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What is the difference between the Great
White Throne Judgment, and the Judgment Seat of Christ?
What is the difference between judgement seat of
God and White Throne judgement ?
There are two end-time judgments of which
the Bible speaks.
One is
the Great White Throne Judgment. It is described in 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."
Only
lost people appear at that judgment. Everyone there is cast into the lake of fire. The
judgment is to determine their degree of punishment. They all suffer in the fire there,
but some will suffer more than others.
Does
the Bible really teach that some will suffer there more than others? Yes, because they are
judged according to their works. We are not saved by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9). But clearly this
Great White Throne Judgment brings their works into the matter of the judgment, so it is
to give them exactly the torment that they deserve.
The
Bible does refer to the judgment being more tolerable for some, than for others (which is
not to say that everyone there will not be tormented, because they all will be.) Matthew
10:14,15 says, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye
depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you,
It shall be MORE TOLERABLE for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than
for that city." Matthew 11:20-24 says, "Then began he to upbraid the cities
wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee,
Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had
been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But
I say unto you, It shall be MORE TOLERABLE for Tyre and Sidon AT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than
for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to
hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it
would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be MORE TOLERABLE
for the land of Sodom IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than for thee."
For
more study on this subject, see our Bible Course on the subject of Hell, at http://www.pathwaynet.com/libertyb/biblecrs/hell/hell1.htm.
The other end time judgment is the Judgment Seat of
Christ. Only Christians will appear at that judgment. It is a judgment to determine
eternal rewards or the loss of them. It has nothing to do with determining salvation. That
is already determined before a person dies. You will notice that this judgment is also
based upon works — not the "amount" of them, but the "sort" (the
quality, the motive) of them. I Corinthians 3:9-15 says, "For we are labourers
together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace
of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and
another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work
shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." You
will notice that it is possible to not have any rewards at all, but still to be saved.
What a sad day that will be for such Christians. This is the time to be serving the Lord
while we can, with pure and right motives. II Corinthians 5:8-10 says, "We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with
the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
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."
Are you
saved, and faithfully serving the Lord? John 9:4 says, "I must work the works of him
that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
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