Last Judgment

3 sources

1909 Catholic Dictionary by Various (1909)

That Divine judgment following the general Resurrection, wherein all men, good and bad, will be judged according to their works, in such a manner that the justic of the sentence of each will be manifested to all (Matthew 25; 2 Corinthians 5; Athanasian Creed). The General Judgment is clearly and repeatedly foretold in Holy Scripture. That there will be a General Judgment is an article of faith. The judge will be Christ (Matthew 24). It is almost the universal teaching of theologians that every sin and good deed of every human being will be manifested to all. In this way the justice, goodness, and wisdom of God will be manifested and will be recognized by all men. Although this Judgment is distinct from the Particular Judgment, the sentence pronounced at the Particular is in nowise changed at the General Judgment.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary by Mission Mutual, adapted from the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary (2023)

The Last Judgment is the final time when God will judge everyone who has ever lived.

The Day of the Lord in the Old Testament

Many prophets in the Old Testament wrote about this time. They called it "the Day of the Lord." They said God would defeat all evil nations and set up his kingdom in Zion, his holy city (Isaiah 4:2; 11:10; Jeremiah 50:3–32; Joel 2:1–3; 3:9–16; Amos 5:18–20; 9:11; Zephaniah 1:7–18).

Jesus as the Judge in the New Testament

The writers of the New Testament also wrote about this judgment. They explained it through what Jesus taught and did. God has chosen Jesus to be the judge of everyone, both those who are alive and those who have died (Acts 10:42; 17:31). Everyone (both those who believe in Jesus and those who do not) will stand before Jesus's judgment seat. He will judge them based on how they lived their lives (2 Corinthians 5:10; compare Romans 14:10).

God's Standards for Judgment

God will judge people based on how they have lived. People who are faithful to God's covenant (agreement) with them will live, but those who turn away from God will die. The prophet Habakkuk says that a good person is someone who remains faithful to God (Habakkuk 2:4). The New Testament writers say that God will judge people by looking at whether their actions pleased him (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12).

But the New Testament also tells us that no one has fully met God's standards. Everyone has done wrong things ("all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:9, 23). However, at the final judgment, the most important question is not whether someone has done wrong things. Instead, the question is whether God has forgiven them.

Believers and Unbelievers on the Day of Judgment

The New Testament (Romans 3:21–28; 5:1–21) describes this forgiveness as being made right with God (justification) and having a restored relationship with him (reconciliation). People can receive this forgiveness because Jesus died and came back to life. His perfect life and death make it possible for everyone to be forgiven and have eternal life (Romans 5:18).

People who trust in Jesus will not be condemned (John 3:16–18). They can enter the day of judgment without fear (1 John 4:17). Their names are written in a special book, called the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). But people who do not believe in Jesus will stand before him alone when they are judged. Jesus will judge them based on what they have done, which is recorded in his books (Revelation 20:11–12).

Dictionary of Bible Themes by Martin H. Manser (1999)

God's judgment of all people at the end of the age. This has been entrusted to Jesus Christ who, at his return, will reward the righteous and punish the unrighteous. Judgment will be on the basis of deeds, the response to God's revelation and faith in Jesus Christ. Believers need not fear the last judgment, but should live godly lives in anticipation of it.

The certainty of last judgment

HEB 9:27 See also ECC 3:17; ROM 14:10–14:12; 2CO 5:10; 1PE 4:5

The time of last judgment

It was anticipated in the cross

JHN 12:31 Jesus Christ is speaking about his approaching death.

It will take place at the end of the age

MAT 13:49 See also MAT 13:39–13:43

It will take place at Jesus Christ's return

2TH 1:6–1:7 See also MAT 25:31–25:33; 1CO 4:5; 2PE 3:10; REV 19:11

Last judgment is the prerogative of God

God as judge

DAN 7:9–7:10 See also HEB 12:23

God entrusts judgment to Jesus Christ

ACT 17:31 See also JHN 5:22; ACT 10:42; ROM 2:16

The result of last judgment

Two eternal destinies

DAN 12:2 See also MAT 25:46

The ungodly will be punished

The righteous will be rewarded

2TI 4:8 See also MAT 25:34; 1CO 9:25; REV 11:18

The basis of God's last judgment

It is according to works

REV 20:11–20:15 See also MAT 12:36–12:37, MAT 16:27; ROM 2:6–2:10; REV 22:12

It is according to revelation

ROM 2:12 See also MAT 11:20–11:24 parallel LUK 10:13–10:15 Those towns and cities which have rejected the revelation that Christ brings will face final judgment and condemnation; MAT 12:41–12:42 parallel LUK 11:31–11:32ROM 1:18–1:21, ROM 2:14–2:15, ROM 3:23; GAL 3:1

It is according to attitude to Jesus Christ

JHN 3:18 The only basis for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. See also MAT 10:14–10:15 parallel LUK 10:11–10:12 Those towns which reject Jesus Christ's messengers will face judgment; MAT 10:32–10:33 parallel LUK 12:8–12:9 Those who disown Jesus Christ will be disowned by him; MAT 25:35–25:40; MRK 8:38; LUK 10:16; ACT 4:12, ACT 16:30–16:31

The fairness of God's last judgment

ROM 3:4–3:6 See also PSA 51:4, PSA 98:9; ISA 16:5; ROM 3:19

Believers and last judgment

Believers need not fear judgment

JHN 5:24 See also ROM 5:9; 1CO 11:32; 1JN 4:17

Believers should live in the light of final judgment

1CO 3:12–3:15 building with materials that will last; ; 2TI 4:1 holding to sound teaching; ; HEB 10:25 encouraging one another; JAS 5:7–5:9; ; REV 6:10–6:11; 2PE 3:11–3:13 living holy and godly lives