“When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.”
(Matthew 25:31)
The final judgment will be the unveiling of the righteousness, holiness, majesty, and mercy of the Son of Man. That day is designed by the counsel of God to exhibit the infinite glory of Christ to the saints for joy, to sinners for terror, and to all creation for the magnifying of His justice and grace.
It is called the “day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5), not because God has ever ceased to be righteous, but because what is now veiled to man will on that day be made plain. Christ, so often misunderstood and disregarded by the world, will be seen for who He truly is. His crown will be undisputed; His throne immovable.
This Day will be great not only in magnitude but in purpose. It is the day all history awaits. Christ is the Judge of all the earth, and in that final mediatorial act He will deliver up the kingdom to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). What began in humility will be completed in glory; what was sown in weakness will be raised in power.
When Christ took Peter, James, and John to the mountain and revealed His glory (Matthew 17:2), they fell on their faces. That moment was but a glimpse… a brief window into the glory that awaits. That same light of His face, brilliance of His robes, and overwhelming presence of His divine splendor will one day fill the heavens, arresting the attention of every soul. Kings and beggars, pastors and pagans, all will be brought forth.
Daniel prophesied it. Christ preached it. Paul testified of it in Athens and elsewhere (Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16). This appointed day will come suddenly, unexpectedly, “As a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10). The trumpet will sound, the dead shall rise, and the living shall be changed.
And as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats, the Judge of all the earth will divide the righteous from the wicked… not based on human merit, but on union with Him. The lost will hear the sentence of doom, while the redeemed—clothed in the righteousness of Christ—will be welcomed with joy, “Come, ye blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34). Those who trust in His righteousness shall be declared spotless. Their joy will be complete and their praise unending.
Nathaniel Ranew said, “The varieties of this truth throughout Scripture, are like many candles lighted in one place… all to give light to us below.”[1] This is the mercy of God—that He has not left us in the dark. He has revealed His Son in glory and prepared His people for that great day.
This truth demands readiness. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). The Son of Man will appear. He will descend with the host of heaven (Jude 1:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7), and the throne of His glory will be established.
Are you ready?
Contemplations:
- The Righteous Judge is Coming. When I read that Christ will sit on His glorious throne and judge the nations, I must ask myself: am I ready? He sees every work, every secret, every motive. There will be no hiding, no delay, no appeal. This is sobering, but it also stirs gratitude. If not for the righteousness of Christ, I would be undone. He sees me as I am, but covers me in what He has done so I can be ready.
- The Weight of that Day. My mind struggles to grasp the magnitude of judgment day. The trumpet. The rising of the dead. The books opened. The angels attending. Christ radiant in glory. Myself standing before Him. I will not be able to speak of intentions for I will be judged as I am. But I rest in this: Christ bore my judgment already. The terrifying weight of that day has been lifted by the blood of the Lamb.
- Self-Examination is Mercy. When I think of the separation of sheep and goats, I do not want to presume. It is mercy that prompts me to examine myself. Do I trust in Christ… or in what I do? Salvation is not earned; it is granted by grace through faith. Lord, strip away every false comfort and make me know the truth of my state. Do not let me stand with a false hope. Make me sure, not by sight, but by faith in Your promise.
- The hope of eternal joy. The thought that I might one day hear, “Come, you blessed of my Father,” fills me with awe… and that simply because He has made me His. That promise carries me through sorrow, pain, and trial. It makes every sacrifice worth it. I long to see the face of Christ and be welcomed into His eternal kingdom. I long to join the saints and angels in that final chorus of praise, where glory never fades.
Prayer (thanksgiving):
Lord Jesus Christ, righteous Judge of all the earth, I lift my heart to thank You. You are not silent, and You have not left me without witness. You declared what is to come, and You have prepared Your people for that day. I thank You for Your Word, which reveals the certainty and glory of Your return. You are not coming the second time in humility but in majesty. You will descend with a shout, clothed in brilliance, with the hosts of heaven at Your side. I thank You that You have not hidden this from me.
I thank You that Your throne is established in righteousness, that You judge with perfect equity. No bribe, no deceit, no error shall stain Your verdict. You will bring every deed to light. And though that truth would destroy me if I stood alone, I thank You for the blood of the covenant that speaks better things than judgment. I do not deserve acquittal, but You have purchased my peace. I will not be condemned because You were condemned for me.
I thank You for the mercy that has called, cleansed, and kept me. The righteousness You require, You provide. The faith You command, You give. The hope I cling to is not in my hands, but in Your wounds. You bore the wrath, that I might know the welcome.
I thank You for the promise of that day when I will see You face to face, when the Judge I now worship in faith will be the Savior I see in glory. You will not turn me away. You will speak peace to my soul. “Come, ye blessed.” Those words will echo forever in my heart. I thank You for that hope. I thank You that You have made me long for that day with joy.
I thank You that You are coming. Not in secret, but in splendor. Not to suffer, but to reign. I thank You that Your glory will be seen and Your name exalted. And I thank You that even now, by grace, I belong to You.
Keep me watchful Lord. Keep me ready. Let the brightness of that coming Day shape my present steps. Let the certainty of Your throne guide my fears and my faith. Let every thought of judgment stir praise in me for You are good. You are holy. You are just. And I thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are mine and I am Yours.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Matthew 25:31:
Matt. 16:27, 19:28; 2 Thess. 1:7; Jude 1:14; Mark 8:38; John 1:51; 2 Tim. 4:1.
[1] Nathaniel Ranew, Solitude Improved by Divine Meditation, eBook (N.P.) chapter 20.
