The concept of the final judgment is a central theme in Christian eschatology, where the wicked face the ultimate consequences of their actions. The Bible provides numerous references to the terrors that await the wicked at the judgment, emphasizing the gravity and inevitability of divine justice.

Biblical Descriptions of Judgment

The Bible vividly describes the fate of the wicked at the judgment. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks of the separation of the righteous from the wicked, likening it to a shepherd dividing sheep from goats. The wicked are condemned to eternal punishment: "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels'" (Matthew 25:41).

The Book of Revelation provides a dramatic portrayal of the final judgment, where the wicked are judged according to their deeds. Revelation 20:12-15 describes the scene: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books... And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" .

The Nature of the Terrors

The terrors of the wicked at the judgment are multifaceted, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions. The physical aspect is often depicted as eternal separation from God and unending torment. The spiritual terror is the realization of having rejected God's grace and mercy, resulting in eternal alienation from His presence.

The prophet Isaiah captures the dread of the wicked, stating, "The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the godless: 'Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?'" (Isaiah 33:14). This passage underscores the fear and hopelessness that characterize the experience of the wicked at the judgment.

Moral and Theological Implications

The terrors of the wicked at the judgment serve as a sobering reminder of the moral and theological principles that underpin Christian doctrine. The justice of God is portrayed as both righteous and impartial, ensuring that evil does not go unpunished. This underscores the importance of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the means of salvation, as emphasized in John 3:36: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him" .

The judgment of the wicked also highlights the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. It serves as a call to live a life of righteousness and obedience, in accordance with God's commandments. The Apostle Paul warns in Romans 2:5-6, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each one according to his deeds'" .

In conclusion, the terrors of the wicked at the judgment are a profound aspect of biblical teaching, emphasizing the certainty of divine justice and the necessity of aligning one's life with the will of God. The Scriptures call individuals to heed the warnings and embrace the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, thereby escaping the impending judgment and entering into eternal life.Revelation 1:7
Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment
... was but a dark image of the terrors of the ... He delights in mercy, and in judgment
loves to ... God makes such terrible eruptions upon the wicked people that delight ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/jeremy taylor christs advent.htm

The Duty of the People of God to Excite Others to Seek this Rest.
... you to speak; even because you "know the terrors of the ... Some will not tell their
people plainly of their sins ... as if none but the poor and the wicked should be ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter ix the duty of.htm

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity God's Judgment when Christ ...
... and the world's plagues, persecutions, terrors, tortures, even ... must have eternal
good, and the wicked, on the ... not permit the wrongs of his people to continue ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty sixth sunday after trinity.htm

The Wicked Husbandmen.
... Lord unrevealed, and a terror to wicked men unspoken ... Son was rejected by the favoured
people to whom ... were overcome at last by gracious terrors launched against ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xi the wicked husbandmen.htm

The Christian Rejoicing in the views of Death and Judgment.
... public honors on you, and on all his people, before the ... him in the sentence he shall
pass on wicked men and ... The king of terrors is seen no more as such, so ...
/.../chapter xxix the christian rejoicing.htm

That Evil Comes of Sloth, and virtue from Diligence, and that ...
... On this account he left the wicked in the midst of ... one man will often judge a whole
people, when they ... comfort by night, but the delusions of terrors by night ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iii that evil comes.htm

Coming Judgment of the Secrets of Men
... in the midst of so depraved a people without holding ... time; but he is speaking of
the terrors of the law ... he shall pronounce sentence upon the wicked, and execute ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/coming judgment of the secrets.htm

Habakkuk
... way to take vengeance upon the enemies of His people, as He ... of the exodus, when He
came in the terrors of the ... do, then, as in i.12-17, the wicked oppressor is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/habakkuk.htm

Of the Prophecies of the Old Testament in their visible ...
... on the cross at the hands of that same people of the ... the example of good men, bear
with the wicked, love all ... the devil tempts, but also by the terrors of insults ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 27 of the prophecies of.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... invincible, and death be "the king of terrors" (Job 18 ... God, and they shall be my
people." Now, thus ... were"enemies in [their] mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

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