He Shall Have Dominion

nation: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done
good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of condemnation” (Jn 5:28–29).
Romans 2:5–8 clearly speaks of a day of judgment encompassing both
classes of men: “In accordance with your hardness and your impenitent
heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one
according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance
in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who
are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness;
indignation and wrath.”
The simultaneous judgment is inescapable in Matthew 25:31–46,
where we read (in part): “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them
one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Mt
25:31–32). The judgment occurs when Christ returns, not hundreds of
years later. This general judgment is found elsewhere in Scripture. 70
Although the judgment is one event encompassing both the just and
the unjust, it follows a particular order. It seems that God will judge the
wicked immediately prior to the righteous, according to the order of
events in Matthew 13:30, 41, 43 and Matthew 25:46. It is “as if, in some
literal sense, ‘with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the
wicked’ (Psalm 91:8).” 71
Of course, the righteous are not condemned, rather they are
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rewarded. And we should understand that “the relation between our
works and our future reward ought, however, to be understood not in a
mechanical but rather in an organic way. When one has studied music
and has attained some proficiency in playing a musical instrument, his
capacity for enjoying music has been greatly increased. In a similar way,
our devotion to Christ and to service in his kingdom increases our capac-
70. Ecc 12:13–14; Mt 12:36; 13:41; Mt 25:14–30; Ac 10:42; Ro 3:6; 2Co
5:9–11; 2Th 1:6–10; 2Ti 4:1; Heb 10:27–31; Jude 14–15; Rev 20:11–15.
71. David Brown, “The Gospel According to S. Matthew,” in JFB, 2:44.
72. Ro 2:5–10; 1Co 1:4–8; 3:8; 15:32, 58; 2Co 4:16; 5:10; 9:6–8; Gal 6:5–10;
Php 1:10, 26; 2:16; Col 1:5; 3:24; 1Th 3:13; 5:23; 2Th 1:7; 1Ti 2:18; 4:8; 5:25;
6:18–19; 2Ti 2:11; 4:4–16.