A Time of Judgment
Why is Judgment so often seen as Condemnation? In law courts Judgment is (supposed to be) towards the establishment of the innocent, and condemnation of the guilty. And so it will be in the days of God’s Judgments, which begin as soon as He establishes His first sons on earth in resurrection. These sons will require righteousness in man’s dealings with man, truth and fidelity towards neighbours, and a new look at God’s Laws. They will be hated by those who prefer the ways of darkness, and there will be many attempts to eradicate them from society, but without avail. The resurrection state will be impervious to any form of attack, whether it be by fists, implements, poisons or bullets. This very fact will begin to cause fear to develop amongst men and women as they realize they are helpless to oppose the advance of righteousness.
This judgment scene will begin in nations that have espoused Christianity, where the ways of God have in the past been observed and written into the laws of the land, but have of recent times been progressively overturned by lawlessness, and the establishment of that which is an abomination in the sight of God.
“It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void.” Psalm 119:126
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor.5:10
Britain and the Americas, and much of Europe must expect these judgments to begin in their lands.
The Abolishing of War
“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4. There is a plaque containing these words outside the United Nations Building in New York. But little thought for Isaiah’s rhetoric may be found inside the United Nations Building.
But it is plain to see that a time will come when wars will be banished by heavenly decree. How this will happen defies human imagination except to say that the sons of God will have authority to bring it about. But the logistics of such an exercise are beyond comprehension. However, we need not expend vast mental energies trying to imagine how it will happen. God has spoken. It will happen.
Swords and spears of Isaiah’s day have been replaced by vast arrays of sophisticated armaments today. To question how these may be turned to positive and profitable use is yet another puzzling question. We suppose that where it is not possible, the armaments may be disposed of in the oceans of the world, as long as they do not cause pollution to the ecology of marine life.
“They shall not learn war anymore.” What will become of all the military personnel? What alternative employment may be available for them? This is another question that defies simple answers. But one thing is certain. Nothing is going to stop overnight. Nothing will happen without much human opposition, and the whole scenario will be a lengthy process which after much discussion, argument, and re-arrangement will gradually bring about the finality expressed by Isaiah’s words. God will have His way with man, and man will gradually see that God’s way is the best and only way for man to dwell with his fellow man in peace and righteousness.
The Kingdom of God will gradually build up through the years. According to Jesus’ parable, it will begin as small as a mustard seed, but grow into an unusually large tree beyond man’s expectation. The stone that strikes the feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s image is destined to fill the world. All this will be part of the Great Revival of these end days. Are we ready for it?
