1. Last week we started a new series on Bible prophecy, and today we will look at the judgment seat of Christ. Most pretribulational rapturists place the judgment seat immediately after the rapture.
2. Dwight Pentecost (Things to Come) gives three reasons for this position:

I. PROBLEMS SOME HAVE WITH THIS DOCTRINE.

1. Many Bible teachers and preachers lump together all judgments in the Bible into one confusing and contradictory "general judgment."
2. They fail to properly distinguish between salvation and rewards.

1. Certain passages which refer to the future rewards of believers have been wrongly applied to the lost with reference to salvation.
2. Adding to this confusion are the errors of Arminianism (which teaches that a Christian can "lose his salvation"), Romanism (with its works-salvation, purgatory, and other damnable heresies), lack of assurance of salvation, and the "partial rapture" teaching.
3. The judgment seat will not determine who is saved and who is lost.

3. Some erroneously teach that the believer’s sins will be dragged up before them. It is the Christian’s works that will be judged, not his sins (I Cor.3:13-15). Our sins have already been judged, forgiven, and washed in the blood of Jesus Christ (Rom.8:1; cf. Ps.103:12; Mic.7:19).
4. Paul does say "every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom.14:12). Ron Comfort told a story about a boy who stole some fruit from a fruit stand, which was owned by a man who highly respected him as an honest little boy. When the boy’s father came home from work, somehow he found out his son had stolen the fruit. He came to his son and said, "Son, I understand that you are a thief. I have heard that you stole the fruit from the fruit stand. I am going to do two things. First of all, you are getting a spanking. Then secondly, you and I are going to the fruit stand and you are going to tell him you are a thief."
5. The son begged his dad, "Please, Dad, whip me all you want but please do not make me confess to the man that I stole from him." But the father made him confess. Years later, that boy grew up to be a pastor and he would tell people he never felt the spanking, but the hardest thing he had ever done in his entire life was to confess to the man that he had stolen from him.
6. That is a vivid picture of the judgment seat of Christ. There will be no whipping but for some Christians it will be difficult giving an account to our Lord.

II. THE JUDGE AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

1. No one else but the Lord Jesus Christ could be qualified to be the Judge – it is the judgment seat of Christ (cf. John 5:22,27).
2. Lehman Strauss told of a lady who was looking out her kitchen window and watching her neighbor hang her laundry. She said to a cousin who was visiting, "My neighbor is not very careful with the way she washes her clothes. Look at those spots on her sheets." Her cousin replied, "Those spots aren’t on her sheets; they are on your window." Dr. Strauss said, "Our neighbor’s wash looks cleaner when our windows are clean."
3. The Lord Jesus is the perfect Judge because He is both the sinless Son of man as well as the omniscient Son of God.
4. We are to abide in Him and look for His coming (I John 2:28).

III. THE TIME OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

1. As stated earlier, it will probably be right after the rapture (I Cor.15:58; James 5:7-9).
2. The bride "hath made herself ready" (Rev.19:7) indicates that the judgment seat has already taken place before the marriage supper.

IV. THE SUBJECTS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

1. It is for Christians only (II Cor.5:8-10).
2. The lost will be judged at the great white throne (Rev.20:11-15).

V. THE PURPOSE OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

1. Vindication – God will vindicate and reward those whom the world has rejected. We often do not get fair treatment in this world, but we will at the judgment seat of Christ. In the heavenly assize the saints shall be allotted power and authority, not only to rule and reign with Christ in the coming age but also to judge the wicked world which persecuted them. The Bible even teaches that we will judge the fallen angels (I Cor.6:2,3).
2. Rewards – As sinners our judgment was settled at the cross; as sons God chastises us for our unconfessed sins (I Cor.11:31,32; Heb. 12:5-11); and as servants all our works will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ.
3. Assignment – At the judgment seat, we will be assigned to our respective and proper places in the millennial kingdom. In this world, money, politics, cronyism, and unjust favoritism usually determine who gets an assignment, but it will be entirely different at the judgment seat because Christ Himself will make the assignments (cf. Matt.19:28; I Cor.4:5; 6:2,3; I Tim.2:12; Rev.2:26,27; 3:21; 19:14-16; 20:6).

VI. THE REWARDS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

1. An incorruptible crown (I Cor.9:24-27) – for those who are disciplined and practice self-control.
2. Crown of rejoicing (I Thess.2:19,20) – for the soul-winners.
3. Crown of life (James 1:12; Rev.2:10) – for those who endure trial for Christ.
4. Crown of righteousness (II Tim.4:8) – for those who love the Lord and look for His appearing.
5. Crown of glory (I Peter 5:4) – for faithful pastors.

CONCLUSION:

1. The judgment seat is for Christians. But there is another judgment for those who have never been saved (Matt.13:42,49,50; 25:41; Rev.20:11-15).
2. God forbid there should be any here today who will one day be cast into that horrible lake of fire.