What Does the Future Hold?
Any visitor to modern Egypt will be offered copies of one of the ancient judgment scenes. The following image is one such picture, it is called the Papyrus of Hunefer. Hunefer and his wife Nasha lived around 1310 B.C.E.. He was a "Royal Scribe" and "Scribe of Divine Offerings." He was also "Overseer of Royal Cattle," and the steward of King Sety I. Hunefer's high status is reflected in the fine quality of his Book of the Dead, which was specially produced for him. Pictures such as these were to remind the Egyptians that after death there is both a judgment and an afterlife.
This shows a deceased person’s heart being weighed against a feather, the feather of truth The jackal-headed god, Anubis, is supervising this judgment. The ibis-headed god, Thoth, scribe to Osiris and the other gods, is recording the results. If the heart is lighter than the feather, the dead person is allowed to enter the afterlife. If he fails the test he is eaten by the waiting crocodile-headed god, Ammit. The picture suggests that his heart is lighter that a feather but that is from the perspective on men.
The details of such a judgment may seem bizarre to us but the Bible also warns us that there is a judgment to come for all people and there is a heaven and hell.
Old Testament on Judgment
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14
Jesus on Judgment
The prime reason Jesus gave for his entering his world is that people may be saved from this judgment to come, a judgment that we will all fail if left to our own devices - we all need a Saviour and we need to acknowledge out allegience to him by word and action.
“ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36
‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2
“‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for god’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:36
“He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.” John 5:23
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed from death to life.” John 5:24
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” John 12:46-48
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
If I am not personally committed to Christ there is no salvation. Church membership saves nobody, it is only through a real commitment to obey and live for the Lord Jesus that we are promised his salvation.
The Apostles on Judgment
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“For we shall all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10-12
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31
“But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:26-28
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” 2 Peter 3:7
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 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 what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15
The apostles essential message is that we will all fail this judgment unless we have a Saviour who can clothe us with His righteousness so we can enter God’s presence.
BVP
July 2023
