A Basic 46-Point-by-Point Examination of the Last Judgment

Dr. MA Petillo

That day of wrath, that dreadful day
When heav'n and earth shall pass away!
What pow'r shall be the sinner's stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
When, shriveling like a parched scroll,
The flaming heav'ns together roll;
When louder yet, and yet more dread,
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead;
O on that day, that wrathful day
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be thou the trembling sinner's stay,
Though heav'n and earth shall pass away.  (TH, 242).

1.     The Last Judgment is the Day of Wrath for the non-elect.

2.     The Last Judgment is the Day of Judgment for those who do not truly believe by the Spirit and the Word.

3.     The Last Judgment is not imperfect justice but it is perfect justice for those who do not have their sin placed on Jesus at His Cross.

4.     The Last Judgment is the Judgment Seat of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5.     The Last Day is a Day of Joy for God’s elect people in Christ.

6.     The Last Day is the after the Day of Death.  Many think Christ will judge us on our condition.  That is, He will evaluate our condition whether we are in or outside of Christ.  Those who are in Christ because of His merciful choice will enter heaven, but those outside of Christ because of His wrathful choice will enter hell. 

7.     The Last Day is at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

8.     The Last Day is the Appointed Day.

9.     The Last Day is after the world’s destruction by divine fire.

10. The Last Day is on the grounds of the reward of works.  That is, it does not mean we are justified by our works, but He judges Christians on their motives for their whole lives.   For the Christian it is not a judgment unto damnation, but it is judgment unto an evaluation of their whole Christian ministry.

11. Those in the Book of Life in heaven will be spared by Christ.

12. There will be a separation between the sheep and the goats.

13. There will be given retribution to the non-elect reprobates.

14. Christians must be prepared for the Last Day.

15. Christians should warm the wicked about the Last Day.

16. We are not justified by our works or performance but Christ alone.

17. Justification is by the necessity and sufficiency of grace alone.

18. Justification is by the exclusive blood of Christ alone.

19. Christ was raised for our justification.  That is, we can trust the life and death of Christ alone in how we are right with God.

20. Justification is by grace alone through the instrument of faith alone.

21. The fruit of justification is forgiveness and cleansing.

22. The gospel is not for sell because it is free.

23. The gospel is not earned because Jesus earned our salvation.

24. The fruit of justification is the supernatural peace of Christ.

25. There is a positional peace that cannot be undone for God’s elect.

26. There is an experiential peace that comes through constant prayer.

27. The fruit of justification is superlative holiness.  We contribute nothing to our spiritual salvation.

28. Justification is through the unified imputed righteousness of Christ alone in how someone is right with God.

29. We are called to demonstrate our outward practical righteousness.

30. The fruit of justification is eternal life.

31. The evidence of justification is the fruits of the Spirit.

32. Faith must be a living faith but not a meritorious faith.

33. The evidence of justification is divine wisdom.

34. The evidence of justification is spiritual patience.

35. The evidence of justification is Christ-like suffering.

36. Divine judgment is meant to punish evil through a sentence to eternal hell because Christ was not their substitute,

37. The cause of divine judgment is disobedience.

38. The wrath of God is reserved for rejecting His warnings.

39. The cause of wrath is idolatry.

40. The cause of wrath is loving evil more than good.

41. Christians ought to know their theology when they stand before Jesus.

42. Only those who are clothed in the robes of the unified righteousness of Christ alone will escape the Day of Doom.

43. Those found in a mere civil righteousness or extra-civil goodness will be condemned to hell because they brought the filthy garments of hell to the Day of Judgment.

44. The saints will judge the angels and the world.

45. The purpose of judgment unto mercy is the glory of Jesus.

46. The purpose of judgment unto damnation is the glory of Jesus.

O God of love, O King of peace,
Make wars throughout the world to cease;
The wrath of sinful man restrain;
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Remember, Lord, thy works of old,
The wonders that our fathers told;
Remember not our sin's dark stain;
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Whom shall we trust but thee, O Lord?
Where rest but on thy faithful Word?
None ever called on thee in vain;
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Where saints and angels dwell above
All hearts are knit in holy love;
O bind us in that heav'nly chain;
Give peace, O God, give peace again.  (TH, 622).