Do you believe in a future and eternal judgment? Do you believe that you will someday give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead?" Do you believe that the day is coming when the 'hidden things of darkness will be brought to light, and the councils of the heart manifest?" Do you believe that the judgment is a part of God's great revelation? Oh, I say unto you, we need to believe it; but multitudes do not; and, because they do not, they are going down to a fearful end.

The Bible clearly teaches this great meeting between God and man, "And the times of this Ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained..." (Acts 17:30-31). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (I Cor. 5: 10). "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment... " (Heb.9:27). 'And I saw the dead, small and great; stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.' (Rev. 20:12). Many will be surprised to find the judgment is a reality.

Many will be surprised at the time of the judgment. 'But of that day and that hour knowth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mk. 13:32). No man knows; the angels do not know; not even the Son knows; only the Father. It will be in the last day (John 12:48) at the second coming of Christ.

Many will be surprised at the purpose of the judgment. It is not to be a day of inquiry, not a trial to determine a person's guilt or innocence. God knows that now. We are on trial now in this life and our destiny is sealed at death. The Bible says, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already...' (John 3:18). 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come Into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.' (John 5:24). Notice the present tense in these two passages. We do not wait until the judgment to be saved or lost, we are saved or lost now. The judgment will be a day of sentence for the wicked and a day of honor and reward for the righteous.

Many will be surprised at the standard used in the Day of Judgment. The standard will not be human creeds or doctrines of men. It will not be the religion of parents or our own morality. It will not be honest, sincerity or good feelings. The standard will be the word of God. Our Lord said, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48). The dead will be judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev. 20:12).

. Many will be surprised at the outcome of the judgment. They will be surprised when they are turned away. They will be surprised that only a few will be saved. But that's what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13-14, when he spoke of the broad and narrow roads' They will be surprised to find that hell is a reality and that the sentence pronounced on the judgment will be final and eternal.