The Judgments of the Future
THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS' WORKS
After the church is taken to heaven through translation and resurrection, individual believers will be judged for their works done as Christians (1 Co 3:11-15). Salvation with its assurance of heaven is not in question, only whether heaven will be entered with or without rewards. Paul makes it quite clear in this passage that those believers whose works are of the character that they do not pass the test will nevertheless be saved (v. 15). The question is often raised how one's sins can be forgiven and yet one's deeds reviewed at the judgment seat of Christ. Forgiveness concerns justification; the review concerns rewards, and after the review is made there will be no sorrow or tears because there are none in heaven. Too, we often wonder what the nature of the rewards will be. If heaven is heaven, what difference will rewards make? The answer to that is not given in the Bible; nevertheless, rewards are mentioned as a proper motivation for Christian service. We are told for what things rewards will be given. A crown of rejoicing will be given for bringing people to Christ (1 Th 2:19); a crown of righteousness, for loving His appearing (2 Ti 4:8); a crown of life, for enduring testing with love for the Lord (Ja 1:12), and a crown of glory to elders who are faithful to their responsibilities in the church (1 Pe 5:4).

THE JUDGMENT OF GENTILES WHO SURVIVE THE TRIBULATION
Some people will live through the judgments of the tribulation period, and they will be judged before the millennium is set up and functioning. The time of the judgment is clearly indicated as "when the Son of man shall come in his glory" (Mt 25:31-46). It will take place on the earth in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2). Probably this valley will be created in the area of Jerusalem by some of the physical disruptions connected with the second coming of Christ (Zec 14:4). Those judged are called the "nations," a Hebrew word translated "people," "heathen," "nations," and, most often, "Gentiles." The Greek word translated "nations" in Matthew 25:32 is also often translated "Gentiles" in the New Testament (see Ro 11:11-12, 25). This must be a judgment of individuals (there has never been a righteous nation), not nations as groups, so it is best to translate "Gentiles."
The basis of judging will be the treatment by these Gentiles of a group which the Lord Jesus called "my brethren" (Mt 25:40). Who these are can be determined by a process of elimination. Since Christ is present as Judge, since the church has been raptured before the tribulation begins, since living Gentiles are being judged, the only group left would seem to be the Jews of the tribulation times (His "brethren" according to the flesh). They will be the objects of intense persecution during those days, so that anyone who befriends them or does any act of kindness to them will himself come under great suspicion. People will not feed, clothe or visit Jews simply for humanitarian reasons during that time. To do these things will involve a real risk of one's own life, so doing these things will therefore be evidence of new life in the doer's heart. In other words, the works of kindness which these Gentiles will have done for the Jewish brethren of the Lord will prove the regenerated condition of the Gentiles. Being regenerated saves them; doing these good works proves that they are regenerated.
Those whose lives have given evidence of the new birth will become citizens of the kingdom (Mt 25:34). Those whose works proved their lack of eternal life will be condemned to the lake of fire (v. 41). Those who do enter the kingdom will enter with their earthly bodies; they will marry, bear children and become the means of populating the millennial earth.

THE JUDGMENT OF JEWS WHO SURVIVE THE TRIBULATION
Those Jews who live through the tribulation period will also be judged (Eze 20:34-38). The Lord also spoke of this judgment in a parable (Mt 25:14-30) and placed it immediately after His return. The result of this judgment will be that the unsaved Jews will be cut off from both millennial and eternal life, for no rebel will enter the millennium (Eze 20:37; Mt 25:30

THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS
Satan will, of course, be judged at the second coming of Christ by being bound in the abyss during the millennium and then after his brief revolt at the conclusion be cast eternally into the lake of fire (Rev 20:2-3, 7, 10). Those angels who followed Satan's initial revolt against God will also be judged. The time is called "the great day" (Jude 6)-probably at the conclusion of the millennium (the end of the day of the Lord) when Satan is finally judged. Believers will apparently have a part in executing this judgment (1 Corinthians 6:3.)

THE JUDGMENT OF THE UNSAVED DEAD (AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE) (REV 20:11-15)
At the conclusion of the millennial reign a great white throne will be established somewhere in space, for the present earth and starry heavens will have been replaced. The Judge who will sit on this throne will be Christ (Jn 5:22-the better texts of Rev 20:12 read "before the throne," not "before God"). Those who are judged will be the unsaved dead of all time. All the redeemed will have been raised and judged previously, so only the unsaved are left (Rev 20:6).
These people will also be judged on the basis of their works (vv. 12-13). They get into this judgment because they are unsaved, but once there, they are judged for their works. When the book of life is opened, it will be seen that no name of anyone standing before the throne appears in it. Rejection of the Saviour has kept their names out of the book of life. Their works done during their lifetimes prove that these people deserve eternal punishment.
It is almost an act of condescension on God's part to show men at this judgment that they deserve the lake of fire on the basis of their own personal records. It seems likely, too, that this basis of judgment will also serve as a basis for different degrees of punishment in hell (see Lk 12:47-48). For all who stand in this judgment, the result will be the same-they will be cast into the lake of fire. This is called the second death and means eternal separation from God. Even death (which claims the body) and hades (which claims the soul) will be cast into the lake of fire. MOODY THEOLOGY JUDGMENTS

Praying for you in the study of the various JUDGMENTS of our HOLY GOD and LORD,

Ralph Porter
 
Last changed: 09/17/08