Judgement
John 5:22 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the
Son:”
Romans 2:16 “ in the day when God shall judge
the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
God the father has appointed all authority of Judgement to
his son, Jesus Christ. All of humanity will be at the mercy of Jesus on this
Great and Glorious day.
When you speak to most people, they are aware of Judgement
of mankind at the end of the world. Which isn’t surprising as it is written in
the book of Revelation.
When you ask most people they will tell you that all of
mankind is judged at this final event where they believe that the righteous
will live in the new heaven and earth, and the wicked will spend eternity in
condemnation inside the lake of fire and brimstone along with Satan, death and
Hell.
This is a false view of this event and will lead many into
condemnation, why?
Because misunderstanding or interpreting Revelation 20:11-15
incorrectly can lead you to either believing in false doctrines or reaffirm
your false doctrines.
The truth is, the bible speaks about two distinct
Judgements.
This is the purpose of this study.
The Judgement Seat of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “Wherefore we labour, that,
whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.”
This seat
was what Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 as the
"judgment seat of Christ." The Greek word used to describe the judgement
seat of Christ is the word “Bema”; it has the meaning of “stepping up onto”
like the Olympic platforms you see when the athlete is rewarded. Paul says as a
result of which we labour, whether we be present or absent from the body.
Verse 10 Paul says we must all appear before our Lord Jesus
Christ, he means all Christians, Believers! Paul uses the word “we”, this is
important to know, as in believers not “they” or “them” when Paul speaks. In
this context, Paul explains to us that this is where the Christian will receive
an evaluation for works done in the body, whether good or bad. The word “bad”
does not mean evil or wicked, the Greek word used here is “Phaulos” which means
worthless in this context. Paul speaks of this Judgement of Christians in the
book of Romans as well, let’s examine the text.
Romans 14:10-12 “But why dost thou judge thy brother?
Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is
written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of
us shall give account of himself to God.”
Here again we see Paul say that “we” as Christians will
stand before the judgement seat. We are to give an account of ourselves to God,
notice Paul how references God here? The Deity of Jesus anyone???
What is this account for? Is it for our sins? As Christians
do we get judged twice? The answer is a resounding, No!
As believers, our sins were judged at the cross which was
achieved wholly by our Lord Jesus Christ himself. God punished his son for our
wickedness, this exchange made it all possible for believers to come to the
father through his son.
Hebrews 9:28 “ So Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because
he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors;
and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The judgement seat of Christ is for believers/Christians receiving
of rewards, not the judgement of our sins or inequities, as we become born
again at that moment Salvation is received, God will remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Hebrews 10:17 “and their sins and iniquities will I
remember no more.”
Pretty clear with the above two scriptures, but if you still
need more clarification, King David wrote in the Psalms the following.
Psalms 130:3-4 “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there
is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared”
Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far
hath he removed our transgressions from us”
Our Transgressions has been removed from how far? As far as
the east is from the west! That’s forever!!
Why does God remember sins no more? How can God remember
sins no more??
1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
By the BLOOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, our sins are ALL
gone! AMEN!
What will take place at the Judgement
(Bema) seat of Christ?
What are the things the Christian believer will receive
during this event?
Romans 14:10-12 is very clear about what will take place;
this judgement can be compared to financial accounting where your deeds done in
the body; will be tried by fire, it is NOT about Salvation which the free gift
of eternal life by the grace of God through Faith.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; 13 every man’s work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire
shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.14 If any man’s
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire.”
There is no other foundation other than the Lord Jesus
Christ himself; no man can lay down what is already laid.
Every man’s work will be revealed, whether it is of precious
stones, gold, silver, hay or stubble will be tried by fire. Look at the
materials that are being listed, they are the value of the deeds whether they
are done for the glory of the Lord or for man’s own benefit; will be tried by
fire.
If the deed has been done to advance the kingdom of the Lord
it will stand the test of fire and will be reward to the believer accordingly,
if the deed has been done for one’s own benefit; it shall been like hay and
stubble and the believer will suffer loss of reward. Notice in verse 15 he says
he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved.
Again, if this were a judgement of our sins why would every
man have praise of God if this were a time of condemnation?
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful”
1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the
time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of
darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall
every man have praise of God.”
Look, there is only one punishment for sin, for the unsaved
person it will be the Lake of Fire for eternity. For the child of God, the
payment for sin was made on the cross; the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was
enough, satisfied the Father’s Wrath never having to make that payment again
and is available to all who would believe on Jesus Christ.
The Great White Throne Judgement
When will this Judgement occur?
This judgement will occur after the millennial reign of the
Lord Jesus Christ on Earth with his elect.
Who will be judged?
All the unsaved; who are the wicked and nonbelievers will be
Judged.
Revelation 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne,
and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and
there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book
was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out
of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of
fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
John sees a Great white Throne, on whom sits there; causes
the earth and the heavens to flee. What a terrifying situation this is going to
be and that there is going to be no place found for them.
John then states that he saw the dead, the dead refers to
the spiritually dead; the unsaved, the people that did not believe on the Lord.
The Judgement is Not for Christians! Salvation is not the issue, for those in
this judgment are described as dead, meaning they are spiritually dead. They
have no saving relationship with God and hence, no mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there
is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
Romans 8:1 “There
is therefore now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Those who refused the free gift offered by the Father which
was brought on by the Lamb of God place themselves in the following position –
Hebrews 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God.”
And those who try to come to the Lord through their own
merit and works will receive this response.
Matthew 7:21-23 “ Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.”
Those standing before the Throne come from all walks of life
but are now being judged on the basis of their works. The judgment is based on
what occurs in the books which record their works and whether their names are
in the Book of Life.
John 6:50-51 “This is the bread which cometh down from
heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am
the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he
shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will
give for the life of the world.”
The Book of Life contains the names of God's elect. They
will experience neither condemnation nor judgment. They are not among the dead,
for they are alive!
After physical death, the soul continues to exist. Before
the resurrection, the soul of the believer is in the presence of God awaiting
eternal reward. The soul of the unbeliever is in hell awaiting final judgment.
The lake of fire is a punishment of everlasting torment
prepared for Satan, his angels and all who refuse the gift of eternal life
through the Lord Jesus Christ. When this is completed, only one last event is
scheduled for the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the
lake of fire. This is the second death.”
The Apostle Paul said it to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that shall
be destroyed is death.”
And Paul proclaims this message…
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 “So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory?”
Then we will look forward to the new Heavens and the new
Earth where there will be no sorrow, crying, and pain as the Lord will be our
light.
Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Revelation 22:20-21
“He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”