of Israel and over creation. Thus He instituted divine law and renders righteous verdicts based upon it as well as enforcing its requirements ( Genesis 18:25; Psalm 89:27; Psalm 96:10 ,Psalms 96:10, 96:13; Psalm 98:9 ). Associated with this is the promise of a day when God will exercise His judgments with awesome power in the Day of the Lord ( Isaiah 24-26 ). The eschatological interpretation of this day is most evident in Daniel 7:22 ,Daniel 7:22, 7:27; Daniel 12:1-3 .
Intertestamental Period This orientation became more prominent in Jewish writings in the interbiblical period (Enoch 47:3; 90:2-27; 4Ezra 7:33; 12; Baruch 24; Testament of Benjamin 10:6-8; Judith 16:17 ). Judgment Day follows the resurrection of the dead and determines the eternal destiny of the righteous (either Paradise in Heaven or on a renewed earth, or life in the heavenly Jerusalem or in the heavenly Garden of Eden come down to earth) and of the wicked (Gehenna or some other place of eternal punishment) based on their obedience/disobedience to the law of God. Both Jews and Gentiles are included. Also angels will be judged as well as humans (Jubilees 5:3-16; Enoch 10:6; 16:1; 19:1; 90:20-27). God is usually pictured as the Judge although sometimes the Messiah is charged with this responsibility (Enoch 45:3; 69:27-29).
New Testament Development The New Testament builds on the foundation of the Old Testament and utilizes the language and imagery of the Jewish writings to present the full revelational picture of Judgment Day. As in the Old Testament, divine judgment is both a present and a future reality. Jesus' first coming represents a divine judgment ( John 3:19; John 9:39; John 12:31 ). Sinful humanity presently stands under divine condemnation ( John 3:36 ) and experiences in part now the wrath of God ( Romans 1:18-32 ). The people of God are chastised for their waywardness ( Hebrews 12:4-11; Proverbs 3:11-12 ), but that final divine verdict of judgment is yet to be carried out in a future day ( 1 John 4:17; John 5:24-29 ) by the Son of Man Himself ( John 12:48; John 5:22 ). Thus human activity in this life basically determines the verdict rendered in this future judgment.
In the great white throne judgment scene ( Revelation 20:11-15 ), the basis of judgment is first from the book of life ( Revelation 20:12 ,Revelation 20:12, 20:15 ) and then from the books of works ( Revelation 20:12-14 ). One's relationship with Christ is that determiner of eternal destiny ( John 3:36 ), but one's faithfulness to Christ is crucial to a genuine relationship with Christ ( James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:3-6 ). Very similar in emphasis is the parable of the sheep and goats ( Matthew 25:31-56 ). Pious deeds of devotion done to those in need stands as the distinguishing criterion between the sheep and the goats and settles their eternal destiny ( Matthew 25:46 ). Paul's discussion in Romans 2:1-16 underscores that demand for obedient commitment to Christ as well. The concept of retribution for good and bad is also applied to believers ( 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10 ), but the specifics of rewards and punishments are not stated. However, the New Testament is absolutely clear in declaring the certainty of Judgment Day from which no one will escape ( Acts 17:30-31 ). Thus comes the apostolic call to repentance and faith. See Day Of The Lord; Day Of Christ; Second Coming; Last Things; Hell; Heaven .
Lorin L. Cranford
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
a term generally used to designate that important day which is to terminate the present dispensation of grace; at the end of the world, when time shall be no more, and the eternal state of all men be unchangeably fixed ( 2 Peter 3:7).
I. Proof Of A General Judgment . — The arguments for this are these:
1. The justice of God requires it; for it is evident that this attribute is not clearly displayed in the dispensation of things in the present state ( 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7; Luke 14:14).
2. The accusations of natural conscience are testimonies in favor of this belief ( Romans 2:15; Daniel 5:5-6; Acts 24:25).
3. It may be concluded, from the relation men stand in to God, as creatures to a Creator. He has a right to give them a law, and to make them accountable for the breach of it ( Romans 14:12).
4. The resurrection of Christ is a certain proof of it. See Acts 17:31; Romans 14:9; Romans 14:5 . The Scripture, in a variety of places, sets it beyond all doubt ( Judges 1:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25; Romans 14:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). (See Last Judgment).
II. The Judge . — The Bible declares that God will judge the world by Jesus Christ ( Acts 17:31). The triune God will be the Judge, as to original authority, power, and right of judgment; but according to the economy settled between the three divine persons the work is assigned to the Son ( Romans 14:9-10), who will appear in his human nature ( John 5:27; Acts 17:3]), with great power and glory ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17); visible to every eye ( Revelation 1:7); penetrating every heart. ( 1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 2:16); with full authority over all ( Matthew 28:18) and acting with strict justice ( 2 Timothy 4:8). As far the concern of others in the judgment, angels will be no otherwise concerned than as attendants. gathering the elect, raising the dead. etc. But not as advising or judging. Saints are said to judge the world! not as cojudges with Christ, but as approvers of his sentence and as their holy lives ands exhortations will rise up in judgment against their wicked neighbors ( 1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
III. The Persons That Will Be Judged . — These will be men and devils. The righteous will probably be tried first as represented in Matthew 25. They will be raised first though perhaps not a thousand years before the rest, as some have supposed [see Millennium]; since the resurrection of all the bodies of the saints is spoken of as in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, in order to their meeting the Lord in the air, and being with him, not on earth, but forever in heaven ( 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
IV. The Rule Of Judgment . — We are informed that the books will be opened ( Revelation 20:12);
1. The book of divine omniscience ( Malachi 3:5 or remembrance ( Malachi 3:15);
2. The book of conscience ( Romans 2:16);
3. The book of Providence ( Romans 2:4-5); 4. The book of the Scriptures, law, and Gospel ( John 12:48; Romans 2:12; Romans 2:16);
5. The book of life ( Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15).
V. The Time Of Judgment .-The soul will be either happy or miserable immediately after death, but the general judgment will not be till after the resurrection ( Hebrews 9:27). There is a day appointed ( Acts 17:3), but it is unknown to men. (See Intermediate State).
VI. The Place .-This is also uncertain. Some suppose it will be in the air, because the judge will come in the clouds of heaven, and the living saints will then be changed, and the dead saints raised, and both be caught up to meet the Lord in the air ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Others think it will be on the earth, on the new earth, on which they will descend from the air with Christ. The place where, however, is of no consequence, when compared with the state in which we shall appear. As the Scriptures represent it as certain ( Ecclesiastes 11:9), universal ( 2 Corinthians 5:11), righteous ( Romans 2:5), decisive ( 1 Corinthians 15:52), and eternal as to its consequences ( Hebrews 6:2), let us be concerned for the welfare of our immortal interests, flee to the refuge set before us, improve our precious time, depend on the merits of the Redeemer, and adhere to the dictates of the divine Word, that we may be found of him in peace. See Bates, Works, p. 449; Hopkins and Stoddard, On The Last Judgment; Gill , Body Of Divinity, 2 , 467, 8vo; Boston, Fourfold State; 'Hervey, Works, new edition, 1, 72, 75; 2, 28, 223; 4, 155. (See Resurrection).
