The Day Of Judgment

Old ideas die hard, and popular belief that the Day of Judgment is a period of twenty-four hours, at the dawn of which Christ will suddenly appear in the air, the "Last Trump" will sound, mountains and rocks quake and rend, the graves open and the dead stand before the Throne, sinners be condemned to everlasting torment and the few righteous taken to heavenly bliss, lingers still among Christians although not many talk about it. That grim picture is a survival of the Dark Ages and has no foundation in the Bible. According to the Scriptures the Day of Judgment is a long period of time during which all humanity will be placed on trial for life, with every incentive offered them to renounce sin and become reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time of joy and gladness, not one of fear and terror.

The Day of Judgment commences at the close of this present Age in which the "kingdoms of this world" hold sway. With the passing of these kingdoms in a "time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation" there occurs the Second Advent of Christ in the glory of His Messianic Kingdom, His Saints, the faithful Christian disciples of this present Age, being with Him in glory. This is the first event of that Day. Next in order is a proclamation to all the world, requiring obedience to the laws of the Kingdom, for "nothing shall hurt or destroy" and the power to inflict evil upon others will be taken from men. Then comes the Resurrection, during which "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." The glorified Church will be active among the people, turning men and women to righteousness, and as the "Day of Judgment" proceeds, so humanity will line up on one side or the other, for Christ and His righteousness, or for the Devil and sin. In the meantime the earth itself will be made fruitful and productive, the desert blossoming as the rose, a fitting home for the sinless beings that are to inhabit it to all eternity.

At the end comes the test, a "little season" during which those who are incorrigibly set for sin will be manifested in their true colours and will die in their sin. That closes the Day of Judgment, for all sin and all sinners will have perished from the earth, and all men everywhere will be fully in harmony with the laws of righteousness.

AOH