Two judgments

TWO PERIODS OF JUDGMENT
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

The Bible speaks about two periods of judgment. The first period of judgment ("particular judgment") is after death. The author of Hebrews says,

Heb 9:27 [M]an is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

This judgment determines a person's intermediate state (i.e., between death and resurrection) and coincides with a degree of reward (in the form of comfort) for the righteous or a degree of punishment (in the form of torment) for the unrighteous. Jesus notes the difference in a story about two individuals.

Luke 16:23a In hell, [the rich man] was in torment.... 24 So he called... 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.'"

This preliminary judgment also determines (but does not officially finalize) a person's ultimate state, either of continued existence with God or of continued existence apart from God. Having reached this point, however, it is not possible to revise one's fate.

Later, the dead will be raised, a change from their intermediate state, albeit in the order Paul indicates.

1 Cor 15:22 [A]s in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This event confirms the intermediate state of the dead, as either comfort or torment, and does not alter their final (or eternal) state, as either with God or apart from God. For the righteous, their resurrection will occur when Jesus returns to reign and will include some reward.

Matt 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matt 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'

For the unrighteous, their resurrection will occur later.

The second period of judgment ("general judgment") is at the close of the Messianic Age, after the resurrection of those still in the intermediate state. John describes this event.

Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

This judgment officially finalizes a person's ultimate state and is a prelude to reaching his final destination. For the righteous, that destination is the New Jerusalem and will include further reward. Jesus says,

Rev 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

For the unrighteous, that destination is the lake of fire and will include further torment.

Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

All people, the righteous and the unrighteous, determine the direction and destination of their eternal fate while they are still in this life. Prior to death, it is possible to change that course; after death, it is not. Hence, it is vital to make wise choices about the future in the present. There are no second chances, no opportunities for revision after death.