Future Judgments

Introduction

Scripture teaches that there are several judgments yet to come in the future. We often hear about one great Judgment Day to come. However, that is not accurate. There are different coming judgments that occur at different times. Let’s start with the first.

Judgment of Believer’s Works

There are two principal passages that recount the fact and details of this judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 KJV 1900

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 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.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

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.

There are several other passages that are relevant to this judgment including Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; 9:24-27; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; and Revelation 2:10; 3:11; 4:4, 10.

The Judgment Itself

This judgment takes place immediately after the Rapture. Revelation 4:4, 10 reveals twenty-four elders who most likely represent believers as having their crowns in heaven. Further, when the bride returns with Christ as His second coming, she is clothed with the righteous deeds that have survived the examination of this judgment.

Revelation 19:8 KJV 1900

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

As we already studied and noted, this judgment is also known as the Bema Seat Judgment. Earthly “bemas” were raised, throne like platforms on which rulers and judges sat when making speeches, giving out awards, or handing judgments. Only believers will stand in this judgment. The Holy Spirit makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 3 as it relates to those who have built on the Foundation, Jesus Christ. At that time, each believer’s work will be examined distinguishing the worthy works from the worthless works. These works are deeds done by believers during their Christian life. Each believer without exception will be reviewed and examined. Some works will pass and some will fail. In the end, we will receive praise from God.

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV 1900

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.

The Judgment’s Outcome

Salvation is not called into question at this judgment. Each person standing before Christ are secure in their relationship with Him. The only thing that will happen is either reward or the withholding of reward.

1 Corinthians 3:15 KJV 1900

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

However, as just mentioned, we all will stand in the end receiving praise from God regardless of our reward or lack of.

Judgment of Old Testament Saints

For this, we start with Daniel 12:1-3

Daniel 12:1–3 KJV 1900

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Note that verse 1 references the Tribulation period. Verse 2 speaks about the resurrections of the righteous and the wicked. Then, in verse 3, the Holy Spirit indicates there will be rewards for the righteous. Again, as we mentioned in our last study concerning resurrection, there are some who believe this resurrection and rewards of Old Testament saints will happen at the conclusion of the Tribulation while others believe it will come at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. I believe that God resurrects the both the Tribulation saints and the Old Testament saints at the same time.

Judgment of Tribulation Saints

The time of judgment is based on one’s understanding of resurrection for these saints. The key verses are Revelation 20:4-6

Revelation 20:4–6 KJV 1900

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

As we know, these saints are those who opposed the Beast’s program and were martyred for their faith in Christ. Again, some believe they will be resurrected before the Millennial Kingdom and others place their resurrection at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. Regardless of which one you believe, the fact remains they will be resurrected and rewarded.

Judgment of Jewish Survivors of the Tribulation

There are two key passages concerning these survivors.

Ezekiel 20:34–38 KJV 1900

34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

This passage in conjunction with Matthew 25 depict this judgment. Note that the Holy Spirit states in Ezekiel that this judgment occurs after all surviving Israelites are gathered “out of the countries wherein” they were scattered. It is then that Christ will cause them “to pass under the rod” as noted in verse 37. This phrase is best understood by reading Leviticus 27:32

Leviticus 27:32 KJV 1900

32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.

Passing under the rod was an act that symbolized purging. Christ causing them to pass under the rod has the result of purging “out from among you (Israel) the rebels (unsaved).” Note the judgment is they, unsaved Israel, will “not enter into the land of Israel.” Instead, Matthew 25:30 speaks to them as cast into outer darkness.

Matthew 25:30 KJV 1900

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

However, for those who do pass under the rod (judgment) successfully will enter the millennial kingdom and will enjoy the blessing of the New Covenant according to verse 37 of Ezekiel 20. It must noted that this group will not receive glorified, resurrected bodies, but will go into the kingdom with their earthly bodies and become parents to the first millennial Jewish babies.

Judgment of Gentile Survivors of the Tribulation

The key passage for this is Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31–46 KJV 1900

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

God will judge these survivors based on their treatment of Israel during the Tribulation. Christ is the judge. The judgment falls on Gentiles. We must remember that all the believers (both Jew and Gentile) of the local church age have already been raptured to heaven. In the end, this judgment is not based on works even though works is at the forefront. For any Gentile to treat a Jew with kindness during the Tribulation must come from a redeemed heart. Genuine faith can only produce selfless works. Thus, any Gentile survivor who enters the millennial kingdom is one who does so based upon their faith and not their works. Like the Jewish survivors, they will enter with earthly bodies and become parents of the first millennial Gentile babies.

Judgment of Satan and Fallen Angels

Without a doubt, Satan and his band will also be judged. This will come at the conclusion of the millennial kingdom. Now, we must admit the obvious. Satan has had other sentences passed on him, but this will be his final one that confines him forever in the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:41 KJV 1900

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 20:10 KJV 1900

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

His band of wicked angels will experience the same fate.

Jude 6–7 KJV 1900

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Judgment of the Unsaved Dead

At the conclusion of the millennial reign of Christ, unbelievers of all time will be raised and judged. This judgment is known as the Great White Throne judgment.

Revelation 20:11–15 KJV 1900

11 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.

Again, the judge is the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 5:22 KJV 1900

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:27 KJV 1900

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Those who are judged in this judgment are simply called “the dead.” They are unbelievers who are spiritually dead contrasted to believers who are “dead in Christ.” This judgment does not separate believers from unbelievers. The only one who will experience this judgment are those who made the choice during their lifetime to reject God. As noted in Revelation 20, the Book of Life will be opened at the Great White Throne judgment. The Book of Life will not contain the name of anyone who will be in that judgment. The books of works is also opened proving that all who are being judged deserve eternal condemnation. There are some who see this as the thing that determines degrees of punishment. It is not that all their works were evil as much as it all their works were dead works done by spiritually dead people. Everyone who appears at this judgment will be cast into the lake of fire forever.