Judgment Day

It is said that God has chosen a day to judge the inhabited earth. (Acts 17:31) For many people, the prospect of judgment is unwelcome. Is that how you feel?

If so, you can find comfort because Judgment Day is a loving arrangement that will bring great blessings to the human family — including those who have died. (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16) Why is Judgment Day needed? What will really happen on “that day”?

Judgment Day​—Why Needed?

When God placed man on earth, He did not intend it to be merely a proof-of-concept for future life in another realm. He created man to live forever on earth. Although physically and mentally, the first human couple rebelled against God. As a result, they lose their prospect of eternal life and bring sin and death to all of their descendants. — Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 5:12.

Judgment Day will be an opportunity for human to regain what Adam and Eve lost. *Note that Acts 17:31, quoted above, says that Judgment Day will affect those who live on “the inhabited earth.” Those who receive favorable judgment will live on earth and will enjoy eternal life in perfect conditions. (Revelation 21:3, 4) Thus, the Day of Judgment helps to fulfill God's original purpose for man and the earth.

God's appointed judger is Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 4:1) Who are the “living ones” who will be judged? How will the dead be resurrected on “the inhabited earth”?

Jesus Judges “the Living”

Now we are nearing the foretold end of the present system of things, when God will destroy all sections of corrupt human society and eliminate the wicked. Those who survive the end of this system as "the living" will be judged. — Revelation 7: 9-14; 19:11-16.

During that 1,000-year judgment period, Jesus Christ, along with 144,000 resurrected heavenly men and women, will rule the earth. They will serve as kings and priests, administering the benefits of Jesus' ransom sacrifice, and gradually raising faithful ones to physical and spiritual perfection.

On Judgment Day, Satan and the devil will have limited influence over human activities. (Revelation 20:1-3) At the end of Judgment Day, however, Satan will be allowed to test everyone's loyalty. Those who are loyal to God will overcome the test that Adam and Eve failed. They will be judged worthy to receive eternal life in a restored paradise. Those who choose to oppose God will be destroyed forever, as will Satan and the demons. — Revelation 20:7-9.

Judging “the Dead”

The Bible says that on the Day of Judgment, the dead will “rise again.” (Matthew 12:41) Jesus said that “the hour is coming when all those who are in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to be raised to life, who have done lowly things to get a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28, 29) This is not referring to the weary souls of the dead. The dead are completely unconscious and no soul survives death. (Ecclesiastes 9:5; John 11:11-14, 23, 24) Jesus will bring back to life those who are asleep in death.

Will the judgment of the resurrected be based on what they did before they died? Are not. It is taught that the dead have remission of their sins. (Romans 6:7) As a result, the resurrected one will be judged according to their works on Judgment Day. (Revelation 20:12, 13) Depending on the end result of their actions, this will either be a resurrection to eternal life or a resurrection to destruction. Many of those restored will learn about Jehovah God and his requirements for life for the first time.

No Reason for Fear

Judgment Day will not only be a time of instruction from God but also a time for those who are alive to apply what they have learned and enjoy the blessings from it. Just imagine your joy at being reunited with loved ones who are resurrected and grown into fullness with them!

God will allow Satan to test mankind's loyalty at the end of Judgment Day. However, don’t worry. At the end of Judgment Day, everyone will be fully equipped to face this final test. At the end, Judgment Day will play an important role of the fulfillment of God's purpose to undo all the effects of the initial rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden.