Acts 1:11 says, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Reflecting the same truth, the Apostle’s Creed echoed: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Jesus will come again. With His return, we will all be resurrected. With His return, we shall all be judged. With His return, the new heavens and earth will be ushered in.
In one sense, Christ comes for every Christian at death but the Creed looks to the day when He will come publicly to wind up history and judge all men.
What can we say about this Day of Judgment?
(A) It Is Certain. Because He has appointed a day on which He will 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 (Acts 17:31). The day has been appointed and the Judge has also been appointed — the Lord Jesus Christ. What God has appointed is fixed, is unchangeable, and is certain to take place.
(B) It Shall Involve All Persons. 2 Corinthians 5:10 ~~ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he as done, whether good or bad. Everyone – male or female, young or old, believers or unbelievers — everyone shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ. And we shall be judged individually — Each of us shall give account of himself to God. Each of us . . . You cannot hide behind your spouse, your parent, your children, your pastor, none. Each one of us will have to face Jesus Christ personally, and give an account of ourselves to Him!
On that Day, all our actions, words, thoughts and motives, they shall all be subject to the judgment of Christ the Judge. The judgments of Jesus “the righteous judge” will be impartial and just.
It will be a day of untold and unprecedented terrible for all unbelievers. Revelation 6:12-17 gives us a glimpse into what that Day will be like for them. Are you ready and prepared for the Day of Judgment, my dear friends? A young man who was studying for his university degree overseas sent a note back to his mother saying, “Failed everything; prepare Papa.” His mother wrote a note back saying, “Papa prepared; prepare yourself.” My dear friends, the Judge is prepared. Prepare yourself! Make peace with the Judge now or face His wrath and Judgment then!
Believers will not be condemned. We will be acquitted, not because we are good, but because the Judge is also our Saviour. He has paid for the penalty that our sins deserved. However, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 tells us that our work for Christ will be scrutinized, it will be tested by fire. Will it endure, or will it be burnt?
“Be ready,” said the Savior to his disciples, “for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). How does one get and stay ready? By keeping short accounts with God and men; by taking life a day at a time, as Jesus told us to do (Matthew 6:34); and by heeding the advice of Bishop Ken’s hymn, “Live each day as if thy last.”
Be zealous. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord,” says Paul, “we persuade man.” “Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire . . . ” says Jude. The Day of Judgment will find all unbelievers condemned. Wouldn’t you try and do something for them now, now that there is still time to do something?
How we live today reveals whether we believe He is coming again, to judge all men. So what is being revealed?
Questions for Thought and Discussion
• What will Christ do when He returns? What are your reactions to knowing this?
• Why does the Bible not tell us about when Christ will return? Why do you think God withholds this information?
WEI En Yi