What Is Heavenly Judgment Seat Of Christ? The 36 Vital Facts You Should Know About The Heavenly Judgment Seat Of Christ.
By Evangelist Olusola Awolaja
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.
Dont 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.
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