After death, but before the resurrection, the soul continues to exist.
- The soul of the believer is in the presence of God awaiting eternal reward.
- The soul of the unbeliever is in Hades (or Sheol), the place of the wicked dead, awaiting final judgment.
At the resurrection, the soul will receive a body suitable for eternal existence.

Daniel 12:1-2 – Prophecy of the End Time

Dan 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John 5:24-30 – Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

Jn 5:24 “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. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 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. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Acts 24:14-16 – The Defense Before Felix

Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

1st Resurrection – Believers

First Stage: Christ’s resurrection is first, “the firstfruits” of all who follow.
- Jesus Christ paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him.
- 1Co 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

Second Stage: Resurrection of the Jerusalem saints
- Mt 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
- Is 26:19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise.
  Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.

Third Stage: The Rapture, Christians
- 1Th 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
  - This passage precludes the Old Testament Saints here because it’s the dead in Christ.
- 1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
  - This passage precludes the Old Testament Saints here because the personal pronoun “we” is used in the context of the Christians.
  - The imagery of the Rapture is always an imagery of the Bridegroom coming for His Bride. The Bride consists of the Church Age Saints. It doesn’t include the Old Testament Saints. That’s the Church Age Saints. And so I think that the Bible is very clear: the Rapture is going to be for those who are in Christ, Church Age Saints, living and dead, and not include the Old Testament Saints.

Fourth Stage: Two Witnesses who are martyred
- Rev 11:11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Fifth Stage: Tribulation saints martyred
- The Resurrection of the Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Saints will occur after the Second Coming of the Messiah.
- Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, … 14 “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Sixth Stage: The Old Testament Saints
- The imagery of the Rapture is always an imagery of the Bridegroom coming for His Bride. The Bride consists of the Church Age Saints. It doesn’t include the Old Testament Saints. That’s the Church Age Saints. And so I think that the Bible is very clear: the Rapture is going to be for those who are in Christ, Church Age Saints, living and dead, and not include the Old Testament Saints.
  - The Resurrection of the Old Testament Saints will occur after the Second Coming of the Messiah.
  - At that time – The time of the end – will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
  - Referring to the end of the tribulation
- Prophecy of the End Time - Dan 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. … 13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

2nd Resurrection – Unbelievers

Revelation 20:12-13 identifies those comprising the second resurrection as the wicked judged by God at the great white throne judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire.
- Rev 20:11 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. 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. 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.

The second resurrection, then, is the raising of all unbelievers
- The second resurrection is connected to the second death.

It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).
- John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Right at the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, when it’s all wrapped up, then everyone who has ever died outside of a faith relationship with the Lord will be resurrected and judged at that time.
- So the second resurrection, the resurrection of the unjust occurs all at one time.

What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection?

https://www.gotquestions.org/resurrection-first-second.html

Daniel 12:2 summarizes the two very different fates facing mankind: “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Everyone will be raised from the dead, but not everyone will share the same destiny. The New Testament reveals the further detail of separate resurrections for the just and the unjust.

Revelation 20:4-6 mentions a “first resurrection” and identifies those involved as “blessed and holy.” The second death (the lake of fire, Revelation 20:14) has no power over these individuals. The first resurrection, then, is the raising of all believers. It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14) and the “resurrection of life” (John 5:29).

The first resurrection takes place in various stages. Jesus Christ Himself (the “first fruits,” 1 Corinthians 15:20), paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him. There was a resurrection of the Jerusalem saints (Matthew 27:52-53) which should be included in our consideration of the first resurrection. Still to come are the resurrection of “the dead in Christ” at the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4).

Revelation 20:12-13 identifies those comprising the second resurrection as the wicked judged by God at the great white throne judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire. The second resurrection, then, is the raising of all unbelievers; the second resurrection is connected to the second death. It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).

The event which divides the first and second resurrections seems to be the millennial kingdom. The last of the righteous are raised to reign “with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4), but the “rest of the dead [that is, the wicked] lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).

What great rejoicing will attend the first resurrection! What great anguish at the second! What a responsibility we have to share the Gospel! “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23).

What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection?

When will the Resurrection take place?

https://www.gotquestions.org/when-resurrection.html

The Bible is clear that resurrection is a reality and this life is not all that there is. While death is the end of physical life, it is not the end of human existence. Many erroneously believe that there is one general resurrection at the end of the age, but the Bible teaches that there will be not one resurrection, but a series of resurrections, some to eternal life in heaven and some to eternal damnation (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29).

The first great resurrection was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is documented in each of the four Gospels (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20), cited several times in Acts (Acts 1:22; 2:31; 4:2, 33; 26:23), and mentioned repeatedly in the letters to the churches (Romans 1:4; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:3). Much is made of the importance of Christ’s resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, which records that over five hundred people saw Him at one of His post-resurrection appearances. Christ’s resurrection is the “first fruits” or guarantee to every Christian that he will also be resurrected. Christ’s resurrection is also the basis of the Christian’s certainty that all people who have died will one day be raised to face fair and even-handed judgment by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31). The resurrection to eternal life is described as “the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5-6); the resurrection to judgment and torment is described as “the second death” (Revelation 20:6, 13-15).

The first great resurrection of the Church will occur at the time of the rapture. All those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ during the Church Age, and have died before Jesus returns, will be resurrected at the rapture. The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost and will end when Christ returns to take believers back to heaven with Him (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Apostle Paul explained that not all Christians will die, but all will be changed, i.e., given resurrection-type bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-58), some without having to die! Christians who are alive, and those who have already died, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him always!

Another great resurrection will occur when Christ returns to earth (His Second Coming) at the end of the Tribulation period. After the rapture, the Tribulation is the next event after the Church Age in God’s chronology. This will be a time of terrible judgment upon the world, described in great detail in Revelation chapters 6-18. Though all Church Age believers will be gone, millions of people left behind on earth will come to their senses during this time and will trust in Jesus as their Savior. Tragically, most of them will pay for their faith in Jesus by losing their lives (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 13:7, 15-17; 17:6; 19:1-2). These believers in Jesus who die during the Tribulation will be resurrected at Christ’s return and will reign with Him for a thousand years during the Millennium (Revelation 20:4, 6). Old Testament believers such as Job, Noah, Abraham, David and even John the Baptist (who was assassinated before the Church began) will be resurrected at this time also. Several passages in the Old Testament mention this event (Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-2; Hosea 13:14). Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes primarily the regathering of the Nation of Israel using the symbolism of dead corpses coming back to life. But from the language used, a physical resurrection of dead Israelis cannot be excluded from the passage. Again, all believers in God (in the Old Testament era) and all believers in Jesus (in the New Testament era) participate in the first resurrection, a resurrection to life (Revelation 20:4, 6).

There may be another resurrection at the end of the Millennium, one which is implied, but never explicitly stated in Scripture. It is possible that some believers will die a physical death during the Millennium. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). On the other hand, it is also possible that death in the Millennium will only come to the disobedient. In either event, some kind of transformation will be required to fit believers in their natural bodies in the Millennium for pristine existence throughout eternity. Each believer will need to have a “resurrected” type of body.

It is clear from Scripture that God will destroy the entire universe, including the earth, with fire (2 Peter 3:7-12). This will be necessary to purge God’s creation of its endemic evil and decay brought upon it by man’s sin. In its place God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4). But what will happen to those believers who survived the Tribulation and entered the Millennium in their natural bodies? And what will happen to those who were born during the Millennium, trusted in Jesus, and continued to live in their natural bodies? Paul has made it clear that flesh and blood, which is mortal and able to decay, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. That eternal kingdom is inhabitable only by those with resurrected, glorified bodies that are no longer mortal and are not able to decay (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). Presumably, these believers will be given resurrection bodies without having to die. Precisely when this happens is not explained, but theologically, it must happen somewhere in the transition from the old earth and universe to the new earth and new heaven (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4).

There is a final resurrection, apparently of all the unbelieving dead of all ages. Jesus Christ will raise them from the dead (John 5:25-29) after the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:5), and after the destruction of the present earth and universe (2 Peter 3:7-12; Revelation 20:11). This is the resurrection described by Daniel as an awakening “from the dust of the ground ... to disgrace and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). It is described by Jesus as a “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29).

The Apostle John saw something that would happen in the future. He saw a “great white throne” (Revelation 20:11). Heaven and earth “fled away” from the One sitting on it. This is evidently a description of the dissolution by fire of all matter, including the entire universe and earth itself (2 Peter 3:7-12). All the (godless) dead will stand before the throne. This means they have been resurrected after the thousand years (Revelation 20:5). They will possess bodies that can feel pain but will never cease to exist (Mark 9:43-48). They will be judged, and their punishment will be commensurate with their works. But there is another book opened—the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the “lake of fire,” which amounts to “the second death” (Revelation 20:11-15). No indication is given of any who appear at this judgment that their names are found in the book of life. Rather, those whose names appear in the book of life were among those who are blessed, for they received forgiveness and partook of the first resurrection, the resurrection to life (Revelation 20:6).

When will the Resurrection take place?

Resurrections and Judgments - How many and when? By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/resurrections-and-judgments/

My boyhood church always taught that there would be one resurrection and one judgment. Everyone who had ever lived would be resurrected at one time, and all of us — the just and the unjust — would be judged at the same time. The sheep would be separated from the goats at the Great White Throne Judgment pictured in Revelation 20:11-15.

But this concept is all wrong. The Bible reveals that there will be more than one resurrection and more than one judgment.

Multiple Resurrections

Concerning resurrection, Jesus clearly taught that there would be more than one resurrection. In John 5:29 He refers to a “resurrection of life” and a “resurrection of judgment.” The apostle Paul confirmed this concept in his defense before Felix when he stated that he believed the teaching of the prophets “that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” (Acts 24:15).

Of course, it could be argued that the two resurrections referred to in these scriptures will occur at the same time. Thus, because they will happen simultaneously, there is, in effect, only one resurrection. However, the Scriptures establish the fact that the resurrection of the righteous will occur in stages.

In other words, the Bible does not teach one resurrection or even two resurrections in number. Rather, it teaches that there will be two resurrections in type which will be conducted in stages, resulting in several resurrections — at least four, to be specific.

The Resurrection of the Just

That the resurrection of the righteous will occur in stages is clearly taught in 1 Corinthians 15:20-24. In fact, the first stage of the resurrection of the righteous has already happened, for verse 20 says that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”

Verses 22 and 23 go on to explain that all who have died in Christ shall be made alive, “but each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

The imagery of the harvest that is used in these verses is a key to understanding the first resurrection — the resurrection of the righteous.

The Harvest Imagery

In Bible times the harvest was conducted in three stages. It began with the gathering of the first fruits which were offered as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

It proceeded with the general harvest. But not all was taken in this harvest. Some of the crop was left in the field to be gathered by the poor and the needy. This was called the gleanings (Leviticus 19:9-10).

Using this imagery, the Bible presents the resurrection of Jesus as the “first fruits” of the resurrection of the righteous. The gathering of the Church Age saints, living and dead, at the appearing of the Lord (the Rapture) is thus the general harvest stage of the resurrection of the righteous (John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

But there is a third and final stage to this resurrection of the righteous. It is the gleanings, and it occurs at the end of the Tribulation when the Lord’s Second Coming takes place. At that time two final groups of the righteous will be resurrected: 1) the Tribulation martyrs (Revelation 20:4), and 2) the Old Testament saints (Dan 12:2).

Some people are startled by the thought that the Old Testament saints will not be resurrected until the end of the Tribulation. But keep in mind that the Rapture is a promise to the Church, and the Church only. Also, the book of Daniel makes it clear that the Old Testament saints will be resurrected at the end of the “time of distress” (Daniel 12:1-2).

So the first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous, occurs in three stages, beginning with Christ, continuing with the Church at the Rapture, and culminating with the Tribulation martyrs and the Old Testament saints at the return of Jesus.

The Resurrection of the Unjust

The second type of resurrection, “the resurrection of the wicked” (Acts 24:15), will take place all at one time at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus. This is at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment, the judgment of the damned (Revelation 20:11-15).

Every person who ever failed to relate to God in faith will be resurrected at this time, regardless of when he or she may have lived and died — whether before or after the Cross. This resurrection will also include the unjust who died during the Tribulation and the Millennium.

There will be no need for an additional resurrection of the righteous at the end of the Millennium, because all those born during that time who accept Jesus as their Savior will live to the end of the Lord’s reign (Isaiah 65:19-20). “‘As the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,’… says the Lord” (Isaiah 65:22,25). In other words, life spans during the Millennium will be returned to what they were at the beginning of time, before the flood.

The Certainty of Judgment

Resurrection will be followed by judgment. Solomon wrote, “Fear God and keep His commandments… For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

The apostle Paul emphasized the certainty of judgment. In Romans 2:16 he wrote, “God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” And in Romans 14:10,12 he stated, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” The writer to the Hebrews summed it up succinctly: “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

The Completed Judgment

But not all people are going to be judged at the same time. Just as there are going to be several resurrections, there are also going to be several judgments.

One judgment has already taken place. It is the judgment of believers for their sins.

This comes as a surprise to most Christians. Some find it hard to believe. I’ll never forget when I realized it from my study of Scripture. I became filled with so much joy that I felt like jumping pews all day!

Let me put it to you in another way. If you are truly born again, then you will never stand before the Lord and be judged of your sins. That’s because the judgment for your sins took place at the Cross.

You see, all your sins, and mine, were placed upon Jesus as He hung upon the Cross, and the wrath we deserve was poured out upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became our substitute. He took our judgment for sin (Romans 8:3 and Galatians 3:13).

If you have appropriated the blood of Jesus to your life by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, then your sins have been forgiven. They have also been forgotten in the sense that God will never remember them against you again (Isaiah 43:25 and Hebrews 8:12).

Think of it — forgiven and forgotten! That is grace!

The Judgment of the Just

If the Redeemed will never be judged of their sins, then what will they be judged of, and when will the judgment take place?

The Bible teaches that the Redeemed will be judged of their works, not to determine their eternal destiny, but to determine their degrees of reward.

Christians do not work to be saved; they work because they are saved. In fact, the Bible says they are saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10 and Titus 2:14). Such good works, if properly done, will be done in the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 4:11) and for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Significance of Spiritual Gifts

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 that every person who is born again receives at least one supernatural spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. A person may receive more than one gift. And, if you are a good steward of the gifts you receive, then you may receive additional gifts as you develop spiritually (Luke 19:26).

God expects us to use our spiritual gifts to advance His kingdom. This is what the judgment of works will be all about. Each of us who are redeemed will stand before the Lord Jesus and give an accounting of how we used our gifts to advance the kingdom of God on earth.

We will be judged as to the quantity of our works (Luke 19:11-27; Romans 2:6-7). We will be judged as to the quality of our works (1 Corinthians 3:10-14). Finally, we will be judged as to the motivation of our works (1 Corinthians 4:5).

I can imagine some famous evangelist being brought before the Lord for judgment.

“How did you use your spiritual gifts to advance my kingdom?” asks the Lord.

“I used my gifts as a teacher and evangelist to preach the gospel to millions,” replies the preacher.

“Yes,” says the Lord, “you certainly did that. But, I know your heart, and thus I know your motivation. You preached not because you loved Me but because you wanted to become famous. You wanted to have your picture published on the cover of Time magazine. You accomplished that in February of 1953. Here’s your picture. That’s all the reward I have for you!”

And then I can imagine the Lord calling up a little old lady that no one has ever heard of.

“Dear, on the day you accepted Me as your Lord and Savior, I gave you one gift — the gift of mercy. And every time someone was ill, you were the first to offer comfort and encouragement. You were the one who organized the prayer chain. Every time someone went to the hospital, you were the first to visit them. Every time someone died, you were the one who organized the meals. And you did all of these things simply because you loved me.”

The Lord will give her a crown full of so many jewels that she will have a neck ache for eternity!

Seriously, there will be degrees of rewards. They will be manifested in the crowns we receive (2 Timothy 4:7-8), the robes we wear (Revelation 19:8), and the degrees of ruling authority which we exercise with the Lord (Luke 19:11-27).

The Timing of the Judgments

When and where will the judgment of the Redeemed take place? The Bible indicates the judgment of believers who have lived and died during the Church Age will occur in Heaven before the judgment seat of Jesus, immediately following the Rapture of the Church (2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 19:6-9).

Those who are saved and martyred during the Tribulation will be judged at the end of that period when they are resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 20:4). The Tribulation saints who live to the end of that terrible period are another group that will be judged at the Second Coming of Jesus in “the sheep and goat judgment” portrayed in Matthew 25:31-46. The Old Testament saints will also be judged at the time of the Second Coming (Ezekiel 20:34-38).

All the unrighteous who have ever lived will be resurrected and judged at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus.

The Judgment of the Unjust

The terrible judgment of the unrighteous is pictured in Revelation 20:11-15. It is called the “Great White Throne” judgment.

We are told that the wicked also will be judged of their works. But their judgment will be radically different from the judgment of the Redeemed. Whereas the Redeemed are judged of their works to determine their degrees of reward, the lost are judged of their works to determine their eternal destiny.

And since no one can be justified before God by their works (Isaiah 64:6 and Ephesians 2:8-10), all will be condemned to Hell. That’s why I call this judgment “the judgment of the damned.”

The unjust are also judged for another reason. There are going to be degrees of punishment (Luke 12:35-48; 20:45-47).

There is a popular myth in Christendom that says, “All sin is equal in the eyes of God.” That is not true. The only way in which all sin is equal is that any sin, whether a white lie or murder, condemns us before God and necessitates a Savior.

But all sin is not equal in the eyes of God. For example, Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven sins that the Lord particularly hates, including “hands that shed innocent blood.” And the Bible makes it very clear that idolatry is a sin that is especially heinous in the eyes of God (Exodus 20:3-5).

Because God considers some sins worse than others, there will be degrees of punishment (Revelation 22:12), and these degrees will be specified at the Great White Throne judgment.

A Call to Repentance

Where do you stand with respect to the inevitable judgment which you will face before the Lord?

If you are a Christian, do you know what spiritual gifts you have been given? Are you using them to advance the Lord’s kingdom? Is your motivation a love of the Lord?

If you have never confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do you really want to participate in the judgment of the damned? Do you realize that the Bible says, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord”? That means Hitler and every vile person like him who has ever lived will one day make the confession of Jesus’ lordship. You will too.

I urge you to make that confession now so that you can participate in the resurrection and judgment of the righteous. As you consider your decision, weigh carefully the following words from the book of Hebrews: “Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:28).

Notice carefully that this verse promises that for those who are ready for Him, Jesus will come “without reference to sin.” That is a wonderful promise.

Resurrections and Judgments - How many and when?

The Revelation Resurrections and the Lake of Fire

(Prophecy Watchers)

The prophets of the Bible wrote about the future over 2500 years ago and today we see many of their prophecies coming to life in amazing detail. It’s always a joy to have Bible prophecy expert, Bill Salus with us at Prophecy Watchers. Bill began to create a biblical roadmap to the future over 10 years ago, investigating a series of prophesied wars found in the Old Testament. But Bill’s new book and companion DVD, The Millennium Prophecies and the New Jerusalem, takes us to a different place. It’s a journey into the future to investigate a subject most Christians know little about … the things that take place on Earth AFTER Jesus returns.

The Revelation Resurrections and the Lake of Fire

ALL WILL BE JUDGED FOR ALL ETERNITY

Hebrews 9:27-28 – Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

Hebrew 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.

Psalm 9:7-8 – Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Righteous Judgments

Ps 9:7 But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment.
8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.

Acts 17:29-31 – Addressing the Areopagus

Acts 17:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 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.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – The Whole Duty of Man

Ec 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Romans 2:5-10 – God’s Righteous Judgment

Ro 2:1 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. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 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? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 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, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Matthew 12:35-37 – A Tree Known by Its Fruit

Mt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 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. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Ezekiel 18:19-24 – Turn and Live

Ez 18:19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

Romans 6:16-23 – From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

Ro 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:14-20 – The New Birth

Jn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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 condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Revelation 2:10-11 – The Persecuted Church [Smyrna]

Rev 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 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.” ’

Hebrews 10:26-31 – The Just Live by Faith

Hebrew 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

2 Peter 3:8-9 – God’s Promise Is Not Slack

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Matthew 7:21-23 – I Never Knew You

Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7:13-14 – The Narrow Way

Mt 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Luke 3:15-17 – John Preaches to the People

Lk 3:15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:12 – John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mt 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 13:47-50 – The Parable of the Dragnet

Mt 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:11-12 – Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

Mt 8:11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Revelation 2:22-23 – The Corrupt Church [Thyatira]

Rev 2:22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Psalm 62:11-12 – A Calm Resolve to Wait for the Salvation of God

Ps 62;11 God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.

Revelation 22:12 – Jesus Testifies to the Churches

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

Psalm 145:20 – A Song of God’s Majesty and Love

Ps 145:20 The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.

Matthew 25:1-11 – The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Mt 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. …10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Matthew 25:45-46 – The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations (Separation of Sheep and Goats)

Mt 25:45 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.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Proverbs 15:24 – A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness. …

24 The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.

Psalm 37:7 – The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked

Ps 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the Lord, And keep His way,

And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them, Because they trust in Him.

All Judged for All Eternity

The Judgment of God - The Inevitability of Judgment By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-judgment-of-god/

[read in Lamplighter (pdf)]

Two of the most ignored subjects in pulpits today are the wrath of God and the judgment of God. I guess most pastors have decided these are topics people do not want to hear, and they are certainly correct. But that is no excuse for avoiding them.

I have written extensively about the wrath of God. You can find a detailed exposition on our website at https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-wrath-of-god. In this article I explain that although our Creator is a God of love, grace and mercy, He is also a God of justice, righteousness and holiness. As such, He must deal with sin, and He does that in both wrath and judgment. I also explain in the article that there are five types of God’s wrath: Consequential, Cataclysmic, Abandonment, Eschatological and Eternal.

The Inevitability of Judgment

King Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes ends with these words in chapter 12:

13) The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
14) For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Judgment for all of us is inevitable. For those who reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their judgment will take place at the end of the Millennium when they will be resurrected and judged of their works to determine their eternal destiny. And since no one can be saved by works, all of them will be consigned to Hell.

For those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we will be judged by Him as to how we used our spiritual gifts to advance His kingdom here on earth — not to determine our eternal destiny, but to determine our degrees of rewards. You can find a wonderful article about heavenly rewards on our website by Pastor Glenn Meredith (https://christinprophecy.org/articles/heavenly-rewards).

I want to emphasize that those of us who have been born again through faith in Jesus will never be judged of our sins. That’s because Jesus took that judgment for us as He hung on the Cross. Thus, we are told in Hebrews 9:28 that because Jesus died for our sins, when He appears a second time, it will be “without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” That’s what I call a “Hallelujah verse.”

The Bible says that for believers, God has removed our transgressions from us as far as east is from west (Psalm 103:12). In Jeremiah 31:34, God says He will remember our sins no more. Micah 7:19 declares that God will cast our sins in the depths of the sea. And, as Corrie ten Boom used to say, “He has put a sign there that says, ‘No Fishing!'”

Judgment in the Scriptures

I was recently reading one of Ron Rhodes’ excellent books titled, New Babylon Rising. In it, I ran across a series of quotations about judgment that I would like to share with you.

Theologian Paul Enns has noted that “because God is holy, He must judge all that is unholy or He would no longer be holy. Judgment is a necessary expression of God’s own character.”

Another theologian, Henry C. Thiessen, comments that “the whole philosophy of the future judgments rests upon the sovereign right of God to punish disobedience.” He then provides a great biblical summary regarding God’s prerogative to judge humankind:

In Genesis, Abraham recognized God as the judge of all the earth (18:25), and Hannah said that “the LORD will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Sam. 2:10). David spoke of the Lord “coming to judge the earth” (1 Chron. 16: 33), and he said that He had established His throne for judgment” (Psalm. 9:7).

In the New Testament, this fact is more frequently asserted. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds” (Matt. 16:27). At Athens, Paul declared that God had “fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed” (Acts 17:31)…The writer to the Hebrews says that after death comes the judgment (9:27). It was John who “saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne” to be judged (Rev. 20:12). God has given assurance of the fact of judgment by raising Christ, the judge, from the dead (Acts 17:31).

Are you ready to face the inevitable judgment of God? If not, then repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is only then that you can be confident that God has forgiven and forgotten yours sins — past, present and future. Hallelujah!

The Judgment of God - The Inevitability of Judgment

What are all the different judgments in the Bible?

https://www.gotquestions.org/all-the-judgments.html

There are several judgments mentioned in the Bible. Our God is a God of justice, as the psalmist says, “A scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6). It is the Lord Jesus Himself who is the Judge of all the earth: “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5:5). Here is a list of significant judgments in their likely chronological sequence:

Judgments that have already occurred:

The judgment of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:14–24). God banished the first couple from the Garden of Eden for violating His clear command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This judgment affected all of creation (Genesis 3:17–18; Romans 8:20–22).

The judgment of the antediluvian world (Genesis 7:17–24). God sent a worldwide flood in judgment of mankind’s sin in Noah’s time. The flood destroyed all of mankind and the animal world, except for Noah and his family, whose faith led them to obey God’s command to build the ark.

The judgment at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:5–9). Noah’s post-flood descendants remained in one location in defiance of God’s command, so God confused their language, causing them to disperse over the earth.

The judgment of Egypt and their gods (Exodus 7—12). The ten plagues against Egypt at the time of the exodus were “mighty acts of judgment” (Exodus 7:4) against a stubborn, cruel king and an idolatrous people and their gods (Exodus 12:12).

The judgment of believers’ sins (Isaiah 53:4–8). Jesus took this judgment upon Himself by His crucifixion and death. “He suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Because our sin was judged at the cross, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). It was also at the cross that God pronounced judgment on the unbelieving world and on the enemy of our souls, Satan. As Jesus said shortly before His arrest, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31).

Judgments occurring now in the church age:

Self-evaluation (1 Corinthians 11:28). Believers practice self-examination, prayerfully and honestly assessing their own spiritual condition. The church helps in this endeavor to purify the Body of Christ (Matthew 18:15–17). Self-judgment requires each believer to be spiritually discerning, with a goal of being more like Christ (Ephesians 4:21–23).

Divine discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). As a father lovingly corrects his children, so the Lord disciplines His own; that is, He brings His followers to a place of repentance and restoration when they sin. In so doing, He makes a distinction between us and the world: “When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). Whom Christ loves, He chastens (Revelation 3:19).

Judgments to occur in the future:

The judgments of the tribulation period (Revelation 6—16). These terrible judgments are pictured as seven seals opened, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. God’s judgment against the wicked will leave no doubt as to His wrath against sin. Besides punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of Israel to repentance.

The judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Resurrected (and raptured) believers in heaven will be judged for their works. Sin is not in view at this judgment, as that was paid for by Christ, but only faithfulness in Christian service. Selfish works or those done with wrong motives will be burned up (the “wood, hay, and stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12). Works of lasting value to the Lord will survive (the “gold, silver, and precious stones”). Rewards, which the Bible calls “crowns” (Revelation 3:11) will be given by the One who is “not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him” (Hebrews 6:10).

The judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46). After the tribulation, the Lord Jesus will sit in judgment over the Gentile nations. They will be judged according to their treatment of Israel during the tribulation. This judgment is also called the judgment of the sheep and the goats because of the imagery Jesus uses in the Olivet Discourse. Those who showed faith in God by treating Israel favorably (giving them aid and comfort during the tribulation) are the “sheep” who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Those who followed the Antichrist’s lead and persecuted Israel are the “goats” who will be consigned to hell.

The judgment of angels (1 Corinthians 6:2–3). Paul says that Christians will judge angels. We aren’t exactly sure what this means, but the angels facing judgment would have to be the fallen angels. It seems that Satan’s hordes of demons will be judged by the redeemed ones of the Lamb. Some of these demons are already imprisoned in darkness and awaiting judgment, according to Jude 1:6, due to their leaving their proper dwelling place.

The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). This final judgment of unbelievers for their sins occurs at the end of the Millennium, before the creation of the new heaven and earth. At this judgment, unbelievers from all the ages are judged for their sins and consigned to the lake of fire.

In Job 8:3, Bildad, one of Job’s friends, asks, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?” The answer, of course, is “no.” “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4), and God’s judgments will make His perfection shine forth in all its glory.

One of the Holy Spirit’s tasks in this world is to convict the world of coming judgment (John 16:8–11). When a person truly understands his sin, he will acknowledge his guilty position before a Holy God. The surety of judgment should cause the sinner to turn to the Savior and cast himself on the mercy of God in Christ. Praise the Lord that, in Christ, “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

What are all the different judgments in the Bible?

The Certainty of Judgment - An overview of what the Bible says about resurrection and judgment - By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-certainty-of-judgment/

But this concept is all wrong. The Bible reveals that there will be more than one resurrection and more than one judgment.

Multiple Resurrections

The Resurrection of the Just

Verses 22 and 23 go on to explain that all who have died in Christ shall be made alive, “but each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

The imagery of the harvest that is used in these verses is a key to understanding the first resurrection — the resurrection of the righteous.

The Harvest Imagery

In Bible times the harvest was conducted in three stages. It began with the gathering of the first fruits which were offered as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

But there is a third and final stage to this resurrection of the righteous. It is the gleanings, and it occurs at the end of the Tribulation when the Lord’s Second Coming takes place. At that time two final groups of the righteous will be resurrected: the Tribulation martyrs (Revelation 20:4), and the Old Testament saints (Daniel 12:2).

The Resurrection of Old Testament Saints

A Summary of the Resurrection of the Just

The first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous, occurs in three stages, beginning with Christ, continuing with the Church at the Rapture, and culminating with the Tribulation martyrs and the Old Testament saints at the return of Jesus.

The Resurrection of the Unjust

There will be no need for an additional resurrection of the righteous at the end of the Millennium, because all those born during that time who accept Jesus as their Savior will live to the end of the Lord’s reign (Isaiah 65:19-20). “‘As the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,’… says the Lord” (Isaiah 65:22). In other words, life spans during the Millennium will be returned to what they were at the beginning of time, before the flood.

The Certainty of Judgment

The apostle Paul emphasized the certainty of judgment. In Romans 2:16 he wrote, “God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” And in Romans 14:10, 12 he stated, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” The writer to the Hebrews summed it up succinctly: “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

The Completed Judgment

But not all people are going to be judged at the same time. Just as there are going to be several resurrections, there are also going to be several judgments.

One judgment has already taken place. It is the judgment of believers for their sins.

If you have appropriated the blood of Jesus to your life by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, then your sins have been forgiven.

They have also been forgotten in the sense that God will never remember them against you again (Isaiah 43:25 and Hebrews 8:12).

Think of it — forgiven and forgotten! That is grace!

The Judgment of the Just

If the Redeemed will never be judged of their sins, then what will they be judged of, and when will the judgment take place?

The Bible teaches that the Redeemed will be judged of their works, not to determine their eternal destiny, but to determine their degrees of reward.

The Significance of Spiritual Gifts

We will be judged as to the quantity of our works (Luke 19:11-27 and Romans 2:6-7). We will be judged as to the quality of our works (1 Corinthians 3:10-14). Finally, we will be judged as to the motivation of our works (1 Corinthians 4:5).

I can imagine some famous evangelist being brought before the Lord for judgment. “How did you use your spiritual gifts to advance my kingdom?” asks the Lord.

“I used my gifts as a teacher and evangelist to preach the gospel to millions,” replies the preacher.

And then I can imagine the Lord calling up a little old lady that no one has ever heard of.

The Lord will give her a crown full of so many jewels that she will have a neck ache for eternity!

The Timing of the Judgments

All the unrighteous who have ever lived will be resurrected and judged at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus.

The Judgment of the Unjust

The terrible judgment of the unrighteous is pictured in Revelation 20:11-15. It is called the “Great White Throne” judgment.

And since no one can be justified before God by their works (Isaiah 64:6 and Ephesians 2:8-10), all will be condemned to Hell. That’s why I call this judgment “the judgment of the damned.”

The unjust are also judged for another reason. There are going to be degrees of punishment (Luke 12:35-48 and 20:45-47).

Because God considers some sins worse than others, there will be degrees of punishment (Revelation 22:12), and these degrees will be specified at the Great White Throne judgment.

A Call to Repentance

Where do you stand with respect to the inevitable judgment which you will face before the Lord?

If you are a Christian, do you know what spiritual gifts you have been given? Are you using them to advance the Lord’s kingdom? Is your motivation a love of the Lord?

Notice carefully that this verse promises that for those who are ready for Him, Jesus will come “without reference to sin.” That is a wonderful promise.

The Certainty of Judgment

All Mankind Will Be Judged :: By Grant Phillips

https://www.raptureready.com/2021/12/22/all-mankind-will-be-judged-by-grant-phillips/

Standing before an earthly judge as a defendant must be a nerve-wracking experience, but one day we will all stand before God to give an account of our lives. That God is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only true God … the same one that our society vilifies and works tirelessly to reject.

Yes, having an earthly judge pass judgment upon us can be anything from inconvenient to most troubling, but it is not permanent. At worse, the judgment can only last the remainder of our earthly lives. The judgment of the earthly judge could even be reversed. However, when God passes judgment, His decision is permanent, and it will never change. In other words, it is eternal. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Every person reading this needs to consider that the earthly court can make decisions penalizing or rewarding us while we are in these earthly bodies. However, even after our body has long been dead, our soul lives on for all eternity, either in Heaven or hell.

Many, probably most, in our society today don’t like to be reminded that they are a sinner and need to be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3. They most always want to quote Matthew 7:1 (judge not) but ignore Matthew 7:20 or John 7:24.

Regardless of how loudly we protest, all, without exception, will be judged by God. There are three judgments I would like to mention.

THE CROSS

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:30

I have already mentioned that everyone, both believers and unbelievers, will face a final judgment. All believers of the Church age will be judged by Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is also called the Bema Seat. All unbelievers will be judged by Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment. We will look at these two next.

First, and most importantly, however, is the judgment of God the Father upon Jesus, God the Son. Without this judgment, there would be no Judgment Seat of Christ. All of us would stand before God at the Great White Throne instead, waiting to be cast into hell, the lake of fire.

Thanks be to God, Jesus paid the sin debt we could never pay, and by doing so, He has provided the one way we can be rescued and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'” (John 14:6).

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).

Because Jesus gave Himself to be our propitiation (the offering provided to satisfy God’s wrath), anyone who will put their faith in Jesus can avoid facing the judgment of hell at the Great White Throne.

As Dr. J. Vernon McGee stated, “There is not a person on topside of this world that is being forced to be lost. They are lost because they have chosen to be lost.”

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (Bema)

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

This judgment will occur in Heaven when all the earth is experiencing the seven-year Tribulation.

For those in the Church age who have been born again in Jesus (John 3:3), we will never be judged for our sins. Jesus took all our sins upon Himself and was judged in our place. We are eternally safe in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

So, what is the Judgment Seat of Christ all about? All true Christians will be judged for their works, not for salvation, but for rewards. All true Christians have finished the race, as Paul would say, and then will be rewarded for the works done in Christ. Paul explains this in the following verses.

“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” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

If the works we have done are like gold, silver and precious stones, we will receive a reward from Jesus. If our works are like wood, hay and straw, we will suffer loss because they will burn up, and there will be no reward for those.

Please notice that WE are not being judged; our WORKS are being judged to determine our rewards. Every work we do for and through Him will be rewarded, and I believe Jesus delights in our faithfulness. Notice the next verse.

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

Once more, our salvation is secure in Him. He paid our debt for sin. It is our WORKS that are being judged.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

Revelation 20:11-15

This judgment will occur immediately after the one-thousand-year Millennium.

This next judgment is for everyone who has rejected Him. This judgment includes every person who has ever lived upon this earth and has rejected His saving grace. Please notice what Jesus has to say in the following two passages.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

“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” (Revelation 20:11-15).

Based on the next two passages, I am convinced that there will be different degrees of judgment in hell, just as there will be different degrees of reward in Heaven. This is not to make light of the fact that hell is still hell. It is not a place anyone would want to be.

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 10:12-16).

“And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48).

Of these last two judgments, the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne, which would you rather attend? Thanks to the judgment Jesus took for us on the cross, many will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ where only their works are being judged to determine their rewards. Unfortunately, many, many more will be at the Great White Throne to determine their placement in hell.

If you are reading this, you can still decide to be where Jesus will reward you (Judgment Seat of Christ) instead of condemn you (Great White Throne).

THE GOOD NEWS

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If you will accept the fact that you cannot save yourself, but Jesus can and will, and if you will just put your faith in Him, then He will save you by His grace. Just accept the judgment of the cross that He bore for you.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

All who put their faith solely in Jesus to be saved will never be condemned, but those who refuse to believe “in the name of the only begotten Son of God” are already condemned and will spend eternity in hell.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Our sins send us to hell because God cannot allow sin in His presence. The gift of salvation is free, but it isn’t cheap. Jesus gave His life and took our judgment upon Himself for all those who will believe in Him. His grave is empty, and He is now in Heaven waiting for you to decide. Will you trust Him or reject Him? He promises in the next verse that if you call upon Him, you will be saved.

“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

King David said:

“For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalms 103:11-12).

Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

All Mankind Will Be Judged

BEMA JUDGMENT – Christians

What is the Judgment Seat of Christ?

https://www.gotquestions.org/judgment-seat-Christ.html

Romans 14:10–12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. . . . So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (ESV). Second Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” In context, it is clear that both passages refer to Christians, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Christ, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ.

The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we committed. However, that is not going to be the primary focus of the judgment seat of Christ.

At the judgment seat of Christ, believers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). Some of the things we might be judged on are how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans 6:1-4), and how well we controlled our tongues (James 3:1-9). The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for different things based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. James 1:12 is a good summary of how we should think about the judgment seat of Christ: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

The word ‘judgement’ in 2 Corinthians 5:10 is the word “bema” B-E-M-A
- The bema judgment seat is for rewards, much like the judge at the Olympics stands before the contestants and he gives the gold, the silver, and the bronze.

The participants in the judgment seat of Christ are members of the New Testament church
- These are people who have trusted Christ as Savior from the Day of Pentecost, until the coming of Christ for His church.
  - It does not include the Old Testament believers. They will have a separate time of judgment and reward.
  - Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
- All believers will stand before God and be individually judged.
  - Ro 14:10 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.

The judging of believers will occur after the rapture of the church, but before the Second Coming of Christ to the earth.
- Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Rev 19:14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
- We are told that the bride is clothed with righteous deeds. The church, therefore, has already been at the judgment seat of Christ because they are ready for the groom when He comes. Hence the judgment takes place sometime before the Second Coming of Christ.

What will happen at this judgment seat?
- The judgment seat of Christ is not designed to punish believers, but rather to reward them for their faithful service. All of us will give an account of what we have done after trusting Christ as Savior. Therefore, the judgment seat of Christ is a judgment of believers works after salvation.
- The judgment seat of Christ is a time of examination and reward. From Scripture we can conclude the following concerning the judgment seat of Christ, the Bema:
  - The Lord will resurrect the bodies of the saints who have died during the church age, as well as change the bodies of those still alive. They will meet the Lord in the air and proceed to the judgment seat of Christ.
  - This judgment will consist of rewards for faithful service. There will be no condemning anyone.
  - Rewards will consist of crowns given to believers based upon our faithful service to Him. The rewards will be proportionate to our faithfulness.
- Not Judged For Sin
- This is not a judgment to determine who will enter heaven – they have already been forgiven by the Blood of the Lamb.
  - Ps 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
  - Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

With the death of Christ on the cross, the destiny of the Christian has been once-and-for-all settled.
- There is no condemnation for those who have believed in Christ.
  - Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
- Those who have trusted Christ now possess eternal life.
  - Jn 5:24 “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.
- Curse Removed – The curse against believers has been removed.
  - Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
- Price Paid – Jesus has paid the price for our sins.
  - 1Pe 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
- Sin Offering – He presented Himself as a sin offering on our behalf.
  - 2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Fire – The judgment will be by fire
- Fire is used in Scripture as a symbol of judgment.
  - Ge 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”… 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
  - 1Co 3:13 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. 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.
  - 2Th 1:7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 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.
- Jesus is described with fire – The Bible describes the glorified Christ in this manner:
  - Rev 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
  - Rev 19:12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.
- Fire often symbolizes the holiness of God.
  - Dt 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Some Suffer Loss
- Not everyone will receive the same reward – there will be those who suffer loss.
- Receive your full reward – Believers want to appear without shame before this seat and receive a full reward for their deeds of faith.
  - 1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
  - 2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Be Careful Not To Lose Reward – Scripture warns believers about losing their reward.
- Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown
- This is loss of reward, not of salvation.
- Illustration – We can illustrate the loss of reward in the following manner: Let us say you have recently built a new two story house. While on the second floor, you smell smoke. Looking downstairs, you see that the first floor is on fire. You jump out the second story window to save your life. You then watch your new house burn to the ground. Obviously you will have mixed emotions. You're thankful that you were able to jump and save your life, but you sad because your new house is destroyed. This is similar to those believers who are saved but have nothing to show for it. They squandered their opportunities to live for Christ yet they are enjoying the benefits of heaven with Jesus.

All who experience the judgment seat of Christ will possess the privileges and honors as children of God. Jesus said He will acknowledge those who have believed in Him before His Father, and before the angels.
- Confess Christ Before Men – Mt 10:32 “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.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 – The Judgment Seat of Christ

2Co 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 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. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – Watering, Working, Warning

1Co 3:11 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 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.

Romans 14:10-13 – The Law of Liberty

Ro 14:10 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. 13 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.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 – Stewards of the Mysteries of God

1Co 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 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 John 2:28 – The Children of God

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

Matthew 16:26-28 – Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

Mt 16:26 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? 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. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Revelation 22:12 – Jesus Testifies to the Churches

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

Revelation 3:11 – The Faithful Church

Rev 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

2 John 1:8 – Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Matthew 10:40-42 – A Cup of Cold Water

Mt 10:40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 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.”

Here is a God who, when you put your faith in His Son as Lord and Savior, forgives and forgets your sins in that He will never hold them against you again. And yet He remembers every little good thing that you’ve ever done. Jesus tells us that God’s keeping of records for the purpose of rewarding us is so precise, and so thorough that even the smallest act of kindness is going to be dealt with and rewarded at the judgment seat.

Ephesians 6:5-9 – Bondservants and Masters

Ep 6:5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

BEMA Judgment

The Christian – The Judgment Seat of Christ :: By Ron Ferguson

https://www.raptureready.com/2020/08/04/the-christian-the-judgment-seat-of-christ-by-ron-ferguson/

WHAT WAITS FOR CHRISTIANS?

Christians face a judgment but an entirely different one from the unsaved. We shall look at this passage – Heb 9:26–28 “… but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Man is appointed to death and then to judgment. However, even though verse 27 can be understood as being a universal truth, this Hebrews passage is applying, I believe, more to Christians. They are the ones who have availed themselves of His sacrifice putting away sin, and waiting for that second appearance (the Rapture) with eagerness.

The judgment for Christians is that which is known as The Judgment Seat of Christ (sometimes referred to as the “Bema”). The judgment seat will have nothing to do with death or penalty. These verses shed some light on this matter:

(1). John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

In passage (1), we are told the righteous will never come into judgment, those who believe and have eternal life, so Christians will never be judged. However, this word “judgment” in verse 24 must be understood as that eternal judgment of condemnation and not the judgment seat for Christians, which has nothing to do with life or death because they are already the living ones with eternal life.

(2). Rom 4:8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

The Romans verse in passage (2) tells us our sin will not be taken into account, but this can only mean the sin of separation, that is, the sins that have separated us from God. Once we become Christians, that sin that meant eternal separation and death will no longer be taken into account because we are blessed with eternal life.

(3). Rom 14:10 “But you, why do you judge your brother, or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Passage (3) is a serious one. It concerns the partial Christian who takes judgment into his or her own hands and condemns a brother in the Lord (because of pride or personal status, negating the practical instructions of Romans 12). It is not for us to judge another man’s servant, for we are all to appear before the judgment seat ourselves, before the proper Judge, our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe this verse clearly says, “Don’t judge because you are going to be judged anyway.” Let us at all times encourage and edify our fellow Christians because our numbers are small and the days are tough, so don’t start snapping the strands of our Christian rope one by one with judgment and do damage to the cause of our Lord.

There is a very interesting expression here that indicates yet again the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. It says “the judgment seat of God,” but we know this event for Christians to be “the judgment seat of Christ.” Jesus is God, perfect God and perfect man. In case one might wonder if we should ever judge or discern, I say “Yes,” BUT not our fellow believers to condemnation. We must judge error and false teaching of the wolves. We need discernment, and discernment comes with wisdom, and wisdom is enhanced by the word of God.

(4). 2 Cor 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Passage (4) is a serious verse. We are going to spend a bit of time on it. None of us likes having to give an account or having what we do scrutinized, and we get nervous and anxious; at least I do. The verse is very clear that we all will undergo this; but we are the redeemed of the Lord, so is this meant to be a stressful time? I cannot see it as that, but you hear speakers and hymns speak of being ashamed when we stand before our Lord, and all that, so how do we feel? How profitable will we be? The verse speaks of recompense, and that relates to good and bad. Are we going to be recompensed and judged for the bad?

What is the bad (what is useless)?

Is it the wrong things done, the wrong things we do, and wrong attitudes we have as Christians? Is it a worthless list of service for the Lord done in self-pride or carelessness? Is there going to be penalty, and if so, what sort of penalty? These may all be valid questions, and I don’t know if they can be answered properly, but we will look into this.

(5). Heb 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Passage (5) is a serious one for those in Christian leadership and ministry. They, too, will have to give an account to God. The one in ministry is required to give account to the Lord also of those in his charge, and the hope is that it can be a joyful account.

GOD HAS APPOINTED US TO JOY, NOT SORROW

The presence of the Lord will be a position of joy forever. Would God cause it for us that in eternity in heaven, then on earth, and then in the New Jerusalem, we will carry around with us disappointment, a sense of failure, regret eating us away, remorse? I find it very hard to reconcile that with the verses we have later in Revelation – Rev 21:4 “and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And with the idea in Peter – 1 Pet 1:8 “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

Joy is such an outcome of salvation that I can’t see sorrow controlling an unprofitable child of God after the judgment seat of Christ. Honestly, I am not able to give any concrete ideas on this, just how I feel about it. It will be sad that a Christian would stand before the judgment seat of Christ and his Christian life just count for little, but I don’t think that one will be a sad heap of misery for eternity because he let the Lord down.

There is a vital passage that does enlighten the road for us. It is this one: 1 Cor 3:10-15 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Paul is saying that a foundation has been laid and we build upon it. There are several foundations mentioned in the New Testament, but the one here Paul is speaking of is the foundation of the work of Christ in salvation. Our part is to build on that, and the idea is service and profitability and fruitfulness.

THE FIRE WILL TEST OUR WORKS

There is a graphic picture given here that would relate to the judgment seat of Christ. “For the day will show it,” means the examination of our work in the day of judgment. Our work upon the foundation already laid will be set on fire. When the flames have ceased, what remains will indicate what was genuine and correct in service for the Lord. In the flames, the straw will flare up and be gone.

Straw burns with catchy brilliance but has no endurance. So much Christian work is superficial and without substance, looking good with a flashy brilliance and with the Hollywood touch, but it is worthless, done in human strength and for the praise of man. Hay burns well also but endures a bit longer; but alas, the flames consume it as well. Are we making hay for the Lord while the sun shines? All we will have to offer the Lord is ashes.

My patio is made of belian wood that comes from southeast Asia. It is about as hard and durable as any wood can get. It makes saws go blunt. The Australian kauri and jarrah eucalypts are really, really tough. When subjected to the flames, these hard woods take quite some time to ignite and last for a long time, much longer than pine as they have endurance; but alas, in the fire of judgment, they will be eventually be consumed. Some of us will be surprised that our works of wood actually will become ashes. They seemed so good and so hard at the time. Wood, hay, straw, all will be lost; all will end as ashes.

WHAT GAINS THE REWARD?

Three other items remain: gold, silver, precious stones. These works are tried through fire and have remained. They will indicate the work for the Lord has been at His direction and leading, and have been genuine. The Lord has been pleased with His servant. The work done and which remains through fire is well rewarded, but the work burnt up will result in the person suffering loss (of reward), even though that person will be saved, part of the body of Christ and fully blessed by the Lord. What it will be like to be part of the redeemed and unrewarded, I do not know.

No need to speculate. We just do not know. However, we should be under the Lord’s direction all the time. I am sure all of us have wood, hay and straw, but what about the other three qualities? Do we have those? The Lord is generous and merciful and wants to reward us, but He can’t reward laziness or carelessness, the “near enough is good enough” attitude.

A GOD OF SMALL THINGS

Personally, I think God is eager to reward us, but some of us think we have to accomplish great things to have reward. Missionaries, great preachers and those in service like the musicians (and I love The Cathedrals Quartet) are considered ones who will have the rewards while the “lesser folk,” the nobodies, don’t have much to do in service. God rewards faithfulness! He is a God of little things. From those he has greatly equipped, He requires great responsibility.

I want you to look slowly at these verses following, to notice the simple things and the correct things that God takes account of, and it mentions rewards. God wants simple service and faithfulness.

Matt 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them, otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” (Live humbly as true servants. Humility will have its reward.)

Matt 10:42 “Whoever in the name of a disciple, gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward.” (Just meeting small practical needs of Christians or of others, helping an elderly brother or sister, doing their shopping or tending to needs – doing it as unto the Lord.)

Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.” (Suffering genuinely as a Christian, being persecuted and abused, or for example, not being promoted, but being defamed, etc.)

Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” (This may be a surprising one, but it is the Lord who said it. Take note!)

2 John 1:7-8 “Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.” (Another interesting one where we are asked to be true to the faith and to correct doctrine. Guard your Christian heritage and apply the scriptures that you receive a full reward.)

Does it trivialize the judgment seat of Christ to put emphasis on the small things done by Christians? A camera is never made without small components, and even those components are made of smaller ones. All are important. All works done for Christ are important. The cup of cold water in His Name is important but considered small by the doer when the question was asked of the Lord in Matthew 24. You know, I think more to the point, it is not works that are rewarded as much as faithfulness. God is rewarding faithfulness; for out of faithfulness comes service, that willingness of joy and peace; and from service comes the reward.

Never go trying to do things for the Lord. Things will fail. Never do anything with a reward in mind. Be faithful. Just forget about rewards. That is what each of us must do. We remain faithful, and God uses us; and out of that, His reward will come. “Well done, you good and FAITHFUL servant.”

EVEN HELPS!

1 Cor 12:28 “God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” Look there at the gifts, and one is “helps.” We may not do great things, but we do what God has enabled us to do. Some may have been given 10 talents or 5 talents, and you were given just one. You double your one talent, and you have done better than the one with 10 who made only 8. God wants faithfulness and commitment, but most of all, for us to love Him.

Helps are small – doing the church flowers, writing to missionaries, making a cake for a sick Christian, sweeping or cleaning the church, driving a person to church, visiting a Christian friend in a nursing home, etc.

This is a plea for faithfulness. It is not a challenge to go out and work for Jesus! We can’t do that. We will go in the strength of human man, not through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Be faithful and available, and God will use you at that point in your lives.

UNCONFESSED SIN AT THE JUDGEMENT SEAT

What about unconfessed sin? Sadly, we are sinners, though saved by grace. We are not sinless. We are perfect in God’s eyes, for we are viewed as having the righteousness of Christ.

That most noble passage was written by John in 1 John chapter 1 – confession and cleansing as a necessary part of the Christian walk (1 John 1:9-10). There are some who hold to a holiness doctrine that teaches we are capable of attaining sinless perfection here, and others who say if we die or the Lord comes back, and we have sin in our life, our salvation’s lost. The Bible does not tell us those things. They are man-made.

I think sin will be dealt with at the judgment seat of Christ but only in the matter of expunging it from us forever (possibly burnt up with any wood, hay or straw we have). We are not judged for it. We are there to be examined for rewards. Nevertheless, any careless attitude to sin is not in order, and we are commanded to be holy as the Lord is holy.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE REWARDS GRANTED BY CHRIST?

What are they, in fact? Are people going to be moving around with decorations like medals on them as emblems of their achievements? I don’t know that answer, but I’d be rather shocked if that was so; but the following I do know:

We are all worthless sinners.
Any good we have, or are empowered to do, is all through the working of God’s grace in us through the Holy Spirit.
Nothing good we have done for the Lord has ever come from ourselves, but we are merely the pipes through which God’s good deeds flow.
Therefore, no reward is of our own doing, or to our own credit. It is all God’s equipping.
Therefore, these rewards are not rightfully ours, and maybe all we are, are custodians of those rewards.

Have a good look at this verse:

Rev 4:10 “the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying….”

The verse seems to be saying that the crowns these elders have (probably the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 Apostles), even these are too much for unworthy men, and the crowns are cast before the Lord because they are rightfully His anyway.

Any rewards we get are not ours; they are His, and He alone is worthy to receive all our rewards, for it is He who enabled them.

You who are reading today – consider the attitude of Paul to be your own so that Christ may dwell in you fully. Phil 3:7-8 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”

Just one last verse as a reminder of what lies ahead. 1 Peter 1:17 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth.” This was written to the dispersed Christians (probably Jews), and Peter addressed the practical issues – God is impartial in judgment; He will judge each man’s work; therefore, we must act and behave in the fear of God.

Having said that, I don’t know how it will all be played out, but can we take time to consider 3 stanzas of this hymn very thoughtfully?

By and by when I look on His face,
Beautiful face, thorn shadowed face;
By and by when I look on His face,
I’ll wish I had given Him more.

More, so much more,
More of my life than I e’er gave before
By and by when I look on His face,
I’ll wish I had given Him more.

By and by when He holds out His hands,
Welcoming hands, nail riven hands;
By and by when He holds out His hands,
I’ll wish I had given Him more.

(Author – Grace Reese Adkins)

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

The Christian – The Judgment Seat of Christ

Judgment Seat of Christ :: By Daymond Duck

https://www.raptureready.com/2019/06/16/judgment-seat-christ-daymond-duck/

The Apostle Paul wrote, “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” (II Cor. 5:10).

“We” refers to believers (those that have received the Holy Spirit and walk by faith in Jesus (II Cor. 5:1-9).

“Must” means appearing before the judgment seat of Christ is a requirement for believers.

“All” means every believer must appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

“Judgment seat of Christ” means Jesus will be the Judge.

The time will come when every believer will be required to appear before Jesus.

He received the authority to judge from the Father (Jn. 5:27). Believers will be judged after He comes for His Church (after the Rapture when all believers are in heaven (I Cor. 4:5; I Thess. 4:17); believers will be judged before His throne in heaven (see Rev. 4:4-10); and believers will be judged rightly and fairly (Psa. 98:9).

But this judgment is not for condemnation because our sin was judged on the cross; and “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).

“That every one may receive the things done in his body” means the judgment seat of Christ will be established to evaluate what believers did when they were alive.

The Apostle John wrote, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

Those that “die in the Lord” (die as believers in Jesus) are blessed because their works (what they did while they were alive) will follow them into heaven.

“Whether it be good or bad” means the believer’s works on earth will be examined, appraised, or judged to determine their significance or value in the eyes of Jesus.

Paul said, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 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. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Cor. 3:9-15).

Jesus will judge the quality and quantity of the believer’s works (was it done in faith; was it done to honor Jesus; was it self-serving; was it done for personal praise; how many years did the believer serve; etc.).

The person that gets saved on their deathbed is just as saved as the person that gets saved in their early years, but there will be a big difference in rewards.

The person that gets saved on their deathbed has no time to lay up treasure in Heaven, but the person that gets saved in their early years could have many years to lay up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21).

Some believers serve in many ways, and they will receive great treasure in heaven; but others serve very little, and they will receive very little treasure in heaven.

Some believers serve to glorify Jesus, and they will be rewarded for honoring Him (gold, silver and precious stones); but others serve to glorify themselves, and their works will be worthless and destroyed (burned up like wood, hay and stubble).

Some believers will receive 5 crowns, some 4, or 3, or 2, or 1, or none (II Tim. 4:6-8; I Pet. 5:2-4; I Thess. 2:19-20; James 1:12; I Cor. 9:24-25).

Some Christians will be made ruler over 10 cities, some 5, or 1, or none (Luke 19:11-27).

The one that does more and for the right reason will receive a greater reward.

The one that does less or for the wrong reason will receive a lesser reward.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. The contractor he worked for asked him if he would build just one last house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed, but he thought, “This is my last house. Why should I knock myself out?”

His work was sloppy, and the materials he used were cheap.

After the carpenter finished, the contractor gave him the keys to the house and said, “These keys and this house are yours in appreciation for your service.”

The carpenter was shocked! He thought, if I had known that I was building this house for myself, I would have built a better house.

Know that what believers do in this life will be evaluated for quality, quantity and motive; and there are implications for all eternity!

Talk about rewards in heaven makes some people nervous; but Jesus urged believers to lay up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20), and John encouraged believers to carefully receive a full reward (II Jn. 1:8).

FYI: My surgery is behind me, and my recovery is going better than anticipated.

Glory to God, and thanks to all of you that prayed.

I will now try to get back to current events.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com

Judgment Seat of Christ

5 Crowns

Imperishable Crown

CoRejoicing

CoLife

CoRighteousness

CoGlory

5 Reward Crowns - Rewards that Christians will receive for what they’ve done

https://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-crowns.html

There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life. The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful. Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 best defines for us how these crowns are awarded.

What kinds of rewards are we going to get in heaven? The Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about it, but it does tell us there are some rewards for which we may qualify.

The rewards that the believer receives will be proportionate to the faithfulness they show in this life. The key is faithfulness to the gifts God has given.
- 1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
- Lk 19:16 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.’ … 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.
- Lk 12:48 … For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
- 1Co 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The rewards believers will receive are called crowns.
- There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers.
  - These are not by any means the only rewards that will be distributed in heaven. Above all, it is important to remember that the Lord Himself is our chief reward. No crown could ever compare to the splendor of seeing our Lord and Savior face to face.
- The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos (the source for the name Stephen the martyr) and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.”
  - These ‘stephanos’ were used during the ancient Greek games. It referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful.

Applications of the crowns/rewards –
- Reject the Misconceptions About Rewards
  - We are not saved by good works, but for good works.
- Remember That the Lord Is Your Reward
  - No matter what we may receive in heaven, the Lord Himself remains our greatest reward.
- Resist Doing Work Outwardly for a Reward
  - Don’t serve the Lord just for the purpose of receiving a reward. Serve Him because you love Him.
- Reflect Upon the Ultimate Goal of Rewards
  - One day we will give our crowns to the Lord Jesus as offerings of worship and praise. And we won’t want to be emptyhanded!

What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? (Got Questions Ministries)

What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? What is the purpose of heavenly rewards?

Robert Jeffress on Heavenly Rewards (Lamb & Lion Ministries)

Will there be heavenly rewards, and if so, what are they? Find out with speaker Robert Jeffress on the show Christ in Prophecy.

1) Imperishable (Incorruptible) Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:24

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 best defines for us how these crowns are awarded.
This crown is given to believers who faithfully run the race, who crucify every selfish desire in the flesh and point men to Jesus.
- People will receive this crown for the sacrifices they were willing to make for God to successfully complete the call and mission God had called them to do.
- Some people may be called to be a missionary in a far off and poor country. They will literally be working for almost nothing in earthly terms. They will have to sacrifice the money, possessions and lifestyle they could have had, if they stayed home in their own country.
- Basically run whatever race that God has set out for you and be the best you can be for God. Be willing to make whatever sacrifices there may be to successfully complete the mission that God has set out for you.
Paul calls the crown of victory “an imperishable crown”
- Compares it to the perishable wreaths for which athletes competed in the Greek games.
- Winning a race requires training, discipline, and sacrifice. If athletes work so diligently to win a perishable crown, how much more motivated should we be as Christians to win an imperishable crown from God?
- If we are to win the imperishable crown of victory, we too must practice discipline and sacrifice.
All things on this earth are subject to decay and will perish.
- Jesus urges us to not store our treasures on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). This is analogous to what Paul was saying about that wreath of leaves that was soon to turn brittle and fall apart. But not so the heavenly crown; faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

2) Crown of Rejoicing (Soul Winner’s Crown) – 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Sometimes called “the soul-winner’s crown,” the crown of rejoicing is given to believers who faithfully witnesses to the saving grace of God and leads souls to Jesus.
- When Paul was talking to the Thessalonians, he said, in effect, “Thessalonians, let me tell you what the crown of rejoicing is: It’s you! Because we ministered to you. And someday, when we stand before the Lord, you’re going to be there because we had a ministry to you.”
- Telling others about the grace of God and about Jesus is the greatest thing that you can do for someone while here on this earth. When you help someone to be led to the Lord, you have just been used as a vessel of God.
- Some people in the Church are constant witnesses; they talk to people all the time about Jesus, and they’re candidates for this crown.

God will judge you by your willingness and desire to be used by Him to witness to others
- We are not necessarily judged on how many people are actually saved. We may be called to plant, water or harvest. What is important is our willingness to do our part.
- God can fit opportunities for you in your life to witness and work for Him if you allow Him to. Some could be your unsaved friends, family members or co-workers, etc.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
- Rejoice for all the bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else.
- John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
  - Just as things such as air, food, and water are vital for our physical lives, Jesus provides us what is required for our spiritual lives. He is our “living water” and “bread of life” (John 4:10, 6:35).
- We know that our earthly lives will end. But we have the amazing promise that comes only to those who come to God through Jesus: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25).
Luke tells us there is rejoicing in heaven over saved souls
- Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
The true crown of rejoicing will be our final reward of the New Heaven and New Earth
- Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

3) Crown of Life – Revelation 2:10, James 1:12

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Many believers have endured and triumphed over trial, temptation and persecution, even to the point of martyrdom.
- It is for those who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death. They endured severe hardship, testing, trials and suffering and honored God during it.
  - God will honor each ones trials and tribulations reward them accordingly.
- Faithful until death – Willingness to die for your faith in God would be the ultimate sacrifice.
  - It is the greatest act of courage and love that you can show God.
  - Christians who have been martyred for their faith throughout history will not only be given this crown of life, but other rewards once they enter into heaven.
- The motivation for doing so has to be love for the Lord.

James tells us that this crown of life is for all those who love God. The question then is how do we demonstrate our love for God?
- Know God
  - Loving is knowing. If you want to love God, you have to know Him by reading the Bible, which is a compilation of books that describe Him – the Bible is like His autobiography. Listening to preachers sent by God will also help you increase your knowledge about Him.
  - 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
- Obey His commands
  - As His children we must keep His commandments, obeying Him, always remaining faithful. So, as we endure the inevitable trials, pains, heartaches, and tribulations—as long as we live—may we ever move forward, always “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and receive the crown of life that awaits us.
  - If you keep on disobeying God’s commands, how can you say you love Him? Hence, grow your love by obeying His commandments. If you don’t know what those commandments are, you may find them in the Holy Bible. All the Lord’s instructions can be considered His commandments.
  - Jn 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
  - 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
  - 1Jn 2:17 … he who does the will of God abides forever.
- Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and might.
  - Your love for God should not only be a product of your emotions, personality, and thoughts, but it should be the fruit of your actions or labor. And not just mere actions, but your best and finest endeavors! That is why the verse tells us that we should love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We should be persistent and keep our love as if our life depends on it.
  - Mark 12:29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
- Love one another
  - Mark 12:31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
  - 1Jn 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
- Do not love money
  - If your heart is falling for money, then you cannot give your heart to God. Remember that He is a God of generosity and charity, not of greediness and avarice.
  - Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
  - 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- Do not love worldly things
  - Aside from money, do not also love other material things that perish through the passage of time, as these can only result to greed, envy, gluttony and even idolatry which are contradictory to the teachings of God. To start loving God is to start ending your love for those earthly things.
  - 1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
- Love through action
  - If you say you love God, you have to practice it and not just declare it.
  - 1 Timothy 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
  - James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
- Be a good person.
  - Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. .... 22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
  - 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
  - Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

4) Crown of Righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul was eager to meet the Lord, and he was certain of his imminent death as he wrote the second letter to Timothy.
- Like Paul, some people have their heart set on heaven and on seeing Jesus Christ. Those are the people that will win the crown of righteousness, because they love and long for the appearing of the Lord.
- Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain…. 23 having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

It is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return.
- For those who love the appearing of Christ, who anxiously wait and look forward to the day when He will return for His saints.
- Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity
  - Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Christ’s imputed righteousness
- If you are a believer, you have been made righteous before God the Father as a result of Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sins. This means that the righteousness of Jesus has now been imputed to you.
  - We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ – which is what gives us a right to it, and without which it cannot be obtained.
  - This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord.
- It also refers to us living a good and righteous life for God the Father with what time we have left down here.
  - There are Christians who are righteous before God the Father as a result of being saved (justification) through the blood of Jesus Christ; but they are not living righteous lives in their actions, words and behaviors (sanctification). They still continue to do the evil that the unsaved would do.
    - We all have our flaws, weaknesses, and certain temptations that we may struggle with. It is not perfection but direction that God is looking for. God just wants each one of us to choose to do the right thing when faced with certain temptations or choices to do something bad.
- When it is all said and done, Christians living a righteous, sanctified life will probably be receiving some of the greatest rewards that God can hand out once they enter into heaven.

5) Crown of Glory (Pastor’s Crown) – 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

God has one crown reserved for those who are in leadership and who are faithful shepherds of God’s people.
- You don’t have to be a pastor or even on a church staff to earn it. This would include preachers, teachers, Sunday School teachers, missionaries and all those who teach the Word of God in their respective ministries.
- Maybe you shepherd a small group or you are a facilitator and you shepherd that group and care about and pray for the people that come every week.
- These are all in the running for “the shepherd’s crown”—the crown of glory.

This crown may signify the importance and sacrifices of bringing up others into the ways of God.
- God wants those who are saved to grow and learn as much as they can. To do that, He uses mature believers who are willing to teach others.
- God shows you the extreme importance that He is placing on those who teach and preach the Word. Being willing to teach and educate others after they are saved is one of the greatest things you can do for them this side of heaven.

Glory – This crown will also be awarded to all those who long for or love His appearing.
- This word “glory” is an interesting word referring to the very nature of God and His actions.
  - It entails His great splendor and brightness.
  - Recall Stephen who, while being stoned to death, looked into heaven to see the glory of God
    - Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
- This word also means that the praise and honor we bestow to God alone is due Him because of who He is
  - Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another,
  - Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- It also recognizes that believers are incredibly blessed to enter into the kingdom of God, into the very likeness of Christ Himself.
  - Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Great White Throne Judgment

Great White Throne Judgment (Judgment Day) – for unsaved

What is Judgment Day?

https://www.gotquestions.org/Judgment-Day.html

Judgment Day is the day of God’s final, ultimate judgment on sinful mankind. There are a number of passages in Scripture that refer to the final judgment after death at the end of time when everyone will stand before God and He will render final judgment on their lives.

The Bible warns us of Judgment Day. Malachi the prophet wrote, “‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them’” (Malachi 4:1). John the Baptist spoke of the need to “flee from the coming wrath” (Luke 3:7). Paul wrote to the unrepentant: “Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done’” (Romans 2:5–6; cf. Psalm 62:12). Judgment Day is a sure thing.

Scripture records several times when God passed judgment on individuals and nations. For example, Isaiah 17 — 23 is a series of judgments pronounced against Damascus, Egypt, Cush, Babylon, Egypt, Arabia, Jerusalem, and Tyre. These localized judgments serve to foreshadow the judgment to come (Isaiah 24 describes the judgment of God over the whole world). Often there is a temporal judgment on sin that occurs in this life, but the final judgment will occur at the end of time. Revelation 19:17–21 records a great battle in which the enemies of God are slaughtered (and this may well be the image that most people think of when they think of Judgment Day). However, this is only a temporal judgment on the people alive at the time of the great battle. The final judgment will encompass everyone who has ever lived and will consign people to their final destiny.

Revelation 20:11–15 contains one of the most vivid descriptions of Judgment Day: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

In this passage, we see that God is the final judge. According to Jesus, it is the Son who will render final judgment, so it must be He who is sitting on the throne (John 5:16–30; cf. Revelation 7:17).

Also, we see that this judgment is comprehensive. This is all who have ever died, small and great (insignificant as well as significant). No one escapes Judgment Day.

The judgment of Judgment Day is carried out according to what individuals have done in their lives—they are judged according to their works. A person will not be judged according to what others did or didn’t do; he stands judgment alone, responsible for his own actions.

Although the judgment is based on works, it is not a weighing of good deeds against bad. Ultimately, our entrance into heaven or hell is based on whether or not our names are recorded in the book of life. Those who are not recorded in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:27 reiterates that only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter the new heaven and new earth.

In light of the high stakes involved (eternal destiny) it would behoove one to make sure that he or she is prepared for final Judgment Day in advance. How can a guilty sinner (and we all are guilty) have his or her name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and therefore stand before Him in final judgment and be pronounced “not guilty”? How can a sinner be justified before a holy and righteous God and avoid His wrath? The Bible gives us a clear answer.

“Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, NASB). The person who has faith in Christ has already had judgment rendered. That person has been justified—that is, declared righteous—by God on the basis of Christ’s perfect work on his behalf. It is as if the final judgment that would have happened on Judgment Day has been rendered in advance. All who have faith in Christ are declared righteous, and their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They have nothing to fear on Judgment Day because their punishment has already been borne by Christ on the cross (Romans 8:1). For those who have faith in Christ, Judgment Day will be the day of final salvation when they are rescued from all of the adverse effects of sin (Malachi 4:2–3).

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27–28).

What happens at the final judgment?

https://www.gotquestions.org/final-judgment.html

The first thing to understand about the final judgment is that it cannot be avoided. Regardless of how we may choose to interpret prophecy on the end times, we are told that “it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). We all have a divine appointment with our Creator. The apostle John recorded some details of the final judgment:

“And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And 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. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

This remarkable passage introduces to us the final judgment—the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state. We can be sure of this: no mistakes will be made in our hearings because we will be judged by a perfect God (Matthew 5:48; 1 John 1:5). This will manifest itself in many undeniable proofs. First, God will be perfectly just and fair (Acts 10:34; Galatians 3:28). Second, God cannot be deceived (Galatians 6:7). Third, God cannot be swayed by any prejudices, excuses or lies (Luke 14:16-24).

As God the Son, Jesus Christ will be the judge (John 5:22). All unbelievers will be judged by Christ at the “great white throne,” and they will be punished according to the works they have done. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves (Romans 2:5) and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (Romans 2:6). (Believers will also be judged, at a different judgment called the “judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10), but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the Book of Life, we will be rewarded, not punished, according to our deeds.) At the final judgment the fate of the unsaved will be in the hands of the omniscient God who will judge everyone according to his soul’s condition.

For now, our fate is in our own hands. The end of our soul’s journey will be either in an eternal heaven or in an eternal hell (Matthew 25:46). We must choose where we will be by accepting or rejecting the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, and we must make that choice before our physical lives on this earth come to an end. After death, there is no longer a choice, and our fate is to stand before the throne of God, where everything will be open and naked before Him (Hebrews 4:13). Romans 2:6 declares that God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”

What happens at the final judgment? (Got Questions Ministries)

What happens at the final judgment / last judgment? When does a person experience the final judgment after death?

"The Great White Throne Judgement"

(Hope for Our Times w/ Don Perkins)

What is the Great White Throne Judgment?

https://www.gotquestions.org/great-white-throne-judgment.html

The great white throne judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after the millennium and after Satan is thrown into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are (Revelation 19:19-20; 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; 18:6; 22:12).

Also at this time, another book is opened, called the “book of life” (Revelation 20:12). It is this book that determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book of life from the creation of the world” (Revelation 17:8). We also know from Scripture that it is at this judgment when the dead will be “judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12) and that “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

The fact that there is going to be a final judgment for all men, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly confirmed in many passages of Scripture. Every person will one day stand before Christ and be judged for his or her deeds. While it is very clear that the great white throne judgment is the final judgment, Christians disagree on how it relates to the other judgments mentioned in the Bible, specifically, who will be judged at the great white throne judgment.

Some Christians believe that the Scriptures reveal three different judgments to come. The first is the judgment of the sheep and the goats or a judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-36). This takes place after the tribulation period but prior to the millennium; its purpose is to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom. The second is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the “judgment seat [bema] of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God. The third is the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.

Other Christians believe that all three of these judgments speak of the same final judgment, not of three separate judgments. In other words, the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 will be the time that believers and unbelievers alike are judged. Those whose names are found in the book of life will be judged for their deeds in order to determine the rewards they will receive or lose. Those whose names are not in the book of life will be judged according to their deeds to determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Those who hold this view believe that Matthew 25:31-46 is another description of what takes place at the great white throne judgment. They point to the fact that the result of this judgment is the same as what is seen after the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. The sheep (believers) enter into eternal life, while the goats (unbelievers) are cast into “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

Whichever view one holds of the great white throne judgment, it is important to never lose sight of the facts concerning the coming judgment(s). First, Jesus Christ will be the judge, all unbelievers will be judged by Christ, and they will be punished according to the works they have done. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves (Romans 2:5) and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (Romans 2:6). Believers will also be judged by Christ, but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the book of life, we will be rewarded, but not punished, according to our deeds. Romans 14:10-12 says that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and that each one of us will give an account to God.

The word ‘judgement’ is the word “krino”
- The judgment seat at the Great White Throne in Revelation is like a court of law where sentence is passed.

Resurrection of the unbelieving dead
- The Great White Throne Judgment is a judgment for unbelievers.
- It is clear that no one at that judgment has his name in the Book of Life (Rev 20:12-14).
- The fate of the ungodly is sealed; their names are not in the Book of Life; their punishment is sure.

Takes place after the millennium

Jesus is the judge
- Jn 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
- Act 17:31 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.”

The actions and intentions of those who have foolishly chosen not to have their sins erased by the sacrifice of Jesus will be judged according to the law of the Old Testament.
- Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
- Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The dead will be “judged according to what they had done”
- The books that are opened contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish each one accordingly.
- Rev 20:12 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. 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.
- Ec 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
- See All Will be Judged for Eternity

Books
- Book of Life – This book that determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.
  - Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book of life from the creation of the world”.
- See Book of Life (Lamb’s Book of Life)

Hell
- Anyone’s name that is not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire
- Prepared for the devil and his angels
  - Mt 25 41 “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:
- See Hell

This is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire.
- The Antichrist and the False Prophet are already in the Lake of Fire
  - Rev 19 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
- This judgement Starts with Satan himself and extends to anyone who chooses to side with the world, and its ruler, over obedience to the Son of God.
  - Rev 20 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 the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. …15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:7-10 – Satanic Rebellion Crushed

Rev 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 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.

Revelation 20:10-15 – The Great White Throne Judgment

Rev 20:11 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. 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. 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.

Romans 2:5-10 – God’s Righteous Judgment

Ro 2:5 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, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Matthew 12:35-37 – A Tree Known by Its Fruit

Acts 17:30-31 – Addressing the Areopagus

Act 17:30 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.”

John 16:8-11 – The Work of the Holy Spirit

Jn 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Revelation 18:4-8 – The Fall of Babylon the Great

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

Psalm 28:2-6 – Rejoicing in Answered Prayer

Ps 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3 Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity,
Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors;
Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, Nor the operation of His hands,

He shall destroy them And not build them up.

6 Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

What is Judgment Day?

What happens at the final judgment?

What is the Great White Throne Judgment?

Great White Throne Judgment

https://www.raptureready.com/great-white-throne-judgment/

The Great White Throne Judgment is a trial, set in the future, for all people who have rejected God’s Call to salvation. Every person who has lived upon earth and has refused to accept God’s way to redemption from sin, will kneel before their Creator at this time, and acknowledge that He is God–that Jesus Christ is Lord.No person who has not been saved by acceptance of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross will escape this horrifying judgment against sin. The Lord Jesus foretold of this moment.

Matthew 7:23

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Each will then be cast into the Lake of Fire, which will be their place throughout Eternity. (read Mark 9:43-48) The Great White Throne Judgment is found in the following:

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. 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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”.

Although the word “throne” appears some thirty times in the Book of Revelation, this is a reference to a throne different than any previously mentioned, and accordingly, it is called a “Great White Throne.” Unlike the previous thrones on Earth or Heaven, it is pictured as being in space and occupied by the Lord Jesus himself. (1)

John 5:22-23
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him”.

Romans 2:16
“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Revelation 3:21
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

The Greatness of this Throne is not in the size of it, nor is it the number of the multitude who stand convicted before it, but in the greatness of the Judge who presides over it–the Lord Jesus. The white color is representative of His holiness and purity, and of how fitting it is that He should judge mankind. (2)

The Bible clearly states that Judgment will follow death.

Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Our status in the Lord Jesus determines how we will be judged. Immediately following the Rapture, the believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10
“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, the resurrected saints will receive rewards for the good works they performed while on earth. But, this is far different from what will happen to the unbeliever, who will appear before the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium. (3)

The Great White Throne Judgment is NOT for Christians. It is only for those who refuse to accept the Lord Jesus Christ in this earthly life. To avoid this judgment, all one must do is repent and believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and invite Him to become his or her Lord and Savior. (2)

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 refuse the free gift wrought by the Lamb of God, will find that

Hebrews 10:31
“[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

As the text (Revelation 20:12-15) makes plain, The Great White Throne is the final judgment. As the righteous have already been judged, this judgment relates to the wicked. It is the final resurrection in contrast to the first resurrection, which had to do with the righteous.(1)

Daniel 12:2
“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.”

John 5:29
“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Acts 24:15
“And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

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.(3)

1 Timothy 2:5
“For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

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.

The Book of Life contains the names of God’s elect. They will experience no condemnation nor judgment. They are not among the dead, for they are alive. (1)

John 6: 50-51
“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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.”

Revelation 20:12-13
“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. 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.”

The “dead, small and great” refers to those who have lived throughout history and, regardless of their stature or position, died without acknowledging and accepting The Lord Jesus’ payment for their sins. All remains of these deceased will be raised and united with their souls so that they can stand in a resurrected form before the Great White Throne.

After 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 hades awaiting final judgment. (3)

Ecclesiastes 12:14
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.”

Romans 2:5-6
“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”

After the unsaved are judged, another Book is opened, The Book of Life. The New Testament refers to this Book eight times, while three times the Old Testament mentions a Book in which names are written. (4) John says:

Revelation 20:15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

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.

Matthew 25: 41, 46
“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:” “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

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.

In this way, the word of the Apostle Paul will be fulfilled: (4)

1 Corinthians 15:26
“The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.”

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. O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?”

God eliminates sorrow, causes crying to cease and wipes away every tear.

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.”

(1) Walvoord, John F. “Every Prophecy in the Bible.” Chariot Victor Publishing. 1999.
(2) LaHaye, Tim. “The Great White Throne Judgment”. “Prophecy Study Bible”. AMG Publishers. 2000.
(3) LaHaye, Tim and Hindson, Ed (General Editors). “The Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy”. Harvest House Publishers. 2004.
(3) LaHaye, Tim and Jenkins, Jerry. “Are we Living in the End Times”. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1999.

Great White Throne Judgment

…Great White Throne Judgment :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard

https://www.raptureready.com/2021/05/01/great-white-throne-judgment-by-dr-donald-whitchard/

No Parole, No Appeal, No Hope: Great White Throne Judgment

“And I saw a great white throne and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. 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. 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. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire” (Revelation 20:11-15, KJV).

There are only two places where your soul can go after death, according to the Bible. Either you will be heaven with God the Father, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the redeemed of all history, or in hell with the devil, his angels, and the wicked of all history to be tormented for all eternity. There is no reincarnation, no purgatory, no nirvana, no paradise with virgins and the pleasures of carnality, no mere end to life forever in a grave pushing up daisies and becoming food for worms, and no mystic “spirit guides” to lead you into some state of bliss and harmony that your guru or shaman taught to you. You are going to come to the end of your life by some means, and the question is, “Are you prepared?”

Whether you like it or not, or somehow find it “offensive” and “narrow-minded,” the Sovereign Lord, creator and sustainer of all life and design, made only one way to eternal life and salvation, and that is only through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Period. You will never be able to do anything in your own power or ability to make yourself righteous before Him. The Bible tells us that salvation is from the LORD, and Him alone (Psalm 27:1, 37:39, 62:2; Isaiah 12:2, 25:9, 45:22, 52:13-53:12; John 10:9; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11). You can embrace Him as Lord and Savior or reject His offer of salvation and peace and go your way.

I am bound by The Spirit of God and the truth of His Word to warn you of what you will face at the end of your life if you continue to turn down His gift of mercy and grace. You will be in hell, which the Scriptures describe as a place of eternal fire and punishment (Matt. 25:41, 46), outer darkness (Matt. 8:1), and eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire (2 Thess. 1:9; Revelation 19:20).

Hell was created to be a place of punishment specifically for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41) but will also be the eternal abode of the wicked, disobedient, and those who have rejected the Gospel (Matt. 10:15; Romans 2:8-9; Rev.21:9). It will also be where the Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet are thrown in alive to suffer torment for their wickedness (Rev.19:20), along with all who have taken his mark and worshipped him during the coming global Tribulation (Rev. 14:11).

Let me present what is about to take place on the earth according to Bible prophecy and show you that this does not have to be your fate.

One day in the future, the Lord Jesus will appear in the clouds, announced by the trumpet of an archangel. At that moment, all the dead in Christ will rise from their graves, be given new incorruptible bodies and united with their soul, as will those Christians who are alive at that time. All the believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and we will be with Him always. This is the event known as the Rapture of the church (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10). If you have given your life over to the Lord Jesus, you will be in this departure. If not, you will be left behind to endure the horrors of what the Bible refers to as “The Great Tribulation” (Rev. 6).

You will witness the rise of an individual, along with an associate, who will bring order to the confusion and chaos that will follow the Rapture. It will probably take some time to do this, and he will organize a government system that will be global in nature, with one currency and the binding of all world religions into one category, and the establishment of a temporary façade of peace (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thess.2:3; 1 John 2:18, 4:3; 2 John 7; Rev. 6:1-2, 13:1-10, 16-18, 19:19-20).

You will have to make a choice whether to take this human monster’s identification mark in order to survive or reject it and be a fugitive and probable martyr, especially if you come to Christ at that time. If you take the mark and swear allegiance to this world leader, you have consigned your soul to hell forever (Rev. 14:9-11). Meanwhile, a series of judgments from God occurs and will increase in misery, death, and hardship. The worshippers of the beast will blaspheme God, and along with other rebels, undergo perpetual suffering as punishment for their sins.

There will be a multitude who will come to Christ during this time that cannot be counted (Rev.7:5-17, 11:1-14, 14:6-7) through the preaching of the 12,000 Jewish evangelists, the Two Witnesses, and an angel. Though the Holy Spirit’s power of restraining evil has been lifted (2 Thess.2:6-7), He will still be present on the earth to convict and draw people to Christ for salvation (John 16:5-15).

The beast will severely persecute the Jews and Christians; he will be determined to execute all of them, but not before the Lord Jesus returns in glory to the earth to rescue His people, destroy the works of the devil and his followers, and establish His kingdom on earth with Jerusalem as His capital, where we will rule and reign with Him for a thousand years (Isaiah11:1-9; Matt.26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev.19:11-21, 20:4-6).

The devil will be bound in the bottomless pit during this time (Rev. 20:1-3) and then be released to lead one final rebellion against God and His people, which will fail as quickly as it starts (Rev.20:7-10). He will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity along with his followers, never to cause evil or chaos again (Isaiah 14:16-17). This will be at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, and the time of the last judgment of unredeemed humanity.

They will be brought up out of hades, and the sea will give up its dead. The bodies of every spiritually lost person will be reunited with their soul. The heavens then depart, and the damned will have no place to hide or defense attorney to plead their case. There will be no plea bargains, and the decision of the Righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be final, with your life as the evidence upon which He will convict and sentence you. Your destiny will be the Lake of Fire and its torments forever (Rev.20:11-15).

Who will be in that condemned multitude?

There will be those who were openly antagonistic towards God, rebellious enemies of the Gospel who cursed Christ during their time on earth (Rev.21:8).
There will be those who were apathetic towards the things of God, who allowed the message of the Gospel to fall on their deaf ears, more concerned with the world’s affairs and no interest in spiritual things (Luke 14:18; Acts 24:25; Hebrews 2:3).
There will be the ones who were at best amoral. They did not care one way or another about the issues of right and wrong and were more interested in themselves more than others (Matt.24:12).
The perverse will be there. These were the degenerates who dealt in pornography, sex slavery, pedophilia, and the attempts to hide it from the public, along with people who practiced perverse lifestyles that were in direct violation of God’s standards (Romans 1:26-28; 1 Cor.6:9-10).
The religious will be there. They were the ones who attended church, or were ministers and elders, or had positions of respect in the community, or practitioners of other faiths apart from Christianity. Their common bond was that none of them had a relationship with Jesus Christ and had been false converts that had paid lip service to the LORD but did not live a life dedicated to the LORD (Matt.7:21-23; Mark 7:6; Luke 6:46; Titus 1:16).

Every one of these people will be shown their works listed in God’s books, where everything was recorded, and nothing hidden. Death and hell are no longer needed or wanted and are cast into the Lake of Fire where the devil, his demons, the beast, and false prophet are in torment and eternal punishment, never to leave. The unredeemed have all been tried and sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire as well and have seen the face of the Lord Jesus Christ for the final time. Their names were not in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and they now know that it is too late.

The eternity of misery and torment now sinks into their condemned souls. They are doomed forever without hope or mercy. Instead, they will be under the wrath of God, and there will be no relief for them forever. They are thrown into the Lake of Fire and will join the screams and agony of the rest of the unredeemed in what will be their dwelling place with no end.

Will you be in this group, or have you made peace with God through Jesus Christ? Get that issue settled NOW (2 Cor. 6:2). He is ready to save and forgive you, and you are a fool if you walk away from your only hope of mercy and grace. Do not ignore or laugh this off, please. Once you take your last breath, your opportunity to make things right with the LORD will be gone. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Christ today and receive the gift of eternal life and the heavenly home that will be waiting for you.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

…Great White Throne Judgment

We’re all marching towards the grave at different speeds, and since we’re all created in the image of God, each of us will continue to exist forever. The question is, “Where will you spend it?” and “What words will you hear when you stand before God?” Will it be, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter the joy of your Master” or will you hear the heavenly host repeatedly murmur, “Who’s that with Jesus?” whereupon you will be cast into the Lake of Fire? Therefore, this study, “The Great White Throne Judgment” reveals the two destinies that all people are headed for that is clearly outlined for us in the Bible. It’s either the narrow road, which is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that leads to life and only a few people find. Or it’s the wide road, the politically correct easy road that says all paths lead to heaven, but actually leads to destruction that many people are on. Which will it be and what will you hear when, not if, your time comes? Please cry out to Jesus today and ask Him to forgive you of all your sins, because the last thing you will ever want to hear is, “Who’s that with Jesus?” because by then it will be too late!

The Great White Throne Judgment - Billy Crone

Lamb's Book of Life

Book of Life (Lamb’s Book of Life)

The Book of Life is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is this book that determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. It is the scroll of those who are saved. The book is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus.
Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ
How can you be sure your name is written in the Book of Life? Be sure you are saved. Repent of sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Once your name is written in the Book of Life, it is never erased. No true believer should doubt his eternal security in Christ.

Revelation 3:5 – The Dead Church

Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 21:27 – The Glory of the New Jerusalem

Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Daniel 12:1 – Prophecy of the End Time

Revelation 13:8 – The Beast from the Sea

Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Psalm 139:13-16 – God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man

Ps 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Psalm 56:8 – Prayer for Relief from Tormentors

Ps 56:8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Philippians 4:3 – Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

Phil 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Daniel 7:9-10 – Vision of the Ancient of Days

Dan 7:9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; …
10 …A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated, And the books were opened.

What is the Book of Life?

https://www.gotquestions.org/book-of-life.html

Revelation 20:15 declares, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” The Book of Life, in this context, is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is the roll of those who are saved. This Book of Life is also mentioned in Revelation 3:5; 20:12; and Philippians 4:3. The same book is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 13:8; 21:27).

How can you be sure your name is written in the Book of Life? Be sure you’re saved. Repent of sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5). Once your name is written in the Book of Life, it is never erased (Revelation 3:5; Romans 8:37-39). No true believer should doubt his eternal security in Christ (John 10:28-30).

The Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15 is a judgment for unbelievers. That passage makes it clear that no one at that judgment has his name in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-14). The fate of the ungodly is sealed; their names are not in the Book of Life; their punishment is sure.

Some people point to Revelation 3:5 as “proof” that a person can lose his salvation. However, the promise of Revelation 3:5 is clearly that the Lord will not erase a name: “He who overcomes . . . I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.” An overcomer is one who is victorious over the temptations, trials, and evils of this world—in other words, one who is redeemed. The saved are written in God’s registry and have the promise of eternal security.

Another passage over which confusion sometimes arises is Psalm 69:28: “Let them [David’s enemies] be blotted out of the book of the living.” This “book of the living” should not be confused with the Lamb’s Book of Life. David is referring to earthly, physical life, not eternal life in heaven. The same is true of the “book” mentioned in Exodus 32:32-33.

God keeps good records. He knows His own, and He has set the names of His children permanently in His book.

What is the Book of Life?

Is there a difference between the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life?

https://www.gotquestions.org/Lambs-book-of-life.html

There are eight references in New Testament to the “book of life,” and two of them refer specifically to the book of life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Seven of the references appear in the book of Revelation. Those whose names are written in the book of life are those who belong to God, those who have attained eternal life.

Paul refers to those who have labored alongside him as those whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3), again identifying the book of life as a record of the names of those who have eternal salvation. In the same way, Revelation 3:5 refers to the book of life in which the names of believers in the Lord are found. These are those who overcome the trials of earthly life, proving that their salvation is genuine. This verse also makes it clear that once a name is written in the book of life, Jesus promises that He will never blot it out, proving once more the doctrine of eternal security. The Lord Jesus, who is speaking to the churches in this part of Revelation, promises to acknowledge his own before His Father. Conversely, Revelation 20:15 reveals the fate of those whose names are not written in the book of life—eternity in the lake of fire.

Revelation 17:8 clarifies when the names of the redeemed are written in the book of life: “The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast” (emphasis added). The names of those who approve of the Antichrist are not found in the book of life, and the names that are in the book of life were written there before the world was created. Thus, Revelation 17:8 teaches both eternal security and election.

In Revelation 13:8 and 21:27, we find the references to the "Lamb’s book of life," in which also are the names of all those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The Lamb who has been “slain from the creation of the world” has a book in which are written all those who have been redeemed by His sacrifice. They are the ones who will enter the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10) and who will live forever in heaven with God. Since the book of life is that which records all who have eternal life through the Lamb, it’s clear that the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life are one and the same.

Is there a difference between the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life?

Is it possible for a person’s name to be erased from the Book of Life?

https://www.gotquestions.org/erased-book-life.html

Revelation 22:19 says, “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (KJV). This verse is usually involved in the debate concerning eternal security. Does Revelation 22:19 mean that, after a person’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, it can at some time in the future be erased? In other words, can a Christian lose his salvation?

First, Scripture is clear that a true believer is kept secure by the power of God, sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), and of all those whom the Father has given to the Son, He will lose none of them (John 6:39). The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29b). Salvation is God’s work, not ours (Titus 3:5), and it is His power that keeps us.

If the “anyone” referred to in Revelation 22:19 are not believers, who are they? In other words, who might want to either add to or take away from the words of the Bible? Most likely, this tampering with God’s Word would be done not by true believers but by those who only profess to be Christians and who suppose that their names are in the Book of Life. Generally speaking, the two main groups who have traditionally tampered with God’s revelation are pseudo-Christian cults and those who hold to very liberal theological beliefs. Many cults and theological liberals claim the name of Christ as their own, but they are not “born again”—the definitive biblical term for a Christian.

The Bible cites several examples of those who thought they were believers, but whose profession was proven to be false. In John 15, Jesus refers to them as branches that did not remain in Him, the true Vine, and therefore did not produce any fruit. We know they are false because “by their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16, 20); true disciples will exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit who resides within them (Galatians 5:22). In 2 Peter 2:22, false professors are dogs returning to their own vomit and a sow who “after washing herself returns to wallow in the mire” (ESV). The barren branch, the dog, and the pig are all symbols of those who profess to have salvation, but who have nothing more than their own righteousness to rely upon, not the righteousness of Christ that truly saves. It is doubtful that those who have repented of their sin and been born again would willingly tamper with God’s Word in this way—adding to it or taking from it. Purposefully corrupting God’s Word reveals a lack of faith.

There is another important consideration about the meaning of Revelation 22:19, and it involves translation. Most manuscripts do not even mention the “book of life”; instead, they have “tree of life.” Here is how Revelation 22:19 reads in the NIV: “If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Other translations with “tree” instead of “book” are the NASB, ESV, NLT, HCSB, ISV, NET, and ASV, among others. The KJV stands nearly alone in translating it as the “book” of life. The error arose when Erasmus, in compiling his Greek text, was forced to translate the last six verses of Revelation from the Latin Vulgate into Greek. The “tree” became a “book” because a scribe had accidentally replaced the Latin lingo (“tree”) with libro (“book”). All translations that follow the Textus Receptus, such as the KJV, thus incorrectly say “book” instead of “tree” of life.

Arguing for the “tree of life” translation instead of the “book of life” translation are two other verses in the same chapter: Revelation 22:2 and 14. Both mention the “tree of life” and the “city” together, the same as verse 19 does. Also, the word portion or share is significant. The one who corrupts the Word of God will be deprived of access to the tree of life, despite whatever claim he thinks he has to that fruit.

Revelation 3:5 is another verse that impacts this issue. “He who overcomes . . . I will never blot out his name from the book of life.” The “overcomer” mentioned in this letter to Sardis is the Christian. Compare this with 1 John 5:4: “Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world.” And verse 5: “Who is he that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (See also 1 John 2:13.) All believers are “overcomers” in that they have been granted victory over the sin and unbelief of the world.

Some people see in Revelation 3:5 the picture of God’s pen poised, ready to strike out the name of any Christian who sins. They read into it something like this: “If you mess up and don’t win the victory, then you’re going to lose your salvation! In fact, I will erase your name from the Book of Life!” But this is NOT what the verse says. Jesus is giving a promise here, not a warning.

Never does Scripture say that God erases a believer’s name from the Lamb’s Book of Life—there is never even a warning that He is contemplating it! The wonderful promise of Revelation 3:5 is that Jesus will NOT erase one’s name. Speaking to the “overcomers”—all those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb—Jesus gives His word that He will not delete their names. He affirms that, once a name is there, it is there forever. This is based on the faithfulness of God.

The promise of Revelation 3:5 is directed to believers, who are secure in their salvation. In contrast, the warning of Revelation 22:19 is directed to unbelievers, who, rather than change their hearts toward God, attempt to change God’s Word to suit themselves. Such people will not eat of the tree of life.

Can a Name be Erased from the Book of Life?

Can you Lose your Salvation? (Got Questions Ministries)

Can you lose your Salvation? Is it possible for a person’s name to be erased from the Book of Life? When questioning eternal security \ once saved always saved, and whether or not a name can be erased from the Book of Life, the Bible has the answer. In this video Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch looks at Revelation 22:19, concerning the Book of Life / Tree of Life mentioned, and explains why losing your salvation, or having your name erased from the Book of Life in the Bible, is not possible.

Is it possible for a person’s name to be erased from the Book of Life?

Hasten The Day!

Future Prophesies - During the Tribulation & Beyond RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT

RESURRECTIONS OF THE DEAD TO JUDGMENT

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Resurrections of the Dead

Daniel 12:1-2 – Prophecy of the End Time

John 5:24-30 – Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

Acts 24:14-16 – The Defense Before Felix

1st Resurrection – Believers

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2nd Resurrection – Unbelievers

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Resurrections and Judgments - How many and when? By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/resurrections-and-judgments/

Multiple Resurrections

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The Resurrection of the Just

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The Harvest Imagery

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The Resurrection of the Unjust

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The Certainty of Judgment

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The Completed Judgment

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The Judgment of the Just

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The Significance of Spiritual Gifts

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The Timing of the Judgments

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The Judgment of the Unjust

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A Call to Repentance

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ALL WILL BE JUDGED FOR ALL ETERNITY

Hebrews 9:27-28 – Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

Psalm 9:7-8 – Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Righteous Judgments

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – The Whole Duty of Man

Romans 2:5-10 – God’s Righteous Judgment

Matthew 12:35-37 – A Tree Known by Its Fruit

Ezekiel 18:19-24 – Turn and Live

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Romans 6:16-23 – From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

John 3:14-20 – The New Birth

Revelation 2:10-11 – The Persecuted Church [Smyrna]

Hebrews 10:26-31 – The Just Live by Faith

2 Peter 3:8-9 – God’s Promise Is Not Slack

Matthew 7:21-23 – I Never Knew You

Matthew 7:13-14 – The Narrow Way

Luke 3:15-17 – John Preaches to the People

Matthew 3:12 – John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Matthew 13:47-50 – The Parable of the Dragnet

Matthew 8:11-12 – Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

Revelation 2:22-23 – The Corrupt Church [Thyatira]

Psalm 62:11-12 – A Calm Resolve to Wait for the Salvation of God

Revelation 22:12 – Jesus Testifies to the Churches

Psalm 145:20 – A Song of God’s Majesty and Love

Matthew 25:1-11 – The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Matthew 25:45-46 – The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations (Separation of Sheep and Goats)

Proverbs 15:24 – A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath

Psalm 37:7 – The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked

The Judgment of God - The Inevitability of Judgment By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-judgment-of-god/

The Inevitability of Judgment

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Judgment in the Scriptures

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The Certainty of Judgment - An overview of what the Bible says about resurrection and judgment - By Dr. David R. Reagan

https://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-certainty-of-judgment/

Multiple Resurrections

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The Resurrection of the Just

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The Harvest Imagery

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The Resurrection of Old Testament Saints

Future Prophesies - During the Tribulation & Beyond
RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT