Two weeks ago I pointed out that the eternal judgements of God will be carried out in three successive scenes.
The first scene will be the judgement of Christian believers before the judgement seat of Christ.
The second scene will be the judgement of the Gentile nations at the close of the great tribulation, carried out before the throne of Christ’s glory.
The third scene will be the judgement of all the remaining dead at the close of the millennium, carried out before a great white throne.
We have already examined the first of these three scenes, the judgement of Christians before the judgement seat of Christ. Now we shall move on to the next scene: the judgement of the Gentiles at the close of the great tribulation.
First, however, we need to consider the main events which will lead up to this judgement. This will help us to understand why God has ordained a special judgement reserved only for the Gentile nations.
Paul refers to three different categories into which God has divided the human race.
“Give no offence, either to the Jews or to the Greeks [Gentiles] or to the church of God.” (1 Cor. 10:32)
The Jews are a special nation, separated out by God for purposes of His own from all other nations. The Gentiles are all the remaining nations, except Israel. The Church of God consists of all true believers who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. These are no longer reckoned by God according to their original nationality, whether Jew or Gentile, but as being “a new nation” in Christ.
Scripture makes it clear that the judgement we are now considering, before the throne of Christ’s glory, will be for Gentiles only. No member of either of the other two groups will appear here for judgement. There will be no Jews and no Christians. This fact agrees with the general revelation of Scripture concerning the close of this present age.
There will be no Christians at this judgement because all these will already have undergone their own special judgement before the judgement seat of Christ.
There will be no Jews present at this judgement because by this time Israel, as a nation, will already have passed through her own special judgement. All Jews who survive this special judgement will have been reconciled to God through the acknowledgement of Jesus as Saviour and Messiah.
God’s final dealings with Israel at this time will complete the historical process of judgement through which He has been bringing them for nearly four thousand years. The subsequent judgement of the Gentile nations will mark a transition from historical to eternal judgement.
Lord, how deeply grateful I am to You that Your Holy Spirit has worked on me to say 'yes' to Jesus' offer of grace, through the cross on which Your Son Jesus died... Thank You that He rose up after three days, but that He also rose in my heart through the Holy Spirit! Thank you for this miracle! Amen.
