William S. Plumer

The Day of Judgment will also be a day of great surprise, both to saints and sinners. So Christ expressly informs us: “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?” (Mat 25:37-39). In like manner also shall the wicked say unto Him, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?” (Mat 25:44). If the sentences of the just and unjust were reversed at the Day of Judgment, the surprise would not be half so great. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mat 7:22-23).

Many will be saved, and many will be lost, contrary to the judgments formed of them by their neighbors. But more will be saved, and more will be lost contrary to the opinions they had of themselves…Many doubts, mysteries, and perplexities will be removed fully and forever in that great day. Things, which in this life were full of grievous darkness, will then be satisfactorily cleared up. God’s providence, which is now accompanied by a thousand inexplicable things, will then be made plain. Now the wicked are exalted; then they shall be brought down to hell. Now the righteous are forsaken, afflicted, tormented; then the Lord will bring forth their righteousness as the light and their judgment as the noonday.

That Day will wipe off all aspersions¹ from the innocent and fix guilt where it belongs, though never suspected before. God’s truth, wisdom, holiness, justice, and mercy will shine brighter than the sun on that day. The slandered, injured, and abused will then be vindicated. The oppressed will rise up and clank the chains with which tyrants had bound them to the eternal confusion of wrongdoers. Many a righteous man, judicially murdered, will then face his corrupt judge with the suborned² witnesses and perjured³ jurors who were at his trial. There will be a wonderful clearing up on that day.

It will also be a day of exposure. “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (1Ti 5:24). The fraud, cunning, hypocrisy, and deceit of wicked men will then appear. All those dark designs and plots, which meditated ruin to individuals, distress to families, perplexity to nations, or dishonor to God, shall be held up to reprobation.⁴ The light of that day will shine through and through the thickest web of iniquity and show all its foul intricacies…

The Day of Judgment will also be a day of separations. Here, saints and sinners are strangely mixed together; there, it will be very different. Christ says, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” (Mat 13:30). “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: 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: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Mat 25:31-33). This separation shall be final. The righteous and the wicked shall that day part to meet no more.

To Christ, His saints, and angels, To Christ, His saints, and angels, the Day of Judgment will be a day of triumph. The Lord will then make a show of His enemies openly. They that would not kiss the Son shall be dashed in pieces like a potter’s vessel. In His triumph, all His saints and angels shall share and glory!

To the wicked, the same day will be full of despair. They will cry to the rocks and to the mountains, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev 6:16-17). Was more dreadful despair ever portrayed?…

Reader, are you prepared for your last account? Have you made peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ? Is all your hope in the precious blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ? Nothing of your own can save you in that day. It will burn as an oven. It will try your works and your hopes as by fire. If you have built on Christ and on Him only, then hold fast your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

But if you are yet in your sins, then be persuaded to flee for refuge to the hope set before you in the Gospel (Heb 6:18). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Joh 3:36). Nor can you be in too much haste or too much in earnest in this weighty matter. It is your life. “Behold, the judge standeth before the door” (Jam 5:9); and He says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev 22:12)…

To some minds, the greatest wonder of the Last Day will be the composure and calmness with which that day will be met by the righteous. John says, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment” (1Jo 4:17). I never should have thought of boldness at such a time, but there I find it in God’s Word. It is attained by love to Him, Who on that day will be our Advocate, the Lord our righteousness (1Jo 2:1).

From The Grace of Christ, reprinted by Sprinkle Publications, www.sprinklepublications.net.

Notes:

1. aspersions – damaging, abusive speech regarding someone’s character.
2. suborned – bribed to give false evidence.
3. perjured – having willfully told untruths when giving evidence in a court.
4. reprobation – condemnation.

Published with permission of Chapel Library.