Who Should Decide? by Raymond F. McNair

The world has lost its way! It badly needs reliable criteria for judging what is right and wrong! The Bible alone gives us an infallible standard for discerning truth from error!

God’s Word reveals that His people are now being trained to become wise and understanding JUDGES in the wonderful World Tomorrow (Rev. 5:10; 20:4-6). But we must first learn how to live righteously, so that we will know how to judge righteously in the soon-coming Kingdom of God (2 Sam. 23:3)!

A widely publicized court case in Los Angeles in June 2005 underscored what many believed to be a serious problem in America's “criminal justice system.” The vast majority who avidly followed this unusual trial were shocked to see that the accused person (a well-known celebrity) was found “not guilty” when the facts in the case clearly indicated that a "guilty" verdict—on at least some of the charges—would have been justified.

Some observers were so incensed—at seeing what they believed to have been a serious miscarriage of justice by the jury's unanimous decision—that they referred to the famous “defendant” who had been judged “not guilty” as the “Teflon Molester”!

A few years earlier, another case involved a well-known actor—who was charged with the murder of his wife—and was found “not guilty.” Again, the majority of those who followed this trial believed that the facts indicated that a “guilty verdict’ would have been proper in this case. Many brethren will also recall the apparent miscarriages of justice that occurred during the trials of numerous other celebrities, who were judged to be not guilty, even though the facts and circumstantial evidence in those cases appeared to many to prove that the accused were in fact guilty of the crimes of which they were charged.

Some years ago a celebrity who had been charged with committing a double murder was found “not guilty” in the criminal case brought against him. Later, however, this same defendant was found “guilty” when tried on a “felony charge.” Why was it that at two different trials, the same basic facts were presented to each jury, yet one jury found him “guilty,” while the other found him “not guilty”? Millions of Americans were puzzled when the accused person in this criminal case was found not guilty of the commission of double murder; but a later trial by a different jury found him “guilty” of the same charge which had been brought against him in this gruesome murder.

“How could this occur?” Yes, how could one jury not convict a man charged with double murder in a criminal case, while a later jury found the same man guilty of murder on a felony charge—yet both juries seemingly had access to the same facts.

Many people are very disillusioned with a criminal justice system which often allows a wealthy, famous, guilty celebrity, with a high-powered attorney, to get off “Scott free,” while in all-too-many cases a relatively unknown, innocent “nobody,” having little or no money to pay for legal fees, is often wrongly convicted of a crime or a felony. In all-too-many instances, evidence, such as DNA test results, later comes to light proving the person who had been charged with the crime was totally innocent!

Such miscarriages of justice should not surprise anyone who is truly familiar with the Word of God. Nearly 3000 years ago, wise King Solomon said, “If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of JUSTICE and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter” (Eccl. 5:8). The Authorized Version says that if one sees “the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of JUDGMENT and JUSTICE in a province, marvel not at the matter: for HE [God] that is higher than the highest [human judge]...and there be HIGHER than they.” Meaning? When “judgment and justice” are perverted, there is a HIGHER POWER, God, who sees this perversion of justice, and will do whatever He determines is proper to punish those who pervert justice.

Jesus Christ said He did not come to “judge the world” at His First Coming, but His mission was to come as mankind's Savior, and “build [His] Church,” through which God would offer salvation to those who were to be called into His Church during this N.T. Church Age (Matt. 16:18). Those who accept Jesus as Savior, obey God, and endure to the end, will be granted immortality at His Second Coming (1 Cor. 15:50-58), which will be the “First Resurrection” (Rev. 20:4-6). Others will later rise up in the “Second Resurrection” (vv. 11-15; Dan. 12:2-3).

But with salvation being granted to us now, we are also admonished to make our salvation secure by watchful prayer and obedience to God's Word. We are also told, “For the time has come for JUDGMENT to begin at the HOUSE OF GOD” (1 Pet. 4:17). New Testament Christians comprise the “first-fruits” of those who are converted by receiving salvation during this New Testament Church Age. Jesus Christ and His apostles all upheld God's law, including the Ten Commandments; and as Acts 15 reveals, many of God's statutes and judgments are also upheld in the New Testament Scriptures.

Jesus put it very well when He said, “Do not JUDGE according to APPEARANCE, but JUDGE with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). All of us must be careful not to fall into the same pitfall as the scribes and Pharisees of Christ's Day. Jesus Christ told them, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matt. 23:23).

When the Hebrew Prophet Samuel thought God would choose one of Jesse's tall, handsome sons, God told Samuel: “Do not look at his APPEARANCE or at the HEIGHT of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the OUTWARD APPEARANCE, but the LORD looks at the HEART” (1 Sam. 16:7).

The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the Messiah—who will rule all the earth during the Millennium, judging the people of the world: “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding...the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.... 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” (Isa. 11:2-4). It is quite natural for humans to judge by “appearances,” giving credence to “circumstantial evidence,” while neglecting the anomalies and misleading circumstances that often mislead us when it comes to judging others and their actions. Many professing Christians are all too quick to be JUDGE, JURY, and HANGMAN!

That is why Jesus Christ also said, “JUDGE not, and you shall not be judged. CONDEMN not, and you shall not be condemned. FORGIVE, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Some wrongly assume that Christ told His followers it was wrong to “Judge” anything or anyone. That is not what Jesus meant, for—as we noted earlier—Christ also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT” (John 7:24)! God wants us to learn to judge many things, making certain we judge according to “righteous judgment”! That is why the judges in ancient Israel were commanded to “make diligent inquiry” into accusations or other controversial matters that would affect the outcome of any legal case they were judging (Deut. 19:18).

It is so easy to run off “half cocked,” and draw erroneous conclusions before making a “diligent inquiry,” to get all the facts before making any decision as to the guilt or innocence of any person accused of a crime: “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Prov. 18:13). It is easy to jump to hasty conclusions, before getting the facts. Anyone who wants to “judge righteously” must learn to make diligent inquiry, then after getting all pertinent facts, will be able to make a much wiser judgments regarding any important matter!

Here are a few interesting examples that will help to illustrate how misleading “appearances” can be when judging a situation:

[1] A big pig: A young man was driving his convertible along a narrow country road one afternoon—when suddenly around the curve came a woman driver in a red convertible from the opposite direction. After careening dangerously around the curve, she was barely able to get her car under control and back on her side of the road before whizzing past the startled young man. As she sped past him she looked at him and yelled “PIG!”

The young man yelled back some profanity, and speeded up so he could turn around quickly to catch up with the woman driver to give her a piece of his mind. Just as he got around the corner, he crashed into a huge PIG in the middle of the road. He then realized the woman was not calling him a pig, but was trying to warn him of a BIG PIG just around the corner. Of course, the young man had completely misjudged both her actions and the word “pig” which she had yelled out as a warning. Had he not misjudged what she said, and if he had not become emotional, he would probably not have wrecked his new car! He judged too quickly, too emotionally—without first getting the facts!

[2] A misunderstanding between neighbors: My father and a neighbor once almost got into a fight—all because of a total misunderstanding. A neighbor was driving his cattle across the road and into his own hay field, where his cattle were not normally allowed to graze. My father heard the neighbor hollering and thought he was trying to prevent the cows entering into that particular field, where they were not normally permitted to graze. But my father—thinking his neighbor wanted to turn his cattle around and not let them destroy his hay field—got in front of his neighbor’s animals waving his arms, hollering, and throwing things at the cattle to turn them around.

But when the neighbor saw this, he became furious, began cursing and throwing rocks (apparently at my father) and as a result, an ugly scene quickly followed. It was very difficult for my father to convince his neighbor, who was known to be hot-tempered, that he had misunderstood my father's intentions. My father was trying to help turn his cattle around before they destroyed his neighbor’s field. Both this neighbor and my father had misjudged the situation, but both finally came to understand the real truth of the matter.

[3] A hitchhiker and a bag of money: A young HITCHHIKER asked a motorist who had given him a ride to let him off on the main street of town. But, as he waved good-by to the motorist and stepped up onto the curb, a robber came running around the corner of the buildings located on the street corner and ran into the hitchhiker, knocking the startled youth to the pavement.

As he got to his feet, three or four excited people ran up to him, grabbing him angrily and accusing him of just having robbed the local drug store. They were some distance behind the robber whom they were chasing when they rounded the corner and nabbed the young hitchhiker, thinking he was the robber! Unfortunately, when the robber had run into the hitchhiker, knocking him down, the nervous thief ran off—leaving a paper bag full of money lying at the feet of the dazed hitchhiker.

Circumstantial evidence made this robbery look like a “closed case.” Wasn't the young man with the bag of money nearby the masked robber who had just robbed the local drug store? How could the young hitchhiker prove his innocence? How could he prove that ”circumstantial evidence” was very misleading—that, in fact, he was not the robber, but was totally innocent of the crime with which he was now being charged?

Fortunately, the hitchhiker was able to remember the license plate number of the car in which he had been riding, having observed it as the driver drove off. Furthermore, in court, he was able to prove that he had been in the car with its driver after 6:00 pm—for both he and the driver had heard the beginning of the evening newscast, and had briefly commented on it. The evening news was aired exactly at 6:00 p.m., but it was proven that the robbery occurred at 5:50 p.m.—over ten minutes before the hitchhiker was let out of the car! After the hitchhiker had later contacted the driver of the car, he testified in court to the truth of the young man's statements, thus proving that the hitchhiker could not possibly have been the robber of the store.

[4] Misjudging a non-smoker: Here is another example of how people often misjudge others by looking at “circumstantial evidence.” As a young minister, I was visiting a “prospective member” who wished to discuss with me whether or not smoking was a sin. I explained that, although there is no “thou-shalt-not-smoke” command in the Bible, nonetheless, biblical principles reveal that God would not want His Spirit-filled children to “defile their bodies” which are the temples of God's Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Further, there is much scientific evidence proving that smoking is a bad habit, which contributes toward heart and lung diseases and shortens the lives of those who smoke.

While talking to this prospective member about the evils of smoking, and suggesting he immediately attempt to overcome this bad habit, I mentioned that, the sooner he took the first step in breaking this habit, the better off he would be. Therefore, I suggested that he might wish to hand me his cigarettes—lest he not have the courage to destroy them himself—and I assured him I would be happy to throw them away for him. He then handed me his cigarettes, which I put in the breast pocket of my jacket, with the intention of later disposing them.

Unfortunately, when I was later visiting with either a church member or another prospective member, I reached into my pocket to get a small Bible, only to discover that I had pulled out the pack of cigarettes in front of the people I was visiting! Being somewhat embarrassed, I quickly explained how I had come to possess the cigarettes, and that I had not yet been able to dispose them. Further, I mentioned that I had never smoked in my life, and certainly had no intention of either beginning the bad habit, nor did I intend to in any way use the cigarettes. I think they were quite convinced of my sincerity.

[5] Misjudging a woman’s handshake: Here is a final example of misjudging in the Church. My wife related to me that before we were married, an interesting example of misjudging happened to her. She felt a certain “married young man” seemed somewhat obnoxious. Realizing her aversion toward this person, she prayed about it and then determined to go out of her way to be kind to him. The following Sabbath, to show her genuine friendliness toward him, she greeted him with a warm “Hello!” while clasping his hand between her hands.

Later, however, he informed her minister that she had made a pass at him—which was certainly not the case! Some time later, when the Pastor of the Church corrected her for her alleged “misconduct” she explained the situation, yet she felt the whole thing was completely ludicrous! [Note Sadly, many in God’s Church have experienced similar examples where one member had totally misjudged another person about one thing or the other.]

As a young minister of Jesus Christ, I began to learn the dangers of either the brethren or of fellow ministers judging by circumstantial evidence, rather than learning to first get all the pertinent facts, thus avoiding the error of drawing a hasty, unfounded conclusion. Here is the earliest example I recall of being wrongly accused by a minister, over fifty years ago, who had listened to brethren who brought up a false report about me. This minister then took this false report to Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, and I was then asked to travel over 1000 miles to our Headquarters in Pasadena to discuss this “charge” against me. I had not the slightest idea of what I was being accused before being called to appear before Mr. Armstrong in order to give my side of the story. I don't recall having any fear, but I did wonder what it was all about.

When I spoke to Mr. Armstrong in his office in Pasadena, he was very careful to first get the facts from me, as to what had happened; I could see at the time that he was quite open-minded, and appeared very sympathetic to me after I had related the truth concerning the matter. The accusation against me was based on the fact that I had been about 45 minutes late in arriving at the hall where I was to conduct the Church’s annual Passover service. After explaining to Mr. Armstrong that I had to repair a flat tire en route to the hall where the Passover was to be observed, he warmed up and informed me that he did not believe I had done anything wrong; and from that day forward, until his death, thirty years later, he entrusted me with greater ministerial responsibilities.

I later spoke to the minister who had reported my “problem” to Mr. Armstrong without first getting the facts, and I informed him that if such a thing ever happened again, I would immediately call Mr. Armstrong and clear it up—hopefully without having to take the time, expense and effort of making a long trip to Headquarters to answer any baseless accusations. Clearly my superior (the minister then over me) had not made a “diligent enquiry” into the matter, and had not so much as even discussed the matter with me before taking it to Headquarters. I am sure that experience taught him a valuable lesson of first getting the facts before “receiving an accusation” against an elder in God's Church: “Do not receive an accusation against an ELDER except from two or three witnesses”

The preceding examples show that circumstantial evidence often gives a false impression which, in turn, frequently leads to a miscarriage of justice, and can cause one person to wrongly judge another.

Let us never forget that thousands, yes millions, of innocent victims have been convicted of crimes they did not commit. Multitudes have lost their fortunes, their liberties, or their lives—simply because we humans often do not get the facts and “judge righteous judgment.” Instead, countless victims have been misjudged by hearsay, or by purely “circumstantial evidence.” All-too-often the world judges by appearances—by circumstantial evidence. But our heavenly Father expects us to make it a habit of judging righteously, by first getting all necessary facts before making any important judgments regarding others. We, like Christ, must never judge by the “sight of our eyes” or by the “hearing of our ears” (Isa. 11:3-4).

God's Word is very clear in its revelation of the standard by which judges should judge all cases brought before them. After God had called about 2,500,000 Israelites out of Egypt, He gave them precise instructions—a yardstick to use in making all their judgments. The LORD chose Moses, a truly God-fearing man, to instruct them in this important matter.

What kind of qualifications must judges have? Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, told Moses that he should “select from all people ABLE MEN, such as FEAR GOD, men of TRUTH, hating COVETOUSNESS; and place such over them to be rulers [judges] over thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you [Moses, their 'chief judge'] but every small matter they themselves shall judge” (Exod. 18:21-23).

“So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said” (v. 24). Stephen, the first New Testament martyr says, “This Moses whom [the Israelites] rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a RULER and a deliverer...” (Acts. 7:35).

God inspired Moses to write down many of' the judgments of God in the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy—judgments by which the Israelites were to judge those legal cases that arose in Israel (Exod. 21; 22; 23). Moses then wrote those judgments down in the “Book of the Law.” “And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the JUDGMENTS. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words, which the LORD has said we will do’” (24:1-18).

Moses' “Book of the Law” also contained the CENTERPIECE of God's judicial system—-the TEN COMMANDMENTS (Exod. 20 and Deut. 5), which held the central position among all of God’s laws, statutes, judgments, etc. God also told Moses to inform the Israelites that when they later set up a KING to rule over them, their KING should “write for himself a copy of THIS LAW in a BOOK.... And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes” (Deut. 17:18-19). The king, the chief civil leader/judge in Israel, was to become familiar with God's laws, statutes and JUDGMENTS, making certain that the judges in Israel used them as their standard for judging.

Here is another important principle in judging: “For any kind of trespass...both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn” was to pay whatever penalty the judges imposed (Exod. 22:9). Other “judgments” of God are mentioned in Leviticus 19. God says, “You shall do no INJUSTICE in judgment. You shall not be PARTIAL to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, but in RIGHTEOUSNESS you shall JUDGE your neighbor” (v. 15).

Not long before Moses' death he reminded the Israelites of some of the important divine principles in regard to JUDGING, which he had taught the Israelites forty years previously: “So I took the HEADS of your tribes, WISE and KNOWLEDGEABLE, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands...hundreds...fifties...tens, and officers among your tribes. And I charged your JUDGES at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brethren, and JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY between a man and his brother or the STRANGER who is with you. You shall not show PARTIALITY in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the JUDGMENT IS GOD'S” (Deut. 1:15-17)!

Later, Moses instructed the Israelites further in what they were to do when they inherited the Promised Land: “You shall appoint JUDGES and officers in all your gates...and they shall JUDGE the people with JUST JUDGMENT. You shall not PERVERT JUSTICE; you shall not show PARTIALITY, nor take a BRIBE, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the WISE and TWISTS the words of the RIGHTEOUS. You shall follow what is altogether JUST, that you may live and inherit the land which...God is giving you” (Deut. 16:18-20).

Deuteronomy 17 explains other judgments of God: “If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge.. matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses, and you shall come to the PRIESTS, the LEVITES, and to the JUDGE there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment. You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the LORD chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you. According to the sentence of the LAW in which they instruct you, according to the JUDGMENT which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you” (vv. 8-11).

How should judges handle false accusations? “If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the PRIESTS and the JUDGES who serve in those days. And the JUDGES shall make DILIGENT INQUIRY, and if the witness is a. false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil person from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter...not again commit such evil among you” (Deut. 19:16-20).

The Prophet Moses also expressed another important principle: “If there is a dispute between men, and they come to COURT, that the judges may judge them,” said Moses, the judges were to “justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,” and the wicked was to receive some kind of punishment, such as a “whipping,” but God says the judges who carried out the punishment should not punish too harshly (Deut. 25:1-2)!

If the judges of the nations feared God, and they judged according to His laws, statutes and judgments as given in the Bible, then crime could be reduced to a mere fraction of what it is today. Many criminals who commit the majority of crimes are never convicted, and many who are convicted don't have to pay a heavy price for their heinous crimes; far too many convicted criminals get “off the hook” by serving only a small portion of their full sentence. Many are released from prison early—only to commit more crimes.

Wise old King Solomon understood an important principle in dealing with those who commit crimes: “Because sentence against an EVIL WORK is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl. 8:11). Many criminals realize they can get away with committing felonies or gruesome crimes, knowing that if they are caught, they may never be convicted. Why is this so? Simply because if they are convicted, they will probably serve very little time in prison as a punishment for their loathsome crimes against God and man!

After the death of King David, God chose Solomon to succeed his father as King over all Israel. When Solomon began his reign he “loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David,” but he later veered off into numerous excesses and outright idolatry (1 Kings 3:3; 11:1-25). At first, however, he was humble, praying to God for inspiration and guidance. Solomon said, “‘You [LORD] have shown great mercy to your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You.... You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in....

“Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to JUDGE Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to JUDGE this great people...?’” (1 Kings 3:6-9). God then promised, ‘“I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there shall not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you’” (v. 12). The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contains a great deal of that wisdom, which God gave King Solomon.

Here is an example of Solomon's wisdom: Two women came to King Solomon, each claiming that she was the mother of a particular child. In fact, one mother had lain over her own baby while sleeping; she then arose and put her dead baby in the place of another woman's live baby, while taking the live baby as her own child. So when the two women came to Solomon, and both claimed to be the true “mother” of the live child, Solomon then said, ‘“Bring me a sword.’ So they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, ‘Divide the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other.’ Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king.... '0 my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!’

“But the other said, ‘Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.’ So the king answered and said, ‘Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.’ And all Israel heard of the JUDGMENT which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer JUSTICE” (1 Kings 3:16-28). King Solomon also said, “It is not good to show PARTIALITY in JUDGMENT”(Prov. 24:23).

The Bible explains this deplorable situation, in which the courts of the land—which are supposed to be places where justice prevails—often do not deliver true justice to those who are wrongly accused of terrible crimes. Israel's King Solomon was the wisest human who ever lived. He mentioned that injustice often prevails in the “corridors of power” such as the courts of this world. Solomon says, “Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of JUDGMENT, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there” (Eccl. 3:16). Our courts ought to be places where JUDGMENT and RIGHTEOUSNESS prevail! But do they really?

The Apostle James describes the injustices that often exist in the courts of this world: “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the KINGDOM which He promised to those who love Him? ...Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the COURTS?” (James 2:5-6).

Our Savior Jesus Christ was well aware of such injustice in the courts when He stated, “There was in a certain city a JUDGE who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' Then the Lord said, 'Hear what the UNJUST JUDGE said. And shall God not avenge His own ELECT who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?’” (Luke 18:2-7).

Here is another example of a deplorable miscarriage of justice found in 1 Kings 21. Israel's wicked King Ahab coveted the vineyard of “Naboth the Jezreelite” and, through the urging of his evil wife Jezebel, they contrived to get vile men to bring a trumped-up false accusation against Naboth, which would result in him being unjustly accused and “stoned to death.” “And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him [Naboth]; and the scoundrels witnessed against him...in the presence of the people, saying, 'Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!' Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died” (vv. 1-13). “And...when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead [she] said to Ahab, 'Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth...which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead’” (v. 15).

What is the greatest injustice ever suffered by any human? Although the Bible contains many examples of miscarriages of justice, the most egregious of all time was the trumped-up accusations against our Savior, Jesus Christ—which resulted in Him being unjustly arrested, judged, convicted, and crucified by both the Jewish and Roman courts, as explained in the last chapters of the four N.T. Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

On the Day of Pentecost, in 31 AD, the Apostle Peter extolled Christ's exemplary life and His many accomplishments: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem...heed my voice...[and] hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.... Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:14, 22-24).

And in about 41 AD, Peter gave the Gentile centurion Cornelius—and his household—the following account of Jesus' life and of His many good deeds. Peter said, “‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted of Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we [Christ's 12 apostles] are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly...to witnesses chosen before God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead’” (Acts 10:34-41).

The Four Gospels make it very clear that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, as the Lamb of God, and spent His entire three-and-a-half-year ministry doing good: healing thousands of sick folks, raising the dead, casting out devils and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Yet, in spite of His blameless life, and despite His many good deeds toward both Jews and Gentiles whom He met, He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of His twelve intimate disciples, was apprehended by the Jews, judged by their courts, then turned over to the Roman governor, who gave the order to crucify Jesus.

We are informed that “all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the [Roman] governor” (Matt. 27:1-2). “Now Jesus stood before the governor.... And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.... For he [Pilate] knew that because of envy they [the Jews] had delivered Him” to Pilate's custody (vv. 11-12, 18).

The Jews then cried out, ‘“Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying ‘Let Him be Crucified!”’ (vv. 22-23). Pilate then told the Jews, ‘“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to Him; and indeed nothing worthy of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him’” (Mark. 23:14-16).

But the Jews cried out all the more for Pilate to crucify Jesus, prompting this weak Roman governor to cave in to their demand, and even though he knew Christ was not guilty of any wrongdoing, He gave the order to crucify this innocent man. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all make it clear that both the Jewish religious court and the Roman court in Jerusalem shared in the guilt of murdering an innocent man, the very Son of God! The most terrible miscarriage of justice ever perpetrated by any human court was the mock trial of Jesus by the Jewish Sanhedrin and by the Romans! Those courts condemned an innocent man. But more than that, they condemned their Creator, the very “Son of God.”

The Book of Acts gives several instances in the lives of Christ's apostles, wherein a miscarriage of justice took place. The Apostles Peter and John preached the Gospel, including the truth about Christ's crucifixion by the Jews and the Romans, and His resurrection. This did not set well with many of the high-ranking Jewish authorities (Acts 2-4). The apostles also worked many mighty miracles, which alarmed the Jews: “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.... Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison” (5:12, 17-18).

“And when they had brought them, they set them before the COUNCIL [Sanhedrin]. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (27-29). The 6th and 7th chapters of Acts give details of the ministry of Stephen, who was brought before the COUNCIL, and was finally martyred by the religious leaders after He had preached a powerful sermon in which he told the Jews, “‘You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you’” (7:51).

Then, “about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some of the church. Then he killed James [the first Apostle to be martyred] the brother of John with the sword. And proceeded further to seize Peter also.... So when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison...” (12:1-4). But God delivered Peter from the clutches of Herod's court, by sending His angel to deliver him from prison, and not long afterward Herod was struck dead: “So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then...an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” (vv. 21-24).

The Apostle Paul was often harassed by the leading religious and political leaders of his day, and was finally apprehended by the “chief captain and the soldiers” of the temple in Jerusalem, was then taken before the Jewish Sanhedrin where He was falsely charged with various serious offences. He was brought before “Felix the governor,” who was then joined by others in accusing him: “Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertulius. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. ...Tertulius began his accusation, saying, ‘...For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law”’ (24:1-4).

Paul then answered his accusers, explaining that the charges against him were false; shortly afterward “Felix...sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ Meanwhile he hoped that money [a bribe] would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix” (v. 24-27). Not long afterward, as Festus was “sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought” so he could hear his case (25:6). “When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem...laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove” (v. 7).

Eventually, after Paul had stood before the judgment seats of Festus, Agrippa and others, he said “I appeal to Caesar!” (v. 11). Festus then replied, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!” (v. 12). Then follows an account of Paul's voyage to Rome to appear before Nero Caesar. We are not told much of what happened after that. But it is generally believed that after appearing before Nero (Acts 28), who was one of the most sadistic and cruelest of all the Roman Emperors who persecuted and martyred many of Christ’s apostles and disciples during the early centuries of the Christian era.

Shortly afterward this most zealous apostle was put to death as a faithful apostle who gave his life as a willing martyr for the sake of Christ's true Gospel (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

In the near future, Jesus Christ will return to this earth to take over the reins of world government: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices...saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). His Throne will be in Jerusalem (Jer. 3:17).

Christ promises that He will share His Throne with us: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on MY THRONE...” (Rev. 3:21). And Jesus says we will judge the nations with Him: “And I saw thrones, and they [the saints] sat on them.... And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (20:4).

The Prophet Daniel says that when the long-expected Messiah comes, “Then the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the SAINTS of the Most High. HIS KINGDOM is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Dan. 7:27).

What will the then-resurrected Saints of God (made immortal) be doing during that Utopian 1,000-year period? Jesus tells us that His saints will then rule over the cities of this earth. He says some will rule over “five cities,” others will rule “ten cities,” etc. (Luke 19:14-18). Jesus will rule the nations in love, mercy and justice, but He will also rule the nations with a “rod of Iron.” “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword [the Word of God], that He should rule them with a ROD OF IRON...” (Rev. 19:15).

His then-glorified SAINTS will also rule with him in love, mercy, justice and also with a firm hand to deal with rebellious people who persist in their perverse ways: “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the SAINTS be joyful in GLORY [when glorified with immortality].... Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a TWO-EDGED SWORD in their hand, to execute vengeance on the NATIONS, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His SAINTS” (Psa. 149:5-9).

The Apostle Paul also tells us that we shall judge both the “world” and the “angels”! Paul asks, “Do you not know that the SAINTS shall JUDGE the world.... Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life” (1 Cor. 6:2-3).

God’s saints have never been given that kind of power in this world. We are in this evil world, but are not of it! We pray for and obey the civil rulers, but wait for the time when God Almighty will turn WORLD GOVERNMENT over to Christ and His then-glorified SAINTS. And together, we shall rule all nations, and bring peace, prosperity and joy and happiness brim full and running over to the peoples of the whole earth!

As this article has pointed out, in order to qualify to RULE/JUDGE with Christ we must first learn to have the “fear of the LORD,” must learn not to judge by the hearing of our “ears” or by the sight of our “eyes.” As Christ says, we must not judge according to “appearances,” but must learn to get all pertinent facts before making any judgment. Also, we must learn not to show partiality or favoritism toward anyone, whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, but must judge all things in truth and equity. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that we must always base any judgments we make on the Word of God, always making sure that we allow God’s Word to guide us in all such decisions!

King David, Israel’s most famous king, who ruled Israel wisely for 40 years, was inspired to write the following: “The God of Israel said...‘He who rules over men must be JUST, ruling in the FEAR OF GOD’” (2 Sam. 23:3)! Few rulers in this world (kings, presidents, prime ministers, senators, governors, judges, etc.) really fear God. Neither do many of them base their decisions on the infallible Word of God.

Many of today’s world leaders allow corruption, bribes, incompetence, etc. to cloud their ability to make wise judgments. In the World Tomorrow things will be different. Those under Jesus Christ’s worldwide rule will help Him govern all nations in love, mercy, justice and in true wisdom, fear and love of God! Then, and only then, will the nations of this earth ever achieve what they are looking for: peace, prosperity, and supreme joy!

May God’s people learn to submit to His way, His government and His Word now, so that we can help administer His perfect world-ruling government over the whole earth in the wonderful World Tomorrow! May He speed that day!

KING JEHOSHAPHAT’S WISE JUDICIAL REFORMS

The 19th chapter of 2 Chronicles relates a very interesting example set by Jehoshaphat, one of the most illustrious Kings of Judah. Although he made mistakes, he was one of the most upright kings of Judah. Nonetheless he allied himself with wicked King Ahab of Israel, which earned him a stern rebuke by a “seer” of God.

The seer told Jehoshaphat, “Nevertheless, good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God” (v. 3). The king then set about to diligently promote the true religion of the LORD, so “he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD GOD...” (v. 4). He realized he would need to re-establish a just judicial system in Judah based on God's Word: “Then he set JUDGES in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, ‘Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not JUDGE for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the JUDGMENT. Now therefore, let the FEAR OF THE LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no PARTIALITY, nor taking of BRIBES’” (vv. 5-7).

“Moreover in Jerusalem, for the JUDGMENT of the LORD and for controversies, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the LEVITES and PRIESTS, and some of the CHIEF FATHERS of Israel.... And he commanded them, saying, ‘Thus shall you act in the FEAR OF THE LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart: Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities...you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the LORD and wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. And take notice: Amariah the CHIEF PRIEST is over you in all matters of the LORD...also the LEVITES will be officials before you! Behave courageously and the LORD be with the good” (vv. 8-11).

Chapter 20 mentions that God gave King Jehoshaphat and his people a great deliverance from their enemies, for a “great multitude came against Judah” at that time. The king then prayed and asked God to give them victory, saying, “‘And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not JUDGE them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’” (20:1, 10-12).

The rest of this chapter gives an inspiring account of the mighty deliverance God gave King Jehoshaphat and Judah. When they humbled themselves, God showed His mighty hand by saving them from their enemies. God's Word says that “they were defeated” (v. 22-29). “Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (v. 30). What a magnificent deliverance Almighty God granted this God-fearing King of Judah!