● Some references to this coming day. Matt. 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7; 1 Jn. 4:17; Jude 1:6.
(Act 17:31) because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
(2 Pet 3:7) But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
● Time span of “the day of judgment.” This “day” seems to embrace the millennium plus a little while prior to and after the millennium. Some time is needed to judge certain persons (OT and NT) prior to the millennium in order to determine who is qualified to “possess the kingdom” (the 1,000 year kingdom of the Messiah). Dan. 7:22; Lk. 19:15-19; 2 Tim. 4:8 (the “crown” signifies rule in Messiah’s kingdom). During the millennium Christ will rule the earth (Ps. 2:8-9; Is.2:2-4; 24:23; Mic. 4:6-8; Matt. 19:28; 25:31; Rev. 20:4, 6). His rule will include the role of Judge (see below on “The Judge”). After the 1.000 years are completed, the final judgment upon Satan is executed (Rev. 20:7-10). The final judgment of the dead at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15) appears to take place after the millennium as the final act of judgment prior to the eternal state. Notable commentators take this view of the timing of the great white throne judgment.
● The Judge. God the Father “has given all judgment to the Son” (Jn. 5:22, 27). When Jesus the Messiah reigns, His reign will include the role of Judge. “It is said, ‘The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father,’ John 5:22,23 and in verse 27 it is added: ‘and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.’ Why the Son of Man? Because to this Son of Man as David’s Son is promised the Kingdom, and Judgeship being included in the promised Theocratic-Davidic government, the Father only judges through the Son.” (George N. H. Peters, The Theocratic Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 352) The “Son of Man” in Jn. 5:27 refers to Dan. 7:13, where the “Son of Man” is granted the kingdom. See also Ps. 9:7-8.
● The principle of judgment. Recompense according to works. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. (Matt. 16:27). See also Rom. 2:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12. This principle is different than the principle of eternal salvation, which is by grace through faith, totally apart from works (Eph. 2:8-9).
● The Judged. Israel: Ps. 50:3-7; Ezek. 20:33-38; Dan. 12:1-2. The church: 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10-12. This will be Christ’s judgment on all believers, the dead and the living. The most crucial outcome of Christ’s examination at His Judgment Seat will be whether a believer will participate and rule with Christ in His coming Messianic Kingdom of 1,000 years. The results of this judgment can be positive or negative for the believer. However, every believer will live in the eternal state in glory in the New Jerusalem with Christ and God because of grace, not works. Matt. 10:24-33; 19:27-29; 25:14-30; Mk. 10:17-30; Lk. 18:18-30; 19:11-26; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 6:8-10; 9:24-10:12; 2 Cor. 5:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-5; 6:5-8 compare with Col. 3:22-25; 1 Tim. 5:19-25; 2 Tim. 2:12; Heb, 2:1-3, 5; Heb. 4:1-11; 6:1-8; Heb. 10:26-31; 12:15-17, 25; Jas. 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; 2 Jn. 1:8; Rev. 2:7; 10, 26-29; 3:4-6; 11-13; 21-22. A believer’s sins, if confessed and repented of, will not disqualify the believer from receiving some positive reward for good works at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Jn. 1:9 [cf. Pr. 28:13]; Rev. 2:3-7; 16-17; 3:3-6; 19-22). Note that although Christ’s judgment will be righteous, He can also show mercy to those believers who have shown mercy to others (Matt. 5:7; Jas. 2:12-13).[1] The living nations at Christ’s Second Coming: Matt. 25:31-46. The dead: Rev. 20:11-15. The beast and the false prophet: Dan. 7:11-12, 24-26; Rev. 19:20. The angels: Jude 1:6 (cf. Matt. 25:41). Satan’s final judgment: Rev. 20:10.
