‘And the nations were angry, and your wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to your servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.'
Now God reigns His judgment begins. The nations were angry against God, for they were facing many trials and blamed God rather than themselves, now they will face the anger of God in return, His anger at sin. The time has come for both the dead and the living to be judged.
Along with the righteous the unrighteous have also been raised so that they may face that judgment. ‘The Lord reigns, let the people tremble, he dwells between the cherubim, let the earth be moved' (Psalms 99:1). But it is also the time when His people receive their rewards for faithful service (Rom 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Especially mentioned with honour are the prophets. This must have special reference to the ‘two prophets' who bore faithful witness in Jerusalem (why else are the prophets singled out?). But along with them will be God's people (the saints) and the God-fearers (Acts 10:2; Acts 10:35; Romans 2:14-16), those who before the spread of the Gospel responded to God and believed in Him. And in contrast, those who destroyed the earth will be destroyed.