Will Christ judge the living as well as the resurrected when he returns?

Many of the Bible verses about the day of judgement at the return of Christ do not specify whether the context is the living or the resurrected. Or both together. But it is clear that both will be judged:

• And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42
• Preach the Word I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom 2 Timothy 4:1
• but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 1 Peter 4:5

Of these three the third is interesting as it is the only verse in the New Testament to clearly imply pagan mockers of Christ alive at Peter’s time will be raised to give account.

The consequences of judgement :

The consequences in Matthew are repeatedly contrasted as entering into the kingdom for the accepted and exclusion for the rejected. The theme reoccurs in Matthew chapters 8, 13, 22, 24 and 25 and also in Luke:

• Matthew 8:12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
• Matthew 13:42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matthew 22:13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
• Matthew 24:51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matthew 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
• Luke 13:28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Of these only Matthew 24:51 seems to state the immediate execution of the living wicked. Nevertheless there are other verses in the New Testament which teach the ‘destruction’ of the wicked when Christ returns.

• 2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
• 2 Peter 3:7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

On balance then it appears that among the judged, both living and raised to judgement some will be destroyed.