Judgment of the Wicked

The word JUDGMENT is a scary word in the world of religious thought. So I decided to do some studying and thinking about what the Bible says about it. Here is what I found…

The Greek word is “krisis” from which we get our English word crisis. And crisis simply means a critical time where something very important happens or is happening. In other words it is a turning point in time. It seems to me that the equivalent Hebrew word is “mishpat” and is used in the following OT verses…

“…to keep the way of Yahweh to do what is right and duly just (mishpat)." (Genesis 18:19)

“...the Judge of the entire earth, would He not execute right judgment (mishpat)?” (Genesis 18:25)

Scripture views judgment as a turning point where the judge is suppose to do what is right. Judgment made by a human is not always right. But God has given the final Judgment to His Son, Christ Jesus who will do what is right.

“For neither is the Father judging anyone, but has given all judging to the Son.” (John 5:22)

“He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead." (Acts 17:31)

He will judge and do what is right, exposing the motives of the heart and then, almost unbelievably, each will receive praise from God.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

How can that be? How can both good and bad people receive praise from God? I think the answer lies in the following verses…meditate on them for a while….

“…it is I who have created the destroyer to destroy.” (Isaiah 54:16)

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16:4)

The LORD takes responsibility for creating evil, the destroyer, and the wicked. Don't you think he will do the right thing by them in the end - and save them. Are they not lost and are they not included in the prayer of Jesus while hanging on the cross…

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost…Father forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 19:10; 23:34)

Yes God will eventually save all, not because I say so, but because the Scripture could not be more clear...

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

I think it is time for Christians to stop thinking too highly of themselves.

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Romans 12:3)

When the final judgment is made it will be based on love, for God is love.

“God is love" … "Love is patient, love is kind...and it keeps no record of wrongs...Love never fails….” (1 John 4:8, 18; 1 Corinthians 13:5-13)

All Creation Will Rejoice

"Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness" (Psalm 96:13)

ALL rejoice when Christ Jesus the Lord comes to judge, not just a few Christians.

The primary word translated “judgment” in the NT is from the Greek word "krisis". This Greek word “krisis” is where we get our English word crisis. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “crisis” as “a crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.” Divine judgment is God's appointed “turning point.” At this turning point all will be made new and "free from the law of sin and death". And this Divine turning point comes after our Resurrection.

Note he above verse in Psalm 96 indicates it is a time of rejoicing for "all creation". This is in great contrast to what Christians have been taught for centuries. They have been taught that the judgment is a day and time of almost unmitigated horror and dread for all but a few Christians.  But if one reads and studies the entire Biblical record to discover God's plan and purpose in the ages, it becomes clear that the Psalmist is correct and traditional teaching in error. God will be "All in All" of his creation (1 Corinthians 15:29)...that will truly be a time for “all creation” to “rejoice before the LORD”.

The joy we have when we become aware of our salvation will be no less joy than for those who discover it at the judgment seat of Christ, or the Great White Throne. The GRACE and MERCY in the Judgment of God will truly bring rejoicing to "ALL creation".

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death...it is by Grace you have been saved...we have put our hope on the living God who is the savior of all people...the faithful love of the Lord never ends for His mercies never cease, they are new every morning..." (Romans 8:2; Ephesians 2:8; 1Timothy 4:10; Lamentations 3:22 )