1. One of the first gospel illustrations that ever made a real impression upon my young heart was a simple story which I heard a preacher tell when I was less than nine years old.
It was of pioneers who were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow. One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it.
As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, "Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?" The leader replied, "My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!"
What a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ!
"On Him Almighty vengeance fell, Which would have sunk a world to hell. He bore it for a chosen race, And thus becomes our Hiding Place.“
The fires of God's judgment burned themselves out on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are now standing where the fire has been.
H.A. Ironside, Illustrations of Bible Truth, Moody Press, 1945, pp

2. It Will Come!!!
We are put here for a purpose, and every work will be brought into judgment – (Eccl. 12:7,13,14a)
All Nations WILL appear, Jesus WILL sit on His throne – (Mat 25:31-46)
After death – (Hebrews 9:27)
As a thief, the last day, – (2 Peter 3:1-14)
An appointed day – (Acts 17:30,31)
This slide onward are from Don Martin’s material, BibleTruths.net, with a few minor graphics and presentation changes.
Ecc 12:7-14 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. (8) "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." (9) And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. (10) The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. (12) And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. (13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (14) For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
(Mat 25:31-46 NKJV) "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. {32} "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…{46} "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
(2 Pet 3:7-10 NKJV) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. …{10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
(Acts 17:30-31 NKJV) "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, {31} "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."

3. It Will Be Inescapable!!!
All will hear his voice and come forth – (John 5: 28,29)
All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ – (2 Corinthians 5: 10)
Each one will give an account – (Romans 14: 10-12)
Those who neglect salvation will NOT escape! – (Hebrews 2: 3)
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.
(Joh 5:28-29)
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.
(2Co 5:10)
…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD."
(Rom 14:10-11)
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation…” Heb. 2.3

4. Consider: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
Mat 25: "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. (32) 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. (33) And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. …
(46) And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Mar 9: If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— (44) where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.' (45) And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— (46) where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.' (47) And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— (48) where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.'
Consider: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48

5. Boldness in the Day of Judgment

6. Boldness in the Day of Judgment
“Boldness” is “confidence,” “cheerfulness,” and “courage” (W.E. Vine). Effectual love is always working and active (Gal. 5: 6).
Gal 5:6-7 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (7) You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Comments: Biblical love causes one to obey (cp. Jas. 2: “by works a man is justified and not by faith only”
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 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,
(2Th 1:7-9)
Jesus is the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb. 5: 8, 9).
1Jn_5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
1Jn_5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
2Jn_1:6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

7. Boldness in the Day of Judgment
Biblical love results in two states:
A state of personal relationship with God.
A consequent state of trust and fellowship with God (I John 1: 7-9).
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
(1Jn 1:3)
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1Jn 1:7-9)

8. Boldness in the Day of Judgment
We can effect this “boldness” by first developing love:
“19: We love him, because he first loved us” (I John 4).
Comments: The biblical comparison is father/son relationship (2 Cor. 6: 18).

9. Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By denying self – Luke 9: 23.
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
(Luk 9:23)

10. By possessing knowledge – Ephesians 5: 17.
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By possessing knowledge – Ephesians 5: 17.
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
(Eph 5:17)

11. By being unlike the world – Romans 12: 1, 2.
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By being unlike the world – Romans 12: 1, 2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…
, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(Rom 12:1-2)

12. By ministering to others – Matthew 25: 31-46.
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By ministering to others – Matthew 25:
"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. 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.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "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: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
(Mat 25:31-46)

13. By being virtuous– 2 Peter 1: 5-10, 11.
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By being virtuous– 2 Peter 1: 5-10, 11.
2Pe 1:5-11 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, (6) to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, (7) to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (8) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (10) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
(11) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

14. By abounding in the work of the Lord – I Corinthians 15: 58.
Boldness in the Day of Judgment
By abounding in the work of the Lord – I Corinthians 15: 58.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

15. Boldness in the Day of Judgment
Conclusion:
How do you view the Judgment Day, is it a time of release, vindication, and the beginning of joy and bliss…
or a time of dread, fear, and torment?
Prepare now…love God and obey Him.