“BACK IN THE YEAR 1991, HOLLYWOOD FILM MAKERS MADE AN AMERICAN HIT FLICK ENTITLED ‘TERMINATOR2: JUDGMENT DAY.’ In THE FILM, the world after A FUTURE nuclear holocaust is ruled by machines, WHO DETERMINE TO VISIT THE PAST AND DESTROY a single man WHO is destined to grow up into the leader of the human resistance movement against the RULING cyborgs. THESE VISITING CYBORGS OR KILLING MACHINES COME TO RENDER THEIR FIERCE JUDGMENT.”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about of all things, the real and true coming of a JUDGMENT DAY, rendered rather by the Creator God who rules the past, present and future…

…Although Hollywood enjoys making films that speak of “judgment days,” from a human or science fiction perspective, the idea and concept is far from fiction. In fact, in the Christian Bible, we are clearly told that there are judgments of God coming for the whole world. Now many ignore these or are simply ignorant of them. However such attitudes will not stop their coming, nor the horrendous effects they will bring upon a world under the wrath and judgments of the holy God who created and owns the universe and time itself. Therefore, we would all do well at times to consider learning about them and the responsibilities we have toward avoiding them, and obeying God’s commands to cancel them out for our own personal and eternal good. Are you ready to learn about JUDGMENT DAYS COMING? Good, but first let’s pause one more time for this musical interlude, then I’ll return with today’s message, JUDGMENT’S COMING!..

…The term “judgment” is an important one. It refers to an action, payment or consequence in response to a disobedience of a known law of nature or ruling authority. Now in society there are many judgments that can occur or follow the breaking of the laws of nature, society and even God himself.  The effects which follow, and the consequences of it are often negative, serious and can be catastrophic. Well in the Bible, God’s Word, all humanity is told of  certain judgments of God, promised to us for disobedience to the  Laws of existence which God has revealed to us.  Now in Christian theology, many theologians have determined that there is but one “General Judgment Day of God.” This is a tenet strongly entrenched in a majority of Christian circles these days called, Amillennialism. But a careful study of all the Scriptures involving God’s promised judgments to be poured out, demonstrates that there are at least seven distinct judgments by God described in the Bible. Let’s go over them now for our learning and profit.

Note, the first and most important one that effects all mankind is God’s promised judgment for sin. When God first created the human race by fashioning the first two human beings, Adam and Eve, God placed them in a perfect environment of the “Garden of Eden.” There they were tested to see if they would, by their own free will, obey God’s laws for life and living in His universe. If they chose to obey, God would have sealed them in that perfect state, as it would have been their expressed will. But we all know they chose not to obey God’s will, but exercise their own, and in so doing disobeyed God, and the warnings that came with it of judgment. Hear now the warnings and consequences promised by God.

Gen 1:26-27,29 (NIV)  God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them … Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Gen 2:15-17 (NIV)  The LORD God [then] took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

Yes, God intended the presence of the tree simply as a test to see if by our own free will, we would as a race of beings choose to obey God. Alas, our forefather and mother chose to say “no” to God along with a myriad of fallen angels. The consequences promised were in part immediately fulfilled, (physical death came into being) and the future consequences will one day be poured out upon us and completed (eternal death).

Now along with this major judgment of God which is physical and eternal death of the creature, God has outline other judgments that lead up to this final one. We would do well to know of them and understand them. Therefore, let’s look at these seven judgments the Bible tells us about, that concern us and the universe we live in. We begin with the first…

(1) The Judgment of Sin at the Cross.  This is the eternal judgment upon sin, every human being, will one day pay for with our lives!  But, by Jesus Christ dying on a cross, He paid for this sin debt and judgment, for all who receive Him. Yes, when He said from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), God the Father’s judgment for sin was finally paid in full by Christ’s death on our behalf. His “cry” is proof, God Himself rendered the payment for this terrible judgment coming. In fact, this is the basis of the believer’s salvation when he believes. You see, Jesus Christ, the infinite God/Man, has borne the sinner’s guilt and in Him, as a substitute for all on behalf of whom He died, sin has been judged. The one who believes on Christ has been released from judgment, and “there is therefore now no condemnation” (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:26–28; 1 Pet. 2:24). Secondly, we discover in the Bible another judgment. It is called,

(2) The Judgment of the Believer’s Walk.  Once a sinner is saved, this takes place in this life, in the form of divine correction and chastisement (1 Cor. 11:30–32; Heb. 12:3–13; John 15:1–9), as we walk along life’s way. The apostle Paul says,

1 Cor 11:31-32  But if we judge ourselves, we will not be judged by God and in this way. 32 But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world.

This, then, involves God’s disciplinary action against a sinning saint. In fact, failure to judge our own sins and confess them to God, following the salvation experience, we are told can eve lead to a judgment rendering premature physical death for a believer. The Bible says there is “sin leading to death” (1 John 5:16; cf. 1 Cor. 5:1–5; Acts 5:1–11). This occurs when a believer, through deliberate continued unrepentant sin, brings reproach upon the name of Christ and upon his salvation by free grace, and in judgment forfeits his physical life. In addition, while here on earth a true believer is not free of temporal judgments against sinful disobedience, and ungodly living. God is just and will by no means clear the guilty and unrepentant.  Now thirdly, in the Bible we see a future national judgment called,

(3) The Judgment of the Gentile Nations.  This judgment is referred to in Matt. 25:31–46, involves divine dealing with the Gentile nations, at the end of the Great Tribulation coming, and is predicated on their faith in Christ as evidenced by their treatment of Israel during the fierce persecutions by the antichrist. The peculiar basis of this judgment is the centered on the way the people of the Gentile nations have dealt with Israel during the Tribulation period preceding the second advent of Christ. Those Gentiles who harbored, protected and helped them, evidencing their faith, will be spared being cast into Hell, and given an opportunity to enter the coming glorified Millennial Kingdom that will run for a thousand years. Now, Old Testament prophecy is clear in its prediction that some Gentile nations on account of their faith in the one true God, will enter the coming kingdom of Israel (cf. Isa. 60:3; 61:6; 62:2). These nations will be subordinate to Israel’s rule then. Furthermore, the Bible tells us as the Millennial state ends and merges into the Eternal State, these obedient Gentile nations are still asserted to be on the earth when the heavenly “Jerusalem” descends from Heaven (Rev. 21:24, 26), and will live with God for all eternity. Indeed, this judgment is coming upon the whole world in one perhaps very near future day. Now there is a fourth judgment of that time period too. It is,

(4) The Judgment of the Elect Nation of Israel.  Ezekiel 20:33–44 clearly teaches that Israel must come into judgment before being permitted to enter the Millennial kingdom. This Old Testament teaching has confirmation in the New Testament from the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1–13 (see Joel 3:11–15). Prophecy seems to teach that there will be a general resurrection of all truly regenerated Israelites of the past dispensation, to be judged with those living. Those who had a kingdom hope are to arise, resurrected, and enter to share the earthly glory with the living saints (cf. Ezek. 37:1–14; Dan. 12:1–3).

Those Jews who live through the Tribulation Period will also be judged (Ezek. 20:34–38). The result of this judgment will be that the unsaved Jews will be cut off from both millennial and eternal life, for no rebel will enter the millennium (Eze 20:37; Mt 25:30). There will be no escape from this judgment for the people of the nation of Israel. In addition, following the ending of man’s rulership of the world when the Tribulation Period ends, God will begin another judgment that is concluded at the end of the Millennium. This time against the fallen angels that sinned. Those angels that were free to roam the universe and our world for centuries, will be cast into Hell to await final judgment in the Lake of Fire. Thus we see,

(5) The Judgment of The Angels that Sinned.  This judgment includes their leader, Satan (1 Cor. 6:3; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6) who will, of course, be judged at the second coming of Christ, by being bound in the abyss during the millennium and then after his brief revolt at the conclusion, be cast eternally into the lake of fire (Rev 20:2–3, 7, 10). Those angels who followed Satan’s initial revolt against God will also be judged. The time is called “the great day” (Jude 6) — at the conclusion of the millennium (the end of the day of the Lord) when Satan is finally judged. Believers will apparently have a part in executing the finality of this judgment too (1 Co 6:3). Now comes at the end of the Millennium,

(6) The Judgment of the Unsaved Sinner.  This last great judgment comprehends the judgment of all unsaved of all ages (Rev. 20:11–15), at what is Biblically called THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT. The basis will be not to find out if the sinner is guilty. He or she has already been judged at death. This is merely God’s sentencing period of their trial. God in fairness, will examine the life lived without Christ. Indeed, being created in the image of God even fallen man, unrepentant in his sins, can do good things, have been kind and obeyed some of God’s principles of life. Thus, fallen sinners “good works,” will be accounted for, not for heaven and eternal life, but for being spared in part the depth of punishments in Hell, which evidently suggests differences and degrees of punishment. All who are not found in “the book of life” are then cast forever into “the Lake of Fire.” This is called “the second death,” which means final and complete cutting off from God’s presence and a sin-cleansed universe. Lastly, for our study, I saved the most important judgment every true believer will face in the future. It rightly is called,

 (7) The Judgment Evaluation of the Believer’s Life. This judgment is spoken of in, 

2 Cor 5:10 (NIV)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Like the unsaved who are judged for their works in this life, believers will be too! After the “Church” is taken to Heaven through translation and resurrection, individual believers will be judged for their works done as Christians in this life (1 Co 3:11–15).  Now this is most emphatically not a judgment of the believer’s sins. These have been fully atoned for in the substitutionary death of Christ, and remembered no more (Heb. 10:17). As a result of this judgment of the believer’s works, there will be great reward or loss of it in eternity. This “Judgment Seat of Christ” event is necessary for the appointment of places of rulership and authority with Christ in His role of “King of kings and Lord of lords” at His revelation in power and glory,” and to fairly account for our actions good and bad in this life while living as a believer.

Now the point of all these judgments, revealed in Scripture, is to remind all mankind, that is you and me in particular, that we as free will sentient beings, created in the image of God, living in a borrowed universe, that we are ACCOUNTABLE to God for all things! God has given us life, and freedom to live it as we please, but He has also warned us that if we choose like our first human family members, to disobey the laws of God for life, living and eternity, there are consequences in this life and surely in eternity. Friend, knowing these judgments against sin, will help you to determine whether it is worth it to disobey. Like the bank robber, adulterer, murderer, who knowing the law and judgments against such actions, determine nonetheless it is worth breaking the laws of society and nature for the pleasure of the moment.

However, there is sin and “hell” to pay, and in the end they sadly learn the choice was not worth it. Likewise, is the choice to live without the one true God in your life -- it is not worth it here and now, nor in eternity. Yet it is your choice. By birth we all are in the same boat and are living without God, and disobedience to His laws for life and eternity. Yet, while we have life and breath we can change that and enter the state of forgiveness and true fellowship with God. What does it take? It takes a commitment of our wills and hearts to agree with God to our sins, and believe God’s love and grace forgives us and causes these judgments coming, to bypass our lives. This can only come by taking Jesus Christ as our Savior from our sins. We “take” Christ by calling upon Him, acknowledging His Godhood, and His death on our behalf to satisfy the sin penalty that we rightly deserve. Have you believed on Christ? Have you received Him into your heart and life? The bible says,

John 1:11-13 (NIV)  He [Jesus Christ] came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 5:24 (NIV) Jesus said,  “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes [the Father] who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Heb 10:26-31 (NIV)  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God... How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Friend, God loves us all enough to die for our sins and take our judgment. If we ignore, reject and refuse to accept His pardon, His grace, mercy and love through Jesus Christ, there is no hope for you for tomorrow. Sin will take you down in this life and in the next into Hell itself for all eternity. I plead with you, why will you die? The choice is so wonderful to know God has provided deliverance from all judgments for sin to come. But the price is, in this life only, to embrace the Christian faith, to take Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Do it right now, today, before any of these judgments fall, as surely as they will. May God add His blessing to these words for Jesus sake. Amen…

… For nearly 55 years, scientists have displayed what the world knows as, the “Doomsday Clock,” depicting the closeness of time toward atomic oblivion. In the movie “Terminator2: Judgment Day,” this event occurs in the future and a living Hell on earth evolves. Although that is just the science fiction of Hollywood, there is an element of truth there. The future is not bright and indeed Hell is ahead for all the world without Christ. Judgment Day is coming, and especially for you and for me. I thank God, Jesus has spared my judgment for sin, and I will never face that day, because Jesus is my Savior. How about you?           

---

---