What Awaits Us Before the Judgment Seat of Christ – Part 1

The judgment seat of Christ is the place where rewards will be distributed. This will take place after the Rapture. Then, when the Lord returns to earth with His bride at His second coming to reign here, she will have already been tested, purified, and rewarded.

There are several New Testament passages that speak about this. Second Corinthians 5:10 is one of the most succinct: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

This verse shows us that Christ’s judgment of us will be an examination. It is:

Necessary. There are several reasons for this.

First, because all people must go through God’s judgment. God, as Creator and Redeemer, has the right to judge people, and that includes believers. Romans 2:6-8 says: “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” But the Father will not judge anyone. He has given all judicial authority to the Son, the second person of the Trinity, and all judgment is in the Son’s hands (John 5:22; Acts 10:42).

Second, because the Church must be brought to perfection in the works it has done during its pilgrimage through the world. Ephesians 5:25-27 says that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

When Christ summons His Church in order to be united with her forever as His bride, He must first purify her by judging her works. Luke 14:14b indicates the timing of this judgment: “For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Therefore, the judgment seat of Christ is the place where rewards will be distributed. This will take place after the Rapture. Then, when the Lord returns to earth with His bride at His second coming to reign here, she will have already been tested, purified, and rewarded.

Revelation 19:7-9 is about the “marriage of the Lamb” and the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” On this occasion, John saw that “‘it was granted her [the Church] to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” This festive dress was prophetically seen by Isaiah:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isa 61:10).

These are the “righteous deeds of the saints,” the works that remain after they have stood in judgment at the judgment seat of Christ and earned rewards (1 Cor 3:14).

In Revelation 21:9-11 we read: “Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”

When the Church has been perfected before the judgment seat of Christ, it will reflect God’s glory as a bright light. In 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 22:12, the rewards given by the Lord are related to His coming for His own, His parousia. Therefore, we can conclude that the judgment of believers will take place immediately after this glorious event.

Third, because the Lord is a just judge and will give each his reward according to his works and faithfulness. The judgment seat of Christ is the place in the heavenly sphere where all believers must give an account to the Lord. In other words, we will be put to a test.

Imminent

We read in James 5:8-9, “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” Twenty centuries after these words were written, this instruction takes on extraordinary relevance. There is no doubt that the Lord’s coming draws ever nearer. In this text from James, in light of the truth that the judgment is at hand, we’re advised to be in patient, tolerant, loving, fraternal relationships with the brothers and sisters who are in Christ.

Inescapable

Second Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear…” Every person must undergo divine judgment, some sooner and some later. Some to hear one verdict, and some another. But it’s necessary that every person be judged by God in the person of His Son Jesus Christ.

Of course, this verse is speaking of believers since it says “we.” The letters to the Romans and the Corinthians were written to Christians, not nonbelievers. Therefore, “we” undoubtedly applies to those who are born again, who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, and for this reason will be caught up on the day of the Lord’s parousia and stand before His judgment seat.

Some members of the church in Corinth deserved to be judged by God. The Apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 11 that because of the transgressions and sins in some of their lives, God was judging them: “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died” (v. 30). But this wasn’t their final judgment. Every believer, “all” must appear before Christ’s judgment. When Jesus Christ comes to take His Church, we will stand before His judgment seat.

Sublime

“Before the judgment seat of Christ.” There are three Greek expressions that are translated as “judgment” or “judgment place” in various translations of the New Testament:

Thronos: Translated (or rather paraphrased) as “throne.” This expression occurs several times in Revelation 4 and 5 in reference to the throne of God and of the Lamb, which is surrounded by the living creatures and the multitude of angels. The same term is used for the twenty-four thrones of the elders, which stand around God’s elevated throne.

But it is also the judge’s seat. One place it appears is in Matthew 25:31. It is translated as “the throne of his glory,” which the Lord will occupy to judge the nations or the Gentiles. This will take place after His second coming and before the beginning of His millennial kingdom (that is, the revelation of Christ in glory). This judgment is guided by benevolent treatment of Israel during the Great Tribulation. In Revelation 20:11-12, we read of the great white throne, where the Lord Himself will judge the unbelieving dead. This will take place at the end of the millennial kingdom and the “Day of the Lord,” and will be a condemning judgment related to salvation.

It would be hard to explain why believers would leave intimate fellowship with our Lord in glory to appear in the midst of those who will be judged before the great white throne, especially considering that the Lord Jesus will come for His Church so that it will be with Him forever, as He promised in John 14:3: “…I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” The Apostle Paul also confirms this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Consequently, this judgment by Christ Jesus must not be confused with these two end time judgments. Nor can we claim on biblical grounds that there will only be one universal judgment for believers and unbelievers.

The Majesty of Divine Judgment

The Apostle Paul speaks of the majesty of the divine judgments in very solemn tones: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom” (2 Tim 4:1). One of the judgments that will take place at His revelation is the judgment of Christ.

Kritērion: This expression occurs three times in the New Testament (1 Cor 6:2, 4; Jas 2:6), and none of these refers to the judgment of Christ. These instances seem to refer to the standard or criteria by which the judgment is carried out, to the trial itself, or to the place where judgment is carried out.

Bēma: We find this term twelve times in the New Testament. In two instances, it refers to the judgment seat of Christ (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10). In these cases, the word in the original text meant a step or platform, an elevated area on which a ruler’s throne or a judge’s podium was placed (cf. Acts 18:12). It also marked the place where the judge of the Greek games would observe the progress of the athletes’ competition, and he would award the winners from it.

The elevated seat gave dignity, authority, and honor to the judge. It is a place of awarding prizes, meaning there is no judgment in the sense of condemnation or punishment. It isn’t a criminal court to condemn, but a court of honor to reward. Nevertheless, it will be a place of great solemnity. Before all humanity does so, the people of God will bow in submission there, before the majesty of the One who alone is worthy to receive all glory and honor and power (Rev 4:11). And what’s more, the only One worthy to judge men: the sacrificial Lamb who triumphed on the Cross (Is 45:23; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10; Rev 5:9).