Judgement can be defined as the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing. It can also be defined as the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation. When talking about judgement day, most people point to the scripture in John 12:47-48; “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
Since judgement is a process, and not a singular action, the last day taught by Jesus Christ in the above text can be understood in the context of the Scripture in Romans 2:4; Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? This implies that God is patient and extends opportunity to everyone up till the last moment, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit through apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Furthermore, the last day of the judgement process is the part when the verdict is delivered, not when the process starts.
With this in mind, then we realise that the judgement process starts, the moment an individual is conscious of their actions and or the consequences thereof. Thus we understand Paul’s epistle to the Romans in Romans 2:12-16; All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Here the day referred to by Paul is the day the verdict is given.
Scripture goes on in Romans 2:17-23 that; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? When a so-called general overseer of “new age” Pentecostal church in Nigeria railed against the application of the Company and Allied Matters Acts, CAMA in churches, one wonder whether the Bishop is either ignorant or his Bible does not contain the Scripture text “Law” of God in Mark 12:17; Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Indeed the case of the blind leading the blind.
Religious leaders will do well to realize that adoration and hero worship by their blind congregation, who elevate them to the position of gods in their lives, such leaders ultimately will be weighed against God Almighty (the evaluation will be, their deeds on the one hand versus God’s deeds on the other hand, and not versus that of other men). True chosen predestined co-inheritors with Christ have the laws of God written on their hearts and minds, and are not adored or recognized by the world or blind masses, they do not have congregation numbered in hundreds of thousands in so-called religious countries that are either the poverty capital of the world, in spite of their church attendances or nations ruled by despots, liars and representatives of the prince of this world. According to Romans 2:29; circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. Rounding up, we realize that judgement is here now, for all who are conscious of their behaviour, words, and actions, according to our Lord Jesus Christ in John 12:31; Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. While, the verdict is given on each individual’s last day.
