Who Will Be Judged At His Second Coming?

 in Bible Bytes / Jesus Second Coming / Judgment Day / Questions / Teachings  tagged first and second resurrection / four groups will be judged / judgments of the Lord by

Who Will Be Judged At His Second Coming?

In today’s topic we will be covering judgment. You may be familiar with the topic and have heard upon the Lord’s return there will be judgment but I would like to show you, how some schools of thought have broken down exactly who will be judged during this time. There are actually 4 groups of people who will fall in this category.

  • Those Living from the Nation of Israel
  • The Living Gentile Nations 
  • The Old Testament Saints
  • The Tribulation Saints

When we read the scriptures we often lump Israel and the church together because we are part of the family of God. We need to remember there are stages of salvation that occurred when we are speaking of the work of the Lord. These stages of salvation involve after the cross, and the time of the tribulation.

* First and Second Resurrection *

If you have studied any scriptures in Revelation 20 you will have discovered there will be two resurrections and following a resurrection there is always judgment. The first resurrection occurs when the last trumpet sounds alerting the world the Lord is coming to earth. This judgment is known as the “judgment seat of Christ”. The second resurrection will occur after the thousand years reign and the judgment is known as “judgment at the White Throne”. This is the Father’s final judgment.

1. Those Living from the Nation of Israel

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17 KJV

Through this scripture Peter shows us judgment will begin at the house of God. The house of God is Israel and it appears to commence 3.5 years before the Lord returns. 

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. Revelation 11:5 KJV

Since the nation of Israel has not accepted Jesus as their Messiah they will go through some challenging times before the Lord returns. God will send two final witnesses to prophesy and do signs that prove they are from God. 

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (9) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:8-9 KJV

Zechariah reveals to us that two thirds of the population shall be cut off and die in Israel. The remaining third will be put through the fire. This means they will be tested and they will prove themselves to be God’s people.

The house of Dan will be the judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Genesis 49:16 KJV

* Purpose *

The purpose of this refinement is to determine which individuals will enter God’s kingdom during the Millennium. They will finally experience the long promised blessings God has given to the nation of Israel. 

* The Unrighteous are Sent Away *

The unrighteous will be purged from the righteous and sent away. Jesus illustrated this truth through the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:30.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:30 KJV

These unprofitable servants will be sent away to wait for their final judgment. It does not actually state it but they will be killed and then they will wait for their final judgment which will occur after the millennial reign. The millennial reign is Christ’s reign upon the earth for a thousand years. 

2. The Living Gentile Nations

Jesus spoke of judging the living gentile nations (non-Jewish nations) at his second coming. These are the nations that are alive on earth during the Great Tribulation.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Matthew 25:31-32 KJV

All these people will be brought to the city of Jerusalem and judged in the valley of Jehoshaphat.

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, (2) I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:1-2 KJV

The righteous will enter into the Lord’s millennial kingdom while the unrighteous will be taken to judgment. Similar to the unbelievers from the nation of Israel they will probably be executed at this time. The final judgment of the gentile unbelievers is in the future. This is tough to read but realize when the word of God says the “unprofitable” servant will be cast into outer darkness it also means it is a separation from the Lord. 

3. Tribulation Saints

Upon the Lord’s return, those believers who were killed during the Great Tribulation will also be judged. They, along with other believers who have died will be raised from the dead in a glorified body, they will receive rewards and they will enter into the kingdom of God. 

There are only two options of people – believers and non believers. Some people have said there will be people who have a sin nature during the millennial reign. This cannot be possible because when the Lord returns he will destroy the enemies who come against Israel, who ever is left will be judged and separated from the ones found faithful to await their final judgment at the White Throne. 

But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and non shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. Micah 4:4 KJV

A person with a sin nature would mean they still have fear and according to Micah no one shall make them afraid. This conflicts with the idea of people having a sin nature. A sin nature allows a person to still experience fear.

4. Old Testament Saints

There will also be judgment of the Old Testament saints. They will be raised by the sound of the last trumpet. These men and women will also be believers in Christ. They looked forward to the arrival of the messiah but they passed away before his work on the cross.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2 KJV

The last part of the scripture occurs at the White Throne. When the last trumpet sounds it will only be those in Christ who rise up. The unbelievers will rise after the millennial reign when death and hell give up their dead.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Revelation 20:13 KJV

These people who were dead in hell will now be raised up and brought to the White Throne of the Father to receive their judgment.

* Summary *

When the Lord Jesus returns he will judge these four groups of people. He will separate them as a shepherd separates his sheep and goats. The sheep represent the believers and the goats represent the unbelievers. Everyone will be judged and appear before the Lord. You may also find this post called “Order of the First Resurrection” interesting related to these groups as well.