Topical Bible: The Second Coming of Christ: The Purposes of, are to Judge

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The Second Coming of Christ is a central tenet in Christian eschatology, anticipated as the moment when Jesus Christ will return to earth in glory and power. One of the primary purposes of this event is to execute divine judgment. This judgment is portrayed as both a time of reckoning for the wicked and a moment of vindication for the righteous.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides numerous references to the Second Coming as a time of judgment. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Himself speaks of His return in terms of judgment: "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 underscores the role of Christ as the ultimate judge who will discern the righteous from the unrighteous.

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the judgment aspect of Christ's return. In his letter to the Romans, he writes, "For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12). This highlights the personal accountability each individual will face at the Second Coming.

Judgment of the Living and the Dead

The Second Coming is described as a time when both the living and the dead will be judged. In 2 Timothy 4:1, Paul charges Timothy "in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom" . This indicates that no one will escape the scrutiny of Christ's judgment, whether they are alive at His return or have already passed away.

The Righteous and the Wicked

The judgment at the Second Coming will result in the eternal destinies of all individuals being revealed. The righteous, those who have placed their faith in Christ and lived according to His teachings, will be rewarded. In contrast, the wicked, those who have rejected Christ and lived in opposition to God's will, will face condemnation. Jesus articulates this in John 5:28-29: "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" .

The Role of Christ as Judge

Christ's role as judge is rooted in His divine authority and righteousness. In Acts 17:31, Paul declares, "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead" . The resurrection of Christ serves as a testament to His authority to judge, affirming His position as the appointed judge of all humanity.

The Finality of Judgment

The judgment at the Second Coming is final and irrevocable. Revelation 20:11-15 provides a vivid depiction of the final judgment, where the dead are judged according to their deeds, and anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire. This passage underscores the eternal consequences of the judgment rendered by Christ at His return.

In summary, the Second Coming of Christ is intrinsically linked to the theme of judgment, as depicted in various New Testament scriptures. This event will mark the culmination of history, where Christ will execute justice, rewarding the faithful and condemning the wicked, thus fulfilling God's divine plan for humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 50:3,4
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
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John 5:22
For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son:
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2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
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Jude 1:15
To execute judgment on all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
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Revelation 20:11-13
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
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Library

Unity of Apostolic Teaching.
... as they are to the scientific purposes of the ... the right hand of God, and his second
coming to judge ... of salvation in the day of Jesus Christ, the resurrection ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 67 unity of apostolic.htm

The Resurrection of Christ; his Last Interview with his Disciples ...
... They were appointed to be "witnesses" of Christ to the ... were not acquainted with the
important purposes to be ... is the certainty of his second coming; for this is ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture i the resurrection of.htm

The Kingdom Conquering the World
... 6. For what two purposes did he send Timothy ... out one reference in each chapter to
our Lord's second coming. ... two results occur when one turns a sinner to Christ? ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/ix the kingdom conquering the.htm

The Investigative Judgment.
... It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth ... And every act of sacrifice,
every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. ...
/.../28 the investigative judgment.htm

The Desire of all Nations
... that would be sufficient for the purposes of their ... of men who know how to judge by
character. ... glory of the true second temple will be Christ's second coming. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the desire of all nations.htm

Facing Life's Record
... It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth ... And every act of sacrifice,
every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 28 facing lifes record.htm

The Kingdom of God.
... we are not to look for that second coming of our ... The news that Christ is the King
of men and ... impossible; and tell us that, for practical purposes, God's laws ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon ix the kingdom of.htm

A Great Religious Awakening.
... had received the message watched for the coming of their ... of the world, and not the
second advent of ... The time of expectation passed, and Christ did not appear ...
/.../20 a great religious awakening.htm

A Great Religious Awakening
... had received the message watched for the coming of their ... of the world, and not the
second advent of ... The time of expectation passed, and Christ did not appear ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 20 a great religious.htm

The Catholic Apostolic Church (Called Irvingites. )
... the descent of the Holy Ghost to draw men to Christ, and to ... with heavenly gifts them
that believe, together with the second personal coming of the ...
/.../ 113 the catholic apostolic.htm