What is…
The Final Judgment

also known as: The Judgment

This term refers to the sentence that will be passed on unredeemed sinners at the last day (Matthew 25; Romans 14:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). As Scripture warns, the final judgment is…

• certain (Eccl. 11:9)
• universal (2 Corinthians 5:10)
• righteous (Romans 2:5
• decisive (1 Corinthians 15:52)
• and eternal in its consequences (Hebrews 6:2)

“Let us be concerned for the welfare of our immortal interests, flee to the refuge set before us, improve our precious time, depend on the merits of the Redeemer, and adhere to the dictates of the divine word, that we may be found of Him in peace.”

The Judge

The judge is Jesus Christ, as mediator. All judgment is committed to him (Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; Rev. 1:7). “It pertains to him as mediator to complete and publicly manifest the salvation of his people and the overthrow of his enemies, together with the glorious righteousness of his work in both respects.”

The rule of judgment

The rule of judgment is the standard of God’s law as revealed to men, the heathen by the law as written on their hearts (Romans 2:12-16; Luke 12:47,48); the Jew who “sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12); the Christian enjoying the light of revelation, by the will of God as made known to him (Matthew 11:20-24; John 3:19).

Then the secrets of all hearts will be brought to light (1 Corinthians 4:5; Luke 8:17; 12:2,3) to vindicate the justice of the sentence pronounced.

The time of the judgment

The time of the judgment will be after the resurrection of the dead (Hebrews 9:27; Acts 17:31).

The persons to be judged

1. the fallen angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6).
2. the whole race of Adam—without a single exception

   “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

   Then the King will say to those on His right hand,

   ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’

   “Then He will also say to those on the left hand,

   ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…’

   …And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” —Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV

   I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. —Rev. 20:11-15 NASB

More information

• resurrection of the dead
• damnation
• Hades
• Hell
• eternal death
• justice of God
• Just One
• judgments of God
• eternal life
• justice
• judgment seat
• judge
• justification
• law
• mercy
• sin
• fall of man
• righteousness
• Is there anyone in Hell today?
• heaven
• Law of Moses
• pardon
• redemption
• propitiation
• pardon
• Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer
• How good is good enough? Answer
• Will all mankind eventually be saved? Answer