Jesus’ fourth ministry or role is the glorious Son of Man who will return to the earth to raise the dead and judge every person who ever lived.
This event was prophesied by our Lord himself and is found in the prophecies of Daniel. Christ’s first three roles – Lamb of God, Son of God, and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit – have already been fulfilled in history and are available to every person to experience, but our Lord’s last role still waits for its fulfillment in the future.
We can know him now as the Resurrection and the Life (John 14:6) and our justifier (Romans 5:1), both of which will be more fully revealed at the Second Coming.
Here are John the Baptist’s words.
“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11–12 (NASB95)
Even though John did not specifically call Jesus the “Son of Man,” the above passage fully describes his role as the Judge of all the earth.
Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb is fundamental to our salvation, and acknowledging his lordship is the gate Paul says we must pass through to obtain the benefits of that death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9-10)
When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily choose to come under his rule, which is the fundamental act of repentance.
For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” During this time Jesus is functioning as Lord of the harvest and Baptizer in the Spirit. Eventually this time of mercy will end, followed by our Lord’s glorious appearance in the clouds of heaven as the Judge.
When Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin the evening before his crucifixion, their purpose was the culmination of that nation’s rejection of their Messiah. They condemned him to death after he freely admitted that not only is he the Messiah but he will also come again in glory as the divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT)
Daniel’s prophecy described a glorious heavenly being who will judge everyone who ever lived.
I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13–14 (NASB95)
When the Sanhedrin heard our Lord apply these verses to himself, they accused him of blasphemy and condemned him to death.
At this point in time, Israel’s rejection of God’s rule was complete, fulfilling Christ’s own words. They would be given other chances to repent before their catastrophic destruction in 70 AD, when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by Titus.
Jesus warned the Jewish leaders that their rejection of him was a rejection of God’s rule that would result in their utter destruction.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us'... 27 “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” Luke 19:14, 27 (NASB95)
Jesus taught that in his role as the Son of Man he has been given authority to judge. One day he will return to judge those who condemned him, unless, of course, at some point they repented and asked forgiveness for their treachery.
For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:26–29 (NASB95)
Jesus was given authority to judge us since he also lived as a human, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). For those who reject
Christ’s lordship, the last judgment will be terrifying, but for us who voluntarily bow the knee to him before his glorious return, it will be a triumphantly glorious conclusion to history.
Our Lord, the judge, will also act as our defense lawyer.
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:32–34 (NASB95)
The one who will judge us has promised that we will never be condemned, if we put our trust in him.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)
According to the terrifying vision in Daniel 7:10, we will be judged according to record books God keeps.
A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. Daniel 7:10 (NASB95)
He keeps track of every word, thought, and deed. Nothing is hidden from him.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12–13 (NASB95)
If our performance in life were the only basis for judgment, every single person who ever lived would be consigned to the lake of fire.
as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; Romans 3:10 (NASB95)
Without Christ, no one is righteous in God’s sight. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious righteous standard.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NASB95)
We have earned the wage of death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB95)
However, there is another book called the Lamb’s Book of Life. If we are written in that book, our eternal destiny is secure.
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12–15 (NASB95)
Every person will be judged according to our deeds because what we do reflects what we believe more than our words do. (James 2:18)
However, for those of us who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, judgment will determine our eternal reward, not our eternal destiny.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:8–15 (NASB95)
For those of us who have received and know the love God has for us, judgment holds no terror.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:17–18 (NASB95)
We do fear God in a proper way, however. We do not take lightly his discipline, but as his children we do not fear being ultimately cast away into outer darkness.
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. John 8:35 (NKJV)
At the future point in history when our Lord returns, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity.
When God dissolves the firmament (2 Peter 3:10), revealing God’s glorious presence in heaven above us, naysayers will no longer be able to claim that our Lord was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No longer will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. No one will claim that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his devious followers. At that point in history, everyone will see him in his undeniable glory.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)
Before his return, God is giving us the opportunity to hear the gospel’s call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call will determine our eternal destiny.
On that glorious day when Jesus returns as the Son of Man, it will be too late. On that day, every knee will be forced to bow and every tongue confess who he is. No longer will there be an option.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)
Although God the Father continues to mercifully delay the end, and Jesus continues to show mercy to those who ask him for forgiveness, we should not think for a moment that our Lord is too weak or kindly to enforce God’s justice and wrath when the proper time finally arrives. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule.
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Psalm 2:10–12 (NASB95)
Warning people to prepare for the coming judgment is an important part of the gospel message.
Those who do not drink from the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Lord, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their grave mistake at the Second Coming when God’s judgment comes down like a hammer.
The Book of Revelation teaches us that we who believe will rejoice in God’s judgment of the wicked.
After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. 2 His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.” 3 And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!” 4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5 And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Revelation 19:1-5 (NLT)
Until Christ returns, we preach a gospel of hope to those who are willing to repent and declare allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus, but that gospel contains the warning of impending judgment.
God’s mercy can only be properly understood against the backdrop of looming wrath.
Just as artists use darkness to contrast with light, the gospel uses the beauty of God’s mercy to contrast with the horrors of divine judgment. If God is simply a heavenly smiley face who never judges anyone, our gospel message is farcical. Why on earth would Jesus have to die, in that case? He would be a misguided tragic figure at best. But, in fact, our Lord absorbed the wrath of God on the cross on our behalf so that we will be able to escape God’s wrath at the Last Judgment.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NASB95)
The gospel holds out to us the promise that all who call upon the Lord will be saved. This is the gospel that Peter preached.
And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” Acts 2:40 (NASB95)
Peter knew that judgment was coming to Jerusalem as our Lord prophesied. He warned his hearers to turn to Christ to escape that judgment and the final one at Christ’s return.
It is the gospel Paul preached.
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30–31 (NASB95)
It is the gospel John the Baptist preached.
“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12 (NASB95)
It is what Jesus preached.
All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; Matthew 25:32 (NASB95)
It is the gospel we should preach, too. How people respond to this good news will make all the difference for eternity.
Prayer
Jesus, I recognize that you are my Savior and Lord. I declare allegiance and submit my life to you. Help me to tell others about who you are and what you did for us so that they, too, may escape your wrath on the day of judgment. Thank you for your continued mercy. Amen.
