Basic HTML Version
712
passages as Matt. 13:41,42; 24:31; 25:31, it may be inferred that the angels will assist Him in
this great work. Evidently, the saints will in some sense sit and judge with Christ, Ps. 149:5-9; I
Cor. 6:2,3; Rev. 20:4. It is hard to say just what this will involve. It has been interpreted to mean
that the saints will condemn the world by their faith, just as the Ninevites would have
condemned the unbelieving cities of Jesus’ day; or that they will merely concur in the judgment
of Christ. But the argument of Paul in I Cor. 6:2,3 would seem to require something more than
this, for neither of the two suggested interpretations would prove that the Corinthians were
capable of judging the matters that arose in the Church. Though the saints cannot be expected
to know all those who appear in judgment and to apportion the penalties, yet they will have
some real active share in the judgment of Christ, though it is impossible to say just what this
will be.
E. THE PARTIES THAT WILL BE JUDGED.
Scripture contains clear indications of at least two parties that will be judged. It is quite evident
that the fallen angels will stand before the tribunal of God, Matt. 8:29; I Cor. 6:3; II Pet. 2:4;
Jude 6. Satan and his demons will meet their final doom in the day of judgment. It is also
perfectly clear that every individual of the human race will have to appear before the judgment
seat, Eccl. 12:14; Ps. 50:4-6; Matt. 12:36,37; 25:32; Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12. These
passages certainly leave no room for the view of the Pelagians and of those who follow in their
wake, that the final judgment will be limited to those who have enjoyed the privileges of the
gospel. Neither do they favor the idea of those sectarians who hold that the righteous will not
be called into judgment. When Jesus says in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word and believeth Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and cometh not into
judgment, but hath passed out of death into life,” he clearly means in view of the context, that
the believer cometh not into condemnatory judgment. But it is sometimes objected that the
sins of believers, which are pardoned, certainly will not be published at that time; but Scripture
leads us to expect that they will be, though they will, of course, be revealed as pardoned sins.
Men will be judged for “every idle word,” Matt. 12:36, and for “every secret thing,” Rom. 2:16; I
Cor. 4:5, and there is no indication whatsoever that this will be limited to the wicked.
Moreover, it is perfectly evident from such passages as Matt. 13:30,40-43,49; 25:14-23,34-
40,46, that the righteous will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. It is more difficult to
determine, whether the good angels will be subject to the final judgment in any sense of the
word. Dr. Bavinck is inclined to infer from I Cor. 6:3 that they will be; but this passage does not
prove the point. It might do this, if the word aggelous were preceded by the article, which is not
the case. We simply read, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” Because of the uncertainty
connected with this matter, it is better to be silent. The more so, since the angels are clearly