Overview

The Confession closes where history closes: at the last judgment. God has appointed a day when Christ will judge the world in righteousness — the apostate angels and all people — rendering to each according to their deeds. The certainty of that day is meant to deter sin and to comfort the godly; its unknown timing is meant to keep all watchful. The Confession ends with a prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

The Confession, Section by Section

33.1 — Christ the appointed Judge

God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons, that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31, ESV)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor. 5:10, ESV)

Further proofs: John 5:22, 27; 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Matt. 12:36; Rom. 2:16; 14:10, 12.

Exposition: God has “fixed a day” of judgment, and the Judge is Jesus Christ, “to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.” All — apostate angels and every human being — will appear before His tribunal to give account of “thoughts, words, and deeds.” This is the public, universal vindication of God’s righteousness. For the believer, this judgment holds no condemnation (Rom. 8:1): the believer’s works are examined to display God’s grace and reward, but the verdict of acquittal was already secured in Christ (ch. 11). For the unbeliever, it is the day of just sentence.

33.2 — The purpose of the day

The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt. 25:46, ESV)

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (2 Thess. 1:9, ESV)

Further proofs: Rom. 9:22–23; Matt. 25:21, 31–46; Acts 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:7–10; Rev. 22:11.

Exposition: The final day manifests both God’s mercy (in the eternal salvation of the elect) and His justice (in the just condemnation of the impenitent). The two destinies are real and “everlasting”: the righteous into “fulness of joy” in the Lord’s presence; the wicked into “eternal torments… away from the presence of the Lord.” The deepest heaven is the unveiled presence of God; the deepest hell is everlasting exclusion from it.

33.3 — Why God reveals the day, yet hides its time

As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matt. 24:42, ESV)

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20, ESV)

Further proofs: Matt. 24:36, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:35–37; Luke 21:28; 2 Pet. 3:11, 14; 2 Cor. 5:10–11.

Exposition: God reveals that the day is coming, to “deter all men from sin” and to give “the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity” — the wronged and the suffering will be vindicated. But He hides when it comes, so that none grow complacent (“carnal security”) but all remain “watchful” and “ever prepared.” The Confession’s final words are not a doctrine but a longing prayer — the believer’s heart-cry that turns the doctrine of judgment into hope: “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.” It is fitting that a confession of grace ends not in fear but in expectant love for the returning Savior.

Doctrinal Summary

God has appointed a fixed day when Christ, to whom all judgment is given, will judge the apostate angels and all people in righteousness, each giving account of their thoughts, words, and deeds. This day will manifest God’s mercy in the everlasting salvation of the elect and His justice in the everlasting condemnation of the impenitent — the righteous into fullness of joy in the Lord’s presence, the wicked into eternal destruction away from it. God reveals the certainty of that day to deter sin and comfort the godly, yet hides its time to keep all watchful and longing for Christ’s return.

Connections

• WLC Q87–90 — the resurrection; the judgment of the wicked at the last day; the estate of the righteous at the day of judgment.
• WSC Q37–38 — the benefits believers receive at death and at the resurrection, including being “openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.”
• WCF 32 (the resurrection, which precedes judgment), WCF 3 (election and reprobation, here brought to their final manifestation), WCF 8 (Christ the appointed Judge), WCF 18 (assurance — full assurance fulfilled in open acquittal at the judgment).
• Loci: Eschatology (the final judgment; heaven and hell; the return of Christ).

Pastoral & Practical Significance

The Confession ends, as the Bible does, with the return of Christ and the final judgment — and it teaches us to hold this doctrine in a way that produces holiness, comfort, and hope rather than mere terror. For the believer, the judgment seat is not a place of dread but of open vindication: the One who will judge is the same Christ who bore your judgment at the cross, so you will be “openly acknowledged and acquitted” (WSC 38). This is the consummation of assurance. The doctrine comforts the suffering and the wronged, who often see no justice in this life: a day is fixed when every wrong will be set right and God’s righteousness fully displayed. It deters sin, reminding us that we live before the eyes of our Judge. And because the timing is hidden, it keeps us watchful — not anxious, but awake, “ever prepared.” Above all, it directs the Christian’s heart not merely to a verdict but to a Person: the deepest longing of the redeemed is not simply to escape hell but to be with the Lord, and so the whole Confession of grace closes on its truest note — the bride’s prayer for her Bridegroom: “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.”

For Reflection

• Does the judgment seat fill me with dread or with hope? How does Christ having borne my judgment at the cross change that?
• The day is certain but its hour hidden. Am I living “ever watchful,” or have I settled into “carnal security”?
• The Confession ends with “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Is the return of Christ a longing of my heart — and is it the Person, not just the verdict, that I long for?