Two JUDGMENTS

Someday You Will Be Judged!

It probably will surprise most of the 7.8 billion people now in the world - and maybe you yourself - that according to the Bible ALL MEN WILL SOMEDAY BE JUDGED PERSONALLY BY GOD. For example,

17 I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17, NKJV)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is for all men. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)

11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11, NKJV)

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30–31, NKJV)

As you can see, this includes both BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS.

JESUS CHRIST Spoke the Most About JUDGMENT

It may or may not surprise you that Jesus Christ spoke more [101 times] about JUDGMENT [using the Greek word κρινω krino = to judge] than any other person in Scripture. [In his speeches in Acts, Paul uses κρινω only 15 times.] For example...

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36, NKJV)

33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the judgment of Hell? (Matthew 23:33, NKJV)

Jesus Testifies to the Assemblies 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:12–13, NKJV)

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27, NKJV)

It is noteworthy above [and we will discuss this more] that the first two quotes are directed towards UNBELIEVERS and the last two are spoken to BELIEVERS. Why does Jesus make this distinction?

ALL UNBELIEVERS Will Be Judged at the GREAT WHITE THRONE Judgment

This judgment is spoken of in Revelation 20. [It is significant that the Greek word νεκρός nekros = dead is used here - because in John 5:21, 25 this word is used of spiritually dead = not having eternal life. It is also used of the spiritually dead and judgment in 1 Pet 4:5.]

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it [JESUS CHRIST] , 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, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life [THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE] . And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire [= ETERNAL JUDGMENT]. (Revelation 20:10–15, NKJV)

The JUDGE is JESUS CHRIST - as is indicated by Jesus Himself...

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22, NKJV)

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:26–27, NKJV)

Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will experience ETERNAL DEATH in the Lake of Fire - with the Devil and his angels.

But Jesus Christ will also judge ALL BELIEVERS at the JUDGEMENT-SEAT OF CHRIST.

This may seem confusing to some because Jesus clearly states that BELIEVERS are not coming into JUDGMENT...

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; but he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16–19, NKJV)

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24, NKJV)

But the context reveals that Jesus is simply saying that

BELIEVERS will NOT APPEAR before the GREAT WHITE THRONE judgment for their eternal destiny.

That has been settled the moment they believed in Him.

But He clearly teaches elsewhere that

ALL BELIEVERS will give an account before Jesus Christ of their WORKS [done after they believed].

For example...

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:24–27, NKJV)

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the Assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:12,16, NKJV)

Other Biblical writers also speak of this important Event. For example,

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10, NKJV)

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10–12, NKJV)

[The word translated Judgment-Seat is the Greek word βῆμα bema. Therefore, the Judgment-Seat of Christ is often referred to as the Bema of Christ.]

Note that the Apostle Paul includes himself in this evaluation. This is for ALL BELIEVERS.

Again, this is not to determine whether we go to Heaven or to Hell but rather to evaluate our WORKS done in the power of the Holy Spirit. [All of our sins were forgiven the moment we believed in Jesus Christ (Col 2:13) and we can never lose eternal life (John 6:35-40).]

WHEN will the Judgment-Seat of Christ take place - and WHAT will I be evaluated on?

The Judgment-Seat of Christ will take place immediately after the Rapture of the Assembly.

This is strongly implied by Scriptures like this...

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12, NKJV)

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28, NKJV)

Believers WORKS will be evaluated at that time.

This will be a very thorough examination of what we have done after we have received Christ - both good and bad...

16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. (Luke 8:16–17, NKJV)

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32–33, NKJV)

15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15, NKJV)

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5, NKJV)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10, NKJV)

When I - as a teacher - give a final exam, I will look at all things - what is right and what is wrong. Notice - in these verses - that the possibility of failure (being ashamed) is very possible. It all depends on me - and how I have lived. What I do as a Christian and how I live will make a difference for all eternity. There is no other judgment after this one (see Heb 9:27).

The Judgment-Seat of Christ presents an opportunity for great REWARD for our WORKS on earth.

Jesus Christ spoke much more about REWARD than anyone in the Bible.

Just as a good teacher will - at the beginning of his class - make the standards evident, Jesus Christ does the same for His pupils [disciples]. Jesus NEVER warns believers about the possibility of losing eternal life (see, for example, John 6:35-40) but He often speaks of REWARD or LOSS OF REWARD in His parables and teaching. In fact, Jesus Christ spoke FAR MORE about REWARDS [using the Greek words for REWARD more than 30 times] than anyone else in the N.T. For example,

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12, NKJV)

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Matthew 5:46, NKJV)

6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1, NKJV)

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:41–42, NKJV)

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. (Matthew 24:45–47, NKJV)

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:21, NKJV)

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many will be first -last, and last-first. (Matthew 19:27–30, )

The Greatest REWARD available to the Believer is REIGNING WITH JESUS CHRIST forever. This is only given to those who ENDURE TO THE END of their Christian lives in fellowship with God. In Revelation they are called VICTORS.

The word translated victor comes from the Greek root νικη nike from which the shoe company gets its name.

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who is a victor, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations— 27 ‘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; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ (Revelation 2:25–29, NKJV)

21 To him who is a victor I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” (Revelation 3:21–22, NKJV)

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us [THE OPPORTUNITY TO RULE]. (2 Timothy 2:12, NKJV)

14 For we have become Partners of Christ if we hold the beginning of our endeavor steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)

I want to be one of these. But that demands faithfulness and perseverance to the end of my life.

Do You Want to be a VICTOR and RULE WITH CHRIST?

Jesus also Speaks of the Possibility of LOSS and FAILURE at His Judgment-Seat

Again, this is not the loss of eternal life or that I will not be in the Kingdom of God. Rather it is speaking of the possibility of losing opportunities that I might have had. Unfortunately, these opportunities will be lost for ETERNITY. Though Jesus spoke many times about this, I would like to consider briefly His Parable of the Minas. A Miina was worth about $20,000 in today’s currency.

The Parable of the MInas - (Luke 19:11-27)

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ” (Luke 19:11–27, NKJV)

NOBLEMAN = JESUS CHRIST

SERVANTS = BELIEVERS (see Matt 18:35)

MINA = HOLY SPIRIT (which each believer has)

CITIZENS = JEWISH NATION (that killed Jesus and the Apostles after Him) = ENEMIES = suffered the second death = LAKE OF FIRE

EARN is from εργον ergon the Greek word for WORK. Jesus commanded and expected these believers to WORK.

The person who did not work received no part in Jesus’ rule - and lost any inheritance in the Kingdom which he might have had. (He did not lose, however, eternal life or entrance into the Kingdom.)

The Possibility of SHAME and LOSS at the Bema.

Many people feel that everyone will be equal in the Kingdom of God but this will not be true - as Jesus Christ clearly indicates....

26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26, NKJV)

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18, NKJV)

15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15, NKJV)

Other Biblical writers also speak of this possibility...

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28, NKJV)

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day [JUDGMENT-SEAT OF CHRIST] will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:9–15, NKJV)

I Cannot Lose ETERNAL LIFE …but I Can Lose ETERNAL REWARD

Believer, Are you preparing for the Judgment-Seat of Christ? Will you RULE WITH CHRIST FOREVER?