“It is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgment” –Hebrews 9:27
While we live on this earth—
it does not suit us to be unbelieving and rebellious,
but rather noble of heart.
[2col1] On this occasion we wish to bring to light some passages from the Holy Scriptures in which the final judgment is spoken of. It is necessary for us to be aware of this.
First, let us note what is said in Hebrews 9:27-28: “And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” This should start us thinking that while we have life on this earth, we should concern ourselves with being obedient to God. It is not fitting that we should be unbelieving and rebellious, but rather noble of heart.
Second, we must know that our Lord Jesus Christ is the one who has been established as Judge, by God the Father. Note what the apostle Peter said: “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the Living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42). The apostle Paul also said: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) And Christ himself, at the end of his ministry, said: “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. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ . . . Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ . . .And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46). [endcol]
[2col2]Third, another very important thing that we must also know is this: that in the final judgment we are going to be judged by the words which Christ has spoken, which we have in written form in the New Testament. Let us hear what He said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) Yes, I repeat, it is very important to know this because there are many people who hold the word of God in low esteem, who have no interest in hearing the teaching — in a word, who reject the doctrine of Christ. It is fitting to add here the words spoken by the apostle Paul, “. . . when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) It is hard to say it, but all those who have heard “the good news” that Jesus died for sinners, and have not obeyed the gospel of Christ will be punished on that final day.
That is why, dear friends, in order to be approved in the final judgment, we have to be prepared. The prophet Amos said in Amos 4:12, “Prepare to meet your God.” Believe in Christ (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30-31). Confess your faith (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10), and ask to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). And from there forward, continue being faithful until the end (Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10).[endcol]
—Roberto V. Spencer