PREPARING FOR THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (PART 1)

“For we must all (all redeemed, as he is addressing believers) appear before the judgment seat (Greek Bema/tribunal court seat relating to the members of His own “Body” as opposed to His kingly Throne of permanency over all His subjects in His Kingdom) of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that (works in service) he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror (the required severity in just judgements) of the Lord, we persuade (redeemed) men…” (for it is only redeemed men that will stand before the Judgement Bema of Christ). [2nd Corinthians 5:10] Note that the part about “the terror of the Lord” would be superfluous if the Judgement Seat of Christ was only about losing rewards.

It is also written… “And as it is appointed unto men once to die (pronounced at the Garden of Eden Curse), but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27) It is not specified here what ‘judgement’ or specified when the Judgement is after they die. We are told in Scripture that there is an immediate judgement on all mankind in Luke 16:19-31 (at the point of death when a man’s assignment in Hades/Intermediate Place of the Dead is determined), and there is a future Judgement 1000 years after the First Resurrection out from among the dead. (Revelation 20:5) This second resurrection being for the “great white throne” judgement for those remaining in Hades (those not being a part of the First Resurrection) when all the “…dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books (of recorded works) 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 works.” (Note that the “Great White Throne Judgement” is not just for the unredeemed but also for the redeemed found unworthy of the First Resurrection (Luke 20:35, Revelation 3:10)… as opposed to what most in Christendom purport. That being the erroneous teaching that when a man dies, there is a judgement based solely upon having been ‘saved’ or not… the ‘saved’ then are immediately delivered up into of Heaven while the ‘unsaved’ are cast into Hell/the Lake of Fire.) 

At the Judgement Seat of Christ, there are determinations for recompense for godliness and good behavior of the redeemed as well as recompense for ungodliness and bad behavior of the redeemed. The Judgements at the Bema on the redeemed (either immediate upon death or later) are judgements associated with His Second Coming and His Millennial Kingdom in view. And are entirely about worthiness in service to Him and reward, or conversely unworthiness in service to Him with loss of reward and even punishment. Christ having Co-Rulers in His Millennial Kingdom in glory is in view; not eternal life, for all in His “Body” (all His redeemed) already have eternal life in their possession as a gift. 

Christ’s Millennial Kingdom Judgements are pronounced sometimes before death (as the case with Paul in 2nd Timothy 4:8 where God, before his death, assured Paul of his reward… “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing”; and in the case of the 12 Disciples whom Jesus told before their deaths that “when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28) Another example would be both the First-fruits “man-child” (seen raptured in Revelation 12:5) as well as those “alive” who are caught up at His Coming as part of the Harvest, as neither of those would even experience death. (1st Thessalonians 4:17 and 1st Corinthians 15:51) Or some judgements may be reserved much later than the time of their death, as seen in certain martyrs who are in Hades (comforted under the altar in Hades’ Paradise) and are then given white robes as encouragement before the First Resurrection for having been slain for their testimony. See Revelation 6:9-11… “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” Note that the timing (after the 5th Seal and before Christ’s Return) of their being rewarded with white robes is probably immediately AFTER the catching up of the First-fruits/Manchild. (Revelation 3:10) This explains the reason for their crying out, in that their inquiry as to how much longer they’d have to wait for God’s recompense was spurred by the event of the First-fruits being caught up into the heavens associated with this Earth.) So regardless of when the Judgements from the Bema Seat of Christ were made… (those related to the especially “blessed” of the First Resurrection rewards in His Millennial Kingdom inheritance) …they will manifest on the worthies out of His “Body” in “that Day” of His Return.

The Throne of Grace and Mercy in this Age of Mercy and Grace (a name coined after the Throne of Grace and Mercy) is to prepare the redeemed for the Day of Judgement at the Judgement Seat of Christ. (Hebrews 4:16… “Let us (redeemed) therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”) Christ’s Atonement set aside an Age of ‘grace and mercy’ for both redemption out of the lost Gentiles in the taking of “a people for his name” AND out of those redeemed of that new Nation of the One New Man. His Atonement was/is for the perfecting or spiritually maturing of those people unto worthy firstborn sons to rule with Christ in the 7^th Millennium Rest. (Read Hebrews 3&4… “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling (a calling to glory; of which many are called but few are chosen/few choose), consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Next, Paul uses Israel as an example to New Testament believers to show that being merely redeemed out of Egypt/saved out of the “World” does not assure one entrance into the Promised Land/heavenly kingdom inheritance…) Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (as in the ‘provocation’ when Israel provoked God to anger because of their unbelief/rebellion and their refusal to go into the Promised Land and fight, much as we provoke God in our refusal to go fight for the inheritance of the gospel of the heavenly Kingdom), In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” (His ‘rest’ being when He has redeemed and sanctified a people in His Theocratic Government in this Realm. Many within Christendom also shall not enter into that ‘rest’ finally attained in the 7th day millennial Rest due to their “going astray in their hearts”.)… Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who, having heard (having not rejected the gospel of Redemption), rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? (coming out of Egypt symbolizing our Redemption) Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? (all but Joshua and Caleb, who symbolize that New Testament group of believers who are both redeemed and Overcomers) And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (refusal to obey in going in and taking their inheritance from the ‘Ites’ in their believing what the 10 spies said instead of believing/trusting God as Joshua and Caleb did). Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear (a warning to us as well) lest any of you seem to have come short of it (short of the conditional promise, due to our disobedience). For indeed the gospel (of inheritance after Redemption’s deliverance out of satan’s kingdom) was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God (the New Testament merely redeemed and the Old Testament merely redeemed will not enter God’s Rest… which is the seventh millennial day Rest after the restoration of man; in the pattern given in the 6-day restoration of this Earth in Genesis 1:2b-2:3… that is to say until He has sanctified a willingly obedient portion of them to take dominion over the current evil spiritual forces and Rule over this entire Realm; its heaven and earth, in His Theocratic Government… then He will Rest from His restorative Work for man). For he who has entered His rest (the Overcomers in His Millennial Kingdom Rest) has himself also ceased from his works (over the flesh, the world and the devil, for which he fought violently {Matthew 11:12, Ephesians 6:12, 2nd Timothy 2:3} and was judged faithful at the Judgement Seat of Christ) as God did from His (…rest from His works, in the typical pattern set forth in Genesis). Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit (dividing between unbelief and belief), and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (at Christ’s Bema Seat). Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God (who intercedes day and night for the redeemed with sanctification of the soul in view), let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” In Hebrews 3 & 4, Paul is energizing us to do what Israel didn’t do and reminds us that we have a greater High Priest who not only intercedes for us on our behalf but also helps us in our infirmities, in that His Atonement has made sanctifying provision. He uses redeemed Israel, who rejected their higher calling, as an example for us to not reject the purpose of our Redemption, which is the heavenly Kingdom calling unto inheritance. Note that Numbers 13:24 says… “But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” Today, do not harden your heart against the gospel of the heavenly Kingdom inheritance. Do not be complacent in the Wilderness, but instead, be ‘of a different spirit’ and rise up and arm yourself with the provisions of Christ’s Atonement and defeat the giants that would keep you from entering in.)

This current Age is appointed between the two advents (two Comings of Christ), wherein the Resurrected Christ has been consecrated as the High Priest and intercedes for His Body at the Throne of Grace and Mercy at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. During this interim Age of approximately 2000 years, He is Advocate for His “Body” while they are alive, whereas after death, He is their Judge (in that He cannot be both the Advocate and Judge at the same time to the ‘living’). The Judgment Seat of Christ pertains to the Believer’s afterlife, whereas the Throne of Grace and Mercy, where we can draw upon His provision of mercy and Divine influence, pertains to this life. (The Throne of Mercy and Grace being made accessible by His Blood Atonement which was greater than that of the blood of bulls and goats.)

The SOUL is declared saved (or not) at the Judgment Seat.

The redeemed soul living on the Earth may approach the Throne of Grace and its Mercy (that Throne in Heaven established on redemption grace) where additional mercy and grace might be obtained for the necessary sanctifying work in the crucifying of the carnality in the soul. (Hebrews 4:16 with 2nd Corinthians 6:1, James 4:6, 2nd Peter 1:1-12) The works of righteousness or spiritual fruit accounted to the spiritually maturing (for works done after they are redeemed) may be acceptable to God, and worthy of the First Resurrection. This worthiness (or lack of) will ultimately and definitively be determined at the Judgement Seat of Christ. (See 2nd Peter 1:1-12… “…Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things (submitting to a sanctifying work upon your soul) you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”)

The Judgement Seat of Christ is for the final assessment of that sanctifying work on the redeemed soul and is extremely judicial based upon strictly defined and personally developed righteousness. The Judgement Seat of Christ will, to many, frighteningly remove all contrary ideas that Death is a magical additive unto holiness and cure for ungodliness for their works done while in the body (alive). Exacting justice for service to the Lord after redemption is the full focus of the Judgement Seat. (A righteousness seen in type, in that immediately after Israel’s redemption by blood and before their inheritance, there was instruction in the removal of the leaven/removal of their ongoing sin. {Exodus 12:15} Israel did not reject the Gospel of redemption/deliverance but their unbelief was the rejection of the Gospel they heard of the Kingdom inheritance. See again Hebrews 3:15-16 and also 1st Corinthians 10:1-15… “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (a warning to the modern-day Church that believes they are already guaranteed a right to rule with Christ in glory merely by believing at their Redemption and not as a reward for overcoming). No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (James 4:6 says “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.”)

The Father Chastens the members of the Nation of the One New Man.

The Throne of Grace and its mercy does not exclude chastising judgements upon the living redeemed. The Father chastens His redeemed children, having repentant faithful and fruitful works in view that will be discoverable at the Judgement Seat of Christ. (See Hebrews 12:8 with John 15:2… “But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons”… “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”)

Hebrews 4:16… “Let us therefore come boldly (into the fellowship of the Lord and with humble confidence/assurance) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” These disciplining judgements being administrated from the Throne may be mitigated by drawing upon the provision of Atonement Grace and mercy by those approaching reverently, and if necessary, repentantly, being ‘alive’ in service unto Christ or wanting to be restored in service, appealing for grace and mercy under the law of the spirit of life in Christ; that abundant and attainable provision of divine intervention which also answers as an appeal for Justice’s demands to satan’s accusations. (Accusations which satan makes in order to exclude us from replacing him in the heavens associated with this Earth. – Revelation 12:9) 

Again, we, being redeemed by Christ, may only approach that Throne and attain grace and mercy while we are yet living out our lives in this World, and while Christ is still in His office as High Priest interceding on our behalf (for after we die there is no appealing for grace and mercy; there is only exacting justice awaiting every soul). See Luke 12:58-59… “When you go with your adversary (the devil who legally accuses you) to the magistrate, make every effort along the way (along the way = while alive, for there is no provision for grace and mercy once you have died) to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge (the Just Judge), and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite” (a place where God extracts all the honor that was withheld from Him by the merely redeemed walking in unbelief that was due to Him. Note there is nothing yet to pay for redemption, for that was paid by Christ).

Yet while alive we have the promise of 1st John 1:8-9… “If we say that we have no sin (the religious idea of ‘antinomianism’ in an imputed sinlessness in Christ), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” As long as we do not critically appraise God’s goodness, and are contrite and confess our sins while pursuing sanctification, we remain in fellowship with Him and access to the Atonement provisions of Christ to overcome can continue. This ongoing cleansing (beyond Redemption’s cleansing) just spoken of in 1st John 1:9 is typed in Peter’s need to only wash his feet which daily get polluted by walking in the ‘World’. See John 13:6-11… “Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed (redeemed) needs only to wash his feet (from daily contamination from the sin of the flesh; the cleansing of 1st John 1:9), but is completely clean (with confessing repentant right hearts); and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

It is declared in Scripture that Jesus Christ has been given all judgement authority. “For the Father judgeth no man (eternally), but hath committed all (eternal) judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.” [John 5:22] Scripture shows Christ as Savior at the First Coming, and in the interim; Intercessor/Advocate and Administrator in the Nation of the One New Man in this Age of Grace and Mercy. However, in His Second Coming, seen in the soon coming Age of ‘Justice’, there is the setting up of God’s/the Father’s Judgement Throne/Bema from where Christ then receives His investiture into the office of the rightful King and Judge of this Realm. (See Daniel 7:9,10,13,14 with Revelation 4:2 and the rest of Revelation Chapters 4 and 5. Note that Daniel 7:9-10 and Revelation 4:2 speak of the same event of Christ’s Judgement throne being set up in the heavens associated with this Earth. Revelation 4:2 says, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set (‘was being’ set in the Greek) in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” And Daniel 7:9-10 says, “I watched till thrones were (being) put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels (possibly the same portable/moving throne described by the prophet Ezekiel) a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.”) The Throne/Bema of Judgement from which God’s Last Days judgements upon His enemies will flow; the setting up point being the transitional point from this Age of Mercy to the next Age in Justice. And the commencing of the Great Tribulation judgements that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:21 that He tied with Daniel’s prophecies, particularly the setting up of that Judgement Throne in Daniel 7:9, the investiture of Christ in Daniel 7:13-14, the appearance of the Anti-Christ and his end/fate in Daniel 7:11, the Bride out of the Body of Christ receiving the heavenly Kingdom reward in Daniel 7:18,27. All this occurring in the Week of Years unto the consummation of all Just Judgements in this Realm unto desolation, before Israel’s restoration in the Earthly portion of the Kingdom of Christ. (Daniel 9:24-27) Note that the Week of Years refers to last 7 years of the 70 weeks of years that needed to pass before Israel could be restored to receive their Inheritance as kings and priests on the Earth in the earthly portion of God’s kingdom, which was promised to them, the timing of which Daniel had inquired of God in Daniel 9.)

The present judgements and threats in this, now 2000-year old Age, on the redeemed are in accord with chastening disciplines, tests, and trials as it relates to the redeemed running a race for an Inheritance prize; a race that must be run legally. (1st Corinthians 9:24-27 with 2nd Timothy 2:5) Legally, which is to say that they in the first place must be those dead unto the Law of Moses…“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”…… “but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6&7) while under “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus”, minding the things of Christ and thereby being “kept by the power of God.” (Romans 8:1-5, 1st Peter 1:5) Being thereby “alive unto God through Jesus Christ”, we are to be instructed in perfecting/maturing spirituality, now being under the “law of Christ”. (Galatians 6:2, Matthew Chapters 5-6)

Christians typically have no problem with being “dead unto the Law” through Redemption, but in their actions, they are NOT ‘alive’ unto Christ. Then there are many in the Messianic Movement who are not “dead to the Law” who run the race as one under the Law as opposed to heeding the commands of the One greater than Moses; Jesus’ commands. (See the following verses in Romans 6:11-14 and 7:4-6… Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”……. “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit (under the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus) and not in the oldness of the letter.” See our YouTube video entitled, “Dead to The Law or Spiritual Polygamy” for a more in-depth teaching on this. See also Luke 11:33-35 and Galatians 2:19-21… “For I through the law (judicially I have been crucified with Christ) died to the law (to the law means it has no power to judge or punish the dead) that I might live (in a newness of life, free from the law of sin that condemned me to death… free and empowered to pursue a personal righteousness in an overcoming life given…) to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,(under the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus), who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God (by attempting this righteousness through the law of Moses); for if (a personal) righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”) 

Within the ‘merely redeemed’ are 2 classes of Christians; ‘babes’ without concern (without terror/reverent fear) refusing the maturing ‘meat’ of obedience to Christ’s commandments and the other class being those redeemed who have been ‘meat-eaters’ (especially teachers) and have become or are becoming apostate scorners. (Hebrews 5:11-6:8) Whose Judgements at Christ’s Bema are reserved for them, says Scripture; in that the one group will be ‘unbound’ and “beaten with few stripes” and cast into “outer darkness” and the other ‘bound’, “beaten with many stripes”, and cast into “blackness of darkness”. (See Matthew 22:13, 25:28-30 and the Book of Jude) Jude 1:11-13 describes apostates in the church who have “gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit”, who are “clouds without water”… “twice dead” and “raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever) and they are also described as being either “beaten with many stripes” in Luke 12:47-48… “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”)

So it is, that the glorious prize of First Resurrection and heavenly Kingdom inheritance promises to be declared to the Overcomers of the flesh and satan’s World at the Judgment Seat of Christ are accompanied by these solemn and sobering exhortations and threats to those who are being overcome by the flesh and this World’s offerings while we are alive. What then should be in view throughout our redeemed lives is the highly judicial judgements which we will be faced with when we depart this life. It is that exacting just judgement, without prejudice as to who you are, which if you go into the ground with unconfessed and unforsaken sins and your character was that of the World and the flesh, then you will stand at the Bema and be judged in that same condition. The law in force at the Bema of Christ is “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” and it will be pronounced in certain finality.

Again… “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (that is to say after we die); that every one may receive the things done in his body (that is to say those things done by the eyes, ears, heart, minds, lips, hands, and feet while we were yet alive), according to that he hath done, (as the righteous Judge that searches the reins and hearts… in its secrets, motives, and attitudes; declares Revelation 2:23) whether it be good or bad (if un-repented willful behavior): Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, (note that if judgement rewards were all this BEMA represented, there would be no need to speak of its terror) we persuade men” (to become “fully” persuaded – Romans 4:21). Whether with warning persuasions of spiritual words, or with judgements in chastening disciplines, or hard circumstances in tests and trials, all of these are being prompted by God for our spiritual maturing, our soul’s salvation, so that the best result, a oneness in union, may be realized after death or at His Coming. For a merely born-again foolish Christian, it is after death or at Christ’s Coming that the word “terror” will manifest at the Judgement Seat of Christ. “And (He) shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites (believers who united themselves with the “World’ will be united with them in judgement): there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:42-51 – these being temporary, longer or shorter punishments for the believer who had received the gift of eternal life.) While an appeal by the redeemed at the Throne of Grace will help to deliver the leavened while he is alive, there is no appeal to the Blood for relief of judgement for the leaven-eater after he dies at the Judgement Seat of Christ (the foolish Christian who had no fear of God nor prick of conscience for his sins will face the stark reality of his circumstances after the religious opium that gave him a false sense of security wears off that he had been blinded by in life. He will have died in his sins, deceived by that opium).  

In Ephesians 3:1-11, Paul speaks of the mystery (here, and also in the Book of Colossians) as the hope of glory; an inheritance in the heaven of this Realm offered to the New Man. That mystery is that which was hidden from before the foundations of this world, and which was hidden within the Old Covenant that is revealed by Paul in the New Testament Revelation, that came first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. That mystery being now of the one new man in Christ, the future New Creature; to first be saved/redeemed and then developed by the Word and Holy Spirit into a qualified worthy to rule with Him from the heavenly realm. That it was a mystery to the “spirit rulers” of this world, is made clear from 1st Corinthians 2:1-8 as well as in Ephesians 3:10. It is the Wisdom of God who hid the Mystery of Glory to Men through Christ’s Atonement that would bring out and bring in a people worthy to take over the future ruler-ship of this entire Realm from the satanic forces who rule over Earth from the unseen heavenly part… in the Millennial Age that is to come. It is in the fulfillment of this Mystery that the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST has in view.

The closing of this Age of Grace and mercy brings the Return of the Lord to this Realm in the dawn of the Age/Day of God’s judgements in deferred ‘Justice’ (deferred for the past 2000 years). (Romans 2:5… “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…”……. 1st John 4:17… “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” We all must examine ourselves/judge ourselves before we face the Just Judge. (1st Corinthians 11:31… “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”) May we heed the many warnings in the Word, such as, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Many who presume to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” will in actuality, hear “Depart from me, I do not know you…” when their works come to light at the Judgement Seat of Christ by Him who searches the reins of our hearts.)

His Return corresponds with the Judgement of His Living and dead Servants.  (In the Greek, servants are ‘slaves’ in that He is our Master and we are not our own… Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-27, 2nd Peter 2:9) We will try to put Scripture’s Last Days’ different great transitional judgements in their order at the closing of the Age of Grace and Mercy, in that its final outcome purposes of “consummation” which are ‘suspended’ during this current Age, as prophesied by Daniel, are accomplished in the closing of the that Age (the 7 years of Tribulation) and in the opening of the Age (Millennial) of Justice. 

This “Day” of Judgement in Just Righteousness also runs on through the 1000 years of Christ’s Kingdom (Revelation 20:5), and for a short time following; which climactically ends with the Great White Throne Judgement. (Revelation 20:7-15). The Day of Judgement is based on the sole principle of works. (Matthew 16:27… “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward (render/repay) each according to his works.” Revelation 22:12… “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward (recompense) is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”) 

In Part 2 (next week) it will be shown chronologically on whom Christ’s judgements come and what the different judgements of recompense for good and recompense for bad works are. Specifically, throughout the Age of Justice, starting with the 7 years of Daniel’s 70^th week unsuspended, and moving throughout the Millennial Age of Justice… unto the final destruction of this Realm and the Great White Throne Judgment… and into the Age beyond.