2Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom

‘Charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.’ This is the 4th New Testament prophecy in 2 Timothy (4:1) and it is unfulfilled. [Greek: diamarturomal] He again charges Timothy before both God and Christ, proving again that they are two separate persons.

‘Judge’ [Greek: krino] make a legal or other decision. Translated “to esteem” (Rom. 14:5); “think” (Acts 26:8); “determine” (Acts 3:13; 20:16; 25:25; 27:1; 1Cor. 2:2; 2Cor. 2:1; Tit. 3:12); “conclude” (Acts 21:25); “decree” (1Cor. 7:37); “ordain” (Acts 16:4); “condemn” (John 3:17-18; Acts 13:27; Rom. 14:22); “damn” (2Thess. 2:12); “avenge” (Rev. 18:20); “call to question” (Acts 23:6; 24:21); “sue at law” (Matt. 5:40; 1Cor. 6:1, 6); “my sentence is” (Acts 15:19); and “judge” 74 times.

‘The quick and the dead’ – Two classes judged, both the quick (the living) and the dead are to face judgment. Those alive and dead in Christ will be raptured at His appearing in the air at least seven years before the second coming and setting up of the Millennial kingdom (2Thess. 2:7; 1Thess. 4:16). These will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ during these seven years (1Cor. 3:11-15; 2Cor. 5:10). Then the living nations will be judged at the second coming (Matt. 25:31-46). The wicked dead will be judged 1,000 years later (Rev. 20:4-15). All judgments will be over by the end of the Millennium. Those who sin will be judged and executed if they are worthy of death (Isa. 11:3-10; 65:20).

‘At’ [Greek: kata] is a word denoting downward motion. When used of time, as here, it means throughout, during, in the years, over time. This means that there will be different judgments at different times.