FAQ - JUDGMENT
Will you kindly explain and harmonize
`Romans 2nd chapter, 7th to 10`the verses inclusive? (W.H.H.)
<ANSWER>--In the `6th verse` the Apostle says :--"Who will render to
every man according to his deeds"--at the time when God's judgments will be
manifested as stated in the 5th verse. Coming to the seventh verse, he points out that
those who patiently continue in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality
shall receive eternal life, at the time indicated in the preceding two verses. And, at
that time, those who will persist in wrongdoing, shall be punished by experiencing Divine
indignation and wrath. But those who, when the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the
earth, will comply with the principles of righteousness shall experience Divine favor and
blessings, both Jews and Gentiles. This presentation of the matter is in harmony with the
general teachings of the Scriptures which show that the Church of Christ, now being
selected out from the nations of the earth, shall receive "glory, honor, and
immortality"; while the world of mankind--the righteous and obedient--whose trial for
eternal life will follow the glorification of the Church, shall receive the "glory,
honor, and peace" of perfect human conditions.
What is meant by the term "Doomsday?" (A.B.C.)
<ANSWER>--It is that last dreadful day in the which (according to the
antiquated theories of an obsolete theological formation) the Lord will return to the
earth, and take His seat upon a great white throne, and then all nations will be gathered
before Him, for judgment. As the judgments proceed, the mountains and the rocks will come
tumbling down, and the sea and all the waves will roar under the agitations of a mighty
storm. About this time a terrible earthquake will shake things up so severely that all the
things that can be shaken will be removed. In connection with these terrifying phenomena
of nature, there will be the sounding of the last trump, and tremendous voices will be
heard in the air. Amidst this deafening uproar, while "the wreck of matter and the
crush of worlds" is transpiring, the 20,000,000,000 and more of the human race will
be judged, and all within the limitations of a twenty-four hour day. When the final
summing up takes place, the Great Judge will invite the few saints, "the little
flock," to enter into the conditions of bliss, while to the vast majority of the race
He will issue the command to depart into an eternity of torment in fire and brimstone.
With the pronouncement of the final sentence of doom, a terrible fire will break forth;
the elements shall melt with fervent heat; and the heavens and earth being on fire shall
be dissolved! This lurid picture of the judgment time was evidently formed by some one
with highly developed imaginative powers, who gathered together a number of symbolic and
figurative expressions from the Scriptures with which to produce this amusing sketch of
"doomsday," which has served to frighten some good and bad children nearly to
death!
What is meant by the "Judgment Day," and when will it be? Is it to be
a 24 hour day?
<ANSWER>--The term "Judgment" includes a hearing or trial and the
final conclusion or result of that trial. Not all are judged at once. To illustrate, the
Church is now on trial or judgment, which trial or judgment has been in progress since
Pentecost. The faithful in this judgment shall be rewarded, as we read, "Be thou
faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." (`Rev. 2:10`.) The
Judgment Day as applied to the world in general is entirely a different matter. It is
manifest that the whole world could not be tried and judged within 24 hours. The Apostle
says, "God hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness" (`Acts 17:31`). Again we read: "That one day is with the Lord as
a thousand years" (`2 Peter 3:8`). The judgment of the world by Christ will cover a
period of one thousand years (`Rev. 20:4-6`). That the judgment of the world had not come
in the Apostle Paul's day is clearly shown by his words in the Scripture above noted
(`Acts 17:31`). This and other Scriptures clearly show that Christ is to be the Judge of
the world when he sets up his kingdom at his second coming. In `Matthew 25:31-46` our Lord
gave a description of the judgment of the world, clearly pointing out that it would take
place at His second appearing. This is conclusive proof that the world's judgment is not
yet in progress.
Can you explain the first three verses of the sixth chapter of Hosea?
<ANSWER>--These verses, doubtless, refer to Israel's judgments and their
final repentance and reconciliation. The three days we understand to be the days of the
larger week, one thousand years to each day. In this larger week the seventh day will be
the seventh thousand-year period--the Sabbath of rest from sin and Satan. Recognizing time
from this standpoint and applying to each thousand years the parallel day of the week--we
find that, as over four thousand years had passed and the fifth thousand had begun at the
time the Jews had experienced the judgments of the Lord in the destruction of the city of
Jerusalem, it was therefore at a time corresponding to the fifth day of the lesser week,
namely Thursday, the first day of the three mentioned. Friday the second day, and Saturday
(the seventh-day Sabbath) the third, in which the Israelites will be revived and raised up
to Divine favor and life. It is to be early in the morning of this third day--the thousand
years of Messiah's reign--that "All Israel shall be saved"--`Rom. 11:26`. Then
will be the seasons of refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord as
indicated in the "rain" mentioned in the third verse and referred to by the
Apostle Peter--`Acts 3:19-21`.