The Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, has been given total authority by His Father to judge all nations and their inhabitants.
Such authority was introduced in the Old Testament approximately 700 years before the rightful Judge was born.
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse…The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge…” Isaiah 11:1-2
Jesse was the father of David.
The ‘Rod from the stem of Jesse’ is Jesus Christ.
And recall Jesus’ proclamation in the final chapter of the Bible:
“I am the Root and the Offspring of David…” Revelation 22:16b
Isaiah continues by describing the way in which the ‘stem of Jesse’ will judge.
“…and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:3-4
The benchmark by which Christ will judge the earth and its inhabitants is the immutable righteousness of God established 1445 years before His earthly birth.
There will be no popular votes or Supreme Court interpretations; all judgment will be done in accordance with God’s standard of righteousness.
The phrase ‘rod of his mouth’ will become reality when Christ returns to judge the earth.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19:11, 15
The gospel according to John confirmed the truth relative to the Son having total authority to execute judgment on the earth.
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son…because He is (also) the Son of Man” John 5:22, 27b
In the same passage Jesus reaffirmed that His judgment would be according to God’s immutable standard of righteousness.
“I can of Myself do nothing…My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30
The gospel according to Matthew likewise describes the judgment of the nations at the return of Christ.
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory…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
The criterion for this judgment is how the inhabitants of the nations treated God’s chosen during Christ’s absence after His ascension to His Father.
Those who showed compassion for God’s Chosen will hear the wonderful words of the judgment of righteousness.
However, those who ignored the suffering and persecution of Christ’s brethren will hear words of condemnation.
After Christ’s ascension and the birth of the Church, Peter preached with great boldness the truth of the judicial authority given to Christ.
“And He (Christ) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42
After Saul became Paul he caused great conflict as he mightily preached the Judgeship of Christ to anyone who would give ear.
In his famous address to the men of Athens who were curious of his teachings, Paul said:
“…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 17:31
Therefore, if anyone claims to believe the Bible, they must agree that the resurrected Jesus Christ will return to judge the earth and all its inhabitants at the appointed day.