The Great Judgment Day, Part 1

The Great Judgment Day

“The Spirit of Judgment” Isaiah 4:4

Chapter 1 Preview: When is Judgment Day? Even more importantly, what is Judgment Day? Precisely why is judgment necessary and who is being judged? What are the rules that the Righteous Judge will use to determine who is “guilty” and who is “innocent” Rather than just show up on Judgment Day in the future to find out, wouldnt it be wise to understand the answers to all of these questions now? When that day comes, the Saints (off site) will not have to act as their own defense attorneys, they will greet God in His likeness!

Further, does New Jerusalem “... as a BRIDE adorned for her husband” have anything to do with Jesus’ Marriage Supper? Why is it that “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” at the Wedding Supper? How will Jesus separate the “wheat” from the “tares” at His return? Why does the “dry bones” prophecy, said by some to be one hundred years without children being born, mention “they, their children, and their children’s children, forever”? This chapter addresses all of these questions. The resolution is remarkably simple-and inspiring.

Most Christians believe that Judgment Day occurs for you the moment that you die. But no Christian “has ascended into heaven” (John 3:13). A minority believes that Judgment Day occurs after “the millennium” for the “firstfruits” (Revelation 14:4) but these “144,000” are flesh and blood survivors of the Great Tribulation! (Revelation 7:14). So when is Judgment Day?

If you were to look in most Bibles for the phrase “Judgment Day” you would not find it! But there is no escape for the wicked. An alternative Scriptural term is “The Day of the Lord” and it is used dozens of times.

The closest to the classic term that you can get is Jude’s (1:6) term: “the judgment of the great day”, which is of course a reference to “the great day of the LORD”:

Zephaniah 1: 14 The great day of [Yehovah’] is near. It is near, and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of [Yehovah] [also Revelation 6:17, 16:14].

Actually, the Eighth Day, the Day following the Feast of Tabernacles, commemorates this Judgment Day. It is the final Jubilee year that ends this millennium as explained in Israel’s Holy Days, part 5, beginning about 1/3 of the way

Here are some of the assumptions held by my teachers that I accepted. I was taught that Jesus (actually Yeshua, off site) lived; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever: and David My servant shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. WEB

I was taught that God the Father had to hide out in an abandoned heaven for one thousand years, because He was too righteous to be with His earthly family. I was further taught that “the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God [who was still supposedly “up there”] out of heaven, prepared as a BRIDE adorned for her husband” had nothing to do with the Marriage Supper of Christ at the inception of the Everlasting Kingdom. Rather the Marriage Supper was presumed to follow the “millennium”. I was taught that the earth would be destroyed after God had spent a thousand years rehabilitating it-despite the fact that the “destruction” Scripture quoted to support this claim specifically associates the carnage with the soon coming “Day of the Lord”! I immediately swallowed many of these partially thought out claims and assumptions, while rebounding from the “heaven/hell” fables, concerning what God had in mind for humanity.

Admitting doctrinal error, particularly long standing error, is so difficult to do that it has practically ceased to occur in mainstream Christianity since the Protestant reformation. After about fifteen centuries of Catholicism, there was a revolt that eventually resulted in today’s hundreds of denominations. What might have become a renaissance of truth became a frenzied rush for power. Soon the Protestant Reformation was all about seeking fame and fortune, yet the reformed crowd maintained most of the same mysteriously skewed doctrinal tenets that had been assumed to be true for centuries. Often, new organizations were begun simply to empower a new mass of “founding father” wannabes. (Of course you know that such things could not be why your church exists.) Some truly excellent scriptural truths were established by these reformers, only to be buried by the successors of the movement who liked the former teachings or were more interested in public acceptance, so they simply quit speaking on the subject until the “new” truth simply died out.

Change is a prerequisite of spiritual growth leading to eternal life. Perfection in the human realm is not something that any leader, such as even Moses or King David, has attained. Opposition to progress, even among the immediate “followers” of those Godly men, was the norm!

This chapter examines one of the principal doctrinal issues that I confronted as a youth. You probably were taught differently but whatever explanation you were taught should be proven to your personal satisfaction by scripture alone, forsaking all assumptions.

Judgment Day: The Second Most Important Event Since Time Began!

Numerous easily understood scriptural statements explain the issue, but Revelation 20 is a sticking point for some, so we need to see how this more difficult scripture complements, rather than contradicts, all of the other scriptures. My teachers are to be credited with helping me to dispel the unscriptural notions about plucking on harps or dancing over hot coals for eternity, as a result of God’s judgment. However, having the understanding about what Judgment Day is NOT about (Heaven or Hell) does not explain what it IS about! For that discernment we need to consider “every scripture” relevant to the topic. If you are lucky enough to not have any preconceived notions carved in stone about what is to occur on Judgment Day, and when and why it will occur, or if you are truly objective, then this chapter will provide a logical explanation for these events that does not contradict vast segments of scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. WEB

Keep in mind that when Paul wrote this to Timothy the “New Testament” or “New Covenant” had not been written yet!

MAIN TREATISE

There is a dramatic incident in the Bible, which perfectly illustrates that Jesus’ true followers can be guilty of not believing the very words of the Messiah. Specifically, when the scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to perform a miraculous sign for them, He replied:

Matthew 12:39-42 ... An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it ‘but’ [EXCEPT] the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. WEB

Jonah’s fishing expedition lasted precisely 72 hours. When Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled, by His resurrection from the dead, NOT ONE BELIEVER was there to greet Him when the stone was rolled away from the tomb. All night long the tomb was empty, (precisely 72 hours after His burial) and He wasnt discovered to be missing until Sunday morning. An angel had to tell the two Marys, when they finally showed up, that “He is not here, for He is risen as He said! Come see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:5-6) Could His followers have overlooked the significance of the sign when He revealed it? His enemies didnt, they remembered exactly what He had proclaimed! They told Pilate:

Matthew 27:62-64 Sir, we remember, while He was still alive how that deceiver said: After three days I will arise.

So they posted guards! The lesson to be learned is that there is no excuse for the e days later. They intended returning to the fishing trade instead of continuing to follow the Assemblies’ (Churches’) “prime directive” of preaching the “gospel”, performing miraculous signs, healings and miracles. I believe that most of God’s own people will be just as surprised concerning the events accompanying His return as their predecessors were concerning His departure, because they dont believe “every scripture”!

Revelation 3:3 ... IF therefore you wont watch, I will come as a thief, and you wont know what hour I will come upon you. WEB

Indeed, a great many Saints wont even be worthy to escape the Great Tribulation (Revelation 2-3) and survive to witness our God’s amazing return.

The Incredible Day of Judgment is going to take place DURING the entire “YEAR” of 6000 (since Adam), just prior to the establishment of the Everlasting Kingdom on earth. The concept of Judgment Day is really an aspect of “the Day of the Lord” which is mentioned thirty-two times by that name.

Isaiah 34:8 For it is the DAY of the LORD’S vengeance, the YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable YEAR of the LORD, and the DAY of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn....

Isaiah 63:4 For the DAY of vengeance is in My heart, and the YEAR of My redeemed has come.

Judgment Day will be a time of final Judgment not only for many of the living during this year but also for all of those who have ever lived in the past.

Daniel 12:1-2 ... there shall be a time of trouble ... and “many” [literally “an abundant number”] of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, ‘SOME’ to everlasting life, [hopefully us!] ‘SOME’ to shame and everlasting contempt.

“Some” would better be translated as “these” or “those” (Strong’s #0428): “... these to everlasting life and those to shame and everlasting contempt”.

Online Bible Hebrew Lexicon Strong’s 0428 el-leh, (ale’- leh) AV-these, those, this, thus, who, so, such, some, same, other, which, another, whom, they, them; 20 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent

The following scriptures reveal some surprising events. No one will be left out!

Mark recorded that Jesus the Christ made a statement that cost Him his life. What exactly did He say? Many people know that He said “I AM” in response to the interrogation by the high priest when He was asked: “Are you the Christ?” However, very few people have considered what He said, in the same breath that SEALED HIS FATE. Read the account carefully. In Mark 14, Jesus had been betrayed by Judas and arrested. He was brought before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest was looking for an excuse to have Him killed. The high priest asked:

Mark 14:62-63 Are You the Christ, the son of the Blessed? (v.61) Jesus said: I am. And YOU WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN [Jesus] sitting at the right hand of THE POWER [WITH God the Father; Psalms 110:1,3,5] and COMING with the clouds of heaven ... then the high priest tore his clothes .... And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

Could some of the wicked be brought back to physical life to suffer before being terminated in the lake of fire? Think about it, if we take this literally, as I do, then THAT high priest will be raised from the dead 2000 years later, to witness our Lord and His Christ’s return, and see Him where?—“sitting at the right hand of THE POWER!” This would also be during The Great and Awesome Day of the Lord, which is the Biblical way to denote Judgment Day. Do you believe Jesus’ plain statement about “those who sleep in the dust of the earth” Read it again! This was an intense “eyeball to eyeball” confrontation, His “moment of truth”. Jesus did not sacrifice His life due to a slip of the tongue! His premeditated response directly led to His death! Did Mark misunderstand something? Well, Matthew said the same thing! However, Matthew emphasized the high priest’s statement:

Matthew 26:64 I put you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God! Jesus said: It is as you said.

Jesus swore that His profound testimony was true!

John further elaborated on this truth when he BEGAN the incredible book of Revelation by saying:

Revelation 1:7 Behold He is coming in the clouds and EVERY eye will see Him, EVEN THOSE who pierced Him!

Unbelievable? Also consider that John ENDED the book of Revelation, indeed he ended the Bible itself, with the same incredible truth:

Revelation 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him [have him experience] the [end time] plagues that are written in this [end time] book....

They too will be alive to see the The Lord and His Christ return, and they will personally endure the seven last plagues of “the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord.” Luke referred to those who were responsible for killing the Christ. He said:

Acts 3:17 I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

He warned them to repent and continued by warning that:

Acts 3:20-23 “heaven must receive”... “Jesus Christ”... “UNTIL the times of the Restoration of All Things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people”.

His murderers will receive punishment during The Great and Awesome Day of the Lord! This issue is not out on a limb; this is a trunk of the tree issue. The “eternal judgment” is the seventh of the “elementary principles of Christ” that form “the foundation” of the Assembly [not “the church” (off site)]. These seven points of “doctrine” make us “enlightened” , they form the “heavenly gift” and “the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”. (Hebrews 6:1-6)

There is another person whose comeback is mentioned:

Revelation 17:8,11 The beast that you saw was, and is not, [is dead!] and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition.... 11 The beast that was, and is not, is HIMSELF ... going into ‘perdition.’ [Literally: “utter destruction”]

Will he go into perdition alone? That is a focal point of this chapter! Notice:

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of His coming; 9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being ‘lost’ [Literally: “are destroyed”], because they didnt [wouldnt] receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error [or “strong delusion”], that they should believe a lie; 12 that they [the wicked] all might be ‘judged’ [“damned”, KJV] who didnt believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. WEB

Notice: deluded yet “condemned”. Maybe that was not specific enough. Try this: Paul consoled the early Assembly of the Saints by explaining that:

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay [with tribulation] those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, WHEN the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 giving vengeance to those who DONT KNOW GOD, AND to those who dont obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, 9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of His might, 10 WHEN HE COMES, to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day. WEB

[Notice]: “those who dont know God” [receive] “eternal destruction”. [Here is] “the manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God.” NKJV (v.5).

Do these statements seem to contradict other; more “easily understood scriptures” Is there any doubt about when Judgment Day occurs? Again, this Resurrection/Judgment Day is clearly explained by the prophet Daniel:

Daniel 12:1-4 At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble [the Great Tribulation], such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book [of Life]. 2 ‘Many’ of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, ‘some’ [Literally: one sort] to everlasting life, and ‘some’ [Literally: another sort] to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end [that’s about now]: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge [I believe this to be Scriptural knowledge] shall be increased.” WEB

The term “many” above literally means, “an abundant number” (Strong’s 07227, rab). It does not imply that some will not “awake” nor does it contradict what John said:

John 5:28-29 ... all that are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. WEB

Could this be Judgment Day? My teachers taught me that a one thousand year time span was hidden in this account, that postpones Judgment Day by a thousand years! The context eliminates that possibility. An angel “swore that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; [the time of trouble] and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, ALL these things shall be finished.” (v.7) The shattering of the holy people signals the ending of all these events. Even the resurrection and initial stage of the Great Judgment “Day” (period) will be “finished” after the Day of the Lord!

The doctrine described is identical to the “White Throne Judgment”:

Revelation 20:11-15 I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 If anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

With reference to that same eventful time consider Malachi’s account:

Malachi 3:1-18 & 4:3 Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, He comes! says [Yehovah] of Armies. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap; 3 and He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, [this involves fire!] and He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver.... 5 I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and dont fear Me, says [Yehovah] of Armies. 6 “For I, [Yehovah], dont change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says [Yehovah] of Armies ... 17 They shall be Mine, says [Yehovah] of Armies, “My own possession in THE DAY that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesnt serve Him.... 4:3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in THE DAY that I make,” says [Yehovah] of Armies. WEB

Wheat and Tares

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares was recorded specifically to elaborate on the little understood truth about the Judgment. Notice the exact order of events in this parable:

Matthew 13:24-30 First gather together the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them, but [afterward] gather the wheat into My barn.

Did you notice that the tares are burned before we even enter our proper place?

Now who exactly are “the wheat” and who are “the tares” and what are their fates?

Matthew 12:38-40 The good seeds [“wheat”] are the sons of the Kingdom but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this [present] age.

This is real hell fire. The angels will cast the wicked “into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v.42). “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” This putting “the wheat into My barn” (v.43) symbolizes the “first [best] resurrection”. The Israel of God will be “in the kingdom”, just as “wheat” belongs in “My barn”.

In the Parable of the Dragnet Christ said:

Matthew 13:47-50 So it will be at the end of this [present] age. The angels will come fourth, separate the wicked FROM AMONG THE JUST [from that “harvest”] and cast them into the furnace of fire. (v.50).

There is no one thousand year time lapse here as some teach! Furthermore, the conclusion of the Parable of the Wicked Vine dressers states:

Matthew 21:33-44 Therefore when the owner of the vineyard [Jesus] comes what will he do to those men? [They said to him]: “He will destroy those men miserably.

Apparently, even those evil priests and elders understood the timing!

When is the Wedding Feast?

Matthew 22:2-7 The kingdom of God is like a certain king [God the Father] who arranged a marriage for his son, [Jesus] 3 and sent out his servants [Prophets and Apostles] to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come ... and 5 they made light of it. [their calling] ... 7 But when the King heard about it he was furious. And he sent out his armies, [angels] destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.[Many cities, Isaiah 61:4]

The literal truth is very thinly disguised as a story. This Judgment begins just prior to the Wedding Feast! (v.8) Furthermore, even at the wedding ceremony, someone typifying the undeserving is judged. It will be asked:

v.13 ... how did you come in here without a wedding garment ... bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As Jude 13 and several other scriptures show, this darkness is “forever”. The account continues by stating: “For many are called [called to be a Kings and Priests] but few are chosen” (v. 14) (chosen due to responding). Again, this separation is done at the end of this present evil age and just prior to the seventh millennium.

In the Parable of the Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant the conclusion is consistent with the other parables in that Jesus will return and kill the evil servants:

The Olivet Prophecy, as it is often termed, is very misunderstood. You may want to consider the explanation in this link. For the purpose of Judgment we’ll just look at that part:

Matthew 24:50-51 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing ...[Yet] “the master [Jesus] will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour when he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.

If this fate isnt Judgment Day, then what is? A hypocrite, by definition is one who knows the truth and chooses not to act responsibly on the information. Again “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v.51) for those “not looking for him”, for those “not aware of” the “hour”. This is beginning to sound as if Jesus was trying to make a point!

There is one more parable that I want to use to describe the resurrection of the just and the unjust. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-29) unmistakably refers to the time when God will reward His servants and punish those who could have been true servants. In this parable, Jesus is delegating out cities to be ruled over in the Everlasting Kingdom:

Matthew 25:19,23,26,30 After a long time the lord of those servants came and SETTLED ACCOUNTS with them. (v.19). To the faithful He will say: Well done, good and faithful servants; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler [king] over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (v.23).

But to the “wicked and lazy servant” (v.26) He will say: “cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v.30).

Luke’s account phrased it as Minas instead of Talents. He concluded the account by rewarding the righteous, but concerning the wicked, Jesus said:

Luke 19:27 ... bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them and slay them before me.

Many of scriptures concerning the Judgment are directly tied to the resurrections that immediately precede the Kingdom of God!

The Parables Summarized!

Matthew’s account reveals that immediately after Jesus had finished giving His long series of parables, He concluded with a commentary. He summarized all of His parables by explaining, in no uncertain terms, the literal fulfillment of the parables just quoted. I have always pictured the following scenario as people just standing around waiting to see which group they would be assigned to. Perhaps it will be more like Moses at the Red Sea, with Israel (on God’s right hand) scurrying for safety while Pharaoh’s army (on the left) is bent on destruction but instead is being destroyed themselves.

Matthew 25:31-46 But 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. 32 Before Him all the nations will be gathered, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on His right hand, ‘Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.... 41 Then He will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the ETERNAL FIRE which is prepared for the devil and his angels.... 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didnt do it to one of the least of these, you didnt do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the righteous into eternal life. WEB

Jude referred to this “eternal fire” as “the judgment of the great day.” (vs.6-7) Notice that the “sheep” and the “goats” represent “All of the nation’s” and not the dead in this instance.

Jesus was alluding to the entire 34th Chapter of Ezekiel, when He mentioned “sheep” and “goats”. This prophecy, given to the shepherds of Israel, extends beyond the modern nations of Israel to include “All of the nations”. When this prophecy was given, God had not yet specifically addressed the other nations of the world with this message, yet Jesus explained that His Judgment is applicable to “All of the nations”. And when God said: “And as for YOU, O My flock.... I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.” (v.17) He also said: You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; YOU ARE MEN, and I am your God, says the Lord God. (v.31) The “sheep” of Matthew 25:37-39, judging by their questions, are not familiar with God’s Judgment! These relatively “righteous” people

[Tho they are not the spirit composed “Saints” of the “first resurrection” they are still accounted worthy of life, as will be explained.]

Now for Part 2

Some Scriptures are from the “New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.” “Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.”