by R. L. Morrison

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9). "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" ( 2 Peter 3:7).

These three passages of scripture speak about a "day of judgment"; a day in time, yet future, when all mankind will be judged by Jesus Christ. And the standard of that judgment, will be the New Testament, the gospel of Jesus Christ, that which is given to men in this last dispensation of time. We who now live are under that law and by it we shall be judged in that day.

There are many today who do not believe what the New Testament teaches and requires of men. These people, of course, do not believe there will ever be a day of judgment, or the giving an account of the way one has lived. But as Paul preached in Athens, he said the resurrection of Christ assures us there will be a day of judgment. But if a reader of this tract should so believe, we urge you to consider some things the Bible teaches about the final judgment. Also, consider the loss one will experience who refuses to change his mind and the manner of life he lives.

In John 5:22 we read: "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son." Then verse 27 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the son of man." In John 12:48, Jesus refers to the standard, or that by which men will be judged. " He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus gives us a "word picture" of the judgment day. We shall not refer to everything he said but suggest that you turn and read these passages. "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: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left" (vs. 31-33). Those on the right hand will inherit a kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (vs. 34). Those on the left hand will be told: "Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (vs. 41).

If there be some doubt as to whether ALL mankind will be involved in this judgment, consider John 5:28-29. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation"

It is not unusual to hear (or read) what some one has said or written about the return of Christ. Some say it is near or at hand, or very soon He will make his appearance. Most of those who so believe, do not believe that his return will announce the judgment. However, what men believe and teach can in no way affect or change the word of God. Matthew 25:31 says that when he returns in glory, he will sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations whom he shall judge. It seems that this should be sufficient evidence as to the purpose of his return.

However, regarding the "time" of his return, the scriptures provide no information. In Matthew 24:35-36, Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Then in verses 42-44, we find the following: "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such and hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." It seems that those who "set" a day for his return or those who say it is "near at hand" would consider what Jesus said about it. Do men know more about it than He revealed? Is it possible they are not acquainted with these scriptures? Or do they choose to ignore them? But no one need be concerned about the men and their predictions. Many have set dates for the time of his return and all have been proved wrong by passing time. If we needed to know more than has been revealed, God would have provided it. He set the DAY! He knows when it is. Our need is to prepare for it.

The apostle Paul has revealed some of the events that will occur on that day. "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die) but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound; and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:51-53). Here Paul refers to the last day, the day of judgment. He tells how quickly this will be done, but notice he gives no indication as to when that day will come to pass.

That this day will be the last day can be readily understood by reading some of the things Jesus said about it. "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:38-39).

Now let us sum up the things that have been presented. God has appointed a day which will end time and all mankind will be judged. This resurrection from the dead will occur instantly. All the dead will be raised. This will occur very quickly, as in the twinkling of an eye. The resurrected body will be spiritual in nature. Christ and the angels will have appeared. The judgment will take place. There will be a separation of the just and the unjust, or the righteous and the unrighteous. Those on the right hand of Christ the judge will be told: "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Those on the left hand of the Judge, will be told; "Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Perhaps we should again refer to the standard by which we shall all be judged. Jesus stated it in John 2:48: "He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." The separation of all will be determined by HOW the words of the Lord have been received, or HOW they have been rejected. Each individual makes his own decision as to where he or she will stand in the judgment day! Do you believe the words of Christ? Are they the STANDARD by which you are living? Or on the other hand: do you reject His words? Are you living your life the way YOU want to live it, refusing the offer of mercy He extends to you? If so, you can easily determine where you will stand in that great day! But the choice is yours to make. When life is gone, so is the opportunity to gain salvation. As death finds each of us, so shall we be found in judgment!

Choose this day whom you will serve. You must make that choice. How do you choose?