Judgment day can be a tricky subject to study, though it often does not appear to be tricky. It looks simple, for the day of judgment is rehearsed throughout the books of the old testament prophets, but more careful consideration to contexts will reveal that we have very few texts that speak of the final day of judgment. The books of the prophets are certainly filled with judgment day language, but all old testament texts about judgment day must be dismissed in our consideration of the final day of judgment. The contexts of the prophets are clear, and they usually refer to a judgment day of God that is more contemporary to their days or relating to regional judgments of God to come sometime within the days of the old covenant. In fact, one thing we know for sure when reading the old testament prophecies is that not even one of them are still awaiting fulfillment in our days – or in our future. Jesus pointed out in the days of the first century that all things written (i.e. the old testament) would be fulfilled within that generation (Luke 21:22, 32). So, if we are going to be honest with the word of God, we know that that leaves only the new testament to tell us of the final day of judgment; but even still, we must be very careful. For the new testament is still very much concerned with the situation of the first century; things that are to be fulfilled in those days that were spoken by the old prophets. The judgment of the physical nation of Israel was a very contemporary topic, dealt with heavily by Jesus and his apostles. So, we are not in the clear to simply read about judgment in the new testament and immediately assume it is a text about the final day of judgment.

Nevertheless, it may be that the very texts throughout the bible that are not about the final judgment are the best resources we have in understanding the final day. It almost appears to me that with as little information that we have detailing the last judgment, the other judgments of God serve as keys to unlock an understanding of the final judgment. God is the same as he was in mankind’s beginning. God is the same as when he judged man universally and flooded the earth in Noah’s day. God is the same today as when he judged Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, Israel, Assyria, Judah, Babylon, Edom, Tyre, Sidon, Persia, and others spoken of in the old testament. The righteousness and justice of God remain the same and are applied impartially to all men of all generations. So, it would be rational to suggest that the great sum of judgments of God throughout the biblical record helps us to understand exactly what the final judgment will be like. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). God has proven to us that He is consistent throughout the ages in the way he judges men, by righteousness without partiality.

We are not given a picture of what the final judgment would look like, but that’s okay. Even if we were granted such a picture in the scriptures, it would be figurative/symbolic anyway, for how can God speak to us of a nonphysical, purely spiritual event, of which we have no reference point to relate to from our earthly vantage point? So, while God had often given figurative visuals of national judgment days, he provides none for the final judgment. But what he does give us about that day is something that is much more important. He gave us the book that he will be using to judge our lives.

We have great and blessed news from God, we’ve been handed the very information that he will use to judge our lives. Consider these words from Jesus:

“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:48-50).

Jesus explains that the word which he has delivered to us, i.e. the new covenant, is the commandment unto “eternal life”, and anyone who rejects the commandment of Christ will be judged by the commandment. Rejecting the authority of Christ and ignoring his word will not make it disappear, all will be judged impartially according to the same letter of the law, as Jesus said, “the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day”. This is a sobering thought for those who wish to deny the Lord and his supreme authority over their lives, but it is a blessed and wonderful thought to those who wish to please their Lord. To the true Christian, there will be no surprises on the day of judgment; though we know not what that day will look like, we know that all the judgments of God will be in accordance with the word that was already given to us to read, understand, and act accordingly.

Will those Judged in the Bible be Judged Again in the Final Day?

            Since we’ve referenced the national judgments of God that have taken place throughout the biblical record, it is compelling to inquire whether those who had been judged in judgments past will be judged in the final judgment. The biblical record seems to make a distinction from nationally scaled judgments (or even universal physical judgments, such as in the days of Noah), and the final judgment. I think the keyword is “physical”. The fall of a nation due to its multitude of sins is a physical decision (judgment) of God, while the final judgment has nothing to do with the physical rise or fall of peoples and nations. The final judgment is distinguished as a spiritual day, deciding eternal life or eternal condemnation upon each distinct individual soul (not nationally based decisions). I believe Jesus gives us the answer to this curious inquiry:

“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” (Matthew 10:15).

“But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.” (Matthew 11:22).

Notice how Jesus speaks of the day of judgment being more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah, and Tyre and Sidon, than for the perverse house of Israel. But if Sodom and Gomorrah, and the kingdom of Tyre and Sidon have already been judged and destroyed by God, how will the final judgment have any bearing on them? The inference from Jesus’ statement is that these ancient peoples would be judged in the final judgment. So then, we must make a distinction between regional judgments of God, where nations physically fall by the order of the Lord, and the final judgment, where all men must appear individually before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Article by Tanner Campbell