Let us read 1 Corinthians 6:2-3: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” In this letter the Apostle Paul had to address several problems that existed in the local assembly at Corinth. One of those problems had to do with LAWSUITS. Paul rebuked them for this in verses 1, 4-6, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints…If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I SAY THIS TO YOUR SHAME. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers.” How utterly sad! There were saints quarreling with each other and instead of seeking out a godly brother to judge the matter and bring a just resolution to their disagreement, they were “airing their dirty laundry” before an unsaved judge and hoping he would have the wisdom to resolve their differences. Paul brings to their attention two obvious inconsistencies. 1) In bringing their problem before unsaved men, they are depending on men who are not characterized by having practical righteousness in their lives to have the discernment to mete out true justice; and 2) The saints will one day JUDGE THE WORLD AND ANGELS and there should surely be some in the local church that are qualified to JUDGE A RATHER TRIVIAL MATTER between them.

In keeping with your question, let us dwell for a bit on Paul’s 2nd point of inconsistency. Believers will one day, in association with Christ, “judge the world.” This will happen when Christ comes in power and glory to establish His kingdom over the whole world. We read in Colossians 3:4, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This is not “the Rapture” where Christ comes to take believers home to heaven (see John 14:2-3 with 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18). This is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ,” when He comes to subdue all His enemies and then sit upon the throne of His glory as the Son of Man (see Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16). The church will be revealed with Him at that time, and we will “reign with Him.” The Lord Jesus referred to this in Revelation 2:26-27 and 3:21: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give POWER OVER THE NATIONS—He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father…To him who overcomes I will grant SIT WITH ME ON MY THRONE, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” In Revelation 20:4 the Apostle John wrote, “And I saw THRONES, and THEY SAT ON THEM, and JUDGMENT WAS COMMITTED TO THEM.” This, dear fellow-believer, is the blessed portion that awaits us when we return with our blessed Savior and Lord and He sits upon His throne and rules the nations as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!  We will be “right at His side” ruling the nations of the world. And if this is the high and lofty position we will occupy THEN, are we not capable even NOW of “judging matters between the saints?” Surely, we ARE, and we SHOULD!

And we shall also “judge angels” at that time. In Jude 6 we read that “the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left the own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness FOR THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT DAY.” We learn in John 5:22, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” Yet because of our union with Christ as His eternal Bride, we will be by His side when He judges angels and, in that respect, we will be “judging them too.” Again, if this weighty judgment will be our portion in THAT DAY, are we not qualified TODAY to “judge things that pertain to this life?” We ARE and we SHOULD!”  (DO)  (580.3)