Judg

Fear God and give Him glory

for the hour of His judgement
has come. Revelation 14:7

IS JUDGEMENT REAL?
We can be sure that judgement is something that is real because the Bible says so. Here are a
few Bible texts we can consider:
1

 Romans 14:10,12
You then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat your brother
or sister with contempt? For we will all stand before Gods judgement seat.12 so then
we will all give an account of ourselves to God.
2 Corinthians 5 :10
For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that everyone may
receive what is due them for things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Acts 17:31
For he has set a date when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has
appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone.
Daniel 7:9,10
The Ancient of Days did sit...thousand thousands ministered unto Him and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgement was set and the books
were opened.

Matthew 12: 36, 37

I tell you on the day of judgement men will render account for every careless word
they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be
condemned.
Ecclesiastes 3:17
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a
time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep His commandments;
for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with
every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Matthew 7:1, 2
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will
be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.

Judgement is not something scary if we submit our lives to God and do His will. We have a
judge who is on our side (Jesus Christ) and He lived on earth and experienced all the troubles
and temptations that we go through but He did not sin. He is a fair judge because he is
Human and God at the same time. He is aware of our fallen nature and our weaknesses
because He stepped down into this world and lived with us (For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin. NIV) Hebrews 4:15
Imagine being in court after doing something illegal like drinking and driving. You have
been struggling with the bottle for years and even though you want to leave it, you cannot.
2

Finally you have done something that brings you to court and in front of you stands a judge
who has never tasted alcohol in his life. A few metres away stands another who was once in
your shoes but made a choice to stop drinking. Who would you prefer to handle your case
and give a verdict? Obviously, one who can empathise with you because they have been
where you are and understand the exact struggles that you are going through. In this case,
Jesus understands us and stands to be the perfect judge. He is the one who has walked in this
sin-darkened world and experienced trials that we are exposed to. He is one who will be a
sage and merciful judge.

PHASES OF JUDGEMENT
There are three phases of judgement:
1. Investigative/ Pre-Advent Judgement
2. Review
3. Executive judgement

What is Investigative or Pre-Advent Judgement?

The term Investigative judgement may not be explicitly used in the
Bible but it comes from the fact that God probes before pronouncing
judgement. Right from the beginning of Gods dealing with sinners in
Genesis 3; a pattern of judicial procedure emerges. How is this so?

Genesis 3:8-20(Adam and Eve)

Notice on the first investigation, God questions Adam and Eve on
what happened. Where are you? Who told you? and Have you
eaten of the fruit of the tree..? He carried out the investigation
needed. God did not arrive and immediately give a verdict. There was a verdict passed to the
Adam, his wife and the serpent. Adam was to feed himself and his family from the sweat of
his brow and Eve was to have labour pains when giving birth and the serpent was to move on
its belly.
Genesis 4:9-12(Cain)
We see Gods grace when He visits Cain when his face is downcast. God tells him that if he
does well then he will be accepted. Later Cain does what is wrong and God comes again to
inquire about what had happened. A verdict comes after God finds out what had happened.
He is banished and no one is allowed to kill him
Genesis 11:5-7(Tower of Babel)
The citizens build a tower and since they are doing what is contrary to Gods will, God
decides to go down and see if truly, they are doing that which they are not supposed to do. He
realises that are assembling together and building the tower of Babel. God then confuses their
language to hinder their progress.
Genesis 18, 19(Sodom and Gomorrah)
God decides to alert Abram about what He will do in Sodom and Gomorrah. He is merciful
because He says He will preserve the whole city if there are even ten righteous people. When
he arrives in Sodom and Gomorrah He finds that it ought to be destroyed because of the
peoples wickedness. After God arrives and investigates, that is when it is destroyed.
(Genesis 18:20,21 The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so
grievous that l will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has
reached me. If not, l will know.)We see Gods investigations prior to His punitive act.
The New Testament presents Sodom and Gomorrah as an example or type of judgement.
(2 peter 2:10 If condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,
and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. Jude 1:7 in a
similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual
immorality and perversion. They served as an example of those who suffer the punishment of
eternal fire.)
Isaiah 5:1-7(Israel)
4

In this passage we find the Israelites being arrayed before Gods judgement seat. An
investigation is made, facts are stated, witnesses are called upon and finally a verdict is
pronounced. The vineyard is the house of God. Sin entered because the vineyard yielded bad
fruit and that there was bloodshed. The witnesses were the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Verdict: I will take away its hedge and it will be destroyed, l will break down its walls and it
will be trampled. (Read further Isaiah 43: 8-13, 22-28)
Matthew 22:1-14(the king inspects)
The king had invited everyone to the wedding feast but one man had not come with the
specific garment that he was supposed to wear. The king carried out an inspection (which is
the investigation) and found that there was only one man who was dressed inappropriately.
The man was speechless when asked why he did not have the rightful garment. The king then
ordered him to be tied and thrown outside.
God is a God who is fair and who encourages proper investigation before anything is done.
We see this in Deuteronomy 13:14, Then thou shalt enquire, and make search, and ask
diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought
among you... There is another example in Deut 19:18, 19 And the judges shall make
diligent inquisition: and behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely
against his brother; then ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so
thou shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
This investigative judgement is necessary to show that Christ has been saving His people. He
does not wish to conceal anything since He is the Omniscient. He wants everyone to see what
He is doing.

In Daniel 7: 1-14
Daniel receives a vision and sees beasts that represent kingdoms (Dan 7:23, 24) that rise from
his time in Babylon to the end of the world. This happens on earth and as he turns to look at
what happens in heaven, his eyes meet the court session (Dan 7:9-10). The court sits while
the little horn is speaking boastfully. If judgement begins while the little horn speaks
boastfully, this means that there is life on earth, the world would not have come to an end
plus Jesus wouldnt have come for the second time.

Daniel 7:9, 10
The Ancient of Days did sit...thousand thousands ministered unto Him and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgement was set and the books were opened.

There are books that are opened during judgement. Men give account to God only for those
things contained in the books. These books are mentioned. There is the:

Book of Life(Ps 69:28, Phil 4:3, Rev 13;8, Rev 17:8) For the righteous
5

Book of remembrance(mal 3:16) for those who

feared and honoured God
Book of Deeds(Rev 20:12)
Gods Book(Ps 56:8, Exodus 32:32,33)

The Book of Life is to be examined before the resurrection

of the just. All are delivered who at the time of deliverance
are found written in the book of Life. Those who fail to
overcome are blotted out of the Book of Life, Daniel 12:1
God is proud of us and He takes joy in showing others our good deeds. That is why He keeps
all the records. He does what proud parents do when their children are doing well at school.
Proud parents will show their relatives or anyone who visits how intelligent their children are
by opening their school books and this is what God also does with our records. The books are
not for Gods sake but they are for celestial beings who do not know everything unlike God
(2 Timothy 2:19 ...the Lord knows those who are His... Onlookers can then see whether
salvation or condemnation is appropriate. Gods character can be vindicated and Satans
claims that he made before he left heaven, that God is unjust, are then proved to be wrong.
The sins of men are recorded in books for judgement and they can be blotted out. God takes
note of every sin that we commit, Jeremiah 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and
take thee much soap, yet thy iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. Even Isaiah
notes that sins are recorded in Isaiah 43:25, I, even l, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. This is why David asked
God for his sins to be blotted out in Psalm 51:1,9 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to
thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions...Hide thy face from my sins, blot out all my iniquities.Paul also writes to the
Romans and says, Romans 2:5,6 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up
unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God:
who will render to every man according to his deeds. Nehemiah, Daniel and Jeremiah pray
for the blotting out of sins in Nehemiah 4:5, Psalms 109:14 Jeremiah 18:23.
This phase is also known as the Pre-Advent judgement. In Revelations 22:11, 12 we learn of
how Christ will come with rewards for everyone according to how they worked. How could
there be a final reward or punishment if there were not a judgement that preceded it? Saints
are rewarded at the Second Advent which presupposes that they have already been judged.
Judgement must take place before the second Coming. The proclamation concerning the hour
of Gods judgement in Revelation 14; 6,7must be made during the time when human
probation still lasts. The hour of Gods judgement precedes the Advent of Christ.

When does the Investigative judgement end and who is considered?

1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgement to begin with Gods household: and if it begins with us, what
will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God.
Revelation 22:11, 12
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still...behold l come quickly and my reward is with me to
give every man according as his works shall be.

Investigative judgement ends at the Second Coming of Christ and those who claim to
be Christians-house of God will be considered in the Pre-Advent judgement.

Who presides at the Pre-Advent judgement? Who is the

defence attorney, judge, accuser and who are the witnesses?

Daniel 7:9, 10
The Ancient of Days did sit...thousand thousands ministered
unto Him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him:
the judgement was set and the books were opened.

Angels are present as witnesses and so is God the Father.

1 John 2:1
We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

Christ is our Advocate.

John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to
the Son.

Jesus is the judge.

Revelation 12:9, 10
For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accuseth them before our God day and
night

Satan is our accuser.

What is the source of evidence used in the Pre-Advent Judgement? By what standard
will all be judged? Since God knows everything about every person, why have
judgement?

Daniel 7: 10
...the judgement was set and the books were opened.
Revelations 20:12
The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works.
There are specific books which record all deeds that are used for evidence
James 2:12
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
1 Corinthians 4:9
...because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.
Judgement is there to vindicate Gods character;
Revelation 11:16-18
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces
and worshiped God, 17 saying: We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is
and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 18 The
nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and
for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great
and small and for destroying those who destroy the earth.
Revelation 15:2-4
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea,
those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.
They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Gods servant Moses and of the
Lamb: Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your
ways, King of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For
you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts
have been revealed.

Revelation 16:5, 7
5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: You are just in these judgments, O
Holy One, you who are and who were; 6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and
your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. 7 And I heard the
altar respond: Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.
Revelation 19:1-2
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his
judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.
8

Daniel 4:37
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because
everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able
to humble.

What portion of a persons life is considered in the Pre-Advent judgement? What will
be confirmed? How will rewards be decided?
Ecclesiastes 12: 14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is
good or evil.
Revelation 22:12
Behold, l come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work
shall be.
NB Although we are saved by grace, rewards will be given based on works which prove how
genuine a Christians faith is (James 2:26)
Every detail of a persons life will be reviewed.

What happens when Investigative judgement ends?

Jesus will come back to this earth to receive the ones who would have done His will He will
take them to heaven for a thousand years whilst Satan remains in the Abyss (Greek word for
very deep or bottomless pit) for a thousand years. The wicked are not raised in the first
resurrection.
John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am.

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second
time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
1 Corinthians 15:52-55
9

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52 in a flash,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be
raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with
the imperishable and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed
with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will
come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death is your sting?
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no
power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a
thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-3
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in
his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or
Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and
sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years
were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time...the rest of the dead did not come
to life until the thousand years were ended.

Judgement does not just end with the Investigative judgement,

10

It goes further than that.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no
power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a
thousand years.
The resurrection of the saints into immortality is decisive proof that they have already passed
the test of judgement and have been accepted by the judge. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44. 51-52)
Luke 20:35, 36
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from
the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they
are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the
resurrection.
The righteous are to be raised before the wicked have their resurrection. This shows that their
cases took place before they were raised for the final discrimination is made in the very act of
raising the just and leaving the unjust to the resurrection of damnation (Rev 20:6)

What group is involved in the heavenly judgement during the 1000 years? What is the
purpose of this phase?
1Corinthians 6:2, 3
Or do you not know that the Lords people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the
world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge
angels? How much more the things of this life!
Revelation 20:4
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw
the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and
because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not
received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ
a thousand years.
The review is there so that all their questions may be answered. For example if your family
member was murdered and they are not found in heaven but the murderer is present, books
can be reviewed to see why your loved one is not present.

11

After the millennium/thousand years end, the executive judgement begins.

What happens after the review? What new group of people will be there? When and
where will this take place?
Revelation 20:5
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.
Revelation 20:7, 8
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out
to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earthGog and Magogand to gather them
for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
Revelation 21:2
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as
a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

What happens next?

The wicked surround the city and prepare to attack.
Revelation 20:9
They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of Gods people, the
city he loves...
What interrupts their battle plan?
Revelation 20:12, 13
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what
they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and
death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according
to what they had done.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive
what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:11, 12
It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every
tongue will acknowledge God. So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
The lost will fall to their knees and admit that God is just and that their own stubbornness
kept them from being saved (Hosea 13; 9) God will stand vindicated before the universe.
12

What final steps will eradicate sin and provide a secure home for the righteous?
Revelation 20:9, 10
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about,
and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Malachi 4:3
And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in
the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 65:17
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be
remembered, nor come into mind.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of
God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his
people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Fire will fall from heaven and consume sin and sinners. There will be
great sorrow and sadness because the saved will see their friends and
family pass away. Christ will weep over them and the terrible cost of sin
will defy description.
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.
If we are to use a modern day phrase then this would be the part where we would say, and
they lived happily ever after.

In conclusion, by studying judgement, l

have seen that Christ is truly a friend. He
loves and cares for us. If it were not for
Christ, there would be no good news to
expect from judgement. I can smile when
13

l hear about judgement because of Christ. I know l have a friend who is pleading for complete
salvation on my behalf and who is doing everything possible for me to be with Him eternally.
It is also up to me to cooperate with Him
I then realised that it is the truth of our time that shows what our Saviour is doing in heaven
presently. Jesus did not ascend to heaven and forget about us. We are always on His mind and
we need to understand what He is doing for us. The most important thing for us as Christians
is to know Christ and His works that He reveals. We need to move together with him in faith.
As His friends we need to keep constant contact with Him and he will unfold to us His plans.
He doesnt want us to be in the dark.
Since we have now unfolded what the three phases of judgement are, the next big question
is...When does Investigative Judgement begin?

To be continued...

References
1. Amazing Facts Website. www.amazingfacts.org. Case closed Bible study guide 19
2. The Pre-Advent Judgement-Fact or fiction Part 2, Biblical research institute, Gerhard
Pfandi
3. Bible texts obtained from NIV and KJV

14