2:2 the ruler of the kingdom of the air, NIV [air is the Greek, aer, the atmospheric heavens]). Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. 6:1; 9:14), of unfruitful deeds (Eph. See Rev. 0. Yet Ryries Notes Say Otherwise. 15:17; Jn. Scripture teaches that all sins, both confessed and unconfessed, have been forgiven and taken care of by the work of Christ on the Cross so the Christian will never face those sins again at the judgment. All their hopes and dreams had been placed in an earth and system that was passing away (1 John 2:17), and now they see it dissolve before their very eyes. 20:10). (6) Israel is the earthly kingdom and will undoubtedly have authority over portions and sections of the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom as emphasized in Matt. Sometimes this comes in the form of various kinds of testing, trials, failure, and predicaments which He uses to correct us, to train us, and, if we have been going our own stubborn way, to increase our misery. But what did Paul mean by this? The Bible describes one judgment that takes place at the return of Jesus and Unfortunately, this condition had continued because some of these believers had failed to examine their hearts and judge their sin by honest confession followed by a commitment to deal with it in the power of the Spirit (11:28, 31). Confession of sin restores us to fellowship and to the Spirits control. But even this will be Gods judgment and the expression of His wrath. As they refused to follow the light, they were brought to folly in their thoughtsbecame vain in their [corrupt] reasonings, and their foolish [senseless] heart was darkened. The intellectual revolt against what they knew to be right was attended by a darkening of the whole understanding. Rather, God disciplines us as a father disciplines his sons to bring us back into fellowship that we might be conformed to His Son. So the order of events will be (a) the rapture which includes our glorification or resurrection bodies, (b) exaltation into the heavens with the Lord, (c) examination before the Bema, and (d) compensation or rewards. 22:12).4. 20:35b-38). (10) It is a time of extreme anti-Semitism (Rev. (3) The recompense (NASB) or the receive back (KJV) of 2 Corinthians 5:10 refers to the dispensing of rewards or their loss. 24:21), and it will be culminated by the personal return of Jesus Christ to earth (Matt. 25:1-30; Ezek. Since the Savior has died for the sin of the world (1 John 2:2), the ultimate issue is the sin of unbelief or rejection of Christ. Rom. To sin means to miss the mark. This is no more a punishment than when a student turns in a worthless assignment and receives an F or a D. His poor work results in a just grade or recompense. 19:12). The judgment of the Nation of Israel (Matt. It occurs 107 times in the Old Testament, but 93 times in the book of Ezekiel. (9) It is a time of internationalism: religiously (Rev. A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment,A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate. The judgment seat of Christ might be compared to a commencement ceremony. Eph. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. The rebels of unbelief must be removed so that only believing Israel will enter into the kingdom (cf. 1:9-16; Gal. As the victorious Grecian athlete appeared before the Bema to receive his perishable award, so the Christian will appear before Christs Bema to receive his imperishable award. (2) In Revelation 19:8, when the Lord returns with His bride at the end of the tribulation, she is seen already rewarded. Matthew 25:1-30 shows that God will judge living Israel to separate the saved from the unsaved. This is not the final judgment mentioned in Revelation 20:11-15 which is limited to only the unbelieving world. At graduation there is some measure of disappointment and remorse that one did not do better and work harder. 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. WebAs it will be shown below, though it is tremendously serious with eternal ramifications, the judgment seat of Christ is not a place and time when the Lord will mete out punishment for sins committed by the child of God. The following verses demonstrate the basic principle of the complete and finished nature of Christs work: Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. The elements of remorse, regret, and shame cannot be avoided in an examination of the judgment seat of Christ. 4:34f). 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers eye. 1:13), that all have sinned and come short of Gods glory (Rom. God wants Christians to understand the truth of the judgments to both comfort and motivate them to godly living. Soon, however, 144,000 will come to Christ from the nation of Israel and will evidently become the evangelists of the world who lead people to Christ from every tongue, tribe, and nation (Rev. Compare also Ephesians 4:17-19: This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. In the face of the awesome holiness of God, they are sinners and cannot stand in the presence of God on their own merit. While the Bema is going on in heaven (with the church in the Lords presence) a series of terrible judgments will begin to unfold on the earth for a period of seven years to be culminated by the return and manifestation of Christ to earth as the Great White Horse Rider of Revelation 19. 2:8), but a reward for enduring trials and overcoming temptation. In the first stage, we are all judged from the books according to our works. But man is separated from God by the problem of Sin. 25:1-30). 9:27). The Christian has been in court, condemned, sentenced, and executed in his substitute, Jesus Christ. The victor of a given event who participated according to the rules was led by the judge to the platform called the Bema. Dan. God is perfect righteousness. 1 Cor. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son. (Rom 14:10 & 2 Cor 5:10) 2) White Throne Judgment = non-believers only. 14:12-14; Ezek. (4) It is a day of destruction and global catastrophes (Joel 1:15; 2:3; 1 Thess. Though believers are under no condemnation in respect to their sins, having been justified by faith (John 3:18; 5:24; Rom. Deeds is the Greek word, ergon, which refers to anything that is done, a deed, action, or work. It is used of good deeds (Matt. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.. (3) It is an expression and a proof of Gods love (Heb. This is a serious matter with consequences both for time and eternity since the failure to do so leads not only to the loss of rewards, but the judgment of Gods discipline of His believing children as a loving Father and as the Vine Dresser who must prune the vine for production (Heb. 24:21. Sin requires a penalty, the penalty of death as Gods holy judgment on sin. A number of things occur at this time. The context suggests that Paul has in mind the return of Christ for the churchthe rapture (1 Thess. The basis of the judgment is what is found in the two sets of booksthe books which are opened, and the other book, the Book of Life (Rev. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. Hampton wrote many articles for the Biblical Studies Foundation and on More, Getting Spiritually Fit 1 ( Corinthians 9:24-27), Steps to Biblical Reconciliation (Luke 17:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21). Throughout history God has revealed Himself in creation (Rom. The verb used is komizo and means to carry off safe, to carry off as booty. In the middle voice as here, it meant to bear for oneself,16 or to receive back what is ones own.17 Compare Matthew 25:27 and Ephesians 6:8. In the universal anti-Semitism of the Great Tribulation one who befriends Jews will by this evidence manifest his salvation.6. 24:14). (2) Diadem. also 1 John 5:16-17). In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, the Apostle Paul drew courage and was motivated by the fact of rewards at the return of the Lord for the church which he mentions in every chapter in this epistle and becomes the primary subject of 2 Thessalonians. (b) It is also a special crown given for faithfulness in running the race and exercising self-control in order to serve the Lord and finish the race. Of course all sickness, weakness, or suffering is not a product of sin, but it can be and often is (1 Cor. Then why do we have to confess sin in this life? Some crucial questions are: Why are we brought before the Bema? But how? Carnal believers have no vision other than their own personal agendas and selfish goals (cf. 2:5). and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. While bema is used in the Gospels and in Acts of the raised platform where a Roman magistrate or ruler sat to make decisions and pass sentence (Matt. It is the word used of the crowns promised to believers for faithfulness in the Christian life. How many times is the word judgment mentioned in the Bible? If It Is During The Millennium How Will There Not Be Pain And Tears When The Devil Is Released To Deceive The Nations? This means we must each come to God the same wayas a sinner who recognizes his sinfulness, repudiates any form of human works for salvation, and relies totally on Christ alone by faith alone for our salvation. Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;For He is coming to judge the earth. Rather, it is a place where rewards will be given or lost depending on how one has used his or her life for the Lord. 12; 14). 2 Tim. 5:15; Heb. 3:24; 5:15-17; 6:23; Eph. All of mankind without distinction are under the curse of sin and judged as sinful and separated from God apart from the saving grace of God in Christ. 2 Lewis Sperry Chafer Systematic Theology, Vol. Joy will indeed be the predominant emotion of life with the Lord; but I suspect that, when our works are made manifest at the tribunal, some grief will be mixed with the joy, and we shall know shame as we suffer loss. This will be answered as we consider the basis on which rewards are given or lost. It is a doctrine often ignored or, when taught, it is misrepresented because of the term judgment that is used in translating the Greek text. This evidently takes place after the resurrection of the unbelieving dead from the grave and Hades. Those judged are the dead, great and small, those who had no part in the first resurrection (Rev. (3) The Crown of Exultation or Rejoicing (1 Thess. The emotional condition of the redeemed is that of complete and unending happiness. If you have not, may I encourage you to read Appendix A, investigate the claims of Christ, and receive Him as your Savior by faith. but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. They teach us the basic cause of discipline is failure to examine and confess known sins because that hinders our fellowship with God. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 7:15-24), the believers union with Christ in His death provides for divine forgiveness for the fact of the sin nature and for victory over its reigning power. WebLuke 16:19-31 ESV / 91 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. What becomes the issue for us today? The deeds of the unbeliever are only examined to show that the person, no matter how much good they have done, falls short of Gods holy demands. There is the glorification of living believers in glorified bodies, the resurrection of those believers who have died in the Lord also in glorified bodies, and the translation of both to meet the Lord in the air. 4:10-11). The victor of a given event, who had participated according to the rules, was led by the judge to the platform called the Bema. 1:13; Isa. While people are saying peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come as birth pains upon a woman in travail. The text reads: Acts 24:15-16 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. Ungodliness is always the source of unrighteousness; ungodliness (turning away from God) leads to idolatry (man worshipping the products of his own mind and hands), and idolatry leads to unchained sensuality. 11:29-30; 1 John 5:16-17; Prov. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be Physical death became a certainty for their future because they took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And why does God judge believers for unconfessed sin as with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and some of the believers in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11:28f? 4:8). The Lords return and what this means not only to the world but to us individually is a very prominent subject of the New Testament. If so, how do we reconcile this with passages like Revelation 7:17, God shall wipe away every tear from their eye, and Revelation 21:4, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away, or with Isaiah 65:17, For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind? (4) Loss of Opportunities. In one sense, the Thessalonians will be Pauls crown, and the effect at the Bema and throughout eternity will be rejoicing or exultation over their presence in heaven. Charles Lee Feingberg [Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1968], p. 29). The Tribulation judgments (Matt. Whats the basis on which the Bema is conducted? (5) It yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. English strikes a proper balance on this subject. Terms used of this period. After our glorification, there will be no sinful nature to produce envy, or jealousy, or resentment, or feelings of dissatisfaction. See answer (1) Best Answer. 24:17). The believer is seen by the Father as clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 5:10; 1 John 2:28). 3:11-12. (1) Stephanos. 7:25; Rev. (3) A Graduate at Commencement. 26:10; Mark 14:6; Rom. (5) The hour of testing which shall try the whole earth (Rev. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 1:18-3:9, 23). 2 One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; Romans 5:12-15 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned 13 for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 2:12-13). The Bible declares, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God. In other words, our sin separates us from God who is perfect holiness (righteousness and justice) and who must therefore judge sinful man (Rom. Appears refers to the rapture which leads quickly into the Bema. 1:15, 18; Rev. And now little children. John is writing to believers. An interesting and important passage to this study is Acts 24:15-16because in this passage Paul implicitly made reference to two judgments which are closely related. Isaiah 38:17 Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is Thou who hast kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back. Rewards become one of the great motives of the Christians life or should. These are: (1) The Promise of Crowns. 28:11-19; Rev. Rather, the Judgment Seat of Christ is for the body of Christ, the church. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. (1) To evaluate the quality of every believers work whether it is good or bad, i.e., acceptable and thus worthy of rewards, or unacceptable, to be rejected and unworthy of rewards. the word - The one who understands the day of Jesus Christ as referring to the Great White Throne Judgment is on a collision course with despair and eternal destiny concerns. The result of this judgment will be that each Christian will be grateful for the reward which he receives, and he will have little or no shame. 5:11), and of works of the Law (Rom. The awesome fact is that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Wiki User. 25:21; Lk. To overdo the sorrow aspect of the judgment seat of Christ is to make heaven hell. For the Christian, the future reality of this event should cause deep concern because of the many (including some of our friends and relatives) who will face this throne of judgment because they never received the Savior by faith. A God of faithfulness and without injustice. Thank you for giving me eternal life through faith in your Son. Still others today see only the very tail end of the events of Revelation to be the outpouring of the judgment of God and assert that the rest of the events constitute only the wrath or wickedness of man. (1) Loss of Fellowship With the Lord. Again, there is only one judgment day, but Revelation 20:11-15 tells us the judgment process has two stages. There were also divisions and factions and the focus on personalities rather than the Savior. 3:14-15). Because Christ alone is worthy and because we can only be fruitful when we abide in Him allowing His life to fills ours, we will all cast our crowns before Him in recognition that all we have done is by His grace. The expression the judgment seat of Christ in the English Bible has tended to cause some to draw the wrong conclusion about the nature and purpose of this evaluation. It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (4) The Great Day, the one of their wrath (Rev. How do we know who falls into the category of swine, those incapable of appreciating the truth, if we do not make certain judgments? Her blessedness is extolled by Elizabeth (Lk 1:45). They insist that the tribulation is not the judgment of God, but comes from man and Satan bringing persecution to all. Romans 14:1-5 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 14:10-11; 1 Cor. In view of his use of crown (stephanos, the victors wreath) in other places, and the fact believers will cast their crowns before the Lord (Rev. Our tendency is to rationalize and excuse our sins, but God says we are to judge them as sin to God. Actually an evaluation is going on every day by the Lord (cf. 2:3f). 2:26). But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. Hope will at last become reality for all those who are delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom. Rewards become one of the Great Tribulation one who befriends Jews will by this evidence manifest salvation.6... Appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one of wrath. 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