What Is
Heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ?
Romans
14:10-12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…so then, each
of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Second
Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in
the body, whether good or bad.”
In
the context, it is clear that both scriptures are referring to born again
Christians, not unbelievers. What are the vital facts you don’t know about the
heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ? The 36 essential guidelines below will
enlighten you extensively.
1.
The heavenly
Judgment Seat of Christ involves born again Christians giving an account of
their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ. The heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ
does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our
behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16).
When
we accepted the salvation offer of our Lord Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven
and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1).
2.
We
should not look at the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ as God judging our
sins, but rather as Lord Jesus Christ rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the
Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves. This is going to be
the primary focus of the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ after the prophetic
glorious Rapture.
3.
Indeed,
a backslidden Preacher or backslidden Christian can end up in eternal burning
Hell fire after physical death (2 Peter 2:1-22). Also, a cold or lukewarm
Christian can be left behind by Lord Jesus Christ on prophetic glorious Rapture
day (Revelation 3:14-22).
4.
As
born again Christians, we must always be Christ-focused, repent always from any
known or hidden sins, remain heavenly minded, committed to active soul winning,
avoid eternal burning Hell fire, avoid lukewarm spiritual condition, be hot
always spiritually and ready always for the prophetic glorious Rapture.
We
can’t make Heaven by personal efforts or self-righteousness. We can only make
Heaven by the great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5.
Lord
Jesus Christ is alive in Heaven and He is coming back on prophetic glorious
Rapture day. We must be ready always for the prophetic glorious Rapture because
it is a Biblical and prophetic event (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians
4:16-17).
Surely,
no one can know the day or hour of prophetic glorious Rapture because it is a
Divine and suspense filled Biblical event (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13: 32-33; Luke
21:34-35).
6.
It
is true that prophetic glorious Rapture is overdue but we must never give up
our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Don't let unbelievers and Rapture scoffers
discourage you. Lord Jesus Christ is always warning us regularly through
numerous prophetic messages and end time signs to be ready always.
Unbelievers
and Rapture scoffers will be shocked greatly when prophetic glorious Rapture
occurs eventually suddenly and unexpectedly! Raptured or left behind? Decide
wisely!
7.
Many
born-again Christians are getting ready for the prophetic glorious Rapture but
some of them may not be fully aware that they will give account of their
service for Lord Jesus Christ while on Earth.
The
heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ will be for born again Raptured Saints when they
get to heavenly New Jerusalem on prophetic glorious Rapture day (Romans
14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ will
make us rapturable. Amen.
8.
At
the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ after the prophetic
glorious Rapture, all dedicated Rapture watchers will get the crown of
righteousness from Lord Jesus Christ because they
are perpetually ready for His glorious appearance in the sky. Since they
are dedicated Rapture watchers, the crown of righteousness will
be the reward for perpetual watchfulness.
9.
At
the Judgment Seat of Christ in Heaven after the prophetic glorious Rapture,
there is a crown of righteousness that Lord Jesus Christ will place on
the heads of all dedicated Rapture watchers because they eagerly
love, watch and await His glorious appearance in the sky (2 Timothy
4:7-8).
10.
There
will also be awarded the crown of rejoicing for active soul-winners
for Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). There will also be
an incorruptible crown for overcoming the old nature (1 Corinthians
9:25-27).
There
will also be a crown of life for enduring persecution and trials while on
Earth (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).
11.
There
will be a crown of glory for shepherding the flock of Christ (1 Peter
5:4). The crown of glory is a special crown that will
be awarded by Lord Jesus Christ to dedicated men and women of
God who share or teaches the Word of God (Holy Bible)
regularly with people in the churches and everywhere both online/offline.
They
could be Evangelists, Ministers, Pastors, Prophets, Deacons, Sunday school
teachers, Child Evangelism teachers or anyone who teaches the “Word of
God” faithfully to others. Such individuals will be adequately
rewarded by Lord Jesus Christ for their dedication and commitment to sharing
the eternal Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ and encouraging the faith of
other believers-in-Christ.
12.
Lord
Jesus Christ is the “Word of God” (John 1:1-5). By
God’s grace, you will be entitled to any of these glorious crowns in
Heaven as a glorified raptured Saint at the heavenly Judgment
Seat of Christ after the prophetic glorious Rapture.
13.
At
the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ, born again believers are rewarded based
on how faithfully they served Lord Jesus Christ while on Earth (1 Corinthians
9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). Some of the things we will be judged on are how
well we obeyed the Great Commission of Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew
28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans 6:1-4)
and how well we controlled our tongues (James 3:1-9).
14.
The
Bible speaks of born again Christians receiving crowns for different things
based on how faithfully they served Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2
Timothy 2:5). The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy
4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4 and Revelation 2:10.
James
1:12 is a good summary of how we should think about the Judgment Seat of
Christ. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood
the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who
love Him.”
15.
After
prophetic glorious Rapture, at the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ, glorified
raptured believers whose faithful service provides them with genuine rewards that
survive the divine fire test will receive many crowns from
Lord Jesus Christ.
16.
Since
the Bible tells us that we will reign with Lord Jesus Christ (2
Timothy 2:12) when He comes to reign in His Millennial kingdom (Revelation
20:4), it is obvious what these crowns signify, for crowns are
for Rulers. That is compatible with His (Lord Jesus Christ) parable of the
pounds, in which He promised to give rewards according to service by
saying, “I will make you ruler over ten cities.” (Luke 19:11-27).
17.
The
reason heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ will occur before the Millennial
kingdom is that glorified Saints can be assigned to opportunities of
service according to the faithful use of their talents in directly advancing
Christ’s spiritual kingdom in this present life.
18.
According
to 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, some of our heavenly treasure (good
works) will be "gold, silver, or precious jewels,” meaning that they
will survive the divine fire test and the born again
believer will receive a reward.
What
you should also see in this passage is that “the
wood, hay and stubble” (bad works) do not survive
the divine fire test and the born again believer suffers loss of
reward– not loss of salvation.
19.
The
reason “bad works” don’t qualify to abide the divine fire test and
earn a reward is because they have not been done with the right
motive. To the eyes of people, they may look like silver, gold
and precious stones, but in reality before Lord Jesus Christ, they are
nothing but wood, hay and stubble.
20.
The reality of
the divine fire test will reveal what sort it is, whether good
or bad. The heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal all truth because the
works mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3 evidently all looked alike until
after the fire “tested every man’s work what sort it was.”
There
would be no purpose in fire testing straw or wood or stubble– unless they
looked the same as gold, silver or jewels. It is the holy test of
fire that determines whether the “works” were really “good or bad.”
21.
To
the church, Pastor or fellow born again Christians, a person’s “Christian
service” may look like “good works,” but his or her “evil motive”
or “hidden counsels” will be revealed by Lord Jesus Christ at this
heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ and the born again believer will lose his or
her reward because his or her motive was one of self-seeking or hypocrisy.
22.
A
born again Christian can lose his or her crown, receive less than a full
reward, and “suffer loss” even when expecting rewards. Some of the things
that could cause a loss of reward are good things done with an evil motive
and hidden counsels of the heart that are displeasing to Lord Jesus Christ.
23.
In
essence, God’s work should be done in God’s way- with a pure heart and a
desire to glorify Lord Jesus Christ, or else there will be no reward, or at
least a diminished reward. Everything you are doing for the Lord Jesus Christ
must be done willingly and due to pure love of Christ. That is the best motive
that will be rewarded at the heavenly Judgment Seat of Christ.
24.
Lord
Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation
19:16). Therefore, as a King or Queen, you will reign with the King
of kings (Lord Jesus Christ) throughout the 1,000 years reign of
our Great King Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4).
25.
During
the Millennial kingdom period, the part of the world where you will rule and
your responsibilities during the Millennial kingdom period will be determined
by King Jesus Christ. You will report regularly to Almighty King Jesus Christ
to brief Him about the progress of your administration. As a glorified raptured
Saint, you will remain an immortal being forever (1Corinthians 15:51-53). Glory
be to God. Hallelujah.
26.
Because
we are saved “by grace… through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”(Ephesians
2:8-9), many born again Christians think there is little or no call on
their life presently to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, they accept
the salvation of Lord Jesus Christ as a gift and do nothing to advance His
heavenly kingdom afterward.
27.
Unfortunately,
they do not read on to the following verse: “For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we
should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). By reading this passage, the Lord
Jesus Christ expects His true followers (born again Christians) to work for Him
after they have been given salvation.
28.
In
fact, we will be rewarded in the Millennial kingdom period in direct proportion
to the way we have served the Lord Jesus Christ presently (Matthew 20:1-16,
25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Therefore, we are expected, once saved, to serve our
Lord Jesus Christ dedicatedly.
29.
Your dedicated service for the Lord Jesus Christ can be anything done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, or for His glory. It could be active soul winning, worshiping Him dedicatedly or even giving a “cup of cold water” in His name (Matthew 10:40-42).
Giving
a “cup of cold water” in His name (Lord Jesus Christ)
implies any act of kindness or charitable support rendered to the poor or the
needy like the Biblical Good Samaritan. Lord Jesus Christ loves a kind,
cheerful giver (Philippians 4:19).
30.
Lord
Jesus Christ will reward us according to our
faithfulness, talent and time spent in serving Him
selflessly. Talent times our productive sharing of the Gospel (Evangelism)
times the time we had after our salvation to labor for Lord Jesus Christ will
equal our eternal rewards.
31.
The
record of our dedicated service is kept by Lord Jesus Christ, who knows what
ability we have to serve Him and will hold us accountable for how we use our
talents and time for service. Lord Jesus Christ is a just God and He will treat
each born again Christian according to his/her works, based on his/her ability
(Matthew 6:19-21).
In
the mercy of Lord Jesus Christ, He has not only given us salvation totally
free, but He also gives us an opportunity to invest a portion of our “treasure”
(our life) in eternal rewards.
32.
The
Lord Jesus Christ is not interested in having us serve Him faithfully for just
a few years, but rather for our entire lifetime. “Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
33.
Our
eternal reward is in Heaven for everything we do on Earth for Christ sake. Our
eternal treasure is in Heaven. Our continuous labor presently for our Lord
Jesus Christ is being recorded always by the holy Angels. Our selfless service
for our Lord Jesus Christ will be bountifully rewarded in Heaven at
the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
34.
You
will not take to Heaven on prophetic glorious Rapture day anything you have
acquired on this sinful Earth. You will only ascend to Heaven on prophetic
glorious Rapture day as a glorified Saint in your glorious white garment of
righteousness (Revelation 19:8, 14).
Therefore,
make sure you utilize your divine calling, time, talents and God given
resources to evangelize zealously and win many souls for Lord Jesus Christ in
this grace period while awaiting the prophetic glorious Rapture.
35.
Don’t be a spectator born again Christian. Our eternal treasures and eternal rewards are reserved for us in heavenly New Jerusalem, kept safe for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. As profitable servants of Lord Jesus Christ, we will be bountifully rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ when we get to Heaven on prophetic glorious Rapture day.
36.
Don’t
be an unprofitable servant who will have no eternal rewards in Heaven. The holy
Angels of God are daily recording everything we are doing on Earth for the sake
of the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ and any help we render for the poor and
needy.
