The Daily Word of Righteousness

An Army of Judges

Do you not know the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (I Corinthians 6:2,3—NIV)

Before the earth was created, apparently, many of God's angels—some of high rank in Heaven—rebelled against the Father. God at that time did not execute the final judgment against the rebels but instead created a new race of creatures—man. The new race is to govern all the works of God's hands, acting as judges of the creation, and the angels are to minister to them.

When the Lord Jesus returns, the army of angels and the army of judges will return with Him. We are approaching the closing days of the Church Age and the installation of the Day of the Lord. This means we of the Christian churches will undergo the severe training required of all who would judge God's creatures.

Let me present a few of the numerous passages of the Old and New Testaments that speak of the saints bringing judgment on the sin in the world. After that we will think about the kind of change that must occur in the Christian churches if we are to appear with Christ—for we are not nearly ready for such a responsibility!

When we are thinking about the army of judges and their appearing with the Lord Jesus, we must realize Christ is not coming to take His Church to Heaven. Although this is commonly preached and believed there is not a passage of Scripture that supports this doctrine.

The Lord is coming with His saints, an army of judges, to establish His Kingdom on the earth. This concept is presented many times in both Testaments.

Think carefully about the following:

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4—NIV)

When Christ who is our life appears we are going to appear with Him, not disappear with Him as in the unscriptural teaching of the "rapture."

When Jesus Christ comes again the Church will come with Him. The Lord will ride at the head of an army of judges. These judges, fighting side by side with the angels who do the actual fighting in the spirit realm, will drive sin from the earth. It is no wonder Satan has persuaded the Christians that Christ is going to snatch His judges from the earth and put them safely in mansions in Heaven. I would preach this too if I were Satan.

The two armies will accomplish at least four things at their coming.

They will execute judgment on the believers in the Christian churches who live according to their sinful nature.

They will destroy the armies of Antichrist in the Plain of Megiddo, releasing Israel from bondage. God will forgive the sins of the Jews and pour out His Spirit on them, just as He did on Saul of Tarsus. Then all Israel will be saved.

They will drive all wicked spirits from the earth, including the demons, the fallen angels, and the people who are filled with evil.

To be continued.