62. When does the judgment happen?
The timing of the judgment according to Daniel's vision and other Old Covenant scriptures is not something most people are aware of...
Daniel first emphatically tells us the overall time period for the End Time in chapter 9
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate." NKJV
Brethren ISRAEL knew its destruction was promised shortly after Messiah came in AD30 ...and died in AD33.
ISRAEL also knew that JUDGMENT on the nation was to happen shortly after this time....AND also on all Israelites waiting in the grave.
Dan 12:1 "At that time (the time of the end or the latter time) Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation, (THE GREAT TRIBULATION of Revelations)
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book. (This is comprehensively dealt with in Revelations 20:12-15)
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, (THE RESURRECTION of Revelations 20:4-6)
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt. (THE JUDGMENT of Revelations 20:12-15)
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,"How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"
7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when
the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. NKJV
When these verses are looked at in parallel to Mat 23:29 - Mat 25:46 and Revelations 20 it becomes clear that they are talking about ONE AND THE SAME SERIES of events... including the TRIBULATION, RESURRECTION and the JUDGMENT ... ALL of which were IMMINENT in AD 33...after Messiah was cut off (Dan 9:26).
AND that ALL of these would need to have been be fulfilled before the DESTRUCTION of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70 (Dan 12:7)
Jesus confirmed that the timing would be soon...and in the age they were living in under the Law (refer Mat 13:40-42 and Mat 16:27-28)
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. NKJV
John 16:8 And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. NKJV
Brethren, just as the Holy Spirit CAME in AD 33 at Pentecost ... so surely 2000 years later we are not still waiting for the ruler of the world to be judged (John 16:11) ...this happened in AD 70.
(Ask yourself who the ruler of this world was...It certainly was NOT God. The answer is found in 1 Cor 2:6-8...it was the force of evil which led the Jewish nation to reject and kill her Messiah...and was SHORTLY after that judged and destroyed in AD 70...ie Satan)
Peter and all the apostles as ISRAELITES knew the IMMINENCE in their epistles ...
1 Peter 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. NKJV ... written to 'the pilgrims of the Dispersion' or otherwise known as 'the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Mat 10:6 and 15:24)
1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? NKJV
James 5:9 Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! NKJV ... written to 'the Twelve Tribes which were scattered abroad' circa AD60.
Match this with the TIMING of the CONCLUSION of ALL things in Revelations....as spoken to the 7 EARLY CHURCHES in approx AD 65. (not to us some 2000 years later)
Revelations as a book was a prophecy to the persecuted EARLY CHURCH... those named in Chapters 2 and 3 but it would have been circulated to ALL the churches of that time. The persecution of the church by the Jews and Romans was promised by Jesus, and was recorded throughout the Book of Acts....and also in many epistles like Thessalonians, James and Peter.
Rev 22:6 Then he said to me,"These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me,"See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." 10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly."
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! NKJV
Brethren, Jesus in Revelations, was telling the CHURCH of AD65 .....about something that was relevant to THEM because it was SOON to happen TO THEM.
This CANNOT BE referring to an event that is (supposedly) still to happen some 2000 or so years later.
Please note that in verse 12 above Jesus says He is coming quickly AND His reward is with Him... 'to give to everyone according to his work'. According to Jesus the judgment of the dead, where they were to be judged according to their works (also as described in detail in Revelations chapter 20 vs 11-13), happened when He returned to judge Israel and Jerusalem (Mat 16:27-28). It is hard to see that this could be anything other than the same judgement as the white throne judgment of Revelations 20 vs 11 and 13 where 'the dead were judged according to their works'. Yet today many christians still believe that this judgment is still future and to come on us as believers who are now saved by GRACE.. and not of works? (Eph2:4-9)
(Please also compare Dan 7:9-10 with the White Throne Judgement....and Dan 7:13-14 of Christ's Coming on the clouds ...establishing His world-wide kingdom's dominion in Dan 7:27. What was prophecied in Daniel was fulfilled in Revelations 1 and 20:11-15 ....as Jesus himself had propecied in Mat 23:31-Mat 25:46)
(Today we can confirm this by looking at secular contemporaneous historical records specifically Flavius Josephus - the Wars of the Jews Books 4 and 5)
Those who teach that the coming of Jesus ... and the white throne judgment are events still to happen 2000 YEARS LATER, are taking the grave risk of being guilty of taking away words from the book....specifically those words that relate to the IMMINENCE of these events IN AD 65.
Please note that after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed these events CEASED to be imminent as all of the prophecies LINK these key events as the sign of the JUDGMENT.
Please note that Matthew 25 follows IMMEDIATELY after chapter 24 which ends discussing JUDGMENT of servants. Mat 25 also starts with a key word..."THEN" ie the text tells us it is not speaking of events including a separate judgment which would 'then' happen some 2000 years later as is believed by many today.
This is easily refuted when we examine the detailed interconnection of the passages...
in verse 6, 13, vs 19 and vs 31 it speaks of the Son of Man COMING ... the same coming as also spoken of in Mat 24:30 &44 ... and Daniel 7:13
in verse 30 it speaks of the judgment on the unprofitable servants ... as also addressed in Mat 24:51 ... and Daniel 12:2-3
in verse 46 it speaks of the goats going into everlasting punishment...and the righteous shining as spoken of in Daniel 12:2-3 & Mat 13:40-43
These all had to have happened before AD 70 as Daniel and Jesus and the apostles in their epistles emphatically and repeatedly state. What basis then is there for the church almost 2000 years later still to be waiting for this to happen... or even to be repeated! (Other than ignorance of history ... and the scriptures?)
John 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." NKJV
Because of Israel's rejection of her Messiah the light was from then on to be made available to the Gentile nations as well ...ie ALL
John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. NKJV
This was the judgment all of the Old Testament prophets including Malachi had warned ISRAEL about.
Mal 4:1
"For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Says the LORD of hosts,
"That will leave them neither root nor branch. NKJV
John the Baptist came as the messenger (Mal 3:1 4:5) to warn THAT GENERATION of Israelites to prepare for 'the great and terrible day of the Lord'.
It is hard to deny that this judgment and the consequences were not meted out in AD 70. The Jewish priesthood genealogical records were all destroyed leaving them with ...'neither root nor branch'.
For those who do not believe that the Book of Revelations was written prior to AD 70, please read Ken Gentry's 400 page thesis book on the dating of the book of Revelations....it is a powerful refutation of the AD 95 plus date claimed by sceptics. The sole basis for believing this is a mistranslation of Irenaeus (one of the early church 'fathers') statement about when John was last seen. Remember that this same Irenaeus was patently wrong when he stated that Jesus lived for 50 years and ministered for 15 years! (the choice is to believe Jesus and the numerous scriptures promising His return in THAT GENERATION ... or believing people who I would suggest have deliberately wrongly interpreted a comment by Irenaeus)
BUT if you still choose to believe Revelations was written in AD 95 ... please tell what events the book was warning the church of that were SOON to happen at that time? What major city was destroyed around that period ... one in which Christ was crucified? (Rev 11:8) What massive war and destruction and judgment occurred involving Israel or any other nation SOON after AD 95? (History records NONE)
(and surely if one does not accept the LITERAL emphatic scriptural context and imperative about the timing of the book of Revelations along with all the words of Jesus and the apostles about the timing ... surely then all such teachings as to how the figurative prophetic imagery and details could apply to a far future generation (now some 50 generations later) are no more than meaningless and unsupported out of context personal speculations?)
Why did the Jews have to be thrust out in JUDGMENT first?
Matt 22:1-14
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding ; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding ."' 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen." NKJV
God had to DIVORCE unbelieving and unrepentant Judah and Jerusalem first ...before the Gentiles and the remnant could be invited to the WEDDING feast. Refer Malachi 2:10-17.
Judah and Jerusalem (the southern kingdom of Israel) was the HARLOT of Revelations (chapt 16-19). The scriptural word for HARLOT requires that she IS A WIFE (one in a covenant relationship with her husband) who then commits adultery. ISRAEL alone was married to God under the OLD Covenant.
Jer 3:20
20 Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,
So have you dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel ," says the LORD. NKJV
Hos 9:1
Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples,
For you have played the harlot against your God. NKJV
Hos 9:7
7 The days of punishment have come;
The days of recompense have come.
Israel knows! NKJV
Jer 3:8 And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. ASV
Judah had not learned from the judgment on the 10 tribes of Israel ... and in AD 70 she was given a 'seven (Lev 26:18, 21, 24 and 28) sealed scroll' (Revelations Chapt 6) which was her bill of divorcement!
Please consider the Law's punishment for adulters being STONING....Jerusalem was showered with huge stones (white marble that looked like hail ...each weighing one talent as per Josephus and Rev 16:21)
The New Jerusalem is the NEW Covenant coming down from heaven where Christ is married to the BRIDE being the church (see also Heb 11:10)
Gal 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar — 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children — 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. NKJV
WE as believers are the church today and are UNITED with Christ and ONE with HIM .... as a bride and her husband are one!
1 Cor 6:16-17
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. NKJV
Eph 5:25-32
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. NKJV
Jerusalem's destruction opened the door to the Gentiles ...but only those who received Christ's righteousness
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said,"It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. NKJV
Please note that the judgement which happens now is ...'if you reject the gospel YOU JUDGE YOURSELF UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE!'
Matt 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." NKJV
The kingdom had to be purged of the wicked and unbelieving Jews.
Matt 13:40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! NKJV
The church was only able to be clearly understood AFTER the temple and its sacrifices and priesthood were DESTROYED.
God in all His fullness now dwelt in the heart of believers who were forever purified by the ultimate and pefect sacrifice of Jesus allowing direct and intimate relationship with all His children where Jesus himself would forever be our high priest seated on the throne!
The Parable of the Talents (or Minas) makes a few key comments on timing... ie it was NOT immediate certainly but it was within the lifetime of those who rejected HIS LORDSHIP
Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'
15 "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, .........(Dan 7:13-14)
26'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'" NKJV
Please note that this was done in the lifetime of THOSE ENEMIES... the Jews who rejected Jesus were the recipients of the judgment.
John 19:15 Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered,"We have no king but Caesar!" NKJV
Jesus returned and DESTROYED His enemies in AD 70.....and from that time the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN has ruled over the whole earth in the spiritual realm...not just Israel.
Ps 110:1-2 (also Mat 22:44, Acts 2:53, Heb 1:13 and Heb 10:13)
The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool ."
2 The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies! NKJV
Now compare this with Paul's words below... and the two scriptures above....and THEN read Revelations 6-19...these all speak of the SAME EVENT.
1 Cor 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death . 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." NKJV
this is completed ...
Heb 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. NKJV
The promise is fulfilled in the New Covenant..
Isa 66:1 Thus says the LORD ;
"Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
2 For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,"
Says the LORD.
"But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.
NKJV
Today we are called to pray
Matt 6:9-13
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
TILL HIS KINGDOM IS MANIFEST ON EARTH FULLY!
Surely there will be a judgment for all in the New Testament as well? or
What about the BEMA Judgement seat?
The most powerful and direct New Testament scripture addressed to us as NEW covenant believers regarding judgment should always be our starting point...
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
From this cast iron position... we can now understand what Paul is saying in the verse below because we KNOW that he cannot be contradicting what Jesus so emphatically stated. Paul in the context of 2 Corinthians chapters 3-5 is contrasting the Old Covenant which HE and all other JEWS of that time were STILL LIVING UNDER (Acts 15, Acts 21 and Gal 1) (referring to themselves as 'we')...against the New Covenant which the Gentiles were already living under (referring to them as 'you'). The earthly tent or house which was about to be destroyed was the temple and the old covenant it represented ...as promised by the prophets and Jesus.... along with the imminent judgment.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NKJV (See also Rom 14:12)
The 'we' who must all appear to be judged according to their works are Israelites under the Law (This matches with the white throne judgment of Rev 20:11-14)....and is not applicable to Gentiles under the NEW Covenant. The only outcome for Israel of the flesh (those who do not rely on the Lord for their righteousness and justification) will be condemnation and wrath (Is 45:23-25). Only believing Israel who confess that the Lord is their righteousness will be justified. Gentiles and all believers under the new covenant are judged according to whether they have put their faith in Jesus and been saved or not.
The 'Bema' judgment seat for us as Gentile believers is certainly NOT one where we are 'rewarded' with crowns for our good works....or punished for bad deeds. How can we know this conclusively? Simply by reading beyond the first reference to 'the judgment seat of Christ' in Rom 14:10. In vs 11 Paul explains what this means. There is only one question asked of us today ... 'Have you bowed your knee to JESUS as Lord and accepted Him as the source of your righteousness and justification. This is seen by referring to the Old Covenant source and context which Paul quotes from in Is 45:23-25 where the reward is specified (vs 24a and 25b) ... ie the crown of LIFE is eternal life which ALL believers receive. This is contrasted against those who rejected Jesus were to be 'ashamed' (vs 24b) (Luke 19:26 and Acts 3:23). (Refer also Phil 2:9-11).
2 Cor 5 vs 1-15 describe the transition from the Old Covenant worship in the Jerusalem temple into the New Covenant relationship with God dwelling IN US from vs16 with these words...'FROM NOW ON'... our salvation in the New Covenant is because Christ has MADE us a NEW Creation...and reconciled us to Himself....and given us HIS righteousness.
2 Cor 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV
Brethren in the New covenant 'now' we have been reconciled to God through Christ ...and the gospel we preach is that IF the world will be reconciled to God (in Christ) their trespasses are NOT imputed to them...because Christ has become sin for us....and we have become 'the righteousness of God in Him'
Brethren EITHER we are still to be judged in future (on the basis of our works)...OR we are already reconciled ... and do not have our trespasses imputed to us ... but instead we have the righteousness of Christ in our account.
These two options are mutually exclusive ... we are either judged already IN CHRIST or there is no 'good news' in the gospel!
(The clearest way to understand 'The judgment seat of Christ' ...according to Isaiah 45:23-25 which is the scripture Paul is quoting from.... is explained for us in the question Jesus asked Peter below...
Matt 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. NKJV
When we get the revelation of who Jesus is ...THE Son of the Living God ... this is when we bow the knee to Him ....and PASS through 'the judgment seat of Christ' into the New Covenant! This happens when we believe and God reveals Jesus to us (John 1:12-13) ...when we become as a little child and simply receive and enter the kingdom (Mat 10:15) ...when we hear and respond to the call of the Spirit of God and are born again' (John 3:3-8)
(In the transition period or 'the already but not yet period' before the Old covenant vanished to the New Covenant was fully manifested (i.e. AD33 - AD70) however the Jews who rejected Christ as their Messiah were the ones judged 'according to their works'.) (Acts 3:22-24)
Paul had at that time also taught of the imminence of the coming judgment ...
Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will (mellei) judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." NKJV
Brethren see the Greek...'Mellei' says "He is ABOUT TO judge the world" ...Paul was referring to the AD70 judgment of Judah, Jerusalem and the temple.
John the apostle, after telling the church it was the last hour, encourages the Jewish believers who looking forward to Christ's return in AD70 to hold fast...and not to give up on their faith ...so that they would not be ashamed AT HIS COMING ie AD70.
1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. NKJV
The return of Christ in AD70 could only be met in confidence by believers through faith in Christ's sacrifice....rather than by relying 'the works of the flesh' i.e. on their own works. Please note that the Jewish believers at this time were still practicing the LAW and offering sacrifices! (Acts 15, Acts 22:20-24) ..and even Peter and Barnabus got caught up in compromises and were challenged by Paul. (Gal 2:11-21)
The reason to be ashamed was NOT because of their behavior ie 'sins' but because of their reliance on their own WORKS of the law for their righteousness... and failing to see themselves as ONE in Christ with their Gentile brethren in the new house of God...the CHURCH. The challenge for Jewish believers was made very clear when the temple was totally destroyed along with the priestood records. Is your faith in your own obedience to the Law which they from then on could no longer observe (ie no more animal sacrifices have ever been offered in Judaism since the temple was destroyed) ...or in God's once for all time sacrifice of His SON for you? (Rom 1:16-17, Rom 10:1-4, Phil 3:2-11)
Paul in the epistle to Timothy again confirms that the judgment will AT the return of Christ ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven
2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will (Mello ... is about to) judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom ..NKJV
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. NKJV
The book of Hebrews is addressed TO HEBREWS who at that time were still LIVING UNDER THE LAW and keeping FESTIVALS and offering SACRIFICES (Acts 15 and 21). The Law required judgment.....in the New Covenant of GRACE we as believers are EXEMPT from judgment according to Jesus (as all of God's wrath and judgment was poured out on Him on the cross in our place ... Isaiah 53:4-11). Please note that the judgment spoken of is BEFORE the second coming!...the same one Jesus promised to happen before AD70.
This passage also emphasises that the second coming is NOT to address the sin issue i.e. apart from sin... but for salvation. (John 3:16)
The context of this passage is the Old Covenant....those who eagerly wait for Him were Hebrew Old Testament saints who were looking forward to Christ's imminent second coming to DELIVER them from the Law and reward them with eternal Life as promised by Jesus would occur within their current generation. (The judgment on unbelieving Israel happened in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as promised by the prophets and Jesus ... Josephus records that 1.1million Jews were killed ...and 90 thousand more were taken into captivity as slaves).
We as believers today are resurrected and saved and receive eternal LIFE immediately on rebirth. The issue of 'sin' has been adressed at the cross by Jesus for us. This is the main message of the Gospel of John. "Believe and you ARE saved" We today should not be waiting for what has already happened and what we already have received when we believed (John 20:31).
Jude 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." NKJV
Brethren Jude who is the brother of Jesus is speaking about SPECIFIC PEOPLE in the midst of the Jerusalem church who he observed in approx AD 60. Jesus told the apostles emphatically that HIS coming would be before AD 73 (i.e. before THIS generation passed). This passage speaks of the judgment for Israel's words in rejection of her Messiah (Mat 27:20-26) ('Crucify Him' and 'We have no king but Caesar', etc)... and this was all fulfilled in AD 70 when Christ returned in judgment on apostate ISRAEL as He himself promised in many scriptures and parables. This is the event that Josephus describes to let us know it has been HISTORICALLY FULFILLED in AD 70.
Any belief in a future judgment after AD 70 which Jesus is supposedly yet to accomplish is EXTRA BIBLICAL.... simply because Jesus said that ALL things written in the Law and the prophets concerning Him would be fulfilled BEFORE AD 73... in confirmation of Dan 12:7. Jesus words in Mat 13:39-43, Mat 16:27-28, Mat 23:31-36, Mat 24:29-34, Mat 24:44-51, Mat 25:14-30, Mat 25:31-46 along with almost all of the apostles teaching about the second coming.... ALL of these passages link the timing of the judgement ON ISRAEL as immediately following the return of Christ!
(for those who preach that cyclones and tornado's, floods and bush-fires and the like are 'the judgment of God' ask yourself this question... "Are the believers saved and protected from these judgments and from the consequences as they were in AD 70?" (Luke 21:20-23)... OR ... "Does the Judge of all the earth no longer do what is right?"... "Do you believe God now judges the righteous (ie His children) ... together with the wicked?" (Gen 18:25)
AND then there are all of Jesus other promises to us as believers under the New Covenant ....How He died and paid the price for our sins...and how secure we are in His hands...IF WE BELIEVE. (John 10:27-30, Romans 8:25-39, etc)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
Brethren we cannot be saved and have eternal life and then have it taken away from us at some future judgment! You either have eternal life for eternity or you never had it at all. You are either born of the Spirit or you are not. You cannot be united with Christ...and then be separated! (contrary to Rom 8:25-39)
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (the rest of this verse is not in the best manuscripts) NKJV
There is no point in a 'judgment' if there is NO possibility of a condemnation for those IN Christ Jesus!
The world IS ALREADY CONDEMNED (Jn 3:18-19) ...to the people in the world the gospel alone offers salvation!
What happens to those who do not believe?
They perish...like an old football that can no longer retain air...they become obsolete and pass away ... becoming dust (Gen 3:19).
Those who in life choose to reject the gospel choose to exclude themselves from eternal life. If you do not seek to know God in your life on earth, you will not know Him in eternity.
Acts 13:46
It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life .. NKJV
Eccl 12:6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it. NKJV
The need to seek is something God has placed in the heart of every human being (Eccl 3:11). If you have no interest or prefer other distractions then you will not find God.
Acts 17:24 ... God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; NKJV
God reaches out to those who are looking for something this material world cannot offer .... fulfillment found only in a relationship with HIM.