davidbu@loowit.wr.tek.com (David E. Buxton) (06/02/91)
Did the judgement end at the cross? Here is what was said after Jesus'
death on the cross:
" "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance
of this to all by raising Him from the dead." "-- Acts 17:31 (NKJ)
"in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel. "-- Rom 2:16 (NKJ)
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judg-
ment, 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." -- Heb 9:27,28 (NKJ)
"For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the
Lord." And again, "The LORD will judge His people." " -- Heb 10:30
(NKJ)
Jesus made it clear that few rather than many will be saved.
" "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
"Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to
life, and there are few who find it. " -- Mat 7:13,14 (NKJ)
Not every one who says Lord Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father. (Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)
In other words, the majority will not be happy with God when they are
judged. Perhaps I should say they will be rather angry with God. How big
an issue is this? Will some of the saved, when later investigating those
who were lost, think that God has been unfair in His dealings with their
friends? Will the angels of heaven think that God performed poorly when He
chose those for salvation? My understanding of the Investigative Judgement,
is a judgement in which God's judgement of humans is judged by the universe
so that all can see that God is doing the right thing when He chooses those
for salvation and leaves the majority behind. When God judges, He will be
judged - it is a two way judgement, and God's credibility and honor are at
stake.
In the context of our national judicial system, we see a similar thing. We
speak of the revolving door of justice which puts the same criminal right
back on the street time and time again. We speak of a judicial system that
accommodates the crook and seems to ignore the plight of the victim. The
judicial system of this country is being judged, and the judgement is so
often unfavorable. Is not God being judged by those who insist God is
unfair? What sort of sympathy is to be given to those who are judged to be
lost? Will God be judged to be unfair, too tough, too lenient, too . . . .?
Lucifer was perfect before sin came into his heart. God did not design that
Lucifer of heaven should become the Satan of this earth:
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till ini-
quity was found in you. "-- Ezek 28:15 (NKJ)
""How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How
you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you
have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the
congregation on the farthest sides of the north;" -- Isa 14:12,13
(NKJ)
The following text makes it clear that this matter of sin is caste in a con-
text much bigger than the small dimensions of this earth:
"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail,
nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dra-
gon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who
deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him." -- Rev 12:7-9 (NKJ)
"And He [Jesus] said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from
heaven. " -- Luke 10:18 (NKJ)
"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven . . . . . "-- Rev 12:4
(NKJ)
One third of the angels - that is a mighty high percentage? Are any of the
remaining two thirds pondering the justice of God? What about the angels
that they knew so well who left with Satan? Was God fair? Considering that
a third of heaven was tempted and fell with Satan, is it not a concern, of
no small magnitude, that God's judgement be seen as a judgement that is fair
and just and honorable? Two thirds of the angels of God are looking on. Is
it not vital that God's judgements be vindicated? If God was to botch the
job, then would not more of the angels of heaven rebel? If 1/3 were vulner-
able and fell, are not some of the two thirds yet vulnerable? I certainly
do not wish to fear that yet another Lucifer will rise up in heaven and I'm
sure you do not. The horrors of Satan's rule of this earth can only be left
behind if the surviving universe can see and agree that God was just and
completely honorable in His dealings with Satan and his host and those who
choose his ways.
So, how is God to be judged? The following scripture makes clear that we,
His church, have a vital role to play in making known the wisdom of God:
"to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be MADE KNOWN
BY THE CHURCH TO THE principalities and POWERS IN the HEAVENly places,
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus
our Lord, "-- Eph 3:10,11 (NKJ)
Our good works, not for our salvation sake, but to demonstrate the 'manifold
wisdom of God' - God has offered us salvation and in return we can act to
demonstrate our love for Him and to live a life that will honor Him:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of your-
selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." -- Eph
2:8-10 (NKJ)
" "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you
will be My disciples. "-- John 15:8 (NKJ) ""Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father
in heaven. " -- Mat 5:16 (NKJ)
". . . . for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels
and to men. " -- 1 Cor 4:9 (NKJ)
"Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that
pertain to this life? "-- 1 Cor 6:3 (NKJ)
". . . . that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting
of the LORD, that He may be glorified." "-- Isa 61:3 (NKJ)
"Have mercy upon me, O God, . . . . , Blot out my transgressions. . .
. . . . For I acknowledge my transgressions, . . . . . . Against You,
You only, have I sinned, . . . . . ; That You may be found just when
You speak, And blameless when You judge. "-- Psa 51:1-4 (NKJ) (See
also Romans 3:3,4 which appears to refer to this scripture)
"Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land
forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be
glorified. " -- Isa 60:21 (NKJ)
In Genesis 3:15 we read the prophecy that the head of the serpent will be
bruised (when Jesus died on the cross). In the following text from Paul's
letter to the Romans, written after the cross, notice whose feet will crush
Satan:
"For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on
your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple con-
cerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under YOUR FEET
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. " --
Rom 16:19,20 (NKJ)
So, when Jesus died on the cross, His death bruised the head of Satan. It
will prove to be a fatal blow but his destruction was not yet secured. It
is our response to His sacrifice, and how we glorify God, that in the end
brings about the crushing of the head of that old serpent. The Great Con-
troversy between Christ and Satan has not yet run its course. In contrast
to all that Satan claims in the way of freedom from God and His laws, how
can God's actions be vindicated unless God's people demonstrate the validity
of the ways of God and the laws of God? God's people can, by doing the will
of the Father, demonstrate a stark contrast between God's ways and the ways
of Satan. And so the head of Satan will be crushed under foot.
"But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God who is
holy shall be hallowed in righteousness. " -- Isa 5:16 (NKJ)
John the Revelator's prophecy of judgement to come:
"saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and
earth, the sea and springs of water." " -- Rev 14:7 (NKJ)
Does this verse prophecy the hour in which God will be judged, or does it
prophecy the hour in which God will be the Judge. Perhaps both answers are
right:
"And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O
Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have
judged these things. . . . . And I heard another from the altar say-
ing, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judg-
ments." " -- Rev 16:5,7 (NKJ)
It is vital that God's judgements be seen by the universe to be just and
thoroughly competent. What can we do to show clearly that we are on the
Lord's side? He loved us as sinners and we wish to return that love, to
do what we can for Him.
"But why do you judge your brother? . . . . For we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says
the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to
God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. " --
Rom 14:10-12 (NKJ)
Dave (David E. Buxton)
From the Silicon RainForest of the NorthWest