| Christian Life and Doctrine | July 1965 |
Justice in the Judgment Day
LISA, a Jewish girl of German origin, had witnessed much of the cruelty imposed upon her race by the Hitler regime. Her family had suffered untold horror in concentration camps, and finally were destroyed in a gas chamber. She had come into close contact with a doctor who was responsible for much that happened to her family and friends, and she had personally suffered at his hands. This nightmare of experiences had left Its mark upon Lisa, and while she escaped death, and after the war returned to a normal way of life, married, and raised a family, she was haunted by the memories of that doctor whom she believed responsible for the horrors to which her family had been subjected, and which nearly resulted in her own death in a gas chamber.
Lisa prospered financially after the war, and she found herself able to spend time and money in an attempt to hunt down the infamous doctor and report him to the war crime tribunal in Germany for arrest and punishment. She had reason to believe that he had fled to South America, and for South America she headed. Her first destination was New York, and while there Lisa engaged the services of a lady (Maria) from South America who undertook to be her guide and assistant. After many long months of search in South America they finally located the doctor, and Lisa reported his whereabouts to the proper authorities.
Meanwhile, Maria, noting from day to day the intense desire of Lisa for revenge against the one she believed to be the cause of so much of her suffering, was apprehensive lest the finding of the doctor and bringing him to justice would fail to give her the peace of mind for which she was seeking. Maria, being a Christian, and guided by the principle of Christian love rather than hate and revenge, talked to Lisa about this better way of life as opportunity afforded. “Leave your enemies in the Lord’s hands,” Maria would say, “it will not bring your family back, nor cause you to forget your own injuries just to know that this man has been punished.”
And Lisa discovered that Maria was right. She did find peace of mind and heart, not by the fact that she had located the object of her quest, and had reported him to the proper authorities, but in the realization of the supremacy of God, and a rekindled faith in his ability somehow, and at some time, to rectify all the wrongs among his earthly creatures. She could not understand all of God’s ways, but she did learn to put her trust in him, realizing her own inadequacy to deal with situations so complex and baffling.
Naturally we are glad that Lisa’s re-established faith in God solved the problem of her own aching heart, but we suspect that even after this there was still the question in her mind as to why the Creator allows such atrocious things to happen, and particularly what his purpose is toward the perpetrators of such unspeakable crimes. There are few who do not wonder about this.
The perpetrators of atrocities against the Jews and others in Germany during the second World War are far from being the only ones in this class of evildoers. Man’s inhumanity to man in myriads of cruel ways has manifested itself throughout all the ages, and continues even today. Jesus himself was tormented at the hands of his enemies, who, in their mob frenzy of jealousy and hate seemed happy at the thought of his cruel death on the cross.
Later the followers of Jesus were subjected to untold cruelties by those who thought it important to stamp out this new religion. Nero entertained his friends by presenting the spectacle of Christians being thrown to the lions. Later there came the tortures of the so-called Holy Inquisition. Millions were tortured and killed in the name of the church to purge it from “heretics.” Are the perpetrators of all this torture and murder less guilty before God than those who tortured and killed Jews in Germany?
Nor do we need to limit ourselves to these extreme cases in order to be confronted with the question of how the justice of God operates in matters of this kind. Anyone who murders another has committed a heinous crime against his fellowman, and against society. Ofttimes those who commit such crimes are not apprehended, and not punished by human laws. And even when they are apprehended and punished, those who have been killed by them are not brought back to life, and thus from the human standpoint there is still an imbalance of justice.
“There Is None Righteous”
To find a satisfying answer to the questions raised by the many injustices that are practiced throughout the world it is essential, first of all, to take into consideration the Bible’s testimony as to the origin of all sin. This was in the Garden of Eden. Paul wrote about it saying, ‘By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that [margin, or, in whom] all have sinned.”—Ps. 14:3; 53:3; Rom. 3:10; 5:12
From this text we learn that all, through heredity, have partaken of Adam’s sin. Originally man was created in the image of God, and perfect. In this condition there would be no selfishness and no ill will toward others. But man’s fall into sin changed this, and the harsh circumstances of life from one generation to another have helped to promote sin and selfishness. None has escaped from these circumstances altogether, although there are still many who, at heart, would rather do good than evil, and there are a few who would rather turn the other cheek when smitten by an enemy than to do him harm. These have learned the Christian way of rendering good for evil, rather than evil for evil.
All sorts of standards have been established in the minds of fallen men and women. There are those who would not think of robbing a bank, but would consider it quite all right to keep a sum of money they found on the street without endeavoring to find the owner. There are those who would not commit murder, but who would not hesitate to assassinate a neighbor’s character. There are those who pride themselves on dealing honestly with their neighbors, but think it all right to be dishonest in making out their income tax reports.
The point is that there are degrees of sin, and the extent to which one follows his selfish propensities depends upon the lack of moral education, environment, opportunity, and various other factors. There are those in the world who have a compelling lust for power, and, if opportunity afforded, who knows how many of these might become cruel dictators. We are not making out a case for anyone, or for any group. We are simply emphasizing the scriptural teaching that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”—Rom. 3:23
And, as Paul wrote, “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Consequently all are dying. When God gave the Jewish people his Law at the hands of Moses, he told them that anyone who could keep that Law would live. But none could keep it perfectly, so none escaped the sentence that was upon the entire race because of sin.—Lev. 18:5; Ezek. 20:11; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12
Paul again wrote, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Cor. 15:22) The reason that all are to be made alive in Christ is that he gave his own life to redeem the world from death. Paul speaks of this as “a ransom for all.” (I Tim. 2:3-6) Jesus himself said, “My flesh … I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) This redemptive work of Christ will be just as far-reaching in its effects upon the human race as was the curse of sin and death which came upon the race through Adam.
Awakened from the Sleep of Death
The Scriptures assure us that the entire human race will be awakened from the sleep of death—not all at once, but gradually, and as they can be assimilated into a growing world society, which will be under the administration of the kingdom of Christ. This kingdom is to rule over the earth for a thousand years, and the true followers of Jesus during the present age are to live and to reign with him.—Rev. 20:6
In order for this truth to have its proper bearing on the matter of God’s just punishment for all sinners it is important to recognize that those who have died are indeed asleep in death. “The wages of sin is death,” Paul wrote. (Rom. 6:23) This does not mean eternal torture. While the Scriptures clearly teach that every sinner will be justly punished for his sins, there are no crimes committed by humans which would justly call for an eternity of torture in a fiery hell as punishment.
It is also important to have faith in the promises of God that he will restore the dead to life, for the solution of the whole problem of sin and crime depends upon this. While some war criminals and other murderers, have been apprehended and brought before the bar of human justice, many have not. Millions of lesser crimes go unpunished because they are unknown to most people, many times to all but the criminal himself.
The Bible likens death to a sleep, and regardless of how long it may be before the awakening in the resurrection, when by the power of God that awakening does take place, it will simply be introducing those who have died to a new day of experience. But what a different day it will be! Of the present time the Bible declares, “Now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” (Mal. 3:15) But this will not be true in that new day of Christ’s kingdom and judgment.
Of that new day the Scriptures declare, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,” or kingdom. (Isa. 11:9) The righteous rule of the Messiah will be so effective that no one will be permitted to injure another; and gradually, through a process of instruction in the advantages of righteousness over unrighteousness, and of love over hate, fewer and fewer of the people will have any desire to do harm to others.
Just Punishment
What will be the position in that new day of those who in this life have committed crimes against others, whether minor offenses or brutal atrocities? We understand that in proportion to the willfulness of these sins wrongdoers will be punished. However, this will not be the punishment of vengeance, but of discipline, the object of which will be to reform and to rehabilitate the sinner. All sin of the present time that is the direct result of the adamic condemnation and fall is covered by the redemptive work of Christ, but this does not mean that the fallen race will be permitted to continue in its fallen and sinful ways.
The Scriptures do not indicate in detail just how sinners will be punished during that new day when, generation after generation, they are being awakened from the sleep of death. However, certain facts are set forth which help us to visualize, at least to some degree, one of the means of retribution which almost automatically will confront many when awakened from the sleep of death. In Daniel 12:2 we read about the promised awakening from the sleep of death, and here we are told that “some”—those who have done evil—shall come forth to “shame” and “contempt.” According to the Hebrew text this shame and contempt will be age-lasting, or lasting until a consummation; that is, until it has accomplished its purpose.
What will this mean in the experience of sinners awakened from the sleep of death? Let us take the doctor, whom Lisa located in South America, as an example. When he is awakened from the sleep of death he will find himself in the midst of many of the very people whom he caused to be murdered. He will be powerless to inflict further pain upon them, or even to brush them aside and live alone with his shame. He will have to face them, and, so far as possible, make amends for the wrongs he inflicted upon them. Meanwhile, and until there is a genuine reformation of heart, he will, as Daniel 12:2 points out, be held in contempt. This will indeed be a severe and appropriate punishment.
One who commits murder today might refrain from such an act if he knew that he would have to face his victim later and make amends. His crime is based somewhat upon the idea that no one will ever know, especially the victim. And let us not confine our examination to those who have committed gross sins, such as Nero; the German doctor sought by Lisa; and all murderers. Millions have done things for which they will be ashamed when they are brought into the light of that new day of Christ’s kingdom.
All Circumstances Considered
The Scriptures reveal that the great Judge, in determining the severity of future punishment, will take all the circumstances of heredity, education, and environment into consideration. The matter of knowledge concerning the divine will is also to be a factor. In our human courts of law differing circumstances are taken into consideration in the administration of justice. For example, one who is judged to be insane at the time he committed a murder cannot be tried for murder. He can be placed in an institution to prevent him from harming others, but in the eyes of the law he is not looked upon as a murderer. Human wisdom is capable merely of deciding whether one is sane or insane, but it is generally recognized that there are degrees of insanity which to some extent are accountable for the behavior of many who might be looked upon in a court of law as sane.
But in the future judgment day there will not be this limitation of understanding. Isaiah wrote concerning the great Judge: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove [margin, or, argue] with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of, his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”—Isa. 11:2-5
What a wonderful Judge! Paul must have had this prophecy in mind when, in his sermon on Mars’ hill, he said that God had appointed a day in which he would judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he had ordained, which is Jesus Christ the righteous. (Acts 17:31) The faithful footstep followers of the Master during the present age will be associated with Jesus in this future work of judging the world of mankind. (Isa. 1:26; Ps. 149:9; Isa. 42:1; Dan. 7:22; Matt. 19:28) These will be exalted to the divine nature with Jesus, and will possess the same perceptive abilities, so that all mankind will receive just and sympathetic treatment.—II Pet. 1:4
Today a judge must depend upon the testimony of witnesses in order to determine the guilt or innocence of the one being tried. Ofttimes this testimony is biased and untrue. About the only method now known to determine the accuracy of the testimony given by a witness is by cross-examining him. But this is only partially effective. The witness might become frightened, for example; or, for other reasons the judge (or jury, if one is used) cannot be absolutely sure as to the truth of the testimony given. But how different it will be when Jesus and his exalted followers will be judging the world! They will not depend upon witnesses. They will not depend upon the sight of the eye, nor the hearing of the ear, for they will be able to read the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Degrees of Knowledge
Jesus explained that those who know God’s will and do it not, shall be beaten with many stripes; and that those who do not know what the Lord requires of them, and fail because of their lack of knowledge, will be beaten with few stripes. His conclusion on this is, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”—Luke 12:47,48
Jesus’ lesson is clear. It goes beyond human wisdom and practice. In the administering of human justice mere ignorance of the law is not considered to be a valid excuse for breaking the law. But Jesus explained that in breaking divine law ignorance of its requirements is taken into consideration, and that punishment, represented in this lesson by “stripes,” is tempered by the amount of understanding one possesses.
This principle will have a vital bearing upon the judgment work of the new day; as will also the reasons an individual did not, in this life, truly understand the proper standards of righteousness. One of these reasons is the fact that Satan, the Devil, has been the great deceiver of the people, but Satan will be bound during the coming kingdom period. Satan is referred to in the Scriptures as “the prince of this world” of darkness and sin, and “god of this world,” or age. (John 12:31; II Cor. 4:4) Darkness is used in the Bible as a symbol of ignorance concerning the true God, and since the fall of man into sin, the whole world has continued to be shrouded in darkness. The deceptions of Satan have led to race and other hatreds, and to individual and mass murder.
In the Middle Ages the satanic deception that God intended to eternally torture all heretics—that is, those who refused to bow the knee to the established church—logically led supporters of the church to torment these brave souls in every cruel way their twisted minds could invent. Why? Simply because they thought they were doing exactly what God intended to do eternally to these same victims. Seemingly, they wanted to be like their conception of God in this respect.
The demon of strong drink has warped the minds of millions and led them into vice and crimes of many sorts. The great Judge and his associates will take this factor into consideration also in his dealings with the world of mankind awakened from the sleep of death. In short, he will understand every situation, every stress and strain, and all the circumstances having a bearing on each individual’s conduct, and will take all these into account in the administration of just punishment.
The Sodomites
The Bible record ends shortly after the coming of Jesus at his first advent, so naturally it does not mention the infamous sinners of subsequent times. But it does call attention to those who flagrantly transgressed his laws in ancient times, and assures us that these will be awakened from death, and ultimately brought into covenant relationship with him. Among these are the ancient Sodomites.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God because of the gross sin of the people. Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family were the only ones in these cities who served God. Had there been more, God would have saved the cities. (Gen. 18:16-33) However, despite the wickedness of these cities they are to be restored to their former estate that is, to the state of life. God assures us of this in a promise to the wicked Israelites, whom he also stated would be released from their captivity in death. We quote:
“When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate. For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride, before thy wickedness was discovered, and at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise [margin, or spoil] thee round about. Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the Lord. For thus saith the Lord God.; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. … Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord.”—Ezek. 16:55-63
In this marvelous prophecy of the awakening of the Sodomites, Samaritans, and the Israelites from death, we are again reminded of the shame which will be experienced, especially by those who in this life professed to be servants of God. For these it will be more difficult than for those who possessed little or no knowledge of God, and who made no professions of being his people.
This point is made even more definite by Jesus. We know that for the most part the people rejected Jesus at his first advent, as they did also his representatives. He instructed these that when they were rejected in a city they were to move on to another city, and to this he added, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” (Mark 6:11) The expression “more tolerable” as used in this text, is from a Greek expression meaning “more endurable.” All who have transgressed God’s law in this life will, to the extent of their understanding and willfulness, be subjected to disciplinary experiences when awakened from the sleep of death. The Sodomites had little knowledge of God, so their experiences in God’s great judgment day will be more endurable, less severe, than the experiences of those who rejected Jesus and his teachings. What more equitable arrangement could there be!
Not Universal Salvation
While God’s coming judgment day is designed to rehabilitate the human race,—that is, to restore all who believe and obey to human perfection as enjoyed by our first parents before they transgressed divine law—this does not imply that everyone will be forever saved. In a wonderful promise pertaining to that time, John the Revelator wrote, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) And then he adds later in the chapter, “He that overcometh shall inherit these things.”—Rev. 21:7, margin
Only those who then believe, and pass through the disciplinary experiences humbly and obediently, will go on to everlasting life. “But,” as John further explains, “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (vs. 8) This implies that there will be some who will resist the righteous arrangements of that new day, and will continue on in their sinful ways. These will be destroyed in the symbolic lake of fire, which John explains to be “the second death.” Peter referred to this same class, when, in his wonderful sermon on the restitution of all things he said, “It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear [obey] that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:19-23
Blessings for All
While belief, obedience, and reformation will be required of all in God’s day of judgment who wish to participate in its blessings of health and life, these restitution blessings will be available to all—those living through the transition into that new world, as well as to those who will be awakened from the sleep of death. And the same tests of humble obedience will be upon all. Those who walk in a righteous way in this life, doing good to their neighbors, and honoring God with their lips and in their hearts, will find it easy to subscribe to the laws of God’s new world under Christ, and will therefore the more readily and speedily enter into the blessings of that new day.
One test which might well come upon these, however, is to accept God’s decisions of mercy with respect to the gross evil-doers of the present and past. Some, in their hearts, might desire to see vengeance executed upon these. But as they note the response of sinners to the warming rays of divine love, and see how they struggle to make amends for the harm they have caused others in the past, the attitude will change, and all who qualify for everlasting life on earth will learn to appreciate, respect, and love one another.
Then the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. There will be no excuse for unbelief, and no reason for not knowing the will of God. Isaiah depicts the whole redeemed world of mankind returning from death “with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.” (Isa. 35:8-10) Truly the blessings of that day will more than compensate for the temporary sufferings of the present.