Two Types of Judges

There are two types of judges in today's society, and the Lord will exercise judgment in the character of both. First, there is a magistrate. This type of judge is invested with authority in the region's courts of law and has authority to pronounce the sentence of a trial upon a lawbreaker and condemn him to prison, if necessary. And there is also a judge (an arbiter) at an exhibition, that is, an art show. The latter has knowledge in a certain area of specialization to decide on the merits of the objects before him. He is at the exhibition to evaluate the quality and finish of the articles shown there.

As mentioned, the Lord will exercise judgment in the character of both judges. He will deal with those who are lost as a magistrate deals with criminals (Rev. 20:11-15). This is not something He wants to do, but man's sin forces Him to act this way. Judgment of this kind is the Lord's "strange work," because it is strange to Him (Isa. 28:21). His true nature is love, and His deepest intentions toward men are to bless them (Gen. 1:28). However, holiness is also the essence of His being, and divine justice demands that sin be punished. Thankfully we can say that while God's holiness requires judgment against sin, God's love provided a way of escape, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24). As mentioned, the believer will never face this type of judgment because of the powerful work of Christ on the cross. But the Lord will review the believer's life as an arbiter at an art show, evaluating his life and rewarding him for the things that were done for His name's sake. The character of every session will be: review, reward and rejoicing.