What a beautiful promise this is – that our God shall come to gather His own to Himself. Of course, these verses are talking about Jesus Christ gathering His saints together. Yes, note that Jesus is called “God” in these verses. It will be all-inclusive, the “saints” that are in Heaven and the “saints” that are on earth – the ones still living. Although He has not come to do this yet – He will.

Notice, also, that it is a time when He will judge “His people.” This must happen before He will judge the world. We know that this is Christ because “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22).

The Bible makes it clear that God will judge His people before He judges the unbelievers – which occurs later at the Great White Throne Judgment. Believers are not judged at the same time as unbelievers, and the judgment of believers is not to determine salvation but rewards. I Peter 4:17 says: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

The purpose of the judgment of believers is seen in II Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” The reason that salvation is not an issue at this judgment is twofold: first, they are called “saints” – unbelievers (the unsaved) are never called saints in the Bible.

Secondly, the ones that are gathered are “those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Of course, the Sacrifice referred to here is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who has “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Several times in the Bible Jesus is referred to as a “sacrifice” for us as in Ephesians 5:2: “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” The “covenant” made is entered into by faith in what He promised: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

In a way, the time referred to in the text verse also describes the Second Coming. The “fire” refers to His destruction of the armies gathered together to fight with Him at Armageddon, and the “saints” refers to those who died in the faith during the Tribulation and those saints still alive on earth.

Dear reader, I would like to think that you are among the redeemed today. If not, would you seriously think about getting saved today so that you can face the right judgment?