02.12. Does the Bible Teach a General Judgment?

XII DOES THE BIBLE TEACH A GENERAL JUDGMENT?

I

SOME questions raised by the previous chapter when it appeared in the serial form, related to the interpretation of various passages in the book of Revelation culminating in its teaching concerning the last judgment. Most of them were too lacking in general interest to warrant attention in any special way; but an exception is made of one which asks whether Revelation 17:8 refers to a "limited atonement." The passage reads, "And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world." The thought of the atonement is not to be excluded from these words, but it is not in the foreground. The subject of the whole verse is the "beast," the Antichrist, the secular despot, possibly an "incarnation of Satan, who will ascend out of the abyss and later go into perdition, and who will rule over the earth during the period of the tribulation still ahead. For further information about him, see Chapter VIII.

"They that dwell on the earth shall wonder after him," or, as Revelation 13:3 says, "all the world wondered after the beast." And no wonder they wondered, when we are told in another Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:4) that "he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God," and in still another (Revelation 13:2-17), that there is a false prophet with him who "deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the miracles which he had power to do." "Wonder" in this case means not simple astonishment, but a surrender of will and judgment, bringing the one who wonders under the sway and spell of the one who is wondered at.

Yet as the verse states, this will not be true of all. In Elijah’s time there was an elect remnant who bowed not the knee to Baal (Romans 11:1-5), and so will it be in the great tribulation. Although the Church will have been caught up to meet the Lord in the air, as we believe the Scriptures teach (1 Thessalonians 4:17), yet there will be an elect remnant on the earth, both of Jews and Gentiles--converted it may be by the very event of the Church’s translation-who will prefer death to allegiance to this son of perdition. (Read Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 13:15-17.) These are described by contrast, in the question presented to us, as those whose names were "written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world."

What troubles the inquirer is that some names were written there while others were not, and only the first are saved, while the others presumably are lost. His is a doctrinal or theological question that hardly comes within the range of this work, which cannot properly discuss such matters as a limited or an unlimited atonement. But this much may be said, doubtless without controversy: (1) that the book and the writing of the names are figures of speech, indicating God’s foreknowledge of the saved and the lost; (2) that His foreknowledge is not necessarily identical with His foreordination of some to eternal life and some to eternal death; (3) that the atonement of Jesus Christ is sufficient for the sin of the world (John 1:29); (4) that all may be saved who are willing to be saved (Revelation 22:17).

II This leads to the question of the final judgment referred to in Revelation 20:11-15, where the words recur: "Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." This was dealt with in the last chapter on "The Day of the Lord, When It Comes and What It Means," where it was said that it is erroneously called the "general" judgment. By the "general" judgment is commonly understood a judgment of all mankind at one time and one place and on precisely the same basis, which does not appear to be the Bible teaching on that subject.

But, says the inquirer, what about Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Matthew 25:31-46? These passages will be quoted later, but in the meantime let us reflect that the day of judgment, as presented in the Bible, is not a day of twenty-four hours merely, but one covering a great length of time. “The Day of the Lord," mentioned before, is equivalent to the day of judgment, and it covers at least a thousand years, beginning with judgment, ending with judgment, and characterized by judgment more or less, all the way through.

1. There is a judgment of Christians,true believers, the members of Christ’s body, which will take place when Christ comes for His Church. It is to this that Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 apply. The first reads: "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." And the second, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." The pronoun "we" in these cases refers only to Christians, as may be seen from the. contexts, and especially from the introduction to both epistles (see Romans 1:1, Romans 1:7 and 2 Corinthians 1:1). This is not a judgment unto condemnation, but rather an inquiry into the conduct of disciples, in order to give unto them "before the eyes of all a gracious reward of tried fidelity," as van Oosterzee expresses it. Compare further 1 Corinthians 3:2-15.

2. There is a judgment awaiting Israel as a nation,which shall take place on the earth, and doubtless with particular intensity in Palestine, whither that nation will have returned at first in an unconverted state. The time will be after the translation of the Church, and when Christ will be revealed with His saints and with His holy angels for the deliverance of "the children of thy people"; "and there shall be a time of trouble such as there never was since there was8nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." That it is a final judgment for some of them at least seems involved in the language which follows: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

III

3. There is a judgment of the Gentile nations, also on the earth, commencing perhaps with the judgment upon Israel and following after it. It is to this that Matthew 25:31-46 applies, beginning: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."

Observe that those who are here judged are called "nations," and the meaning is living nations, i. e., nations existing on the earth at the time. It does not refer to those who have died, and nothing is said about a resurrection having taken place. For parallel Scriptures see Isaiah 34:1-2; Ezekiel 39:1-29, the whole chapter, where, as in other instances in the Old Testament, the word "heathen" should be rendered "nations"; Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:1-2.

Observe also that the ground on which this judgment is passed is peculiar, different from any other judgment named or to be named. The sheep are divided from the goats according to the kindness or unkindness shown to a third class of persons called the "brethren" of the Judge. This third class is taken to mean Israel or the Jews, and doubtless during the tribulation period.

There is no mention of a formal trial here and no opening of books, but "a calling up of rebellious or obedient subjects and the passing upon them of their sentence of penalty or reward." Nothing could be more distinct from the circumstances of the last judgment, which will be spoken of in a moment. And yet there is a finality to this also, for they that have done wickedly go into everlasting punishment, "but the righteous into life eternal," For parallel scripts, see Jeremiah 25:15-33; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:9-14; Joel 3:2; also 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 19:11-21. That there is much difficulty in the application or interpretation of certain parts of this scene of judgment is not disputed, but it would require more than one chapter of the present length to deal with it in any satisfactory way. Here we can speak only in general terms and state conclusions in broad outlines.

IV

4. There is a final judgment (Revelation 22:11-15). (1) Note the time, after the thousand years (Revelation 22:9-10). How long after is not revealed; but whether it be brief or extended, it clearly differentiates it from all preceding judgments.

(2) Note the location, not in heaven, neither on earth, for the time has come foretold by Peter, "in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).

(3) Note the characterization of the judged. They are the dead; and by "the dead" is doubtless meant all who have died from the very beginning, excepting those who have been judged in the earlier periods. In other words, all men will be judged at some time. There will be no exception to this rule; but the judgment will not be general in that all will be judged together and by precisely the same rule.

(4) Note the record and the basis of the judgment: "they were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." No believers are in this judgment, it would appear, for the thought of faith appears to be excluded from it, as well as that of reward. See also Christ’s promise in John 5:24. There are two stages in this judgment as another puts it: first, a reference to the "other books" to show that the works of the wicked deserve death; and second, the opening of "the Book of Life," to show that by unbelief they have rejected life.

(5) Note the awful sentence of the judgment; "the second death," "the lake of fire." May God deliver the reader from it. And this will He do beyond a peradventure, to all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and confess Him as Lord.

QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON 1.What is the subject of Revelation 17:8?

I. Why will “all the world wonder after the beast"?

3. What does “wonder" mean in this case?

4. What exceptions will there be to those that “wonder" after him?

5. Have you read the verses referred to in Revelation?

6. Recite the four comments made on Revelation 17:8.

7. What is commonly meant by the expression “general judgment"?

8. What Scriptures are frequently but erroneously used to establish such a judgment?

9. What expression does the Bible use as synonymous with the day of judgment?

10. How many distinct “judgments" are pointed out in this lesson?

11. Explain what is meant by a judgment of Christians, and give the Scriptures which prove it.

12. Do the same for the judgment awaiting Israel as a nation.

13. When will the judgment of the Gentile nations commence?

14. Expound the parable of the sheep and the goats. 

15. How should the word “heathen" commonly be rendered?

16. What five things are to be noted concerning the final judgment?