THE KING'S BUSINESS
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(2) Its Subjects: Believers, servants of Christ, -the Church. "W e ” (the Church, 1 Cor. 1:2) must ^11 appear before the judg ment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). (3) Its Characteristic: Award o f mer its. Already judged, crucified, dead and buried, raised justified and perfected in Christ (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 5:1; Col. 2:9-15. etc.) there is no “condemnation” (Greek “judgment” ) to them in Christ (Rom. 8:1 ). Before “the judgment seat” (“ b e m a which is the royal not the judicial court) of Christ the question is the service of His saints. There even he whose works are “burned,” who “suffers loss,” is “saved" (1 Cor. 3:15). They who make that a judg ment of sin for life or death plunge .the saint into a sea of doubt where, “tossed to and fro,” he is in perpetual uncertainty of rescue. And, again, because of the words “yet he himself shall be saved” others teach that punishment is purgatorial, out of the fires of which men, sooner or later, come forth purified, a doctrine quite con trary to the Bible. 2. The Judgfnent of the Nations (Matt. 25:31-46). (1) Its Time :| ^£‘ When the Non of Man shall come in His glory” (v. 31), not, then, at the end but at the beginning of the 1000 years. (2) Its Subjects: "A ll nations.” The Church is not here; she is taken out of the nations (Acts 15:14). “ The dead” are not here, they are judged a 1000 years later (Rev. 20:7, 12). These are (living) na tions. We never speak, we cannot even think of the dead as nations. National and political relations end at death. The orig inal reads “ the” nations, certain definite na tions, those of the prophecies. Jesus had just spoken of them (ch. 24:5-9, where we should also read “ the” nations). Joel fore told their judgment “ in the Valley of Je- hosaphat,” the original has “ the” nations (Joel 3:2; Dan. 2:40-44; Zee. 14:2, 3; Rev. 17; 12-14; 19:17-21, etc., etc.) We should read the context of these Scriptures and see that they refer to the end-time, at Is rael’s tribulation and' deliverance.
(3 ) Its Characteristic: So far as it reads the question is limited to the treat ment of the “ brethren" of Jesus, “the Son of Man” (Joel 3:2; Matt. 24:9). But this implies a reference to the Person of the King, and the principles and the spirit of Christian charity. The reward is a place in the kingdom with life eternal; the penalty “ everlasting punishment.” “ T h e K ing " can set any test He chooses as to fitness. 3. The Judgment of the Dead (Rev. 20: 11-15). (1) Its Time: After the 1000 years (Rey. 20:7-15), at the opening of “the ages of the ages.” (2) Its Subjects: “ The dead”—this ap pears to include only the impenitent dead, o f all ages, risen (Rev. 20:5) that body and soul, old partners in sin, may be con demned together (John 5:28, 29). (3) Its Characteristic: The decision is based on “the things which were written in the books, according to their works.” On that ground condemnation is certain (Rom. 3:20). There will be one alternative—the record of “the book of life.” None seem to have been written there. The writer could not conscientiously give this lesson the popular application of a “ General Judgment,” and it seemed need ful in justification, without further explana tion of details, to set it in its true relations. Believers must know .that judicially, for them, sin is a “ closed question.” Through Christ they are already acquitted. It is dreadful to teach that they must share in the “ fearful looking for judgment to come.” But equally so to let them forget that “ we must all stand at the judgment seat (the "bema” ) of Christ” on the question of stewardship (1 Cor. 4 :5 ), to answer, “ How much each has gained by trading” (Luke 19:15)? Shall we come with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us ? or stand be fore Him “ empty” ? Oh, that we might all feel how crowns and kingdoms and “well dones” hang on that! What are you build ing against that day, “ wood, hay, stubble” or “gold, silver, precious stones?” “ For
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