There may have been more foolish speculation about the second coming of Jesus and the judgement day than on any other topic in the Bible. Some examples; “judgement day” occurs immediately at death; there will be a “rapture/secret rapture” and X years of “tribulation,” followed by an earthly reign by Jesus; “well, we can’t know anything for certain;” and there are many other “views” as well. There is a lot confusion and disagreement in the religious world about both the Lord’s return and the judgement to follow which can be easily dispelled by paying attention to what God has said!
The second coming and judgement will FULFILL prophecy, Acts 1:11 and 2 Timothy 4:1 – “… this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven” and “…Christ Jesus…shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” In 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, the apostle Paul went into considerable detail about the conclusion of time (Jesus delivers the kingdom/ church/body to His Father, the last “foe” conquered is death, everything but the Father Himself must be subjected to the Son). When these things occur, time will be no more, the devil and his “angels” will have been ultimately bound/cast down forever (Matthew 25:41), the righteous and unrighteous will be eternally separated, (Matthew 25), and humanity from all shall stand before the judgement seat, 2 Corinthians 5:10. The last of all prophecies will have been fulfilled.
Luke 16:19-31 shows that there is no “going back” once we pass into eternity, but the “travel arrangements” and destinations can be vastly different! Lazarus was escorted by angels to “Abraham’s bosom” while the rich man (seemingly) went alone into torment. (This is NOT a portrayal of heaven and hell, but HADES, the “waiting place” where disembodied spirits exist before judgement.) The second coming of Jesus is what announces the arrival of our final judgement.
Perhaps the greatest deception Satan has accomplished has been the suggestion that “somehow” we can ESCAPE judgement! Peter said in 1 Peter 4:17-18 that judgement will begin with God’s people, and that fact means that no one else is “exempted” from it! Paul emphasized in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that NOTHING will be “hidden” from the Lord at that time, and each person will (individually) give account of him/herself to God (Romans 14:11-12). NOTE: If there is no judgement, there can be neither reward nor condemnation; “reward” would become a meaningless word, “heaven” a mythical destination, “salvation” a ridiculous idea, and 1 Corinthians 15:19 WOULD be the true condition of our souls!
There is NO terror in judgement for those who are faithful, however: In Philippians 1:23, Paul wrote of his desire to go “home,” and Jesus spoke of those who can go to judgement with gladness because they have endured trials of their faith like those of the prophets before them (Matthew 5:12).
Judgement is not avoidable, but condemnation at the judgement day IS! Jesus opened the way into God’s presence for us, both now and in eternity (Hebrews 10:20).
-Dave Rogers
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