Thesis 21/36: The Different Judgments

DOCTRINES OF ESCHATOLOGY
Doctrine 21 / 36: The Different Judgments

Every man will be judged according to his works. That is a truth that is taught throughout the whole gamut of Scripture (Job 33:26; Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:29; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 32:19; Ezekiel 7:27; Ezekiel 18:30; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). The common phrase or understanding that each of those verses states is that the Lord will judge every man according to his works.

The Bible teaches that even those that have died already will be raised for the final judgment. At that point some will be raised for everlasting life, and some for everlasting damnation (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29). The judgment will be final, and at that point it will be too late for a man to make a defense for himself. He will be tried according to his works, and unfortunately for man, "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23). Only those that have had Christ's good works, His righteousness, imputed to them (Romans 5:19) will be able to stand on that day of judgment. God will look at them and see Christ's works in place of their own.

The Bible does speak of two different places or sets of judgment. The first is called "The Judgment Seat of Christ." This phrase is found in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. Both of these passages are speaking to believers and not to unbelievers. The context in those passages has to do with the works that the Christians are doing for the Lord. The judgment here at the Judgment Seat of Christ appears to be the place where rewards are given out for the good that Christians did for the Lord, and the time spent wasted during life is revealed as having been wasted. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 speaks of this same judgment where it talks about the things that are added to the foundation of Jesus Christ, proving that it speaks only of Christians. The works there are tried by fire, with the good works lasting through it, and the bad or vain works being consumed. This may be the time when crowns are given to those whom have earned them (1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4).

The Great White Throne Judgment is the second place of spiritual judgment mentioned in the Bible. This is the final judgment referred to throughout the Scriptures, and it refers to the time in Revelation 20:11-15. While the timing of the Judgment Seat of Christ is questionable, the timing the of the Great White Throne Judgment is at the end of the Millennium, and it begins eternity future. The Bible describes this throne as having "the dead, small and great" standing there before God. The dead are judged out of the books according to their works, and whoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. It can be assumed from the use of the term "the dead" that only those that died without Christ are being judged here at this Great White Throne Judgment (as those that physically die in Christ are said to be asleep in Him). They are judged according to their works, and they are all found guilty before God. They are then sentenced to their eternal destinies. It does not specifically say that believers will not be there at this judgment, nor does it say that they will. If they are there, their works will be found pure with Christ's work in their stead.

"Who will render to every man according to his deeds."