“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.” (Matthew 25:31)
The final judgment is reserved for the great and glorious manifestation of the infinite holiness and righteousness, grace and mercy, wrath and severity, and other attributes of the Son of Man in all His glory. This judgment-day is called the “day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Rom. 2:5). It is of righteousness, that great and glorious attribute of Christ so little understood and much less considered in our day. This “judgment day” must be a very great day, as it is intended, purposely, to be the greatest day that ever was or can be demonstrating the glory of Christ in the entirety of His righteous character. Judgment day is purposely constituted for the supreme splendor of Jesus, that He may both be admired of saints and angels, and magnified in the sight of all wicked men and devils. On that day He is to appear in the highest glory, splendor, and power. And he being made now the visible Judge, this must be most glorious, in that it is the consummating work of His mediatorial kingdom, preceding immediately His work in delivering up His kingdom to God the Father, (1 Cor. 15:24). While He walked the earth, Christ took Peter, James and John to a mountain for a rare glimpse of His glory. Scripture says, “His face shown like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light,” (Matt. 17:2). The apostles were terrified, of course, falling on their face in worship – which is the appropriate response to the Son of God as He is now, clothed in all His righteous glory. God foreordained a point in time – the “day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Rom 2:5) – when every knee will bow, in heaven and in earth, before His Son. Judgment day is purposely designed to unveil the supreme splendor of Jesus, that He may be worshiped and admired by both saints and angels and magnified in the sight of all wicked men and devils. On that day He will appear in the highest glory, splendor, and power as the visible Judge of all the earth to deliver up His kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor. 15:24). Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “God shall bring everything into judgment,” every secret thing, good or evil. Daniel prophesies that those that sleep in the dust shall arise, some to shame, others to life, before the Son of Man in all His glory (Dan. 12:2). Christ Himself told of His second coming in great detail (Matt. 25:31-46). Paul tells a gathering at Athens that God has appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness, and by the man Jesus, “whom He has ordained,” (Acts 17:31. Rom. 2:16). Christ’s first coming was one of quiet humility. A Savior was born, earthy and gentle – a “balm in Gilead.” But His second coming will be in flaming fire, to render vengeance on those who do not know God and who have not obeyed the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-10) and to reward His own who are covered by His blood and believe on Him by faith (Rev. 20:12-15). All people, small and great will stand before Christ, the Righteous Judge, to be judged for what we have done, in deed and intent, whether good or evil (Eccl. 12:14). Those who diligently adore God now and are found “safe” in Christ will be declared “without spot and blameless,” (2 Peter 3:14), and will be welcomed into eternal bliss. Nathaniel Ranew on this point says, “The varieties of this truth throughout Scripture, are like many candles lighted in one place, like multitudes of lights in the heavens, all to give light to us below, that we might have clearest discoveries, firmest faith, strongest instigations to yield full compliance and obedience, with greatest readiness, pleasure, and sweetness to the Son of Man in all His glory.” “You do not know what hour your Lord comes,” (Matt. 24:42). It will be sudden as a thief in the night, (2 Pet. 3:10). Christ will descend from heaven (1 Thess. 4:16), in power and great glory (Titus 2:13), along with the whole host of heaven (Jude 1:15; 2 Thess. 1:7; Matt. 25:31).Are you ready?
- Lord, Your Word says the sheep are separated from the goats, and the sheep are set at Your right hand. The goats are placed on the left, and then all sentences will be passed. Am I among Your sheep? Or have I deceived myself? Where is my assurance, and what do I trust in? Do I trust in the righteous covering of the Son of Man or my own “good works?” I know that salvation is only through faith in the work of Christ on the cross, and not whatever “good” I do, so help me thoroughly examine myself that I am not deceived.
- Lord, as I see the glory of the Son of Man displayed in Scripture, I consider what that Day of Judgment will be like. But I truly cannot imagine it. Is its impression lost on me because I don’t think about it deeply enough? I can hear the trumpet sound, see the dead rise, the living all changed in a moment; looking up I see the glorious Christ coming in the clouds, with all the angels and saints attending Him. I can envision Christ on the throne of judgment and all people collected before Him, and I myself among the rest. I can imagine my case being tried, my works, words, thoughts, and all my secret sins judged, and my state for all eternity determined. I wonder, then, what will my own condition be? It is an ultimately terrifying thought without the blood of Christ applied to my account, but I rest in Your great mercy and Your covenant faithfulness to be mine on that day!
- If I can come before You, Lord Jesus, the all-knowing Judge, with confidence and exceeding joy, I shall be forgiven, and hear that joyful pronouncement at the Day of Judgment, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” I long for that day, Lord Jesus!
