Thursday, September 19, 2024

When the Saints "Judge"

"Now, according to the following verses, judgment is not given to the saints in this life, but in the life to come: 
Revelation 20:4 I saw thrones, and they [the “much people in Heaven,” Revelation 19:1-8] sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them;...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
3 Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God. 

From these texts it is plain that: 
The judgment that is given to the saints is a judgment both of the world and of angels (the evil angels); 
It does not pertain to this life; 
It is with Christ in Heaven, where they reign with him a thousand years; and 
It is given to the saints at the coming of the Lord. This is made emphatic by the closing words of Daniel, quoted above: 
Daniel 7:21 The same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
A.T. Jones