THE ONE APPOINTMENT YOU WILL KEEP
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" Hebrews 9:27.
There are three judgments you need to know about…two of the three will apply to every person who has ever lived.
I. The Judgment of Eternal Destiny!
This judgment comes immediately upon death and affects every man.
Regarding the saved: "We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:8.
"And it came about that the poor man [Lazarus] died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom…" Luke 16:22.
Regarding the lost: "…and the rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment…" Luke 16:22b-23a.
II. The Judgment Seat of Christ!
This judgment which will immediately follow the Lord’s coming for the redeemed (referred to as "the rapture of the church"). This is not a judgment for sin but of deeds we have done. Our sins were judged on the cross!
"For we [the redeemed] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for the deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." [II Corinthians 5:10].
"Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day [of judgment] will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." [I Corinthians 3:13-15].
"And His eyes were like a flame of fire." [Revelation 1:14b].
This judgment will determine our eternal reward [or lack thereof] for the deeds we have done. Remember, our salvation is a gift [Ephesians 2:8-9] but our crown(s) will be our reward(s).
III. The Judgment of the Great White Throne!
This will be the final end-time judgment; a judgment of all unbelievers!
"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it…and I saw the dead [the lost], the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one according to their deeds. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire…and if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15.
