JUDGMENT DAY
Understanding the difference between Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne of Judgment.
Will there really be a “Judgment Day” where everyone will have to stand before God and give an account of their lives? Yes and no. There is the judgment of the lost, at the Great White Throne of Judgment. Despite what many say, it will be for the wicked only. By the time this particular Judgment Day (the Great White Throne of Judgment) happens, Christians will have already gone to be with the Lord by way of the rapture and over 1000 years will have transpired by then. The "judgment of Christians" is explained in this article but it is very different and at a different time. This can be seen by taking a closer look in God's Word. Please consider this message and see what the Bible truly says.
These are the main verses about the "Great White Throne of Judgment” - also called Judgment Day.
Notice that it says repeatedly “the dead” and that the term - “the dead” is not how the New Testament generally refers to Christians. These are not the “dead in Christ” or those “asleep or asleep in Christ.” This day of Judgment is for “the dead” as in those who died in their sins; those not found in the Book of Life.
The Bible is clear in that there is no second death for believers.
Christians will already be with the Lord by the time of the Great White Throne of Judgment and we can know because the preceding verses show it to be after the Millennium and at the time of the destruction of the old heavens (physical universe) and the old earth, as the new heaven and earth are coming (Revelation 20:7-10).
This is also confirmed in:
Some might say: I have heard about the Great White Throne of Judgment all my life and that all people will be judged there. How could so many be wrong and this message be right?
Consider this simple train of thought: Would God forgive us, only to re-charge us again? Would He throw our sins into the Sea of Forgetfulness only to bring them up again? No, God never goes back on His Word.
Let's take a look at some of the verses that are key to a Christian's judgment to know the truth.
For the believers, this will be amazing. On the Day (it will be shown "when" this is, further in the article), all good works done for the right reason, will go with us and be remembered before God. They will last and receive reward. But the works that are “not eligible for reward” will burn up so to speak – and we will suffer loss. Our salvation is secure, but only the works God deems reward-able will go with us.
In other words, good works that have been done with wrongful hearts, are not eligible for reward. For example, I might have given a donation of money, food, or time to a good cause or person in need and if I did it with a right heart, it will make it to heaven. But if I did for personal gain or selfishness, pride or any number of wrongful reasons not pleasing to the Father, it will be disqualified for reward.
Our works are what will be judged. Sins that are repented from and washed away by the blood of Jesus will remain washed away. Once again, God will not be dredging up forgiven sins. We ourselves can forfeit our salvation by forsaking the Lord or some sin unto death like “not forgiving others” - where upon we will have rejected the covering of our sins by Jesus Christ and be judged with the lost and sentenced to the final hell.
Let's take a closer look at more Scripture.
This confirms the verses in 1 Corinthians 3 posted earlier. When Paul writes "whether good or bad" - he is referencing a certain kind of judgment. It is the judgment of eligible or ineligible works. The ineligible works will burn up. Eligible works that pass will be rewarded; this is the kind of judgment for believers. At the judgment seat of Christ, saved people will stay saved and our "good works" will be either rewarded or counted ineligible depending on how the Lord judges them. When a Christian's sins are gone, they are gone. There is no judgment for something that is not there.
At the final judgment of the lost they will stand before God and their full account will be required of them because they rejected God and His pardon. All sin and works will be revealed. They will go from there to their eternal separation from God, eternal punishment (Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:46).
It may very well be that, since by the measure of our hearts, that we as Christians give, is the measure that are we receive is part of the rewarding; the same principal may also be in effect in the punishment realm. It would seem possible that for those that will be going to eternal doom, some will face a worse measure of punishment according to the measure of their hearts. Who knows how to judge us but God? For certain, He is fair and just.
Next, another section of Scripture to consider. Notice Paul is writing to Christians in these sections of Scripture, not the lost.
So when is this judgment seat of Christ?
It is often overlooked, but when Jesus Christ comes at the rapture, He will be bringing His throne with Him. The Bible also says He is coming with clouds and a heavenly host and at the right hand of the Father. It is a completely different time then at Armageddon, whereupon Jesus comes on a white horse and with a heavenly army also on white horses.
Here are some other verses which confirm the Lord at the rapture being seated, enthroned. Don't forget, it is also when He separates His sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-40).
God will not be "re-separating His children out from the lost" - at the Great White Throne of Judgment when He already separated His people out at the rapture.
Notice in these next two sections of Scripture how they are about reward for what is truly worthy, not the kind of judgment of sin and condemnation.
For Christians, the reward of the Lord begins at the rapture. Only the “eligible good works” will go with us. The Bible does not say anywhere that there will be punishment for believer's shortcomings or bad choices. The Bible clearly says we will suffer loss for ineligible works, which won't be rewarded. The Bible never says, God will bring up the forgiven sin of Christians and punish them.
For the lost, the rapture marks the beginning of Judgment for the those who rejected God and are alive at the time. After the rapture, God's wrath will be poured out on all who are left on earth and will conclude at the Battle of Armageddon. When the battle is over, any of the wicked that would still be alive will be killed (Revelation 19:21). Thus joining the dead in hell who await the Great White Throne of Judgment.
Once the rapture happens and Christians are secure in heaven there will be no future condemnation for the Lord's saints. Some time soon, this age will end and the Millennium will come and go too. And finally this old earth and universe will burn away, the Great White Throne of Judgment will happen and all evil will be cast into the lake of fire. And praise God, there will be a new heaven and new earth with the Holy City that God has prepared for His children. What a glorious day it will be.
In closing, if our sins are forgiven, they are forgiven. That means God does not count them against us.
If we have works that may be worthy of reward, it will manifest. His reward is with Him. What is important, is to keep a clean heart. To do good for the right reasons. Not just for reward, but to be pleasing to the Father. Pride is not the right reason for doing good. Personal gain is not the right reason either. The Lord loves a pure heart. This is something that we as Christians, all need to always be aware of. To be like Jesus. To love like Jesus. Many good deeds will be counted ineligible by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Let's be pleasing to our Lord, even if there would never be any reward.
Oh Lord create in us, clean hearts, loving hearts, pure hearts. And when we fail, help us to get back up and love again. As unto You.
Scriptures for thought pertaining to this message.
These are the main verses about the "Great White Throne of Judgment” - also called Judgment Day.
- Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 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. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Notice that it says repeatedly “the dead” and that the term - “the dead” is not how the New Testament generally refers to Christians. These are not the “dead in Christ” or those “asleep or asleep in Christ.” This day of Judgment is for “the dead” as in those who died in their sins; those not found in the Book of Life.
The Bible is clear in that there is no second death for believers.
- Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
Christians will already be with the Lord by the time of the Great White Throne of Judgment and we can know because the preceding verses show it to be after the Millennium and at the time of the destruction of the old heavens (physical universe) and the old earth, as the new heaven and earth are coming (Revelation 20:7-10).
This is also confirmed in:
- 2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Some might say: I have heard about the Great White Throne of Judgment all my life and that all people will be judged there. How could so many be wrong and this message be right?
Consider this simple train of thought: Would God forgive us, only to re-charge us again? Would He throw our sins into the Sea of Forgetfulness only to bring them up again? No, God never goes back on His Word.
Let's take a look at some of the verses that are key to a Christian's judgment to know the truth.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 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. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
For the believers, this will be amazing. On the Day (it will be shown "when" this is, further in the article), all good works done for the right reason, will go with us and be remembered before God. They will last and receive reward. But the works that are “not eligible for reward” will burn up so to speak – and we will suffer loss. Our salvation is secure, but only the works God deems reward-able will go with us.
In other words, good works that have been done with wrongful hearts, are not eligible for reward. For example, I might have given a donation of money, food, or time to a good cause or person in need and if I did it with a right heart, it will make it to heaven. But if I did for personal gain or selfishness, pride or any number of wrongful reasons not pleasing to the Father, it will be disqualified for reward.
Our works are what will be judged. Sins that are repented from and washed away by the blood of Jesus will remain washed away. Once again, God will not be dredging up forgiven sins. We ourselves can forfeit our salvation by forsaking the Lord or some sin unto death like “not forgiving others” - where upon we will have rejected the covering of our sins by Jesus Christ and be judged with the lost and sentenced to the final hell.
Let's take a closer look at more Scripture.
- 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 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.
This confirms the verses in 1 Corinthians 3 posted earlier. When Paul writes "whether good or bad" - he is referencing a certain kind of judgment. It is the judgment of eligible or ineligible works. The ineligible works will burn up. Eligible works that pass will be rewarded; this is the kind of judgment for believers. At the judgment seat of Christ, saved people will stay saved and our "good works" will be either rewarded or counted ineligible depending on how the Lord judges them. When a Christian's sins are gone, they are gone. There is no judgment for something that is not there.
At the final judgment of the lost they will stand before God and their full account will be required of them because they rejected God and His pardon. All sin and works will be revealed. They will go from there to their eternal separation from God, eternal punishment (Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:46).
It may very well be that, since by the measure of our hearts, that we as Christians give, is the measure that are we receive is part of the rewarding; the same principal may also be in effect in the punishment realm. It would seem possible that for those that will be going to eternal doom, some will face a worse measure of punishment according to the measure of their hearts. Who knows how to judge us but God? For certain, He is fair and just.
Next, another section of Scripture to consider. Notice Paul is writing to Christians in these sections of Scripture, not the lost.
- Romans 14:10-13 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. For it is written: "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'" So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
So when is this judgment seat of Christ?
It is often overlooked, but when Jesus Christ comes at the rapture, He will be bringing His throne with Him. The Bible also says He is coming with clouds and a heavenly host and at the right hand of the Father. It is a completely different time then at Armageddon, whereupon Jesus comes on a white horse and with a heavenly army also on white horses.
Here are some other verses which confirm the Lord at the rapture being seated, enthroned. Don't forget, it is also when He separates His sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-40).
- Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?
- Matthew 26:63-64 And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power [of God], and coming on the clouds of heaven."
- Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."
God will not be "re-separating His children out from the lost" - at the Great White Throne of Judgment when He already separated His people out at the rapture.
Notice in these next two sections of Scripture how they are about reward for what is truly worthy, not the kind of judgment of sin and condemnation.
- Revelation 22:12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
- Matthew 16:27 “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.”
For Christians, the reward of the Lord begins at the rapture. Only the “eligible good works” will go with us. The Bible does not say anywhere that there will be punishment for believer's shortcomings or bad choices. The Bible clearly says we will suffer loss for ineligible works, which won't be rewarded. The Bible never says, God will bring up the forgiven sin of Christians and punish them.
For the lost, the rapture marks the beginning of Judgment for the those who rejected God and are alive at the time. After the rapture, God's wrath will be poured out on all who are left on earth and will conclude at the Battle of Armageddon. When the battle is over, any of the wicked that would still be alive will be killed (Revelation 19:21). Thus joining the dead in hell who await the Great White Throne of Judgment.
Once the rapture happens and Christians are secure in heaven there will be no future condemnation for the Lord's saints. Some time soon, this age will end and the Millennium will come and go too. And finally this old earth and universe will burn away, the Great White Throne of Judgment will happen and all evil will be cast into the lake of fire. And praise God, there will be a new heaven and new earth with the Holy City that God has prepared for His children. What a glorious day it will be.
In closing, if our sins are forgiven, they are forgiven. That means God does not count them against us.
If we have works that may be worthy of reward, it will manifest. His reward is with Him. What is important, is to keep a clean heart. To do good for the right reasons. Not just for reward, but to be pleasing to the Father. Pride is not the right reason for doing good. Personal gain is not the right reason either. The Lord loves a pure heart. This is something that we as Christians, all need to always be aware of. To be like Jesus. To love like Jesus. Many good deeds will be counted ineligible by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Let's be pleasing to our Lord, even if there would never be any reward.
Oh Lord create in us, clean hearts, loving hearts, pure hearts. And when we fail, help us to get back up and love again. As unto You.
Scriptures for thought pertaining to this message.
- Romans 2:1-11 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
- Matthew 16:27 “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.”
- Luke 12:31-34 “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 25:31-46 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: or I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
- 2 Peter 3:5-7 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- John 11:11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."
- John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"