Judgement of Mankind

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.”