After the Lord has poured out His wrath upon those enemies, that which He spoke through the prophet Zechariah, will be fulfilled: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives …” (14: 4). This com-ing is also being described in detail. He does not come alone, but those who are with Him join Him, “… and the LORD, my God, shall come, and all the saints with thee” (v. 5b). (The Marriage Supper in glory at that time will be finished). This coming will take place just before the commencement of the Millenial reign.

Before the reign the Lord will set up His tribunal and will pronounce His jurisdiction at that time. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them who destroy the earth” (Rev. 11: 18).

Because the proclamation of the Gospel was so different in the various church ages, an administration of justice has to take place and all have to acknowledge that which in reality is valid before God. This judgment does not mean condemnation, rather, divine justice is administered by the Lord.

Then the following Scriptures will find their fulfilment, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Cor. 5: 10). “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14: 10-12).

Before this completed righteous group can judge with the Judge and rule with the King they themselves have to stand this judgment and receive their crown. The crowns will be given to the overcomers. The Scripture speaks of the crown of rejoicing (I Th. 2: 19); the crown of righteousness (II Tim. 4: 8); the crown of glory (I Pet. 5: 4); and the crown of life (Js. 1: 12; Rev. 2: 10).

In Daniel 7: 26 we read, “But the judgment shall sit …” This is in accordance with Rev. 20: 4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them …” The overcomers were given the greatest promise of all, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne …” (Rev. 3: 21). During the Millenium they will not only reign with Christ and rule over the nations (Rev. 2: 26-27), they also will take part in the judgment. Paul writes, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? … Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (I Cor. 6: 2–3). In the book of Jude we read about the prophecy of Enoch who spoke about this particular coming of the Lord, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all that are ungodly …” (v. 14+15).

In Mt. 25: 31-32 we also find reference to this coming, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

In Isa. 2: 2-5 this judgment which concerns the nations is also spoken of, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” Almost the same wording can be found in Mic. 4: 1-5.

As touching the people of Israel, it is written, “And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem” (Isa. 4: 3). At that time when those who survived the great tribulation and persecution, will have to face judgment, there will be a reward for those who during that time of trouble have given their lives because of the testimony of Jesus Christ, “… and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 4). Although these people had no part in the Wedding Supper of the Lamb they will also be in the Millenial reign. They will come back to life before the commencement of the reign of Christ on this earth, and therefore are part of the first resurrection. In this connection we also have to read the twofold application Paul is referring to in II Tim. 4: 1, “I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” Amen.

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 5-6).

At that time, that which the Lord swore by Himself will also be ful-filled: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD I have right-eousness and strength; even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed” (Isa. 45: 23-24).

“And let all the angels of God worship him” (Heb. 1: 6).

“… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father” (Phil 2: 10-11).

At that moment all who believed in Christ will be rejoicing, “… when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (II Th. 1: 10).

With thanksgiving hearts, the redeemed who are then present will join in the praises with the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures and the angels who are before the throne. Together they will cry out like in a great, majestic choir, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev. 5: 12-13).

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Rev. 4: 8).

Anyone who has read carefully will have noted that in this passage the Lord is not spoken of as the Son of Man, but as the Almighty God. The prophet Isaiah has expressed this in the following words, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isa. 25: 9).

After the Lord has poured out His wrath upon those enemies, that which He spoke through the prophet Zechariah, will be fulfilled: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives …” (14: 4). This com-ing is also being described in detail. He does not come alone, but those who are with Him join Him, “… and the LORD, my God, shall come, and all the saints with thee” (v. 5b). (The Marriage Supper in glory at that time will be finished). This coming will take place just before the commencement of the Millenial reign.

Before the reign the Lord will set up His tribunal and will pronounce His jurisdiction at that time. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them who destroy the earth” (Rev. 11: 18).

Because the proclamation of the Gospel was so different in the various church ages, an administration of justice has to take place and all have to acknowledge that which in reality is valid before God. This judgment does not mean condemnation, rather, divine justice is administered by the Lord.

Then the following Scriptures will find their fulfilment, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Cor. 5: 10). “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14: 10-12).

Before this completed righteous group can judge with the Judge and rule with the King they themselves have to stand this judgment and receive their crown. The crowns will be given to the overcomers. The Scripture speaks of the crown of rejoicing (I Th. 2: 19); the crown of righteousness (II Tim. 4: 8); the crown of glory (I Pet. 5: 4); and the crown of life (Js. 1: 12; Rev. 2: 10).

In Daniel 7: 26 we read, “But the judgment shall sit …” This is in accordance with Rev. 20: 4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them …” The overcomers were given the greatest promise of all, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne …” (Rev. 3: 21). During the Millenium they will not only reign with Christ and rule over the nations (Rev. 2: 26-27), they also will take part in the judgment. Paul writes, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? … Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (I Cor. 6: 2–3). In the book of Jude we read about the prophecy of Enoch who spoke about this particular coming of the Lord, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all that are ungodly …” (v. 14+15).

In Mt. 25: 31-32 we also find reference to this coming, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

In Isa. 2: 2-5 this judgment which concerns the nations is also spoken of, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” Almost the same wording can be found in Mic. 4: 1-5.

As touching the people of Israel, it is written, “And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion, and he who remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem” (Isa. 4: 3). At that time when those who survived the great tribulation and persecution, will have to face judgment, there will be a reward for those who during that time of trouble have given their lives because of the testimony of Jesus Christ, “… and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 4). Although these people had no part in the Wedding Supper of the Lamb they will also be in the Millenial reign. They will come back to life before the commencement of the reign of Christ on this earth, and therefore are part of the first resurrection. In this connection we also have to read the twofold application Paul is referring to in II Tim. 4: 1, “I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” Amen.

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 5-6).

At that time, that which the Lord swore by Himself will also be ful-filled: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD I have right-eousness and strength; even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed” (Isa. 45: 23-24).

“And let all the angels of God worship him” (Heb. 1: 6).

“… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father” (Phil 2: 10-11).

At that moment all who believed in Christ will be rejoicing, “… when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (II Th. 1: 10).

With thanksgiving hearts, the redeemed who are then present will join in the praises with the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures and the angels who are before the throne. Together they will cry out like in a great, majestic choir, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev. 5: 12-13).

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Rev. 4: 8).

Anyone who has read carefully will have noted that in this passage the Lord is not spoken of as the Son of Man, but as the Almighty God. The prophet Isaiah has expressed this in the following words, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isa. 25: 9).