Do you not know that we shall judge angels? – 1 Corinthians 6:3
Paul gives no explanation. Nor does any other text in the Bible mention our judging angels.
Fallen or unfallen? Most assume that Paul is speaking of judging fallen angels. However, will not the holy angels receive rewards for their service? We could be involved in judging both types of angels.
In what sense will we judge them? The Lord Jesus has been granted all eschatological judgment (John 5:22). So, in what sense will we judge angels?
The word judge might mean that believers will have some role in judging fallen angels. Both 2 Pet 2:4 and Jude 6 say that some of the fallen angels are currently being held in the Abyss “to be reserved for judgment.” They have not yet been judged. Fallen angels will not have identical levels of torment in the lake of fire. As with humans, it will be more tolerable for some than for others (Matt 10:15; 11:22, 24).
But it is likely that unfallen angels will also be judged and rewarded.
If so, I think this might refer to our being witnesses against fallen angels and for unfallen angels. We could testify as to how fallen angels injured us and how unfallen angels aided us.
Or it could refer to our giving approval to the Lord’s judgment on each of the angels. That is the view of Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown. They comment:
The saints shall join in approving the final sentence of the Judge on them (Jud 1:6). Believers shall, as administrators of the kingdom under Jesus, put down all rule that is hostile to God. Perhaps, too, good angels shall then receive from the Judge, with the approval of the saints, higher honors (Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol. 2, p. 273).
Notice their suggestion that perhaps “good angels shall then receive from the Judge, with the approval of the saints, higher honors.”
The word judge is also associated with settling a dispute between two people. This type of judgment is associated with ruling with Christ.
The Lord Jesus said that the twelve apostles would sit on “twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt 19:28). This refers to ruling over them, and includes settling any disputes. Remember that in the book of Ruth, Boaz went “up to the gate” to settle the issue of who would be the kinsman redeemer? Remember Solomon’s saying that a baby should be cut in two and half given to each mother? These were judgments being made.
Overcomers will have power over the nations and will rule over them (Rev 2:26; 3:21). This is akin to the Twelve judging the twelve tribes.
So our judging of angels might also refer to rendering a judgment if two angels disagreed during the Millennium or on the new earth. Or there might be a disagreement between an angel and a human that would be judged by an overcomer.
Assigning angels various tasks might be a form of judging them as well.
When will we judge them? Surely these will be eschatological (last days) judgments.
Judgment that takes place after the Tribulation and before or during the Millennium will be of unfallen angels only. Any time unfallen angels have a dispute, a human will settle the matter.
Fallen angels will be judged after the Millennium, either before or after the Great White Throne Judgment. This will be for the purpose of determining their level of eternal torment.
It is possible that on the new earth we will continue to judge unfallen angels in the sense of rendering decisions when there is a dispute involving angels.
We will be serving with angels forever. If we are chosen to reign with Christ, we will also reign over angels who are assigned to our city or cities. Imagine being friends and coworkers with many angels! The kingdom will be glorious, and angels will have a significant role to play in the kingdom.
