Did you know that according to the Bible there are two different judgment days?
There’s a judgment day for unbelievers, which Christians have nicknamed the great white-throne judgment, based on Revelation 20:11-15. This event is what most people probably picture when the hear the term judgment day.
But there’s also a judgment day for believers, which the apostle Paul called the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Each of these judgment days are intense and awe inspiring, but each serves a different and powerful purpose.
The two judgments
What’s the difference between the two? The great white-throne judgment is a legal trial for the unbeliever, while the judgment seat of Christ is a rewarding stand for believers. This conclusion is clear from the actual Greek words used to describe each judgment throughout various passages in the New Testament.
The Greek word krino, used for the great white-throne judgment, was the word used in a court of law when a sentence was passed on someone who was declared guilty. I’ll talk more about this judgment later, but first I’ll discuss the judgment believers will face—namely the judgment seat of Christ, which Paul called bema.
Working for “well done”
In the ancient Greek culture, the bema was a raised platform where judges would sit to evaluate who won the competitions in the original Olympics. It was also the place where the winners would be rewarded.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, he wrote these sobering words to his fellow believers about bema-seat judgment day:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
The judgment seat of Christ is where Christians will be rewarded for serving the Lord.
To be clear, every believer will be equally loved in Heaven (Matthew 11:11), but not every believer will be equally rewarded (Romans 2:6).
Every believer will hear the words “welcome home,” but not every believer will hear the words “well done.”
This may be hard to hear, but it’s impossible to avoid in Scripture.
Paul painted a vivid description of what will take place during the judgment seat of Christ:
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
Imagine a gigantic pile of stuff in front of the throne of Jesus that represents our lives. In this pile, we have what we did for ourselves while on Earth in the form of wood, hay, and straw, and what we did for God’s glory in the form of gold, silver, and costly stones.
A fire will be lit, and the wasted, useless stuff will burn away, while the priceless stuff will be left. What endures the testing fire will become our eternal reward.
Some believers will be rewarded much.
Some believers will be rewarded little.
According to the late J. Vernon McGee, some believers will make it into Heaven because they put their faith in Jesus “but their clothes will smell like smoke.”
Saved by faith alone
Now please don’t misunderstand the meaning of the judgment day for the believer. We’re not saved by our good deeds. In Ephesians, Paul makes that crystal clear.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We’re saved by faith alone, in Christ alone, based on His death on the cross in our place, because of our sin. When we believe in Jesus, we receive the free gift of eternal life—no strings attached!
But after we believe in Jesus and receive the gift of eternal life, we can start to earn the rich rewards He has stored up for us in Heaven. Peter reminds us that Jesus has reserved for us “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).
But you must work for these rewards. Every conversation you have. The way that you do your work. Your attitude throughout the day. Why you do what you do—all of it matters. Every thought, every word, every motive will be weighed on that day and turn into either straw that burns or a crown that lasts.
When Christians tell me, “Rewards don’t motivate me to serve Christ,” my answer is always the same: “You should care now, because on judgment day it will be too late to do anything about it. By the time you stand before Jesus, you’ll have earned what you’ve earned for eternity because your work on Earth is through.”
And, by the way, we won’t cast all of our crowns at the feet of Jesus. That’s a misinterpretation of Revelation 4:9-11. Instead, we’ll carry these rewards with us forever, and we’ll remember the smile Jesus had on His face when He gave us His rich rewards.
Jesus Himself commanded us to work for these eternal rewards:
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Matthew 6:19-21
The takeaway? Live every day in light of that great and awesome moment when you and I will stand and give an account for our lives. Display God’s glory in every way you can, and declare His story to as many as you can. Make every second a sacrifice to Him. Make every day an altar of surrender to Christ, because Jesus is watching and longing to reward you. In the very last chapter of the Bible, He reminds us:
‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’ Revelation 22:12-13
This coming judgment day motivated the apostle Paul. After describing the judgment seat of Christ, he declared:
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. 2 Corinthians 5:11
Paul was terrified and excited for this day. We should be too!
Reach your friends, classmates, teammates, family members, coworkers, and neighbors before the time of sowing is no more. Then you will be ready to reap your reward on that day!
A terrifying judgment
The judgment seat of Christ is only for believers. But as I mentioned before, there’s another judgment day called the great white-throne judgment, and this one is exclusively for unbelievers.
Everyone who stands before Jesus as He sits upon the great white throne will be guilty of crimes against the God of Heaven. Here’s how the apostle John described this terrifying day,
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15
Scary.
Everyone at the great white-throne judgment will be condemned to Hell forever. But, if you look closely at this passage, it also seems that there’s a slight twist here. These unbelievers will be “judged according to what they had done.”
I believe that they will be judged by their works to determine the level of suffering they will receive in Hell.
Jesus Himself said in Matthew:
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Matthew 10:14-15
Jesus is talking about different types of sentences handed down on the day of judgment here.
What do I conclude from this?
That just as the judgment seat of Christ for believers will result in different amounts of rewards we carry with us into eternity, the great white-throne judgment for unbelievers will result in different degrees of punishment they will suffer in Hell for eternity.
Why else would there be an evaluation of their deeds?
What does this mean for you?
The application of these truths is clear and straightforward. If you’ve trusted in Christ for salvation through His death and resurrection, then work with all of your heart for a good showing at the judgment seat of Christ. Work for the heavenly “bling” and the Savior’s declaration of “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
And if you’re not yet a believer, then put your faith in Jesus before it’s too late! The day of eternal recompense is approaching for everyone, including you.
Trust in Jesus to save you based on His death on the cross in your place, for your sin. When you do this, your name will be written in the Lamb’s book of life in permanent ink.
There are two judgment days prophesied in Scripture. Which one will you choose?
