Judgment Day
- When is Jesus coming again?
- Why is He coming?
- What will happen when Jesus comes?
- What should I do to prepare for Jesus’ coming?
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (Jn 14:2-3)
The Lord Jesus promises His followers that He will one day return to receive them home.
This world will not last forever. It will come to an end at the coming of Christ. No one can know the exact hour. But Jesus warned of the signs that will precede His coming: wars, famine, natural disasters; increase of crime, religious persecution, and rejection and confusion of the truth:
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Mt 24:12)
Most people live their lives without a second thought to Christ’s coming. But “as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married… until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Lk 17:26-7). To those who live comfortably immersed in the world, the end will be unexpected (1 Thess 5:3).
Yet you can read the signs. As society increase in violence and profanity, as nations stockpile weapons of mass destruction, and as mankind wear down the physical environment of Earth, it seems we sit on a ticking time bomb. One day, the period of grace God has given will end. The gospel of the kingdom will have been “preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14). Then the Lord will return to establish His justice once and for all.
We all recognize that evil, hatred, and injustice exist in this world. They result from human disobedience to God. Our disobedience has a consequence: separation from God that leads to death, suffering, and eternal hopelessness.
Yet God, out of His mercy, prepared a way to save us: through the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us the present time to accept the salvation He offers. The Lord Jesus will come again for the ultimate fulfillment of His salvation plan.
To receive the saved
Those who have believed and kept faith with the Lord Jesus will enter into His kingdom; to abide with Him forever and enjoy a heavenly reward.
To judge the unrepentant
Even though people don’t always face the consequences of their actions in their lifetime, the Lord will settle all accounts at the end. Our existence doesn’t end at death. After we die, we all face judgment. Those faithful to God will be credited as righteous. Those who have disregarded His commands will be condemned.
To destroy all physical existence and establish His eternal kingdom
People often think of fire and brimstone when they hear of “Judgment Day.” Truth is, the world we live in is corruptible. The physical world, because of the evil in it, cannot last forever. God will put an end to all that offends His perfect and just nature. This decaying world will cease to exist. God, who is spirit, will establish an everlasting spiritual kingdom. The righteous will reside there forever, in His presence, in His glory.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Rev 21:4)
What will happen when Jesus comes?
Resurrection and transformation
An extraordinary event will occur at the Lord’s second coming. By the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, God will raise believers who have died. Without going through death, believers who are alive will be transformed and raised up (1 Cor 15:50-53).
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thess 4:16)
Just as the Lord Jesus was raised to life in a spiritual body, believers will also be clothed with a spiritual body—glorious, powerful, and immortal (Phil 3:20-21).
Judgment
At His second coming, Jesus Christ will execute His judgment on all people according to how they have lived (2 Cor 5:10).
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast the lake of fire. (Rev 20:12-15).
Sinners will be cast out of God’s presence, into eternal darkness. The faithful will see Jesus face to face and receive a blessed inheritance (Mt 25:34).
A new heaven and a new earth
Sudden, unprecedented disasters will herald the second coming of Christ (Mk 13:19). Following the initial tribulation will be great cosmic chaos.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Mt 24:29)
Finally, the last chapter of world history will close with a total destruction by fire. A new heaven and a new earth will then replace the former universe. This is the eternal home that God has prepared for His people.
What should I do to prepare for Jesus’ coming?
Accept Christ now
Whether or not you will be alive to witness the events of Jesus’ second coming, there is a last day for everyone on earth. On the day your life ends, you need to be prepared to meet the Lord. The only way you can face the Judge on Judgment Day is by accepting His grace today (Jn 3:16-18). Are you ready to meet Him?
Walk with faith
The path of your life may not be plain. You don’t really know when it will end, or what twists and turns lie ahead. But God has given everyone clear guidelines in the Bible on how to live. Every word He gives us holds a promise: if you follow each command, you will be blessed. Walk every step with faith in God’s leadership. You will find your life fruitful and full of meaning, for your destination will be clear (Rev 22:14).
Love one another
According to Jesus’ teachings, love will be a standard of divine judgment on the last day. “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). Love is all-encompassing: it requires you not only to “do no harm,” but also to be patient, forbearing, giving, and forgiving. Love is serving the needs of others with all that God has given you. It calls you to teach, encourage, and intercede for their spirits in this darkening world, and together, we can look forward to daybreak in God’s kingdom and proclaim:
“Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)