"WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST." -- 2 Cor. v. 10.

"WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE HOLY ANGELS WITH HIM,

THEN SHALL HE SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY: AND BEFORE HIM SHALL BE GATHERED

ALL NATIONS: AND HE SHALL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER AS A SHEPHERD DIVIDETH

HIS SHEEP FROM THE GOATS." -- Matt. xxv. 31, 32.

"AND I SAW A GREAT WHITE THRONE, AND HIM THAT SAT ON IT, FROM WHOSE FACE THE

EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY: AND THERE WAS FOUND NO PLACE FOR THEM. 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... AND

WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF

FIRE." -- Rev. xx. 11, 12, 15.

Our subject this evening is "the judgment of the Quick (i.e. the Living) and the dead." I have used this

expression, because it is in the words of Scripture (2 Tim. iv. 1): and also because it is a term we are

accustomed to use in all our Creeds.

The word "judgment" does not, of itself, necessarily include rewards and punishments, for it is often used

simply of rule and government. Hence, as characteristic of Christ's future glorious reign on earth we read

"He shall judge Thy people with righteousness," "He shall judge the poor of the people" (Ps. lxx. 2, 4), and

again, "He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the people with His truth" (Ps. xcvi. 13).

The whole of this righteous rule is called "the Day of the Lord" because it will be the day of the Lord's

judgment. The present day is called "Man's day"  25 (I Cor. iv. 3, and margin) because it is the day when men

judge one another, but another day is coming when the Lord shall be the judge. That day opens with

judgment, judgment runs through it, and judgment closes it.

All governments have their judicial departments, and so this future Govern ment of the Lord, will have its

definite judicial seasons and occasions. The three scriptures which I have just read, bring before us three

definite and distinct judgment scenes.

In connection with this, it is interesting and important to note, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the executor of

all judgment. He was unjustly judged by man, and He shall be the judge of men. The scene of His rejection

shall be the scene of His triumph.

It is important to notice these definite expressions of God's word.

1. "Man's day" (I Cor. iv. 3) is this present time; and it runs on till 2. "The day of Christ" (Phil. i. 6, 10; ii. 16)

which is the day of Christ's presence with His Saints in the Heavenlies, where their service is assayed, their

crowns awarded, and the marriage of the Lamb celebrated. In heaven it is the "day of Christ" but on earth it

is the day of Anti-christ; and that day runs till 3. "The Day of the Lord" when He comes with His saints to

judge, and rule, and reign for a thousand years; and this day runs on till 4. "The Day of God" (2 Pet. iii. 12) at

the close of the Millenium, when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God even the Father "that God may be

all in all" (I Cor. xv. 24-28).

See a pamphlet on this subject, "FOUR PROPHETIC PERIODS," by the same Author.