Day of Judgment
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The Day of Judgment, often referred to as the "Last Judgment" or "Final Judgment," is a pivotal eschatological event in Christian theology, where God will judge the living and the dead. This event is characterized by the final assessment of humanity by Jesus Christ, determining the eternal destiny of every soul. The concept is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, with numerous references throughout Scripture.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the Day of Judgment through prophetic literature and wisdom writings. The prophets frequently speak of a "Day of the Lord," a time of divine intervention and judgment. For instance, the prophet Joel declares, "The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel" (Joel 3:15-16). This imagery underscores the dual nature of the Day of Judgment as both a time of terror for the wicked and a time of deliverance for the righteous.

New Testament Revelation

The New Testament provides a more detailed revelation of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the role of Jesus Christ as the appointed judge. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Himself speaks of this day, saying, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:31-32). This passage highlights the universal scope of the judgment and the criteria of separation based on one's response to Christ and His teachings.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the Day of Judgment, affirming its certainty and the righteousness of God's judgment. In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each one according to his deeds'" (Romans 2:5-6). Here, Paul emphasizes the moral accountability of every individual and the just nature of God's judgment.

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation provides a vivid and symbolic portrayal of the Day of Judgment. John the Apostle describes the final judgment scene, stating, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:11-12). This passage underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment, where all humanity is held accountable before the divine throne.

Theological Significance

The Day of Judgment holds significant theological implications for Christian doctrine and ethics. It affirms the ultimate sovereignty and justice of God, ensuring that evil will be punished and righteousness rewarded. This event also serves as a powerful motivator for holy living and evangelism, as believers are called to live in light of the coming judgment and to share the gospel with others.

Practical Implications

For Christians, the anticipation of the Day of Judgment encourages a life of faithfulness, repentance, and readiness. The Apostle Peter exhorts believers, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness" (2 Peter 3:10-11). This call to holiness reflects the transformative impact that the expectation of judgment should have on a believer's life.

In summary, the Day of Judgment is a central theme in Christian eschatology, emphasizing God's ultimate justice and the eternal destinies of humanity. It is a day of both fear and hope, urging believers to live in accordance with God's will and to proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Day of Judgment

DAY OF JUDGMENT

See JUDGMENT, LAST.

Greek
2851. kolasis -- correction
... 1 Jn 4:17,18: " 17 By this, love is [brought to its higher stages] with us, so that
we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2851.htm - 7k

2250. hemera -- day
... figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context) -- age, +
alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2250.htm - 7k

Library

Of the Day of Judgment.
... XLV."Of the Day of Judgment. I add something, on account of unbelievers, of the
day of judgment. Again, the fire of the Lord sent forth shall be appointed. ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/xlv of the day of judgment.htm

The Day of Judgment.
... FUNERAL HYMNS. Hymn 77 The day of judgment. John Newton 8,7,8,7,11. The day of judgment.
Day of judgment, day of wonders! Hark! the trumpet's aweful sound,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 77 the day of.htm

The Day of Judgment.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXXXIII. The Day of Judgment. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
The Day of Judgment. How many generations dead. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxxxiii the day of.htm

The Day of Judgment
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXXXVIII THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. O day
of life, of light, of love! The only day dealt from above! ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxxxviii the day of judgment.htm

The Day after Judgment.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXXXVI. The Day after Judgment. 8.8.8.8 D James Montgomery.
The Day after Judgment. The days and years of time are fled,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxxxvi the day after.htm

Preparation for the Day of Judgment.
... The Second Epistle of Clement. Chapter XVI."Preparation for the Day of
Judgment. So, then, brethren, having received no small ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xvi preparation for the day.htm

The Day of Judgment. Extracted from a Sermon by Hugh Latimer ...
... THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. EXTRACTED FROM A SERMON BY HUGH LATIMER, BISHOP OF WORCESTER,
AND MARTYR, 1555.(1). LUKE XXI.(2) As we die so we shall rise again. ...
/.../the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /the day of judgment extracted.htm

Whether the Orders Will Outlast the Day of Judgment?
... OF THE ANGELIC DEGREES OF HIERARCHIES AND ORDERS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
the orders will outlast the Day of Judgment? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the orders will outlast.htm

Christ Acted for Our Advantage in Being Unwilling to Reveal the ...
... Book V. Chapter XVII. Christ acted for our advantage in being unwilling to
reveal the day of judgment.? Christ acted for our advantage ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii christ acted for.htm

What Shall be done to the Righteous at the Day of Judgment
... Question 90: What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment.
Answer: At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/question 90 0 0 what shall be.htm

Resources
If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org

On what day was Jesus crucified? | GotQuestions.org

Day: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Day

Day and Night

Day Before the Sabbath

Day of Atonement

Day of Christ

Day of Judgment

Day of Rest

Day of the Lord

Day of Yahweh

Day: A Creative Period

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Gladness

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Good Tidings

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day Which the Lord Has Made

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Adversity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Anger

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Calamity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Darkness

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Destruction

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Evil

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Slaughter

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of The Lord

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Trouble

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Vengeance

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Visitation

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Wrath

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of God's Power

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Redemption

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Salvation

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Visitation

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Break of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Decline of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Morning

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Noon

Day: Artificial, the Time of the Sun's Continuance Above The

Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles

Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination

Day: Judgment: Called the Day of the Lord

Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Made for the Glory of God

Day: Natural, from Evening to Evening

Day: Proclaims the Glory of God

Day: Prophetic

Day: Prophetical, a Year

Day: Sabbath Day's Journey, About Two-Thousand Paces

Day: Six Working Days Ordained

Day: Sometimes Divided Into Four Parts

Day: Spiritual Light

Day: Succession of, Secured by Covenant

Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day

Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day

Day: The Light First Called

Day: The Path of the Just

Day: The Time for Labour

Day: Time of Judgment

Day: Time of, Ascertained by the Dial

Day: Times of Adversity Called Day of the Lord

Day: Under the Control of God

Day: Wild Beasts Hide During

Related Terms

Birth-day (2 Occurrences)

Holy-day (2 Occurrences)

To-day (208 Occurrences)

Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Noon-day (8 Occurrences)

Day-star (2 Occurrences)

Day's (19 Occurrences)

Feast-day (5 Occurrences)

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)

Mid-day (4 Occurrences)

Good-day (2 Occurrences)

Day-spring (2 Occurrences)

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)

Fast-day (1 Occurrence)

To-day's (1 Occurrence)

Day-break (1 Occurrence)

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)

Three-day (2 Occurrences)

Seven-day (2 Occurrences)

Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)

Sabbath-day's (1 Occurrence)

Self-same (17 Occurrences)

Selfsame (18 Occurrences)

Servile (13 Occurrences)

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Susa (20 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Sailed (28 Occurrences)

Xerxes (24 Occurrences)

Sixth (45 Occurrences)

Sunset (18 Occurrences)

Sailing (23 Occurrences)

Spoiling (20 Occurrences)

Shineth (13 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Sheaf (11 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Sorry (27 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Quails (4 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Survived (15 Occurrences)

Succeeding (7 Occurrences)

Shadows (11 Occurrences)

Successful (16 Occurrences)

Swordsmen (8 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Supposed (19 Occurrences)

Swords (50 Occurrences)

Spear (55 Occurrences)

Sang (28 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Shave (19 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Shouldst (61 Occurrences)

Shore (45 Occurrences)

Saveth (36 Occurrences)

Silent (120 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Serious (31 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Sacred (140 Occurrences)

Homes (43 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Day of Indignation
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