Salvation and Freedom from Condemnation
This judgment does not consider the salvation of the victim’s salvation as whether he is free from sin and worthy to stand before God or not. All the raptured believers are free from sin before the rapture.
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Roman 8:1).
‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life’ (John 5:24).
‘Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world’ (1 John 4:17).
When you are born-again and forsake your sins, God has promised he would remember your sins and iniquities no more.
‘And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more’ Hebrews 10:17…
Judgment for Rewards Based on Earthly Works
The first stage of judgment or test is for our life on earth because that is what will qualify anyone for the rapture. God’s first interest on every one of us is on whom we are, not what we do. It is after you live your life here on earth for God and you are raptured that you would qualify for this judgment. Therefore, you must work with good character, the fruits of the Spirit and eternity in view.
The reason for this judgment or examination is to know your reward, how to reward you (see 1 Corinthians 3:6-15). Not all that made it through the rapture will be rewarded equal. Rewards will be given according to how you work by God’s wisdom. It is not going to be according to the volume or quantity of work you did but according to the grace given to you. Believers are going to be rewarded on how much they used their talent or opportunity to work on earth. You will be rewarded on how careful, diligent, discipline and how determined, the effort you put to do what God assigned to you. The quality of work done according to God’s laid down rules is going to be considered. Every work you did to God will be tested by fire and you will be judged or rewarded based on the quantity of work that survived the test of fire.
‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase’ (1Corinthians 3:6).
‘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’ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
Eternal Rewards in Heaven
Some believers work may suffer loss because of carelessness, neglect or not using their talents fully well. It is not a judgment that will lead any raptured believer to hell, no, not at all. Another word for judgment seat of Christ is Bema, which is translated judgment seat, meaning reward seat. This judgment for reward will take place between the rapture and the revelation of Christ to the earth. It will take place in the air, before God’s presence, in the sphere of heavens.
‘Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord’ (1Thessalonians 4:17).
‘It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth’ (1 Corinthians 5:1-8).
Believer’s real inheritance is not in this earth but in the heavens. Believers focus, investment must be on things that have heavens attachment. Everything a believer do must be done with eternity in view. In the judgment bema seat, Jesus Christ will be the judge and will give reward to each believer according to his or her works.
‘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’ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
‘For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son’ (John 5:22).
‘But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ’ (Romans 14:10).
‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God’ (Revelation 2:7).
‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it’ (Revelation 2:17).
‘But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star’ (Revelation 2:25-28).
‘Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown’ (Revelation 3:11).
‘And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband’ (Revelation 21:2).
‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it’ (Revelation 2:12-16).
Different rewards Christ would give include the following:
- The overcomers crown, an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).
- The soul winners crown, crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19, Daniel 12:3).
- Crown of life, for tried and triumphant saints (James 1:12).
- Crown of righteousness, for loving His appearance (2 Timothy 4:8).
- Crown of glory, for feeding the flock of God (1 Peter 5:4).
These rewards will position each believer, place him in his place in the kingdom and prepare him for the marriage supper of the saints.