1. At his return, Christ will raise the dead and judge all those who have known and understood the Bible’s message contained in the Gospel
“I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (those living) and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1).
Jesus said that two classes of people will be raised from the dead for judgment:
- “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life”; and
- “They that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28, 29)
Daniel the prophet also referred to these two classes: “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
2. At Christ’s return, not everyone will be called for judgment ; there is no universal judgment
The Bible teaches that not all will be raised from the dead for judgment:
“They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise; therefore hast Thou visited and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish” (Isaiah 26:13, 14).
“Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake …..” (Daniel 12:2).
Those who have no knowledge of God’s purpose will remain perpetually in the grave:
“For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away ….. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:17, 19, 20).
Knowledge brings responsibility
Christ taught that the judgment which would take place at his return was confined to a class of people who have been made responsible to him through knowledge of God’s requirements.
In his parable of the pounds, Jesus showed that only those who had received the money from their master were called to give an account of their use of it at his return (Luke 19:11-27). They were then judged according to their use of the responsibility given to them while he had been absent.
This principle is also taught in the epistle to the Romans:
“Sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13).
This Bible teaching therefore shows there will be no universal judgment at the return of Christ, but a judgment only of those who have understood God’s requirements and the Gospel which Jesus and the apostles preached, whether they have obeyed it or not.
3. At his return, Christ will establish his government on earth, reigning as King from Jerusalem
“The Lord God shall give unto him (Jesus) the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (Luke 1:32, 33).
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).
4. At Christ’s return, those who resist his reign will be destroyed
“Out of his (Jesus’) mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron …” (Revelation 19:15).
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed ….. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak to them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:2 – 6).
“Thou shalt break them (the nations) with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth … Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way ….” (Psalm 2:9 – 12).
5. At Christ’s return, all who accept his reign will be blessed with peace, abundant food and justice
“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
“They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid” (Micah 4:4).
“The days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed …” (Amos 9:13).
“ With righteousness shall he (Jesus) judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth …” (Isaiah 11:2-4).
“And they shall build houses and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat …. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble … before they call, I will answer …” (Isaiah 65:21-24).
“He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor” (Psalm 72:4).
6. Christ will return to reign on earth for one thousand years
Jesus’ faithful followers are promised immortality and rulership with Christ for a thousand years in his Kingdom to be set up on earth:
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
7. At the end of his thousand-year reign, Christ will hand the Kingdom up to God
“Then cometh the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death …..
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that did put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).