We are going to a meeting, you and I. We won’t be late. We won’t forget about it or oversleep. Everyone else is going too. It is an appointment which we will certainly keep. “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Have you ever pondered what that great day will be like? It is a day about which we can know nothing, except what is revealed to us by God. Here are a few insights from God’s word:
Every one of us will be present. With human courts it is not unusual for someone to fail to appear (“FTA”). It may be due to illness or some other unavoidable problem. It may be by deliberate choice, in which case a warrant will usually be issued for their arrest. This causes many delays and inconveniences to the Court and others. But there will be no such problems on the Great Judgment Day. That summons we will not refuse. There will be no continuances, no postponements, no FTA’s. Everyone will be prompt and on time, present for court. Paul charged Timothy to preach the word of Jesus Christ, who shall judge “the living and the dead” (2 Tim. 4:1). That leaves no one out, “for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God” (Rom. 14:10b). “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Think of a vast meeting with everyone who has ever lived present!
A specific day has been set. My judgment day is the same as yours. It is going to be the most efficient use of judicial resources we have ever seen, because the entire inhabited earth will be accommodated on one court date. “Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:31a).
The Judge who will be sitting that day has been selected by God. Sometimes in human courts it is difficult to determine in advance who the judge will be. Sometimes it is intentionally kept anonymous. But we all know who our Judge will be on the Great Judgment Day. The apostle Peter said, “and he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). “For neither doth of Father judge any man, but he has given all judgment unto the Son” (Jn. 5:22, 27).
The judge will be competent and prepared to do His job. I have seen unprepared judges. They had not read the file, or become acquainted with the procedure or posture of the case. Perhaps it involved issues they had not studied recently, or they were blindsided by unexpected events. None of that will be a problem on the Great Judgment Day. The Judge has “read the file” and is ready. He knows the law. Those who come before Him that day appear before a Judge who is “ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Pet. 4:5). If there was any doubt before about the competency of our Judge, there can be no doubt now, since he has been raised from the dead. “Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31b). This Judge is error-free, and He is going to do an amazing job.
Some defendants will fare better than others. “Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city” [that city which does not receive the teaching of Jesus Christ] (Mt. 10:15).
Secrets will be revealed. It’s possible to go through much of one’s life hiding the way things really are. Sometimes such secrets are successfully kept all through life. A person may die and go to the grave with deep dark secrets, which their friends never knew. But those who thought they were going to keep the secret from the great Judge have a rude awakening in store. “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ” (1 Cor. 5:10a) “in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ” (Rom. 2:16).
The sentence in each case will be right. “That each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (1 Cor. 5:10:b). Nothing will be overlooked, neglected, or failed to be considered. All of the relevant evidence will be carefully taken into consideration by the Judge. There will be no distractions or red herrings, no cases of mistaken identity or the wrong person being charged. According to what he hath done. “For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds” (Mt. 16:27).
There will be no appeals. No motions for modification, requests to vacate the judgment, appeals or petitions for review-the sentence is final. Judgement will be pronounced by God.
-by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
