Pastor Lars Larson, PhD                                                                                                   FBC Sermon #633
First Baptist Church, Leominster, MA                                                                               October 16, 2011
Words for children: judgment, general, the Lord,                                                                Text: Matthew 24:26-44
Scripture reading: John 5:24-29

The Gospel of Matthew (97)
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Our current progress through Matthew:

  I.  Prologue (chs. 1, 2)
 II.  The Kingdom Comes (chs. 3-7)
III.  The Works of the Kingdom (chs. 8-10)
IV.  The Nature of the Kingdom (chs. 11-13)
 V.  The Authority of the Kingdom (chs. 14-18)
VI.  Kingdom Blessings and Kingdom Judgments (chs. 19-25)
          A.  From Galilee to Jerusalem (chs. 19, 20)
          B.  The King enters Jerusalem (chs. 21-23)
          C.  Fifth Discourse: Kingdom Judgment, the Olivet Discourse (chs. 24, 25)
                    1.  Signs of the “End” (24:1-31)
                    2.  Parables Counseling Vigilance (24:32-25:46)

*****************

          From the time that our Lord began to speak directly of His second coming (which I hold to be with verse 36) through the end of Chapter 25, He spoke to His disciples of their need to be prepared for His coming.  

          36“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.  37For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.  41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.  42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.  44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Mat 24:36-44)

          The Lord Jesus next gave a series of three parables both to instruct and to motivate His disciples so that they would be prepared for His coming.  The parables that we will be considering are the following:

1.  The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant (Matt. 24:45-51)
2.  The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, or, The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13)
3.  The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30)

          The Lord then speaks very directly of what will transpire on the Day of Judgment, that He will judge the world, separating humanity into two groups with two different destinies (25:31-46).  In the remainder of the Olivet Discourse, therefore, we have some very relevant and important lessons for us to understand and take to heart. 

                              a.  The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant (Matt. 24:45-51)

          Let us read the words of our Lord Jesus which are recorded for us in Matthew 24:44-51.

          45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?  46Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  48But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites.  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

          Our Lord warned His disciples of the critical importance to be prepared for the time when He would return to the earth from heaven in order to judge the world.  No one would know the day or the hour of His return, but they did not need know.  What was important is that they are ready regardless of when He returned.
          In these verses we read of our Lord telling a parable of a family household in which there is the master of the house and his chief servant.  The servant has the responsibility of serving the master’s family and/or household, overseeing and directing the other servants in their duties.  In the parable the master is absent for a time, but while the master was away, his servant was to be occupied fulfilling his responsibilities.  When the master returned, he would rightly expect that his chief servant would be busy performing his duties.  But if that servant were unfaithful to his calling in the master’s absence, the master will have learned of it and make a point of returning to find his servant in the act of being unfaithful, not performing his household duties, abusing the other servants, and spending his time with drunken friends.  The master would come “on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and (he) will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites.” (24:50f)  

          Our Lord told this parable to illustrate to His disciples their responsibility and accountability to be living as Christ’s disciples during this life-- steadfastly, faithfully, even until He returns for them.  The importance and seriousness of this matter is pressed in a rather absurd detail of the parable, the master will “will cut him in pieces.”  The Lord spoke in this manner for shock effect, to drive home how critical and essential His instruction was to them.  Obviously, in the first century masters did not take an unfaithful servant and “cut him in pieces.”  And when the Lord returns, He is not going to punish people by having them hacked in pieces.  It is hyperbole, not that what happens to the unfaithful disciple is overstated by this description; rather, what punishment the Lord will administer to the “unfaithful” disciple will be so terrible a prospect, that it could be sufficiently be described as being cut in pieces. 
          To show that this is hyperbolic speech can also be seen in that after that wicked servant is hacked in pieces, he is put a place where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (24:51).  This is the language that our Lord used to describe punishment in hell for unbelievers.

          Take note also, that our Lord slips out of the parabolic language to speak forthrightly in non-literary terms, that He would put unfaithful disciple “with the hypocrites.”  The reason I say that our Lord slipped out of His parable language at this point is because the term “hypocrite” is not a fitting description of an unfaithful household servant, but it is appropriate for someone who professes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ but whose life does not demonstrate faith and obedience to his Lord.  Our Lord spoke to His disciples in these very stark terms to press upon them the importance of heeding His words in this critical matter.

          This is a point which our blessed Master frequently presses upon our notice:  we hardly ever find Him dwelling on the second advent without adding an injunction to “watch.”  He knows the sleepiness of our nature; He knows how soon we forget the most solemn subjects in religion: He knows how unceasingly satan labours to obscure the glorious doctrine of His coming again:  He arms us with heart-searching exhortation to keep awake, if we would not be ruined for evermore.  May we all have an ear to hear them![1]

          Let the words of our Lord sink into our ears.  Our Lord did not speak these words to those who would regard themselves as “unbelievers”; He was speaking to those who claimed to be His disciples, those who “believed” on Him and confessed that they were “followers” of Him.  We know that hardened, unrepentant, sinners, who refuse to believe on the Lord, will be punished with unbelievable torment in eternity.  As the Word of God tells us:

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)

But equally horrific, perhaps even more terrifying, is the knowledge that there will be many professing Christians who will be awakened to the fact that they are hypocrites on that great Day of Judgment when the Lord will judge them for the life they lived.

          Consider a similar passage in Luke’s Gospel, in which it records the same parable told on a different occasion:

          35“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.  37Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.  39But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  40Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
          41Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
          42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?  43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  44Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.  45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few.  For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:35-48)

          Hypocrites have the same destiny before them as do unbelievers.   May the Lord help each of us who believe on the Lord not be discovered in the end to be of this way. 

          Throughout our study of this Olivet Discourse I have been attempting to show the differences from the position I hold (for I do not speak in these matters on behalf of anyone in the church, but only for myself) and the position of dispensationalism, which is what is taught by the great majority of evangelical Christians in America.  This view proposes a complex scenario of future events, that it holds to be taught in the Scriptures.  Respecting God’s future dealings with humanity, here are the major teachings:

            1.  The next great prophetic event will be the Lord will return in the air to take up true Christians only, Who will then return with them to heaven.  This is known as the “rapture”, a first stage of Christ’s second coming.
            2.  The Lord will then have a judgment of Christians in heaven in which their works will be assessed for the purpose of Christ giving His people rewards for their faithful service.  The matter of their salvation is not in play at this judgment.  All that are with the Lord are true Christians.
            3.  Upon the rapture of the church, a seven year tribulation begins to unfold on earth.  During this time an end time antichrist figure will arise to become dictator of the world, who will bring in a pseudo-peace between the Jews and their enemies, thereby allowing their rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, with a reinstituting Old Testament worship through Jewish priests and animal sacrifices.
            4.  Midway through the tribulation, the antichrist will reveal his true nature, and begin to persecute the Jews severely, particularly those Jews in Jerusalem.  The latter half of the tribulation (3 ½ years) will be characterized by oppression, persecution, and war. 
            5.  It is said that during the 7 year tribulation, 144,000 Jews will be converted to Christ and will evangelize the world, resulting in tremendously large numbers of Gentiles becoming Christians.
            5.  At the end of the tribulation period the antichrist will gather the armies of the world to a great end time battle of Armageddon.
            6.  At the end of the 7 year tribulation the Lord Jesus will come again in the second stage of His second coming, in which He will fight against and destroy His enemies.  They will be killed and their souls cast into hell to await their future final judgment.
            7.  The Lord Jesus will allow those Jews and Gentiles who had come to faith in Him during the tribulation, to continue to live into the earthly millennium, enjoying this extended 1,000 year earthly kingdom over which Jesus Christ will rule from Jerusalem.  They would live out their earthly existence enjoying extended years of this life, but dying throughout the millennium. 
            7.  When Christ is enthroned in Jerusalem at His second coming, the Lord Jesus will judge the individual “countries” of the world, as political institutions, causing some to cease to exist, allowing others to exist through the earthly millennium (1,000 years). 
            8.  At the end of the 1,000 year millennium the final judgment of the unsaved of all of history, and only the unsaved, will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, when they will receive their final sentence of being cast into the lake of fire that God had prepared for the devil and his angels.
            9.  Christ will then create a new heavens and new earth which will begin the onset of the eternal state.

          There are other details we could cite, but this is sufficient for us to understand generally what is taught.  This is the teaching of dispensationalism respecting the end times.  This is what most “Bible-believing” churches and Christians teach.  This is what is believed and taught by virtually all Pentecostals and most Baptists.  This is what I had been taught and believed as a young Christian.  This is what is taught by the leaders of evangelicalism, such as these men: Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, J. Vernon McGee, John Macarthur, Billy Graham, Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, and Chuck Smith.  This list includes many very fine men of God.  The only exceptions of notable speakers would be R. C. Sproul.  There are many others, but mostly unknown among the evangelical, dispensational majority.  This position is espoused by the Scofield Study Bible, the Ryrie Study Bible, the Macarthur Study Bible, and Dake's Study Bible. 

          Now returning to our text, consider that our Lord alludes here of separating professing believers, true Christians from hypocrites, in a great end time judgment.  Later in the chapter, we will read of Him speaking of this in more clear terms, particularly in the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:30). 
          Now the point I wish to make is this:  In my understanding of dispensational teaching, there is no occasion made in their scenario for such a judgment.  There are a number of future judgments taught in the dispensational position.  There is the judgment of rewards for Christians.  There is the judgment of “nations” at the beginning of the millennium.  There is the judgment of unbelievers at the end of the 1,000 years.  But there never seems to be a time when true and false Christians are separated from one another by the Lord Jesus before whom they stand in judgment. 
          By the way, in my effort to sort through all of the details of the dispensational view, I find “loopholes” or “problems” that I cannot reconcile.  If the dispensational scenario is biblical, when is the judgment of believers for their rewards of all those who become Christians during the tribulation and through the millennium?  When does the physical resurrection of those Christians take place, throughout the 1007 years between the rapture and the end of the millennium as each Christian dies?  When does the judgment take place that our Lord describes at the end of Matthew 25, in which we read:

31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  32Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  (Mat 25:31f)

          I know the dispensational teaching of this passage.  It is said that these are not people as individuals being separated, but nations as national entities, as political governments, as to whether or not they are granted continued existence into the millennium.  But how do you judge “nations” in this way?  When our Lord speaks of “nations” here, he is not referring to political institutions, He is referring to all peoples from everywhere.  And what of the resurrection of believers after “the rapture”?  When do those who believe after the rapture experience their resurrection and receive their rewards?  Are the resurrected as soon as they die and are each of them judged for their rewards upon their death that may take place at any time through the millennium?  I find these questions to reveal the unwieldy complexity of many implications if one holds to the dispensational view of the end times.
          Now, I am not saying these things because I am trying to win some kind of theological argument.  I am certainly not saying these things to belittle sincere people who hold sincerely to what they believe the Bible teaches, but my purpose is to challenge our thinking about these matters and my purpose is to propose solutions.  And so, I would say this:  The old and tried Reformed, or Protestant view of the end times is a most satisfactory explanation of the biblical teachings on the subject, that there will be a single return of our Lord Jesus at the end of the age, that there will be a general judgment of all humanity on one occasion, in which all judgment will take place, and then the two destinies of mankind will be executed and the eternal state will begin.
          I would argue, therefore, that what we have seen thus far in Matthew’s Gospel and we will continue to see it set before us through the remainder of the Olivet Discourse, is what may be described as a general resurrection of the human race followed by a general judgment of mankind at the end of the age. I might site one of our Lord’s statements that seems to state the matter succinctly.  We read in John 5:

          24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  25Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.  26For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.  28Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29and come forth-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:24-29)

          The belief in a single, general judgment of mankind at the end of history is not a predominantly held position among evangelicals.  The most common opinion, that of dispensationalism, is that there will be a number of different judgments of people before the Lord, some for believers only, others for unbelievers only.  I believe, however, that the Bible speaks of a general judgment of the entire human race at the end of human history, after which, the onset of the eternal state will take place.  This is an underlying assumption that I have and will be presumed through our reading of the Olivet Discourse.  And so, I thought that it would be appropriate to attempt to outline the nature and event of the general judgment. 
          Thankfully, I found that another had done this quite extensively.  Thomas Boston, a Scott pastor and theologian of the early 18th century, set forth a delineation of the biblical teaching on the general judgment.  He outlined the matter in the following way.[2]

**************

The General Judgment
by Thomas Boston

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.  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.  He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.  Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’” (Matt. 25:31-34)
      “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’  Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matt. 25:41, 46)

          The dead being raised, and those found alive at the coming of the Judge changed, then follows the general judgment, plainly and solemnly described in this portion of Scripture; in which we shall take notice of the following particulars:

1. The coming of the Judge. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory,” etc. The Judge is Jesus Christ, by whose almighty power, the dead will be raised.  He is also called the King, verse 34, the judging of the world being an act of the royal Mediator’s kingly office. He will come in glory; glorious in His own person, and having a glorious retinue, even all the holy angels with Him, to minister unto Him at this great solemnity.

2. The mounting the tribunal.  He is a King, and therefore it is a throne, a glorious throne, “He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory,” verse 31.

3. The appearance of the parties.  These are--all nations; all and every one, small and great, of whatever nation, who ever were, are, or shall be on the face of the earth.  All shall be gathered before Him, summoned before His tribunal.

4. The separating of them.  He shall separate the elect sheep and reprobate goats, setting each group by themselves.  The godly He will set on His right hand, as the most honorable place; the wicked on the left, verse 33.

5. The sentencing of the parties, and that according to their works; the righteous being absolved, and the wicked condemned, verse 34-41.

6. The execution of both sentences, in the driving away of the wicked into hell, and carrying the godly to heaven, verse 46.

Doctrine. There shall be a general judgment. This doctrine, I shall confirm, explain, and apply.

 

I. The CONFIRMATION of this great truth—that there shall be a general judgment.

1. It is evident from plain Scripture testimonies.  (Jude, 14, 15; Daniel 7:9, 10; Acts 17:31; Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 20:11-15; Romans 14:10, 11)

2. The perfect justice and goodness of God, the sovereign ruler of the world, necessarily require it, inasmuch as they require its being well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked.  (Luke 14:26; 2 Thess. 1:6, 7; 1 Cor. 15:19).

3. The resurrection of Christ is a certain proof, that there shall be a day of judgment.  (Acts 17:38; Matt. 26:64; Romans 14:9)

4. Every man bears about with him a witness to this within his own bosom.  (Romans 2:15; Acts 17:31, 32.)

II. The EXPLANATION of this great truth—that there shall be a general judgment. For explanation, the following particulars may serve to give some view of the transactions of that great day.

1. God shall judge the world by Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:31; Psalm 50:6; Psalm 2:6; John 5:22; Phil. 2:8-10; Romans 14:10, 11)

2. Jesus Christ the Judge, descending from heaven into the air. (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Luke 17:26-30; Rev. 1:7; Mark 8:38)

3. At the coming of the Judge, the summons is given to the parties by the sound of the last trumpet; at which the dead are raised, and those found alive are changed (1 Thess. 4:16, 17)

4. The Judge shall sit down on the tribunal; he shall sit on the throne of his glory. (Rev. 20:11)

            (1)  A Judge VISIBLE to our bodily eyes (Rev. 1:7)
            (2)  A Judge having full AUTHORITY and POWER to render unto everyone according to his works, (Matt.                     28:18; Rev. 1:18)
            (3)  A Judge of infinite WISDOM. (Heb. 4:13)
            (4)  A most JUST Judge; a Judge of perfect integrity. (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 20:11)
            (5) An OMNIPOTENT Judge, able to put his sentence in execution. (Dan. 7:10)

5.  The PARTIES shall appear.  These are men and angels (demons) (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; 1 Cor. 6:3; Rev. 20:10; Matt. 8:29; 2 Cor. 5:10; Mark 13:27; Matthew 13:40-42)

6.  There shall be a SEPARATION made between the righteous and the wicked; the elect sheep being set on Christ's right hand, and the reprobate goats on his left. (Mark 13:2; Matt. 13:41; 1 Thess. 4:17)

          Now let us look to the elect sheep on the right hand, and there we shall see a glorious company of saints shining, as so many stars in their orbs; and with a cheerful countenance beholding Him who sits upon the throne.  Here will be two wonderful sights, which the world never saw.
            (1)  A great congregation of saints, in which there will not be so much as one hypocrite.
            (2)  All the godly upon one side, the right… Look to left hand, and there you will see the cursed goats, all the wicked ones…

7.  The parties shall be tried.  The trial cannot be difficult, seeing the Judge is omniscient, and nothing can be hidden from him.  But, that his righteous judgment may be made evident to all, he will set the hidden things of darkness in the clearest light at that trial, 1 Cor. 4:5. Men shall be tried,

            (1) Upon their WORKS (Eccl. 12:14)
            (2) Their WORDS shall be judged (Matt. 12:37; Mal. 3:16, 17; Matt. 12:36)
            (3) Men's THOUGHTS shall be brought into judgment (1 Cor. 4:5)

          This TRIAL will be righteous and impartial, accurate and searching, clear and evident.  The Judge is the righteous Judge, and he will do right to everyone.  He has a just balance for good and evil actions, and for honest and false hearts.  The fig-leaf cover of hypocrisy will then be blown aside, and the hypocrite's nakedness will appear…  “The fire,” which tries things most exquisitely, “shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13; Jude 15; Psalm 50:6)

          On these accounts it is, that this trial is held out in the Scripture, under the notion of “opening of books;” and men are said to be “judged out of those things written in the books,” (Rev. 20:12).  The judge of the world, who infallibly knows all things, has no need of books to be laid before him, to prevent mistakes in any point of law or fact; but the expression points at his proceedings as most clear, accurate, just and well grounded, in every step of them. Now, there are FOUR BOOKS that shall be opened in that day.

            (1) The book of God's REMEMBRANCE, or omniscience (Mal. 3:16). This is an exact record of every man's state, thoughts, words, and deeds, good or evil: it is, as it were, a ledger, in which the Lord puts down all that passes in men's hearts, lips, and lives; and it is a reckoning up every day that one lives.  In it are recorded men's sins and good works, secret and open, with all their circumstances.  Here are registered all their privileges, temporal and spiritual mercies, often made ready to their hand; the checks, admonitions, and rebukes, given by teachers, neighbors, afflictions, and men's own consciences; everything in its due order. This book will serve only as a bill of indictment, in respect of the ungodly; but it will be for another use in respect of the godly, namely, for a memorial of their good.  The opening of it is the Judge's bringing to light what is written in it, the reading, as it were, of the bill and memorial, respectively, in their hearing.

            (2)  The book of CONSCIENCE will be opened, which shall be as a thousand witnesses to prove the fact, Romans 2:15, “Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness.”  Conscience is a censor going with every man wherever he goes, taking an account of his deeds done in the body, and, as it were, noting them in a book.  Much is written in it, which cannot be read now; the writing of conscience being, in many cases, like to that which is made with the juice of lemons, not to be read until it is held before the fire; but then men shall read it clearly and distinctly: the fire which is to try every man's work, will make the book of conscience legible in every point.  Though the book be sealed now, the conscience blind, dumb, and deaf, the seals will then be broken, and the book opened.  There shall be no more a silent conscience, and far less a seared conscience, among all the ungodly crew: but their conscience shall be most quick-sighted, and most lively, in that day.  None shall then call good evil, or evil good. Ignorance of what sin is, and what things are sins, will have no place among them: and the subtle reasonings of men, in favor of their lusts, will then be forever baffled by their own conscience. None shall have the favor, if I may so speak, of lying under the soft cover of delusion; but they shall all be convicted by their conscience.  Whether they will or not, they must look on this book, read, be confounded, and stand speechless, knowing that nothing is charged upon them by mistake; since this is a book which was always in their own custody.  Thus shall the Judge make every man see himself in the mirror of his own conscience, which will make quick work.

            (3)  The book of the LAW shall be opened. This book is the standard and rule, by which is known what is right, and what is wrong; as also, what sentence is to be passed accordingly, on those who are under it. As to the opening of this book, in a statute, which shows what is sin, and what is duty; it agrees with the opening of the book of conscience. For conscience is set, by the sovereign lawgiver, in every man's bosom, to be his private teacher, to show him the law; and his private pastor, to make application of the same: and at that day, it will be perfectly fit for its office; so that the conscience, which is most stupid now, shall then read to the man most accurate, but dreadful lectures on the law.
          But what seems principally pointed at by the opening of this book, is the opening of that part of it which determines the reward of men's works. Now the law promises life, upon perfect obedience: but none can be found on the right hand, or on the left, who will pretend to that, when once the book of conscience is opened. It threatens death upon disobedience, and will effectually bring it upon all under its dominion. And this part of the book of the law, determining the reward of men's works, is opened, only to show what must be the portion of the ungodly, and that there they may read their sentence, before it is pronounced.
          But it is not opened for the sentence of the saints; for no sentence absolving a sinner could ever be drawn out of it.  The law promises life, not as it is a rule of actions, but as a covenant of works; therefore, innocent man could not have demanded life upon his obedience, until the law was reduced into the form of a covenant; as was shown before.  But the saints, having been, in this life, brought under a new covenant, namely, the covenant of grace, were dead to the law as a covenant of works, and it was dead to them. Therefore, as they shall not now have any fear of death from it; so they can have no hope of life from it, since "they are not under the law, but under grace," Romans 6:14. But, for their sentence, "another book is opened."

            (4) “Another book” shall be “opened, which is the book of LIFE,” (Rev. 20:12).  In this the names of all the elect are written, as Christ said to his disciples in Luke 10:20, “Your names are written in heaven.” This book contains God's gracious and unchangeable purpose, to bring all the elect to eternal life; and that, in order thereto, they be redeemed by the blood of his Son, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and raised up by him at the last day without sin...  Revelation 3:5, “He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment,” being raised in glory; “and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father:” …The book of life being opened, it will be known to all, who are elected, and who are not.  Thus far of the trial of the parties.

8. Then shall the Judge pronounce this blessed sentence on the saints, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34).  This sentence passes on the saints, “according to their works” (Rev. 20:12); but not for their works, nor for their faith, as if eternal life were merited by them... They were redeemed by the blood of Christ, and clothed with his spotless righteousness, which is the proper cause of the sentence.  They were also qualified for heaven, by the sanctification of his Spirit; and hence it is “according to their works:” so that the ungodly world shall see now, that the Judge of the living and dead does good to those who were good.  Therefore, it is added to the sentence, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” (Matt. 24:35, 36); which does not denote the ground, but the evidence of their right to heaven: as if a judge should say, he absolves a man pursued for debt, for the witnesses depose that it is paid already.

9. Now the saints having received their own sentence, “they shall judge the world”; “And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Cor. 6:2f; Rev. 3:21; Rev. 19:1f)

          O! What a strange turn of affairs will appear here! What an astonishing sight will it be, to see wicked men, formerly their unjust judges, standing as criminals before the saints, whom formerly they condemned as heretics, rebels, and traitors!  To see men of riches and power stand pale-faced, before those whom they oppressed!  To see the mocker stand trembling before those whom he mocked!  The worldly wise man, before those whom he accounted fools!  Then shall the despised faces of the saints be dreadful faces to the wicked; and those, who sometimes were the song of the drunkards, shall then be a terror to them.  All wrongs must be righted at length, and everyone set in his proper place.

10.  The Judge will pronounce the sentence of damnation on all the ungodly multitude.  “Then He will also say to those on the left—Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” (Matt. 25:41).

11. Sentence being passed on both parties, the full execution of the same follows.  Matthew 24:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into eternal life.”  The condemned shall get no reprieve, but go to their place without delay; they shall be driven away from the judgment-seat into hell…  In this day of the Lord, the great day, shall be the general conflagration; by which these visible heavens, the earth, and sea, shall pass away.  Not that they shall be annihilated, or reduced to nothing, that is not the operation of fire; but they shall be purified by that fire, from all the effects of sin, and of the curse, upon them; and then renewed, and made more glorious and stable.  Of this conflagration, the apostle Peter speaks, 2 Pet. 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come, as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up.”  It seems most agreeable to the Scriptures, and to the nature of the thing, to conceive this conflagration to follow after the general judgment; sentence being passed on both parties before it.  And I think it probable, that it will fall in with the putting of the sentence in execution against the damned; so as they shall, according to their sentence, depart, and the heavens and the earth pass away, together and at once, at that furious rebuke from the throne, driving them away, out of the world (in this fire) to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

III. The APPLICATION of this great truth—that there shall be a general judgment.  I shall now conclude this subject, with some application of what has been said.

Use 1. Of comfort to all the SAINTS.  Here is abundance of consolation to all who are in the state of grace. Whatever be your afflictions in the world, this day will make up all your losses…  Though the world reproaches, judges, and condemns you; the Judge will at that day absolve you, and bring forth your righteousness as the light.  The world's fools will then appear to have been the only wise men who were in it. Though the cross be heavy, you may well bear it, in expectation of the crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge will then give you.  If the world despises you, and treats you with the utmost contempt, regard it not: the day is coming wherein you shall sit with Christ on his throne.
          Be not discouraged by reason of manifold temptations.  But resist the devil in confidence of a full and complete victory; for you shall judge the tempter at last.  Though you have hard wrestling now with the body of sin and death; yet you shall get all your enemies under your feet at length, and be presented faultless before the presence of his glory.  Let not the terror of that day dispirit you, when you think upon it; let those who have slighted the Judge, and continue enemies to him, and to the way of holiness, droop and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming: but lift you up your heads with joy, for the last day will be your best day.  The Judge is your Head and Husband, your Redeemer, and your Advocate.  You must appear before the judgment-seat, but you “shall not come into condemnation” (John 5:24).  His coming will not be against you—but for you.  He came in the flesh, to remove the lawful impediments of the spiritual marriage, by his death; he came in the gospel to you, to espouse you to himself; he will come, at last, to solemnize the marriage, and take the bride home to his Father's house. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Use 2. Of terror to all UNBELIEVERS.  This may serve to awaken a secure generation, a world lying in wickedness, as if they were never to be called to an account for it; and slighting the Mediator, as if he were not to judge them.  Ah! how few have lively impressions of the judgment to come!  Most men live as if what is said of it from the word of God, were but idle tales.  The profane lives of many speak the thoughts of it to be far from their hearts, and in very deed make a mock of it before the world, saying, in effect, “Where is the promise of his coming?”  The hypocrisy of others, who blind the eyes of the world with being a splendid profession, being in appearance Christ's sheep, while they are indeed the devil's goats, proves that the great separation of the sheep from the goats is very little laid to heart.  How do many indulge themselves in secret wickedness, of which they would be ashamed before witnesses; not considering, that their most secret thoughts and actions will, at that day, be revealed before the great congregation!
          How eagerly are men's hearts set on the world—as if it were to be their everlasting habitation! The solemn assemblies, and public ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a transaction of peace with the criminals, are undervalued: many hearts swim like feathers in the waters of the sanctuary, that sink like stones to the bottom in cares of this life; they will be very serious in trifles of this world, and trifle in the most serious and weighty things of another world.  But, O, consider the day that is approaching, in which Christ will come to judgment! the world shall be summoned, by the sound of the last trumpet, to appear before his tribunal. The Judge will sit on his throne, and all nations will be summoned before him; the separation will be made between the godly and the wicked; the books opened, and the dead judged out of them; one party will be adjudged to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting fire, according to their works.
          Lastly, be exhorted to believe this great truth; and believe it so that you may prepare for the judgment.  Set up a secret tribunal in your own breasts, and often call yourselves to an account there.  Make the Judge your friend in time, by closing with him in the offer of the gospel; and give all diligence, that you may be found in Christ at that day.  Cast off the works of darkness; and live, as believing you are, at all times, and in all places, under the eye of your Judge, who “will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing.”  Be fruitful in good works, knowing that as you sow, you shall reap.  Study piety towards God, righteousness and charity towards men.  Lay up in store plenty of works of charity and mercy towards those who are in distress, especially such as are of the household of faith; that they may be produced, at that day, as evidences that you belong to Christ. Shut not up your affections of mercy, now, towards the needy; lest you then find no mercy.  Take heed, that in all your works you be single and sincere; aiming, in them all, at the glory of the Lord, a testimony of your love to him, and in obedience to his command.  Leave it to hypocrites, who have their reward, to proclaim every man his own goodness; and to sound a trumpet when they do their alms.  It is a base and unchristian spirit, which cannot have satisfaction in a good work unless it be exposed to the view of others: it is utterly unworthy of one who believes that the last trumpet shall call together the whole world, before whom the Judge himself shall publish works truly good, however secretly they were done.  Live in a believing expectation of the coming of the Lord.  Let your loins be always girt, and your lamps burning; so when he comes, whether in the last day of your life, or in the last day of the world, you shall be able to say with joy, “Lo, this is our God, and we have waited for him.”

*******************************

Footnotes