The Bible contains a number of different types of judgments. The most common type of judgment is legal, and it serves to establish a precedent or standard for future decisions. Legal judgments are usually delivered by a judge or magistrate who is authorized by law to make such decisions.
Judicial judgments can also be religious in nature and involve the interpretation of religious laws or doctrines. For example, a judge may decide that a particular religious doctrine does not apply to a given situation, but still uphold it due to its importance in society.
Another type of judgment is prophetic, which involves predicting something that will happen in the future or revealing information about future events through divine communication with God himself. Prophets are often tasked with delivering such prophecies as part of their job description; however, anyone can receive such words from God through prayer or meditation if they so desire.
Judgements are a key part of the Bible. They are used to set the stage for the rest of the story, or they can be used as a way to reveal hidden truths.
For example, in Genesis 2:17 God says to Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” This is a judgement against Adam and Eve for eating the forbidden fruit that God had told them not to eat.
Another example would be when God told Abraham he would have a son by Sarah (Genesis 18:10). This was a judgement because it revealed that Abraham would have children through his wife Sarah even though she was old and barren (Genesis 16:1).
It’s easy to get caught up in the Judgements of the Bible and their relevance to modern life. However, it’s important to remember that they were written at a time when people didn’t have access to resources like Google, Wikipedia, or even a library. They didn’t have access to knowledge about history or science. They didn’t have access to information about how the world works in general. And they certainly couldn’t check if they were right or wrong with a quick Google search!
So while it might be tempting to think that we should just take the Judgements of the Bible literally because they’re in the Bible, there’s no way we can apply these Judgements today without knowing exactly what was going on at the time they were written and why they were written.
Judging is a hard thing to do. It’s often hard to even know whether or not you’re being fair, and it’s even harder when you’re being asked to evaluate the actions of others.
This is especially true in today’s society where we are all so quick to judge each other for our differences and our similarities. We see people who look different than us, and we immediately assume that they are bad people because of how they look or dress. We see people who behave differently than us, and we immediately assume that they are bad people because of how they behave. And it’s easy to fall into this trap—we want to feel like we’re good people, so we try to find ways to convince ourselves that these other people aren’t worthy of our respect just because they don’t behave in ways that we approve of.
But what if we were wrong? What if these other people had good reasons for behaving in the ways that they did? What if there was more going on here than just a lack of manners on their part?
The Bible has some clear answers on this subject: “Judge not according to appearance but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
Judgement quotes in the bible
There are several judgments mentioned in the Bible. Our God is a God of justice, as the psalmist says, “A scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6). It is the Lord Jesus Himself who is the Judge of all the earth: “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5:5). Here is a list of significant judgments in their likely chronological sequence:
Judgments that have already occurred:
The judgment of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:14–24). God banished the first couple from the Garden of Eden for violating His clear command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This judgment affected all of creation (Genesis 3:17–18; Romans 8:20–22).
The judgment of the antediluvian world (Genesis 7:17–24). God sent a worldwide flood in judgment of mankind’s sin in Noah’s time. The flood destroyed all of mankind and the animal world, except for Noah and his family, whose faith led them to obey God’s command to build the ark.
The judgment at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:5–9). Noah’s post-flood descendants remained in one location in defiance of God’s command, so God confused their language, causing them to disperse over the earth.
The judgment of Egypt and their gods (Exodus 7—12). The ten plagues against Egypt at the time of the exodus were “mighty acts of judgment” (Exodus 7:4) against a stubborn, cruel king and an idolatrous people and their gods (Exodus 12:12).
The judgment of believers’ sins (Isaiah 53:4–8). Jesus took this judgment upon Himself by His crucifixion and death. “He suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Because our sin was judged at the cross, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). It was also at the cross that God pronounced judgment on the unbelieving world and on the enemy of our souls, Satan. As Jesus said shortly before His arrest, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31).
Judgments occurring now in the church age:
Self-evaluation (1 Corinthians 11:28). Believers practice self-examination, prayerfully and honestly assessing their own spiritual condition. The church helps in this endeavor to purify the Body of Christ (Matthew 18:15–17). Self-judgment requires each believer to be spiritually discerning, with a goal of being more like Christ (Ephesians 4:21–23).
Divine discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). As a father lovingly corrects his children, so the Lord disciplines His own; that is, He brings His followers to a place of repentance and restoration when they sin. In so doing, He makes a distinction between us and the world: “When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). Whom Christ loves, He chastens (Revelation 3:19).
Judgments to occur in the future:
The judgments of the tribulation period (Revelation 6—16). These terrible judgments are pictured as seven seals opened, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. God’s judgment against the wicked will leave no doubt as to His wrath against sin. Besides punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of Israel to repentance.
The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Resurrected (and raptured) believers in heaven will be judged for their works. Sin is not in view at this judgment, as that was paid for by Christ, but only faithfulness in Christian service. Selfish works or those done with wrong motives will be burned up (the “wood, hay, and stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12). Works of lasting value to the Lord will survive (the “gold, silver, and precious stones”). Rewards, which the Bible calls “crowns” (Revelation 3:11) will be given by the One who is “not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him” (Hebrews 6:10).
The judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46). After the tribulation, the Lord Jesus will sit in judgment over the Gentile nations. They will be judged according to their treatment of Israel during the tribulation. This judgment is also called the judgment of the sheep and the goats because of the imagery Jesus uses in the Olivet Discourse. Those who showed faith in God by treating Israel favorably (giving them aid and comfort during the tribulation) are the “sheep” who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Those who followed the Antichrist’s lead and persecuted Israel are the “goats” who will be consigned to hell.
The judgment of angels (1 Corinthians 6:2–3). Paul says that Christians will judge angels. We aren’t exactly sure what this means, but the angels facing judgment would have to be the fallen angels. It seems that Satan’s hordes of demons will be judged by the redeemed ones of the Lamb. Some of these demons are already imprisoned in darkness and awaiting judgment, according to Jude 1:6, due to their leaving their proper dwelling place.
The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). This final judgment of unbelievers for their sins occurs at the end of the Millennium, before the creation of the new heaven and earth. At this judgment, unbelievers from all the ages are judged for their sins and consigned to the lake of fire.
In Job 8:3, Bildad, one of Job’s friends, asks, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?” The answer, of course, is “no.” “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4), and God’s judgments will make His perfection shine forth in all its glory.
One of the Holy Spirit’s tasks in this world is to convict the world of coming judgment (John 16:8–11). When a person truly understands his sin, he will acknowledge his guilty position before a Holy God. The surety of judgment should cause the sinner to turn to the Savior and cast himself on the mercy of God in Christ. Praise the Lord that, in Christ, “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
