The Bible clearly states that judgment will fall on every human being.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)
We all will die someday, and according to this scripture, we all will face judgment. The time and date is out there somewhere in the future, closer for some of us than for others. It is interesting to learn that death is an appointment.
Did you know that 55,300,000 people die every year? That is over 150,000 every day, 6316 every hour, more than 105 every minute and 2 people every second. They all had an appointment with death. That is one appointment that we wish we could break, but it is inevitable.
However, we will not all be summoned to the same court. The Bible talks about two judgments, one for the lost or unsaved and one for the saved.
The believer will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
“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 Corinthians 5:10) The resurrected saints will be rewarded.
Remember, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).
The application of “no condemnation” is exclusive to those who walk after the Spirit. The Christian that walks in the flesh will also appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Their condemnation will be the loss of rewards that could have been theirs for all eternity.
This event will occur immediately following the rapture or resurrection of the church after it is caught up to be with the Lord in the air as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Theologians tell us that the experience will happen immediately after the rapture. I think it will be a glorious time of fellowship with other believers and great joy to be in the presence of Jesus. Yes, there will be a loss of rewards because they were not motivated by the Spirit but rather done in the flesh. Wood, Hay & Stubble that will burn away, characterizes these deeds done in the flesh.
The final judgment will be at the “Great White Throne Judgment.” It is reserved for all people who have rejected God’s call to salvation. Every person who has lived on the planet Earth and has refused to accept God’s way to redemption from sin will face their creator and be judged.
Many who thought they were safe will be shocked. Jesus will say, as recorded in Matthew 7:23, will say to them, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
I believe these to be all the religions in the world. But also many who were called Christian but were only members of a church and not truly “Born Again.”
Verses 21 & 22 tell the story. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father, which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
This is religion without the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit. These are also the ones who will go through the tribulation and still not believe.
The concept of a “Great White Throne” comes from 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”.
Note that there is a, “Book of Life” filled with the names of the redeemed. If your name is not there, you can put it there now, before it is too late, by asking Jesus to save your soul and committing yourself to Him.
Another point is that the dead, both great & small are all there. That is the famous and the nobodies. The text seems to suggest that all mankind, including the redeemed, are there, but it is important to see that the verse says, “The Dead”. All the folks that are living are listed in the Book of Life and are enjoying eternal bliss. If they are there, they are there to witness the final judgment of the lost.
Why then is the Book of Life at this judgment? I believe it is there as a final condemnation. It is to prove that they did not receive God’s plan of salvation.
Guess who is sitting on this great white throne? “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him”. (John 5:22-23) “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:16)
You guessed it. It is none other than Jesus. He would know if your name is in His book, right?
The greatness of this throne is not in its size, nor is it in 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.
Please consider your eternal destiny. You do not want to end up being rejected by Jesus because you put your hope in an assumption or a church that has no power to save you.
Until Next Time
Rev. John Marinelli