The Judgments
How can we reconcile the different scriptures as pertaining to Heaven and the judgment? The task is not easy, it might cause us to question our indoctrinated and denominational ideology. There can be no "General" Judgment because the Scriptures speak of one judgment as being in the "Air" (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2nd Corinthians 5:6-10); another on the "Earth" (Matthew 25:31-46); and a third in "Heaven," the earth and its atmosphere, having fled away. Revelation 20:11-15. To make sure that these three separate judgments remain separate the scripture mention three different General judgment scenes and three different Thrones.
1. The "Judgment Seat of Christ" 2nd Corinthians 5:10. "This judgment is in the Air for "Believers" only."
2. The "Throne of Glory" Mt 25:31-32."This judgment takes place on the Earth, this is for "The Nations.""
3. The "Great White Throne" Revelation 20:11-12."This judgment takes place in Heaven "For the "Wicked Dead."
The Scriptures speak of at least Five Separate Judgments. They differ in five general aspects. As to "Subjects," "Time," "Place," "Basis of Judgment" and "Result." The Judgments that we will discuss is labeled as such, Judgment #1, believers as to sin, this judgment took place when Christ died. Judgment #2, believers as to works, it deals with when the church is caught out and take place in the air. Judgment #3 is the Judgment of the Jews during the great tribulation. Judgment #4 deals with the judgment of nations and Judgment #5 is the judgment of the wicked dead. I hope I have whetted your appetite enough, now let us began.
JUDGMENT # 1
1. Subjects-- Believers as to "SIN."
2. Time-- A. D. 30.
3. Place-- Calvary.
4. The basis of Judgment-- Christ's "FINISHED WORK."
5. Result-- (1.) Death as to Christ. (2.) Justification as to the Believer.
This judgment is Passed. The Bible proofs of the results of this judgment are:
"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to everyone that Believeth." Roman 10:4.
"There is therefore NOW no condemnation, (Judgment) to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the `SPIRIT OF LIFE' in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE From the Law of sin and Death." (Roman 8:1-2)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE and shall not come into condemnation (Judgment) but IS PASSED From Death Unto Life." (John 5:24)
The "Believer's" Judgment for Sin then is PAST and was settled at the Cross. However, we must not forget that the judgment of the Believer is threefold.
1. As a "Sinner."
2. As a "Son."
3. As a "Servant."
As we have already seen his judgment as a "Sinner" is passed. Let us look at his judgment
2. As a "Son."
As soon as the sinner accepts Christ as his personal Savior that settles the "Sin" question for him. For if our iniquities are laid on Him (Jesus), then they are not on Us. Isaiah 53:5-6. But the "Sin" question, and the "Sins" question are two different things. Christ died on the Cross to atone for "sin," to pay the penalty of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. "Sin" is that tendency in humankind to do wrong which we call "Natural Depravity." We do not get rid of this "tendency" by the "New Birth," but we get a "counteracting force" called the "New Nature." We become a "dual personality," composed of the "Old" and "New Natures," and which shall predominate depends on which we feed and which we starve. This explains the "warfare" that Paul describes as his experience, after his conversion, in Roman 7:1-25. This warfare will continue until the "Old" nature is eradicated at death. "Sins" are the outward acts of wrongdoing that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin. These sins must be put away daily by "confession and repentance."
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an `Advocate' with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1st John 2:1.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1st John 1:9.
Our judgment as "Sons" is for "un-confessed sins." The punishment is chastisement. This explains much of the chastisement of Christians, and should show them that they are "Sons" and not "Bastards." Hebrew12:5-11. Paul says--
"If we would `judge ourselves' we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned (Judged) with the world." 1st Corinthians 11:31-32.
Our duty then as "Sons" is to "self-judge" ourselves daily, "confess our sins," and so avert the chastisement of our Heavenly Father.
The context of these scriptures does not provide for the "Once in Christ and never out", concept unless that is what you are searching for.
JUDGMENT # 2
1. Subjects-- Believers as to "WORKS."
2. Time-- After The Church is caught out.
3. Place-- "Judgment Seat of Christ" (in the Air).
4. The basis of Judgment-- Their "WORKS."
5. The result-- Reward or Loss.
This judgment is FUTURE.
"We must all appear before the `Judgment Seat of Christ,' that every one may receive the things `done in the body' according to that he hath done, whether it be `good' or `bad' (worthless)." 2nd Corinthians 5:10.
One of the major Keys to a deeper understanding the scripture is to understand "Who is speaking" and "Who is being spoken to". The Bible consists of messages to the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church. When Jesus spoke to the Jews, he often spoke in a manner that the Gentiles could not understand. Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you, it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
The pronoun "We" occurs 26 times in the chapter, and in every instance, it means the Believer, and the Epistle is addressed to the "Church" and "Saints" at Corinth, so the Judgment here spoken of is for Believers "only." The "Time" of the Judgment is when the Lord comes (1st Corinthians 4:5), and the "Place" is "in the air" (1Thessalonians 4:17) and before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
It will not be a judgment in the sense of a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a judgment of the "saved only." It will be like the judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in 1st Corinthians 9:24-27.
It is not a judgment for sin, but for "works." This judgment is described in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15. What we know is that neither the wicked dead, nor the nations will meet the Lord in the air, yet they are spoken of as being judged.
"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 (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay, stubble; every man's `Work' shall be made manifest; for the `Day' (Judgment 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."
The result of this judgment is "reward" or "loss." All our "bad" and "dead works," represented by the wood, hay, and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. Much passes for Christian service that is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward", it will be The Crowning Day.
After the Grecian games were over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema," or judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." Nevertheless, while there was no reward there was no punishment, they were not cast out.
The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns.
1. The Crown of "LIFE."
This is the "Martyr's" crown and is mentioned twice.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing), for when he is `tried' (at the Judgment Seat of Christ), he shall receive the `Crown of Life' which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:12.
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested) and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful `unto death,' and I will give thee a `Crown of Life.'" Revelations 2:10.
Understanding the symbology of the scripture is another important key to understanding the scripture.
Notice it does not say "until" death, but "unto" death. They were not to recant but to remain faithful unto a martyr's death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period.
2. The Crown of "GLORY."
This is the "Elder's" or "Pastor's" crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for "filthy lucre" or "lord it over God's heritage." Many which will have already received their reward here on earth.1st Peter 5:2-4.
3. The Crown of "REJOICING."
This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. Those brought to Jesus by us will be our "crown of rejoicing" at His Coming. 1Thessalonians 2:19-20; Philippians 4:1.
4. The Crown of "RIGHTEOUSNESS."
This is the crown of those who "love His appearing" and will be given in "that day"-- the Day of His Appearing. 2nd Timothy 4:8.
5. The Crown "INCORRUPTIBLE."
This is the "Victor's" crown, and is for those who "keep under their body" (1Co 9:25-27); who do not yield to their fleshly lusts; who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the Master's work by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs.
If we do not want to be "ashamed at His Coming," (1st John 2:28), let us see to it that we keep our body "under" and so live that we shall secure a crown.
Now the world has not been judged, Christ has come back to claim his church and he did not set foot on the earth. If we can accept this Judgment it becomes easy to understand the scripture, 1st Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
To be continued
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