A COMPREHENSIVE JUDGMENT

God’s impending judgment on sinners encompasses various aspects of punishment that He will administer, including issuing them an everlasting death sentence, pouring out His wrath on them, including them in Judgment Day events, condemning them, consigning them to hell or the lake of fire, leaving them in a state of hopelessness, and abandoning them permanently…!

Yes, these are horrific realities…! And, to be truthful about it, we will not do anyone any favors by skipping over the biblical warnings and descriptions of these. We need to realize that the proclamation of the “judgment to come” (or “the wrath to come”) is integral to the gospel (Matt. 3:7; Luke 3:7; Acts 24:25; 1 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 11:3-6), even though it instills fear and discomfort in the sinner’s heart (as it should be…).

Now, let’s delve deeper into some of these very real aspects of the imminent judgment that every person without Christ is facing:

THE DEATH SENTENCE

Those who have sinned and not repented to God, not believed in the gospel, and not trusted in the LORD Jesus Christ for salvation will face the punishment of everlasting death from God. This punishment will be the result of the person dying in their sin (not having been forgiven and separated from their sin by God) at the moment of physical death or at the time when Jesus Christ returns (Joh. 8:24; Rev. 11:18; 20:12-13).

It’s not about mere physical death, but it’s about that which stands as the opposite of eternal life. This death encompasses all the terrible aspects of being destroyed in hell or the lake of fire, and all the various horrific suffering that will befall the sinner. It includes ongoing and inescapable destruction away from the loving and nurturing presence of God, separation from God, burning and being horrifically tormented in hell or the lake of fire, being treated as the enemy of God with all its consequences, being cast into outer darkness away from God forever, and being permanently cut off from God and all that represent the benefits of life in Him (Rom. 6:23; Gen. 2:17; Ps. 9:17; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 1:32; 5:12; 8:5-8; James 1:15; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8).

Therefore, the Bible sometimes describes those who are saved as “THE LIVING” and those who are unsaved as “THE DEAD,” thereby indicating whether they are one with God or not and what their eventual fate will be (Prov. 2:18-19; 21:16; Matt. 22:32; Luk. 9:60; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5-6; Rev. 11:18; 20:12-13).

JUDGMENT DAY

Judgment Day is also described in the Bible as “the day of judgment,” “the day of the LORD,” “the day of the LORD Jesus,” or simply “the day” (Isa. 2:12; Joel 2:31; Mal. 4:1, 5;  Matt. 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36; Mark 6:11; Acts 2:20; 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14;  1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7, 10; 1 Joh. 4:17).

The Bible presents Judgment Day as a fierce, certain, and inescapable reality toward which every sinner is rapidly advancing (Heb. 9:27; James 5:9; 1 Pet. 4:5-6; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 6:17). It is also portrayed as imminent, already prepared, just at the door, and that it will come unexpectedly (Matt. 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:32-38; Luk. 12:39-40; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). Scripture portrays the LORD Jesus Christ as a judge ready to open the doors to the COURTROOM and convene His court (James 5:9), or as one who arrives UNEXPECTEDLY like a thief breaking into someone’s house at night (Rev. 3:3; 16:15). Therefore, thinking of Judgment Day as something so distant that one should not be concerned about it now is a delusion!

It will be an event of enormous magnitude, the most significant in all of human existence. The Bible issues its greatest warnings about this day or event; therefore, no one can afford to face it unprepared (Mark 13:32-37; Acts 17:31). In the face of this severe reality, God in His mercy allows the Holy Spirit to convict the sinner of their certain future encounter with God as Judge (Joh. 16:8-11) because their sin has automatically placed them under God’s judgment.

Why WILL GOD BRING judgment?

On Judgment Day, God will judge and sentence all sinners. But why this certain, severe, and inevitable judgment? Can’t the LORD just forgive everyone and “let us move on”…?

God will be vindicated:

The reason this final judgment and punishment will come upon sinners and fallen angels is not in the first place because they have transgressed against God. No, the judgment is necessary in the first place because of WHO GOD IS…!

In Matthew 6:9 we read of the cry of every believer, which is also the cry of sinless hosts of heaven, and above all, the cry (the demand) of the holiness and glory of God, namely: “hallowed be Your Name.” This cry seeks the vindication and restoration of the holiness, honor, and dignity of the LORD throughout His entire creation, which have been violated by the devil, the fallen angels, and all of humanity. It implores God the Father to enact fair judgment on all transgressions and to permanently eliminate and destroy both the offense and the offender, and all that has been corrupted or tainted by sin. This vindication will ensure that only God and that which honors Him endure (Matt. 13:38-42; Acts 2:33-35; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 15:25-26; Heb. 10:12-13; Rev. 18:2; 21:27).

No injustice or unjust creature can forever unbridled coexist with God or go unpunished. No will that goes against God’s will can forever coexist with Him. Thus, this judgment and punishment represent the ultimate and eternal affirmation of truth, goodness, purity, glory, honor, dignity, and justice. The final judgment proclaims, “God is God.”

TRANSGRESSIONS WILL BE FAIRLY PUNISHED:

Secondly, God’s judgment is necessary to ensure that the offender who has transgressed against Him receives fair punishment. Furthermore, it is to seek vengeance on behalf of the innocent who have suffered wrongs at the hands of evildoers. (Ps. 9:16; Isa. 13:11; Jer. 17:10; Nah. 1:3; Matt. 25:31-32, 46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9; Heb. 10:30-31; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 16:6; 20:12-13).

WHAT WILL The standard BE BY WHICH GOD WILL judge?

There is a lot more to say about this, but we’ll only focus on two main principles that will come into play on Judgment Day:

• God’s Moral Law: The primary standard for God’s judgment is God’s moral law. This includes the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus (Ex. 20:3-17; Matt. 5:17; Joh. 12:48). God’s moral law is that which underscores the perfect morality of God which every person is inherently aware of, lives by to some extent, and which is binding on the conscience of each human being (Rom. 2:12-15; 7:13; Gal. 3:19). This moral law manifests itself in the life of every person, especially by the standard by which they strive to hold others accountable to (Matt. 7:2).
• Rejection of God’s love and grace through Christ: Each sinner will answer to God for why they have rejected His love and grace towards them as revealed in Jesus Christ (Joh. 1:9-11; 3:19). Yes, God will fairly judge each person based on what they have done with the “amount of light” they had, even though not everyone has received the same level of revelation about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Other aspects of the judgment

• This judgment is God’s RIGHTEOUS judgment, signifying that it is both honorable and just for God to administer it and that the sinner, rightfully deserves the fullest extent of judgment (Rom. 1:32).
• On that day, Christ will pass everlasting sentences. These determinations will remain unaltered, underscoring their permanence (Heb. 6:1-2).
• Jesus, the LORD, will execute judgment on the wicked and will bring all His saints with Him to participate in sentencing and executing that judgment (Jude 1:14-15). The Bible doesn’t reveal how it will work; it only confirms that it will happen (Dan. 7:9; Matt. 19:28; 20:21-23; Luk. 22:28-30; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 20:4).
• On the day of judgment, the LORD will bring every single ungodly deed and ungodly word spoken into remembrance and will judge them meticulously and fairly in the finest detail (Prov. 13:3; 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 13:37; 16:27; Rev. 2:23; 20:12-13).

THE WRATH OF GOD

Another real element of the judgment that every sinner will face on Judgment Day is the wrath of God. While “judgment” serves as a broader term encompassing the sinner’s experience on Judgment Day, and “death sentence” signifies the sinner’s sentenced fate, “wrath” speaks about the antagonistic attitude God has toward the sinner and all that is evil which will be fully revealed and manifested on Judgment Day.

The Bible makes it clear that those who rebelled against God with their sin are deserving of His wrath. God’s wrath is now already aimed at the sinner and sin, but in His love and mercy, He has not yet applied it to those who deserve it. On Judgment Day, however, His wrath will be fully manifested (Ps. 2:1-12; Joh. 3:36; Rom. 1:18-32; 5:9; Eph. 2:1-3; 5:6; 1 Thess. 1:10).

Anger and indignation

The concept of God’s wrath carries connotations of God’s intense anger, displeasure, indignation, rage, and abhorrence toward sin and the sinner. It’s the ultimate expression of His anger and disgust on that which offends Him, something which no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth ever wants to encounter (1 Thess. 2:16; Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:19; 16:19; 19:15). Currently, even the demons (fallen angels) know for sure that they will face the wrath of Christ on Judgment Day, and they are in deep distress about it (Matt. 8:29; James 2:19).

NOT AN OUTBURST

God’s wrath is not an immature, selfish, and uncontrolled outburst of anger by God, but rather God upholding His honor and glory in a very calculated, controlled, and thorough manner against those who have scoffed and mocked at Him with their sin and rebellion (Ps. 2:4; 9:7; 37:13; Prov. 1:26; Zep. 1:7; Matt. 25:41; Acts 3:20-21; 17:31; Rom. 9:22; Jud. 1:6; Rev. 7:1-3; 14:17-20).

It is referred to as punishment that will be poured out, as something that was stored up and accumulated in heaven, which at the appropriate time will be unleashed on the unrepentant and deserving sinner (Col. 3:6; 1 Thess. 2:16; Rev. 14:9-10; 16:1, 19; 18:3)

Everyone is instructed to flee from the wrath of God (Matt. 3:7-10; Luk. 3:7-9), and the sole path to a secure escape is through repentance while simultaneously trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Bible reveals that God’s wrath is presently and continuously accumulating as each sinner hardens their heart toward God, rejects His gospel, and refuses to repent (Matt. 23:32; Rom. 2:3-9; 1 Thess. 2:16; James 5:3).

CONDEMNATION

Condemnation signifies the GUILT that the sinner already carries before God (Mark 16:16; Joh. 3:18-19; Rom. 5:16-18), as well as what will become official during the sinner’s court hearing before Christ’s throne on Judgment Day (Joh. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 11:32; 2 Thess. 2:12). It signifies the sinner’s WORTHINESS to receive punishment from God.

HELL OR THE LAKE OF FIRE

Hell or the lake of fire signifies the condemned sinner’s ultimate destination and fate, which includes the eternal punishment and conscious suffering they will endure after the Day of Judgment concludes (Prov. 7:27; Matt. 24:50-51; 25:41, 46; 1 Pet. 4:17-18).

It is the final and permanent removal (casting away) of the sinner from God’s sight (Matt. 3:12; 13:41-42, 49-50; 22:12-13; 25:30; Luke 3:17; 13:28), his destruction (Matt. 7:13; Rom. 9:22; Phil. 3:18-19; 2 Thess. 1:8-10), and his torment through fire (Matt. 3:12; 5:22; 13:40-41, 49-50; 18:8-9; 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thess. 1:8-10; James 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 14:10; 20:15; 21:8), worms eating on the body of the sinner (Mark 9:43-48), and the immense bodily shattering, crushing, and smashing of the sinner by the judgment angels of God and Christ Himself, forever… (Isa. 63:1-3; Lam. 1:15; Rev. 14:20)! Thus, it will then be the sinner bearing the full destructive consequences of his sin-guilt before God.

Other terms that the Bible also utilizes to describe this ultimate suffering are “perish” (Matt. 5:29-30; 18:14; Luk. 13:3, 5; Joh. 3:16; 10:28; Rom. 2:12; 2 Pet. 3:9), and “perdition” (Joh. 17:12; 1 Tim. 6:9; Heb. 10:39; 2 Pet. 3:7).

HOPELESSNESS

One of the inner torments and horrors the sinner will experience at the judgment is utter hopelessness and despair, specifically concerning his or her everlasting existence. The Bible describes it as the absolute and final certainty of the impossibility of ever having the opportunity to be reconciled with God, receiving His pardon and forgiveness, or any form of escape from the horrors of everlasting punishment and torment (Job 19:25-27; Prov. 14:32; 1 Cor. 15:19; Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13).

GOD IS GOOD…

From the above, one can readily discern that all people merit horrific punishment from God! However, He presently extends mercy and grace amidst His nearing impending judgment.

It is evident that God’s goodness isn’t bestowed upon people because they are inherently virtuous or deserving. On the contrary, God’s goodness is extended to them in a redemptive manner, REGARDLESS of what they deserve from Him!

People are in a state of being lost, depraved, and condemned. It is the goodness of God that intervenes to rescue them from that condition and their dire fate. In Part 6 (and onwards), we will delve deeply into God’s goodness in Jesus Christ toward those who are lost and condemned.