Who Will Judge Us?

It is a valid and intriguing question because, at first glance, the Bible seems to point in two different directions. Based on several texts, God the Father sits on the throne and judges (Daniel 7:9-10; Hebrews 12:23). Yet, other passages make it clear that Jesus is the one doing the judging (Matthew 25:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

How can both be true? The answer is in assigned roles. Peter explains that Jesus was 'ordained by God to be the judge' (Acts 10:42), and Paul confirms that the Father 'appointed' the Son for this very task (Acts 17:31). While God is the 'Judge of all the earth' (Genesis 18:25), He carries out this work through Christ.

This idea should not surprise. To illustrate (not to complicate it further), the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 that the saints will judge the world and even the fallen angels. This is confirmed in Revelation 20:4, where John sees 'thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.'

The key to understanding this 'judicial team' is recognising that there are different stages of judgment and different categories of beings being judged, by different appointed 'judges'.

Let me focus on the three stages, and thus cover both the categories of beings being judged and the identity of the ones serving as judges.

1. The Pre-Advent (Investigative) Judgment

This takes place before Jesus’ Second Coming. We know this stage must exist because when Jesus returns, He brings His reward with Him. He must know ahead of time whom He will resurrect and whom He will not. Read with me:

'For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son' (John 5:21-22).

Continuing: '“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live' (John 5:24-25).

What about those who will not be resurrected then? Revelation 20:5 tells us that "the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended." This implies a decision was made regarding the "first resurrection" before He even arrived. We call this an individual judgment where God knows the secrets of our lives (Romans 2:16).

2. The Post-Advent (Millennial) Judgment

The other judgment takes place during the 1,000 years (the Millennium), the time between the first and the second resurrection. While in heaven during the millennium, the saints participate in the process of judgment. They will not revert the sentence of those already in heaven, but rather confirm it, having verified anything and everything they might be interested in (e.g. why one is there, why another is missing).

Our key texts are Revelation 20:4, 'thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge' and 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 'do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? . . . Do you not know that we will judge angels?'.

Clearly, authority is given to the redeemed to judge the (rest of the) world and the fallen angels. This is a period of transparency where the saved can see and understand the records of those who were not raised in the first resurrection.

3. The Post-Millennial (Executive) Judgment

This last phase of the judgment takes place at the end of the 1,000 years. This is the universal judgment where 'all and everybody' will stand in front of the Great White Throne.

'Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.' (Revelation 20:11-13)

This is the final realisation of the parables found in Matthew 13, 22, and 25 — the ultimate separation of the wheat from the tares. While the others were (1) investigative, and then (2) evaluative, this third is the executive judgment. 

Conclusion

Whether we look at the individual level — where the 'measure you use' will be measured back to you (Matthew 7:2) — or the universal level, God’s judgment is thorough and fair (Genesis 18:15, see also Psalm 9:7-8, Hebrews 12:23). The Father is the ultimate authority, the Son is the appointed Judge, and the redeemed are the witnesses to His justice.

While judgment isn't a single event, it is indeed one long process that ensures the entire universe can trust in God’s character and His final decision to end sin forever.

Do you have any questions?
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