What is divine judgment?
Quick Answer
Divine judgment is God's righteous evaluation of all people - both His temporal judgments in history and the final judgment when all will stand before Christ to receive according to their deeds.
Understanding Judgment
Biblical judgment refers to God's assessment and response to human conduct. God judges both throughout history (temporal judgment on nations and individuals) and at the end of history (final judgment of all humanity). God's judgments are always righteous - He is the perfect Judge who knows all things and cannot be deceived. The final judgment will occur when Christ returns. All people will stand before Him; their works will be evaluated, and their eternal destiny determined. For believers, judgment concerns rewards, not salvation - they have already passed from death to life (John 5:24). For unbelievers, judgment means condemnation according to their sins. The doctrine of judgment motivates holy living, righteous relationships, and urgent evangelism.
In the Old Testament
The Old Testament presents God as Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25). He judged individuals (Adam and Eve, Cain), cities (Sodom, Gomorrah), and nations (Egypt, Babylon, and Israel itself). The prophets announced God's judgment on sin while also pointing to a coming 'Day of the LORD' - a future time of comprehensive judgment. Psalms and Proverbs affirm that God sees all and will render to each according to their deeds. Daniel's vision of the Ancient of Days sitting in judgment (Daniel 7) portrays the final judgment scene.
In the New Testament
Jesus taught extensively about judgment, including the separation of sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). He claimed authority to judge because He is the Son of Man (John 5:22, 27). The apostles proclaimed that God has appointed a day for judging the world through Christ (Acts 17:31). Paul describes both the 'judgment seat of Christ' for believers (2 Corinthians 5:10) and the wrath to come upon unbelievers (Romans 2:5-8). Revelation provides vivid imagery of final judgment: the great white throne, the books opened, and the lake of fire. Judgment is certain, comprehensive, just, and final.
Key Scripture References
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
Read full commentary →2 Corinthians 5:10“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Read full commentary →Romans 14:10-12“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Read full commentary →Revelation 20:12“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Read full commentary →Acts 17:31“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
Read full commentary →Matthew 12:36“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Read full commentary →Related Concepts
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