The error that a person’s judgment by divinity begins only following their death is in view, today. For Christian believers, judgment is a continuing aspect of divine existence, sacred expression, and eternal purpose. Judgment is inseparable from the existence of divinity in the same way as faith, forgiveness, grace, holiness, immortality, incorruptibility, divine law, love, mercy, purity, and righteousness. Saying this another way: Along with the range of sacred operations that appear through the active presence of GOD (e.g., atonement, Creation, Incarnation, life, revelation, sanctification, and salvation), judgment is what exalts GOD above all as “GOD”. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Serve The Servants” (Level 7 with 29,492 points, a member since November 20, 2010) posted the following:
Why does God wait for us to die before he judges us?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12: 18-24, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The People You Meet? (08/11/2016); No Excuses For Judgment (07/26/2016); The Imminent Return of Christ? (07/19/2015); The Purpose of Resurrection (07/015/2016); The Cross Reaches Back (05/26/2016); A Guarantee of Judgment? (04/15/2016); Belief, Content And Works? (02/12/2016)
“Serve The Servants”, judgment is a continuous and ongoing divine process of assessment, assigning value, and providing correction. Opportunity and possibilities for permanent change available to the living include confession, rebirth, redemption, repentance, and salvation. With this in view, peace is the consequence of judgment, rather than death, destruction, or war. The outcome of judgment is always accounted as divine blessing (a gift), for judgment is the settlement of disputes and the resolution of conflict by application of divine law (“the expressed will of GOD”). A “closing” and “completion” of judgment does occur for those belonging to Christ should they “fall asleep” before he appears to harvest the mature (ripe) believers from the earth. Until the trumpet sounds their judgment is “ongoing”. For those who “meet him in the air” at his Second Coming (some say, Advent, the Rapture), the details of their life within Christ will already have been thoroughly reviewed and approved using the Books of Life. Resurrection from the dead will be granted to the wicked, who also will be judged according to the books, and are permitted to appear in open tribunal before Christ (the condition of death can not continue in the active presence of divinity). Mature Christian believers trust that, in the same way Creation and Salvation set divinity apart as distinguished, having power, sanctified, and exalted as sovereign, Judgment identifies divinity as balanced, comprehensive, righteous, prudent, and wise. Consider again how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:
(1.) 1st Thessalonians 4: 15-17, King James Version (KJV): 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(2.) 1st Corinthians 15: 50-54, KJV: 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(3.) 2nd Peter 3: 9-13, KJV: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 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 burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) Revelation 20: 4-6, KJV: 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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