15-CHAPTER XI THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

CHAPTER XI THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

Holy Scripture foretells two chief End judgments: the church being made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ and the general final judgment before the great white throne (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).¹ These are far separated in point of time. Between them lies the Millennium (Revelation 20:5).

Divisions and Classes in the Resurrection The hitherto widely spread setting forth of the last day as one single event, with only one resurrection, simultaneous for righteous and unrighteous, and only one Divine judgment at the end of the world, does not correspond to New Testament prophecy. Much rather the Holy Scripture speaks of a resurrection "Fromamong the dead" (Luke 20:35), of a "first" resurrection (Revelation 20:6), indeed, of a resurrection "out from among the dead" (Php 3:11, lit.). It speaks of divisions and classes within the resurrection, and emphasizes that these are separated from one another by intervening periods. "As in Adam all die, so in Christ will they all be made to live. But each in his own class [the word also signifies military division]:the firstfruits Christ; thereafter those who belong to Christ, when He shall come: thereafter the end [that is, the end of the resurrection, namely of the rest of the dead] " (1 Corinthians 15:22-24).

It is true that in the Old Testament both of these, the resur­rection to " eternal life " and the resurrection to " eternal reproach and shame," are brought together in one picture (Daniel 12:2; Daniel 12:13), and similarly in the prophecies of the Lord Jesus on earth (John 5:28-29; comp. Acts 24:15); but as prophetic revelation advanced (John 16:12-13) these appeared as two chief events and separated as to time: the resurrection of the righteous before the beginning of the kingdom of Messiah, and the general resurrection thereafter, at the end of the world. The key is Revelation 20:5-6 :"These [the priests of God and of Christ] lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection." The Judgment Seat of Christ The first is the manifestation of believers before the judgment², seat of Christ.³ This takes place at the rapture of the church in the "day of Jesus Christ,³ before the setting up of the visible kingdom of God. Here the walk of believers will be set in the light of the face of Christ, and each will receive according as he had acted when in the body, be it good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10). Loss or gain (1 Corinthians 3:14-15 :Colossians 3:24), higher or lower position in heaven (Matthew 5:19), shame (1 John 2:28) or honor,⁴ burning up or stability of one’s life-work (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)—upon all his decisions will be given at the judgment seat of Christ.

Let us take this seriously. It is indeed true that he who believes ’ on the Son is free from final judgment (John 5:24; Romans 8:1), for Christ, his Surety, has borne this judgment in his place (Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 53:12), and through faith he himself is become one with ,1 Him. But even so it is true, and of most momentous con- t sequence, that the day in which believers will have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ "will be revealed in fire"(1 Corinthians 3:13). Paul even speaks of the heart-stirring possibility that a believer, though saved personally, may suffer such damage . to be compared to a man escaping out of a fire with his bare life ; (1 Corinthians 3:15). Let us therefore live in practical faithfulness! That is the standard by which we shall be judged before the ; judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:2), and thus at last will be opened to us "richly" an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Judgment Before the Great White Throne The judgment before the great white throne is the proper general and final judgment. According to the testimony of the Revelation it comes at the end of the world after the Millennial kingdom and the following "little time" (Revelation 20:11-15).⁵ It follows directly after the extermination of the apostate race of the visible kingdom of Messiah (Gog and Magog), the general world destruction, and the final defeat of Satan (Revelation 20:7-10). All have to appear before it who have not already appeared before the judgment seat of Christ, and thus mankind in general, including the nations of the Millennial kingdom. The result of the decision is inconceivably weighty. The Scripture says:"If anyone was not found written in the book of life he was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

Thus between these two judgments there lie many centuries. The one is at the beginning of the "last day,"⁶ the other at its end. But for our gospel message and ministry both have significance also for all men living in the present age. With regard to these, that means:

Whoever has believed on Christ and has surrendered his life to Him as his Lord whom he serves, will have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and according to his faith Savior, he will have reward or loss. By Christ, the righteous judge, he will be set in that status in glory which is his allotted portion. As to his salvation there is nothing new to decide.⁷ But all others who may have heard, but not believed and obeyed the gospel, and consequently are not justified and sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11) on account of the work of the Redeemer, with all others of mankind of past and future, will be judged before the great white throne. How solemn if it shall then be shown that a man had heard the Gospel and had not believed, so that his name is not inscribed in the book of life! Therefore if thou hast not yet laid hold of salvation, make thy decision today! Bethink thyself that it concerns thy eternal destiny!" Today, if ye should hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7).

Notes

¹Concerning the intervening judgment of the nations on earth at the beginning of the Millennial kingdom, see p. 54.v Connected with these stages of the resurrection there are two different chief final judgments.

²"We all"; (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). In all, Scripture speaks in a threefold respect of the judgment of believers. "First of their judgment as sinners, second as children, third as servants. As sinners they were judged in the past on the cross.:    There in their Substitute their sentence was fully executed: the chastisement lay upon Him, that we might have peace. This is their blessed confession. As children they are judged in the present, when they are chastened by the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:32). This is for their profit, so that they may attain sanctification (Hebrews 12:10). Lastly as servants, in the future, before the judgment seat of Christ."

³Php 2:16; Php 1:6; Php 1:10; Cor. 1:8.

⁴"Crowns":2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25-26; 1 Peter 5:3-4.

⁵Comp, the connection with ver. 1-14.

⁶Comp. ch. X:The "Days" of God.

⁷But certainly the perfected, both as assessors and under-judges, will take part in the final judgment. "Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).