JUDGMENT DAY-WHAT IS IT?

HOW do you picture Judgment Day?  Many think that one by one, billions of souls will be brought before the throne of God.  There, judgment will be passed on each individual.  Some will be rewarded with heavenly bliss, and others will be condemned to eternal torment. However, the Bible paints quite a different picture of this period of time. God's Word portrays it, not as a terrifying time, but as a time of hope and restoration.  (Note: Not for the wicked it isn't) 

At Revelation 20:11,12, we read the apostle John's description of Judgment Day:  "I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it.  From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened it was the scroll of life. The dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds."  Who is the Judge described here?

Jehovah God is the ultimate judge of mankind. However, he delegates the actual work of judging. According to Acts 17:31, the apostle Paul said that God "has set a day on which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed."  This appointed Judge is the resurrected Jesus Christ.  (John 5:22) When, though, does Judgment Day begin?  How long does it last?

The book of Revelation shows that Judgment Day begins after the war of Armageddon, when Satan's system on earth will be destroyed. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:19-20:3)  After Armageddon, Satan and his demons will be imprisoned in an abyss for a thousand years. During that time, the 144,000  heavenly joint heirs will be judges and will rule "as kings with Christ for 1,000 years."  (Revelation 14:1-3; 20:1-4; Romans 8:17) Judgment Day is not some hurried even lasting a mere 24 hours.  It lasts a thousand years. 

Next time: Conclusion of: JUDGMENT DAY-WHAT IS IT? 

From the Jehovah's Witnesses publications