Reformed Theologian William Hendriksen: Believers will play an Active, not merely Passive, Role in the Final Judgement

Some critics (usually Evangelical Protestants) take umbrage with the fact that, according to Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saints (e.g., JOD 7:289) Joseph Smith will play a role (albeit, subordinate to Jesus) in the final judgement of those who lived in this dispensation. For a discussion, see

 

Joseph Smith Worship? Responding to Criticisms of the Role and Status of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Latter-day Saint Theology

 

Interestingly, Reformed theologian William Hendriksen (1900-1982) also taught that believers will play, not a merely passive, but active role in the final judgement, and even appealed to texts such as 1 Cor 6:2-3 that LDS apologists also appeal to:

 

Who Will Be Associated with Him in This Final Judgement?

 

From such passages as Matthew 13:41, 42; 24:31; 25:31; II Thessalonians 1:7, 8; and Revelation 14:17-20 it is evident that the angels will be associated with Christ in the judgment. They will, for example, gather the wicked before the judgement-throne and will “cast them into the furnace of fire.” They will certainly also stake part in welcoming the Bride (the Church) as she does forth to meet the Bridegroom (Christ).

 

It also appears from Psalm 149:5-9 and I Corinthians 6:2, 3 that believers will have an active share in the work of judging. At any rate, they will do so in the sense of praising Christ’s righteous judgements (Revelation 15:3, 4). (William Hendriksen, The Bible and the Life Hereafter [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1959], 186, emphasis added)