What will happen when the Lord returns? That depends on whom you ask. We are not looking for men's answers but for what God's word tells us. Christ's second coming plays an important part in any discussion regarding God's plan for man's redemption.

First, there will be a judgment, and all men will have a day of accounting. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." {Acts 17:30,31} Who is the man ordained by God to judge the world? Jesus Christ whom He raised from the dead.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." {2 Corinthians 5:10} Some teach that evil people will be judged, either by not being raised from the grave, or by being raised and then quickly destroyed forever. This does not square with the scriptures. "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." {John 5:28,29} All men will come forth from their graves, because all men must be judged.

Matthew's gospel provides a glimpse into the judgment scene. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." {Matthew 25:31,32} What determines which are sheep and which are goats?

"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." {Matthew 25:33-36} Of course, the righteous will ask when they performed these services for the Lord. His answer reveals much about one of the things -- our works -- by which we will be judged. Jesus said: "as much as you did it for others -- you did it for Me."

What about the goats on the left hand? "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." {Matthew 25:41} Of course, these don't remember ever mistreating the Lord. Again, He tells them that when they had opportunity to help others, and failed to do so, they also mistreated Him. This is an excellent commentary on Galatians 6:9,10. What we do -- or don't do -- will determine where we spend eternity.

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." {2 Thessalonians 1:8,9} God's word is the standard by which we will be judged (John 12:48; Romans 2:16; Revelation 20:12). That would make knowledge of the standard one of life's most important issues. Will we be able to plead ignorance? Sadly, many will say they were unaware of God's requirements. Others will claim to have done many good works in His name. Both have the same problem- -- they lack truth to back their arguments. We all need to heed the words of Amos, the prophet of old -- O prepare to meet thy God. Are you prepared for judgment day?