Does the Bible Tell Us When Judgement Day Will Happen?

Judgement Day. The name can bring anyone to a sudden stop, as they wonder what will happen that day. Will it look like how the movies portray it, with fire and brimstone all around us as we stand before the throne of God? Or will it be a quick jolt to a throne room of all white as we stand before the Lamb to see if our names are present in His Book of Life?

Some would rather not think about that fast-approaching day, deciding to concentrate instead on what they are doing now. But it is important that we are fully aware and prepared for what Judgement Day will bring so we can identify whether we are on the godly path or not.

The best source to learn about Judgement Day is the only source we should live by – the Bible. The book of Revelation captures all that is set to transpire on that fateful day, but other verses in the Bible provide helpful reminders to understand the seriousness of Judgement Day and how we need to be ready for it.

This study is not for the timid or faint-hearted, but for those who want to make sure when this day arrives, they won’t be taken by surprise. Instead, they will be in peaceful anticipation of seeing our Lord face to face.

What Is Judgement Day?

Judgement Day is considered the day when each of us will stand before the throne of God and account for the thoughts and actions we did in our lives on earth. Acts 17:31 defines Judgement Day as the following: “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.”

For those who chose to live life accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, directing their lives in worship to Him, the path ahead is one of living eternal life in heaven with God.

For those who chose to live life pursuing their own desires and refusing Jesus, worshipping society instead, the path ahead is one to the pits of hell and eternal damnation, separated forever from the One who loved you the most. It is a fate sometimes glamorized in our world today, but it’s not somewhere you will be thankful to be.

Judgement Day is to occur around the same time as the Rapture, when believers of Christ are lifted up to heaven to meet Jesus during the end-times, and the Battle of Armageddon, the final battle of good vs. evil where Jesus leads good to defeat evil and bring a new earth, a new Jerusalem, into existence.

Does the Bible Tell Us When Judgement Day Will Happen?

The short answer is no, the Bible doesn’t give us an exact time for when Judgement Day will occur. Jesus says in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” This doesn’t mean Jesus will be taken by surprise when that day happens, but that He awaits in heaven for God to say it is time for Him to bring us home.

However, the book of Revelation gives us distinct description of what we can expect to happen when Judgement Day begins. John the apostle, banished to the Isle of Patmos, writes about the revelation he was given from an angel of God. In it, he sees the events that will happen in the end: the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, the Bowls of Wrath, and beasts emerging from all areas of the earth.

Written for the seven churches in Asia at the time, John’s writing was originally to discuss the persecution happening to Christians at the hands of Roman emperor Nero. Worship of Caesar was being imposed brutally on everyone, especially Christians, so John’s writings were to encourage them to stand firm in their faith, for a better place was ahead for them.  

Although a specific date is not given for when Judgement Day occurs, the events shared in Revelation are clues for Christians to know when we are getting closer to Jesus’ return. The clues may appear abstract to some readers, but what they do share are how mindsets toward God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will change for some people, even Christians, and that we will be tempted to yield to the antichrist. But we must stand firm against this pressure and remember we are not alone in the fight.

Bible Verses about Judgement Day

The book of Revelation is not the only book in the Bible to have verses about Judgement Day. There are several spread out to guide readers toward what the day signifies and how to prepare for it. Here are some to keep in mind as we face the days ahead:

1 Corinthians 4:5: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Matthew 12:36: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”

Psalm 96:13: “For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.”

1 Peter 4:17: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Why Is This Important for Us to Know?

We need to remember, whether we are in happier days or in trials, that Judgement Day could happen at some point in our lives. We need to remember that it can happen at a moment’s notice and then we will be before God, explaining the choices we made in this life.

The importance of living with this knowledge is so that we make decisions every day that reflect what we believe of God and what Jesus did on the cross for us. For some, the biggest decision they can make today is accepting that Jesus died so we could be freed from sin and reunited with God. The second you make this life-changing decision, what is to happen in the future, especially on Judgement Day, will only make you thankful that you know where you are going.

Even if you have already accepted Jesus as your Savior, you can still make decisions today that will impact what you hear from God on Judgement Day. Did you make choices today that offered God’s love to people who need it? Did you make choices today that embodied how we should act as Christians, no matter the circumstances? What you do today for God will impact what you experience on that monumental day coming soon.

What Will You Do?

Judgement Day has had its share of pop culture references and fire-and-brimstone messages, but the reality is that there will be a day where we will be held accountable for what we did with the free will God gave us.

If we reject Jesus’s offering of sacrifice, we will find ourselves facing a life separated from God and being held hostage by the deadly whims of Satan himself. If we accept Jesus’s sacrifice and experience spiritual transformation to become followers of Christ, we will find our path leads to spending eternity with God in heaven.

So, the choice is yours for how Judgement Day will be for you. It won’t be what you see society paint it as, but a day that will define the rest of your existence.

Related articles
What Is the Rapture and Is it Biblical?
What Are "Signs and Wonders" of the End Times?
How Can We Recognize the Antichrist?

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Blair Parke is a freelance writer for BibleStudyTools.com and freelance book editor who wrote her first book, "Empty Hands Made Full," in 2021 about her journey through infertility with her husband. She previously worked for eight years with Xulon Press as an editor. A graduate of Stetson University with a bachelor's in communications, Blair previously worked as a writer/editor for several local magazines in the Central Florida area, including Celebration Independent and Lake Magazine and currently writes for the Southwest Orlando Bulletin. She's usually found with a book in her hand or enjoying quality time with her husband Jeremy and dog Molly. You can order her book at Christian Author Bookstore - Xulon Press Publishing and visit her website at Parkeplaceediting.