JUDGMENT
‘The judgment was set, and the books were opened.’
Judgments on particular nations are but types of the last judgment of all. The terrible visitation on Jerusalem, and the final coming of the Judge, are interwoven in the prophetic words of our Lord, as given by the Evangelists. The text may, therefore, be justly applied to the judgment of the last day. As the long Trinity season comes to an end, our thoughts begin to turn to the Advent of the Lord. We have—
I. The Judge.—Many versions read, ‘I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days did sit.’ There is thus an agreement with Revelation 20:4, ‘I saw thrones, and they sat upon them.’ (1) A Judge accompanied with assessors, ‘sitting upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ Are these the ‘thousand thousands’ who ‘ministered to Him’? The saints and angels who shall judge the world? (2) A Judge with the prerogative of Godhead. ‘Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.’ This is the numberless host of God (Genesis 32:3; Deuteronomy 33:2; 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Kings 6:17). (3) A Judge Who shall deal out just judgment. The symbols of the white snow-like garment, of the hair white like wool, indicate and symbolise perfect purity. (4) A Judge who shall destroy His enemies. ‘A fiery stream issued and came forth from Him.’ Fire both purifies and destroys.
II. The Judged.—The context speaks of the judgment of the nations. This shall be a judgment of all men of all nations, of which our Lord informs us more perfectly in the Gospels.
III. The Judgment.—‘The books were opened.’ The books contained the transgressions and wickednesses which men had done. (1) The book of God’s remembrance. (2) The book of man’s remembrance. Memory is a strange storehouse. (On the ‘books’ see Exodus 32:32; Psalms 56:9; Psalms 68:29; Isaiah 4:3; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 20:15.)