Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

What is meant by judgment in the Scriptures?

Let’s consider some of the things Yahshua taught His disciples about true believers. Starting in Matthew 7: 13 & 14 as part of His sermon on the mount Yahshua said to His disciples: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. (14) For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” Next we read from Matthew 18 where Yahshua warns His disciples about those who cause little children who believe in Him (including new believers) to stumble, adding that He came specifically to save that which is lost and that it is not our heavenly Father’s will that these little ones perish, concluding in verse 20, saying: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” We continue in Matthew 22 where Yahshua taught about the king who instructed His slaves to call those who had been invited to a wedding feast (the wedding feast that He referred to, since He spoke about the kingdom of Elohim, was the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot), but they refused to come. Yahshua ends the teaching in verse 14, saying: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Finally, we read from Luke 12 where Yahshua taught that we should not worry about what we shall eat, wear and drink concluding in verses 31 & 32, saying: “But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. (32) Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

These scriptures, and many others, seem to indicate that only a very small portion of humanity will eventually be saved. Think about it - even Yahshua Himself, Who had all knowledge, and was undoubtedly the best teacher ever, had only about 120 followers at the time of His death, after preaching and teaching to hundreds, even thousands, for three and a half years. As we look around us in this present evil world today, it seems that if there is a conflict between Satan and his demons on one side, and YHVH and His angels on the other - that Satan is winning hands down. Ever since Eve was deceived by the serpent's lie, man has rushed headlong into following the malicious ways of the adversary. This leaves us with only three options for mankind's future, namely; (1) that only a small number of people will be saved, whilst the rest will go into the lake of fire; (2) there is another way and mankind will be judged only on what they knew, and how well he did with that knowledge; and (3) there is more than one judgment, and we will all be judged, “each in his own order”, after having received knowledge of the truth as we’ll see later in 1 Corinthians 15: 22 – 24. However, any serious student of the Scriptures knows that only the third option is worthy of consideration – if there were another way, Yahshua’s death and resurrection was all in vain!

 

At this point we need to consider a question that many have been deceived about, namely: Just what is judgment? If you ask this question to people in the world or to those in most religions of the world, most will tell you that it refers to the day upon which mankind will be judged for what they did whilst they were alive on earth. In addition most believe that judgment takes place soon after you die, when G-d decides immediately that you are either destined to spend eternity in heaven or in an ever burning hellfire. This is perhaps why most people also fear death. But if death is so scary, why did King Solomon write in Ecclesiastes 7: 1, saying: ‘A GOOD name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.’ However, we must remember that it is (YHVH)’s desire that all come to repentance and be saved, as witnessed from 1 Timothy 2: 3 & 4, in this way: ‘This is good and acceptable in the sight of Elohim our Savior, (4) who desires al men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.‘ We read further how Rav Kepha tells us about our Father’s mercy for each one of us whom He has called from 2 Peter 3: 9, saying: ‘YHVH is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.’ This still leaves us with a number of questions and to put an end to the speculation about what most believe about judgment, let ‘s turn to the Scriptures for the correct answer. Before discussing the subject in detail, let’s summarize by saying that judgment is a process that takes place over a period of time. This is why Rav Kepha wrote in first Peter 4: 17 – 19, saying: ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of Elohim; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of Elohim? (18) AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? (19) Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of Elohim entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.’ Elohim’s spiritual plan of salvation is depicted in the physical harvest seasons that He gave ancient Israel. After YHVH saved Israel from slavery in Egypt He wanted them to be a light and example to the nations around them, since He regarded them as first-fruits, as is witnessed in the first part of Jeremiah 2: 3, in this way: “Israel was holy to YHVH, the first of His harvest.” But, sadly ancient Israel failed YHVH because of hardness of heart that lead to unbelief, as recorded in Hebrews 3: 19, as follows: ‘And so we see that they were not able to enter (the Promised Land) because of unbelief.’

 

Knowing the end from the beginning, YHVH made a two-fold promise to Abraham and His offspring Isaac and Jacob: Firstly that those of the children of Jacob who remained loyal to YHVH and His Torah, including to circumcise their male children at eight days old as a sign to the covenant, will inherit eternal life in the Promised Land. Secondly that a remnant of the lost ten tribes who lost their identity, language and forgot the covenant that YHVH made with them at Mount Sinai, whom YHVH is busy calling out of the nations of the world into which they were scattered to return to Him and His Torah through Abraham’s one seed, Yahshua, through whom He will also save the rest of mankind after the Great White Throne Judgment. These two groups from both houses of Israel will, if they remain faithful to Elohim make up the body of Messiah or congregation of Elohim, to become His bride at His return one day in the near future, as witnessed in Ephesians 2: 11 – 161 and Jeremiah 31: 31 – 332. They are considered first-fruits to inherit the Promised Land or the Kingdom of Elohim, as Rav Yaa’cov wrote in James 1: 18, saying: ‘In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, first fruits among His creatures.’ In fact we know that Yahshua our Master and savior became the first fruit offering when he was offered before Elohim on His impalement stake, as witnessed by Daniel in Daniel 9: 26 & 27, in this way: “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. (27) And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” This offering was in accordance with Leviticus 23: 12 & 13, as follows: ‘Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to YHVH. (13) Its grain offering shall then be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to YHVH for a soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine.’ Yahshua was offered as both our Passover Lamb and the wave sheaf first-fruit offering when He died on the impalement stake. When Yahshua died He said in Luke 23: 46, ‘“Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.’ And having said this, He breathed His last.’ This was when He was accepted as the first of the first-fruits, to become the first-born again from the dead three days and three nights later, when He was resurrected at the end of the weekly Sabbath.

 

It is for this very reason that we read from Romans 8: 28 & 29, ‘And we know that Elohim causes all things to work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.’ Yes this is talking about those of us who will qualify to enter the Kingdom of Elohim at Messiah’s return. At this time we together with our Torah observant Jewish Brothers are first-fruits who come before Elohim for acceptance when we are waved as two loaves of bread baked with leaven on the Feast of First-fruits also known as Pentecost. If we are accepted and resurrected at Messiah’s return we will be born-again like Messiah was at His resurrection and will be part of many brethren spoken about Romans 8: 29. But, we need to understand that similar to the harvest seasons in the Land of Israel in the Middle East, not everyone is being called at this time. Millions, if not billions of people lived and died without ever hearing the name of Yahshua the Messiah, let alone obeying Him. Not even all the people who heard Yahshua speaking were being called at that time. This is why Yahshua said to His disciples in Mark 4: 11 – 12, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of Elohim; but those who are outside get everything in parables, (12) in order that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE; AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND LEST THEY RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” Yahshua used very specific language here; either their time had not come, or Yahshua was a respecter of persons. Do you believe that He would have spoken in such a way that they could not understand; if it would have doomed them to be lost forever? The quoted section is rather a hard saying to some, especially in the light of what Rav Kepha wrote in 2 Peter 3: 9, saying: ‘YHVH is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.’ Considering the two quoted sections above, it seems like a contradiction at first glance. How is it possible that Elohim who is love could purposely blind some, and yet at the same time not be willing that any should perish? Remember that most of the people that He blinded, except for righteous Jews alive at this time whom Elohim blinded to Yahshua’s identity until His return (as per Zechariah 12: 7 & 103), are already dead and buried. But the answer to the question is found in Isaiah 25: 7 – 9, talking about a time when YHVH will open their minds to His truth, in this way: ‘And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples. Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death for all time, and YHVH Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for YHVH has spoken. (9) And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our Elohim for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is YHVH for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Based on these Scriptures, we understand that judgment is a period of time that begins when a person receives salvation knowledge and repents, when his/her eyes are opened to Elohim’s truth, and he/she accepts Yahshua as his/her personal Passover. Such peoples’ period of judgment lasts until they either die, or are changed at Yahshua’s return on Yom Teruah, at the first resurrection. This is essentially the resurrection of the righteous spoken about in Luke 14: 13 & 14, in this way: “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, (14) and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” If we have been called by Elohim to come out of the religions of the world, and we obeyed, repented and were immersed into Yahshua’s saving name, we are being judged at this time. We are at this time doing what everyone who ever lived will have to do when they are resurrected after Messiah’s Millennium rule. Yes, we should be bowing our knees before our Master and savior Yahshua Messiah at this time – meaning that we should be obeying what He taught and did whilst He was on earth. This is in line with what we read in Romans 14: 10 – 12, as follows: ‘But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Elohim. (11) For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS YHVH, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO ELOHIM.” (12) So then each one of us shall give account of himself to Elohim.’ We the elect are at this time bowing the knee before Messiah. We do not only bow the knee in prayer, but we also confess with our tongues, giving account of ourselves on a daily basis. It is as we read from 1 Corinthians 11: 31 & 32, in this way: ‘But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are disciplined by YHVH in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.’ We bow the knee before Yahshua by being obedient to what He taught whilst He was on earth; by obeying the Torah and the Prophets and by keeping the Feast Days preserved for us by our Jewish brothers, the same Feast Days that He also observed during His lifetime. But also by keeping the Passover as a memorial to Messiah’s death on the night during which He was betrayed the evening of the 14th of Nisan, 24 hours before the Jews of His day kept it.

 

We need to continuously temper our human nature with Torah, the law that leads to freedom from sin and its curses by comparing our every action and deed with what YHVH requires from us in His word. Perilous times are ahead – in fact, they are here now. We are going to be tested severely during the next few years, before Yahshua will finally return to save us from ourselves. Let us be diligent to make our calling and election sure and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This is what Rav Yaa’cov encapsulated in the second part of verse 19 of James 1 to verse 25, telling those of us who were called out of the world as first fruits, how we should live our lives, as follows: ‘But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; (20) for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of Elohim. (21) Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (22) But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (24) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (25) But one who looks intently at the perfect law (Torah according to Yahshua’s interpretation in Matthew 5: 17 – 48), the law of liberty (because by obeying Torah we are free from punishment due to sin), and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ If we evaluate ourselves properly in terms of the word of Elohim (the Scriptures), by keeping our lives in subjection until we are one day able to say like Rav Shaul did in 2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8, in this way: ‘For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved (or look forward to) His appearing.’ We will be given our crowns of righteousness at Messiah’s return, if we remain faithful to the end.

 

As first fruits we are promised rulership under Messiah during the Millennium and beyond, as witnessed in Revelation 2: 26, as follows: ‘And he who overcomes (Satan, our own human nature, and the world), and who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS.’ Yes, the first resurrection is the better resurrection, since those in the second resurrection are not promised rulership. In addition those in the first resurrection will be raised with our fathers in the faith listed in Hebrews 11, which is as confirmed in verse 35 indeed a better resurrection. The question is when will we rule the world with Messiah? We get the answer in Revelation 20: 4 – 6, in this way: ‘And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Yahshua and because of the word of Elohim, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. (5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.’ So we see that believers who remain faithful to the end will reign and judge with Messiah during the thousand years.

But, we will also judge after this period of a thousand years, since we are told that we will judge the world as well as the fallen angels, as is confirmed in 1 Corinthians 6: 2 & 3, as follows: ‘Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? (3) Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more matters in this life?’ The believers who remain faithful and are in the first resurrection together with the rest of the dead who will be in the second resurrection, equals everyone who ever lived. Those of us who were called at this time and received the knowledge of truth, who are not in the first resurrection, because we did not remain faithful, are not judged yet. They will be in the second resurrected merely to be cast into the lake of fire. Let’s see what Yahshua our Messiah had to say about this subject in Matthew 11: 20 – 24, as follows: ‘Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. (21) “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. (23) And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. (24) Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.’ We know that Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities on the Mediterranean coast. Even though Tyre was destroyed long ago in accordance with the prophecy in Ezekiel 26, Sidon still exists. We are also aware that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed in the days of Abraham and Lot.

But the point is, that these people who have been dead for thousands of years, are going to be resurrected during the day of Judgment, after the thousand year rule of Messiah. Those resurrected during this time will after the Scriptures have been opened to their understanding, be judged over a period of time, to see how they have applied what they have learnt in their lives, after they have been enlightened. This is what is meant in 1 Corinthians 15: 22 – 24 where Rav Shaul talks about the two resurrections, saying: ‘For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all shall be made alive. (23) But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruit, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming. (24) then comes the end (ones) when He delivers up the kingdom to the Elohim and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.’ According to Colossians 1: 18 Yahshua ‘is also head of the body, the congregation; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.’ Yahshua our Messiah was the first ‘human being’ to be resurrected and born-again from the dead. Next to be resurrected from the dead according to 1 Corinthians 15: 23, are those of us who believe in Messiah as our Master and Savior and remained faithful to the end, then after a thousand years, comes the end ones - meaning the rest of the dead. That is when they will be given knowledge of salvation, when according to Revelation 20: 12 ‘books were opened.’ That is when every knee that did not bow before Yahshua during this age, will get their opportunity to do so. That is also the time spoken about in Isaiah 25: 7 & 8, when the veil will be removed from all nations and the books of the Scriptures will be opened to their minds in a similar way to what Yahshua did for His disciples after His resurrection in Luke 24: 44 & 45, as follows: ‘Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (45) Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

Their ‘day of salvation’, their period of judgment will begin at that time. We see according to Isaiah 65: 17 – 20 that their period of judgment will be over a period of 100 years, in this way: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. (18) But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for gladness. (19) I will also rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. (20) No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed.” There will be no premature deaths during this time, and those who repent and overcome during the 100 years, will be blessed with eternal life. They will be given the opportunity to accept Yahshua as their Master and Savior, or reject His way of life. Eternal life will be offered to all the people who ever lived. Those who accept Yahshua as their Savior and Passover will be immersed into His saving name, be given a portion of the Set-apart Spirit and be changed into spiritual children of Elohim. This will truly be the second harvest of human souls into the everlasting Kingdom.

Some have said that if this scenario is correct, there would be no incentive to repent now. Everyone would just "live like the devil now" and wait for the second resurrection. But there are plenty of incentives to want to be in the first resurrection, since it is called ‘a better resurrection’ in Hebrews 11: 35 and as we’ve read about the first resurrection from the last part of Revelation 20: 6, ‘over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.' Priests will have the responsibility to under Messiah teach people during the millennium and beyond how to come to salvation through Yahshua the Messiah and serve YHVH for the benefit and blessing of all. The wicked – meaning those who sinned with full knowledge throughout the ages, including those of us who were called at this time and learnt Elohim’s salvation truth, but rejected it in the end, will be burned once for all and will not be tormented forever as some believe. Only spirit beings such as Satan and his demons have that fate awaiting them; human beings made from physical matter who sinned with full knowledge will only burn until they are turned to ashes as is confirmed in Malachi 4: 1, in this way: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says YHVH of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

The second resurrection is not a second chance, since these millions of unsaved people were blinded by YHVH Himself in the past, as shown (in Isaiah 25: 7 & 8 as well as) in Romans 11: 32, in this way: ‘For Elohim has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.’ We need to remember that there is only one chance, and we are having it at this time. It behooves us to pay special attention to the words in Hebrews 10: 26 - 28: ‘For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. (28) Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses ’ Judgment takes place over the period of time after we come to the knowledge of Elohim’s truth, and is an evaluating of what we did with the knowledge that we received. Think about It!

1 Ephesians 2: 11 – 16, saying: ‘Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Un-circumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— (12) remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants (made with Abraham and David) of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world. (13) But now in Messiah Yahshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity (punishment of the Law due to us for breaking Elohim’s commandments), which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances (or judgments payable for transgressing the commandments and statutes), that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, (16) and might reconcile them both in one body (the congregation of YHVH) to Elohim through the cross, by having put to death the enmity.’

2 Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33: “Behold, days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares YHVH. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares YHVH, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”’

3 Zechariah 12: 7 & 10, “YHVH also will save the tents of Judah first in order that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be magnified above Judah. And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first- born.”