What is the judgment of God? Many people know that they will be judged one day, but the idea of judgment feels so vague — and so few people actually talk about it — that many assume it will never really happen to them.
But one day, you and I will have to stand before God. We will all, great and small, have to answer for every deed, action, thought, and intention. Let us find out five important truths about the judgment of God.
1. The Judgment of God Is Already Underway
This is something very clear in Scripture, yet most people do not realize it. Most assume the judgment of God lies far in the future. But the Bible says:
Revelation 14:7 — The hour of His judgment has come.
When we connect this verse with Daniel 8:14 — Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed — we see that the cleansing of the sanctuary refers to the moment when Jesus, our High Priest, entered the Most Holy Place in heaven to begin deciding the eternal destiny of every person.
This mirrors what the earthly priest once did here on earth — a symbolic picture of the larger, worldwide judgment of God, in which every human being will be called before His throne. The angel Gabriel explains the timing in Daniel:
Daniel 9:25 — Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Jerusalem was rebuilt in 457 BC. Adding 2,300 years to that date brings us to 1844 — the year Jesus moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary and began the work of judgment. Just as Noah preached for 120 years before the flood came, Jesus has now been carrying out this work of investigative judgment for around 180 years. One thing is certain: this work will soon come to an end, and every person’s eternal destiny will be settled forever.
2. The Judgment of God Includes Every Person
No human being can escape the judgment of God. We will all be required to appear and answer for our behavior, thoughts, actions, and motives.
What did Jesus say at His baptism?
Mark 1:15 — And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Which time was fulfilled? The 2,300-year prophecy. It begins in 457 BC, with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, plus 69 prophetic weeks, or 483 years, bringing us to the Messiah’s baptism in AD 27. Continue the math — 457 BC plus 2,300 years — and we arrive at 1844. The judgment of God has been ongoing since that time and will soon be finished.
Daniel 9:24–27 — Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
3. The Judgment of God Leads to One of Two Outcomes — Heaven or Hell
Many people believe they can avoid God’s judgment as long as they simply go along with the crowd. It’s a bit like driving on the highway: if one car starts going 75 in a 60-mph zone, soon every other car starts speeding too.
Many assume that as long as they’re doing what everyone else in society is doing, they must be fine. But we must remember that society as a whole is far from righteous, and few people will actually make it to heaven. The judgment of God will come for everyone — and now is the time to follow what God says in the Bible, rather than what society dictates.
This is the great test facing every human being:
- Follow people, or
- Follow the Bible.
It is difficult for people to accept that God simply does not weigh His judgment based on what the majority is doing. We live in a society so saturated with the idea that truth is whatever society decides it to be. But for God, majority opinion holds no weight, no power, no importance whatsoever. What the majority does is, in fact, among the least relevant things to God.
4. The Judgment of God Still Allows Time for Forgiveness
There is very little time left before this judgment is finalized — how much time, we do not know. This is exactly why it matters to truly know Jesus, who loves you so deeply, who provides for all your needs and even your wants. Jesus, who forgives your sins, who answers your prayers, who gives you light, sunshine, air, food, clothing, a place to live, and friends to share life with.
In all of this, Jesus shows His love for you. How, then, can we be ungrateful for such blessings? The judgment of God will settle every dispute and will bring to light all things once hidden in darkness.
1 Corinthians 4:5 — Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
When you stand before the judgment of God, what will you say? What will you tell Jesus about all your sins — about every time you treated others poorly? What excuse will you offer then, standing before Him in all His majesty?
5. The Judgment of God Will Soon Come to an End
We know that the judgment of God will soon conclude — though we do not know exactly how many years remain. God judged the world roughly 2,400 years after creation, at the time of the flood. It has now been about 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth, and approximately 180 years since His work of judgment began.
Roughly 2,000 years passed from creation to the flood.
Roughly 2,000 years passed from the flood to the time of Jesus.
Roughly 2,000 years have passed from the time of Jesus toward the end of this world.
We do not set exact dates, but the prophet Ellen G. White wrote that the controversy between Christ and Satan would last 6,000 years. The final judgment seat of Christ has been delayed in part because the church is not yet ready, and if Jesus were to return right now, many would be lost. God is merciful, but even His mercy has a limit.
No one who is harsh, unkind, proud, selfish, or unloving will enter heaven. Why not take an honest look at where you stand right now? Why not recognize that your own eternal destiny is, in a very real sense, in your hands?
Hell — eternal destruction, the seven last plagues, and extreme suffering in the fire.
Heaven — eternal happiness, blessing, and joy.
Which will you choose? Where would you rather spend eternity?
Repeat after me: Father God, forgive my sins. Help me to make things right with You. Give me Your righteousness by faith. Give me love for others. Heal me, and provide for all my needs, please, in the name of Jesus, amen.