![]() ![]() The Great White Throne Judgment is mainly for the LOST. The outcome of this judgment will be rewards, not retribution. The first is confusion between the Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ. Hutson shows that the subject at the Judgment Seat of Christ is our service, not our sins. And so Romans 8:1 tells us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."īut if there is no possibility of condemnation, then why will believers in Christ be judged at all? Dr. The believer’s sins are judged on the cross of Calvary at the moment he is saved. When one receives Christ, he accepts the payment that was made for his sins on Golgotha. The judgment seat of Christ is for believers and it must not be confused with the Great White Throne Judgment which is for the unbelievers. "That the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all earth do right?" (Gen. Nor will all be judged at the same time or in the same manner. The eternal destiny of each person is determined during this life solely by receiving or rejecting Christ. But that does not mean there will be one general judgment where all who have ever lived will be assembled to discover whether or not they will go to Heaven. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. See also these verses related to eternal rewards.The certainty of a future judgment for all is clear from the Bible. The guidelines for what our motive and purpose should be are given in Colossians 3:22-25. The word counsels refers to our resolve, will, or purpose. That which might have been hidden before men, will then be fully seen and known. Still others believe it happens at the same time as the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers, after the Millennium. At the judgment seat of Christ, the counsels of the heart will be brought to light. ![]() ![]() Those who believe in a pretribulational Rapture often envision the judgment of works happening between the Rapture and the physical return of Christ, while the Tribulation is taking place on Earth. Others think it happens in the present Heaven, between our death and the return of Christ. Some people picture it occurring immediately after the judgment of faith, a “one at a time” judgment happening as each believer dies. ![]() Opinions vary about when the judgment of works for believers will occur. The Bible tells us it will come at the great white throne, at the end of the old Earth and just before the beginning of the New Earth (Revelation 20:11-13). Unbelievers face a final judgment of works as well. Rewards are conditional, dependent on our faithfulness (2 Timothy 2:12 Revelation 2:26-28 3:21). Rewards are about our work for God, empowered by his Spirit. Our works do not affect our salvation, but they do affect our reward. It’s critical to understand that this judgment is a judgment of works, not of faith (1 Corinthians 3:13-14). The Bible indicates that all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of their lives (Romans 14:10-12 2 Corinthians 5:10). Both believers and unbelievers face a final judgment. This first judgment is not to be confused with the final judgment, or what is called the judgment of works. Salvation is a free gift, to which we can contribute absolutely nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9 Titus 3:5). If we have accepted Christ’s atoning death for us, then when God judges us after we die, he sees his Son’s sacrifice for us, not our sin. It is not about what we’ve done during our lives but about what Christ has done for us. This initial judgment depends not on our works but on our faith. The outcome of this judgment determines whether we go to the present Heaven or the present Hell. However, certain Bible verses declare that Christians will indeed be judged at what is called the Judgment Seat or Bema Seat of Christ. Many people believe that Christians are not subject to any kind of judgment because all their sins have been covered by the blood of Christ, which is true. When we die, we face judgment, what is called the judgment of faith. There is a good deal of confusion regarding the judgments that follow death. Its timing is not absolutely clear in Scripture, and therefore I don’t dogmatically assert anything except that it will happen and it is of great importance. It’s true that I don’t see it happening in relation to the rapture. I lean toward around same time as the Great White Throne, but am uncertain on this subject, and therefore don’t want to push one idea above the others. When believers die and go to the present Heaven in the presence of God, do they face any kind of judgment of works at that point, or does all judgment come at the resurrection? Answer from Randy Alcorn: ![]()
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