Chapter 34
Of the Last Judgment
- God hath appointed a day wherein He will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus
Christ;1 to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in
which day not only the apostate angels shall be judged,2 but likewise
all persons that have lived upon the earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to
give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they
have done in the body, whether good or evil.3
- The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of His
mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the eternal damnation
of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient;4 for then shall the
righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and glory, with
everlasting reward, in the presence of the Lord: but the wicked who know not God, and obey
not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments,5
and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the
glory of His power.6
- As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment,
both to deter all men from sin,7 and for the greater consolation of the
godly, in their adversity,8 so will He have the day unknown to men,
that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not
at what hour the Lord will come,9 and may ever be prepared to say,
"Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly".10 Amen.
Footnotes:
1. Ac 17:31; Jn 5:22, 27.
2. 1Co 6:3; Jude 6.
3. 2Co 5:10; Ecc 12:14; Mt 12:36; Ro 14:10,12; Mt 25:32-46.
4. Ro 9:22-23.
5. Mt 25:21,34; 2Ti 4:8.
6. Mt 25:46; Mk 9:48; 2Th 1:7-10.
7. 2Co 5:10-11.
8. 2Th 1:5-7.
9. Mk 13:35-37; Lk 12:35-40.
10. Rev 22:20.