Will the saints judge the world?

The Saints and the Judgment During the Millennium

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He gave His disciples a powerful promise designed to comfort every believer living in a troubled world. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). This promise points forward to the glorious second coming of Christ, when the redeemed will be taken to the Father’s house to dwell with Jesus. This moment is not just a promise of comfort but also a profound assurance of hope and restoration for all believers. It signifies the culmination of God’s plan for humanity, where the faithful will experience eternal communion with their Creator.

The Second Coming and the Resurrection of the Righteous

The apostle Paul describes this event with great clarity: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). At His return, the righteous dead are resurrected, and the living righteous are transformed (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Both groups rise together to meet Christ in the air and ascend with Him to heaven. This event marks the beginning of the millennium-the 1,000-year reign of Christ with His redeemed. This period is a time of unparalleled joy and fulfillment, where the saints will witness the fulfillment of God’s promises and the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

The Saints Sit in Judgment With Christ

One of the lesser-known but deeply significant works of the redeemed in heaven is their participation in the judgment. Revelation clearly states: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…” (Revelation 20:4). Paul also wrote, “Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). These individuals include those who were faithful to the Word of God, those who resisted the worship of the beast and his image, and those who were faithful unto death. Scripture says they “lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” The Old Testament foresaw this same event. Daniel wrote: “Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:22). Thus, during the millennium, God invites His redeemed children to review the records of the lost. This divine assignment is not merely a task but a profound responsibility that highlights the importance of justice and mercy in God’s character.

Who Will Be Judged?

The saints will examine the cases of:

1. The wicked dead – all who rejected Christ during their lifetime.
2. The unrepentant living wicked who perished at the second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
3. The fallen angels, including the demons who rebelled with Satan. Scripture says, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). These angels are the ones “cast down to hell” and “reserved unto judgment” (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

What Is the Purpose of This Judgment?

This heavenly judgment is not to determine who is saved or lost. That decision has already been made by each individual’s response to God’s grace. Instead, the millennium judgment serves three divine purposes:

1. To Reveal God’s Justice

The records of the wicked are opened so that the redeemed may understand why each person is lost. Every question is answered, and every doubt is removed. God allows His saved children to examine His decisions, proving His fairness. This process is essential for the saints to grasp the depth of God’s justice and the reasons behind His judgments, fostering a deeper relationship with Him.

2. To Demonstrate the Fairness of Final Punishment

Revelation 22:12 teaches that every person will be rewarded “according to his works.” The heavenly review allows the saints to see why different individuals receive different degrees of punishment (Luke 12:47-48). This understanding reinforces the concept that God’s justice is not arbitrary but based on the choices made by each individual during their lifetime.

3. To Vindicate God Before the Universe

When the redeemed behold the complete righteousness of God’s decisions, they join in the triumphant cry: “Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways” (Revelation 15:3). This song of Moses and the Lamb is sung only after the saints have examined the judgment records during the millennium-evidence that they fully agree with God’s justice. This collective affirmation serves as a powerful testimony to the entire universe of God’s unwavering righteousness and love.

When Does This Judgment Occur?

The Bible is explicit: The judgment of the wicked by the saints takes place during the millennium, the 1,000-year period between Christ’s second coming and His third coming. Revelation 20:4-6 provides the timeline:

1. The righteous are resurrected at the second coming-this is the “first resurrection.”
2. They reign with Christ for 1,000 years.
3. Judgment is given to them during this period.
4. The rest of the dead (the wicked) do not live again until the 1,000 years are finished.
5. After the millennium ends, the final executive judgment occurs when the wicked are resurrected to receive their sentence (Revelation 20:11-15).

The millennium forms a transparent interval in which all questions about sin, suffering, and God’s judgments are fully answered. This period is crucial for the saints to understand the full scope of God’s plan and the ultimate resolution of all things.

The End of the Millennium and the Vindication of God

At the end of the millennium, the wicked are resurrected to face the final judgment (Revelation 20:5, 11-15). They behold the decisions that were reviewed by the saints during the millennium. Because both the righteous and the wicked see God’s justice, “every knee shall bow” (Philippians 2:10), acknowledging that God has been fair. Then fire comes down from God and destroys sin and sinners forever (Revelation 20:9, 14-15). This is the “second death,” from which there is no resurrection. Only then does God create a new heavens and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). This final act of creation signifies the ultimate restoration of all things and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

Conclusion

The promise of Jesus in John 14:1-3 assures believers that He will return to bring them into the Father’s house. At His coming, the redeemed are taken to heaven, where they reign with Him for a thousand years. During this period-known as the millennium-God will entrust His saints with the solemn work of judgment. They examine the records of the wicked and fallen angels, confirming God’s justice and righteousness. When this process is complete, the universe will know that God is both merciful and just. Only then will the redeemed sing, “Just and true are Thy ways.” This profound understanding of God’s character will resonate throughout eternity, as the faithful celebrate His goodness and grace.