a) Of the Saints.
1 Cor. 3:8-16; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 4:5. This is to be a judgment
with reference to the works, not the salvation, of the believer.
It is called "the judgment seat of Christ." That the saints are
here referred to is clear from 2 Cor. 5:1, 5, 7, 9; also 1 Cor. 4:5
which says that those who are judged "shall have praise of God."
This is not true of the wicked. This is a judgment, not for destiny,
but for adjustment, for reward or loss according to our works, for
position in the kingdom; every man according as his work shall be.
b) Of the Living Nations.
Matt. 25:31-46. This judgment will take place at the coming of
Christ with His saints. Note three things in this chaper: first,
the marriage supper of the Lamb (w. 1-13); second, the judgment of
the saints (vv. 14-30); third, the judgment of the living nations
(vv. 31-46). This is not a general judgment of good and bad, for
there are three classes here. "My brethren" can hardly refer to
the saints, for then it would be "inasmuch as ye have done it unto
yourselves, ye have done it unto me." Nor is the Church in this
judgment, for she is already translated and rewarded as we have
seen. The Church no more belongs to the nations than does Israel.
The nations are those who deal with Israel through the great
tribulation. The "brethren" are probably the Jewish remnant who
have turned to Christ during the great tribulation and whom the
Antichrist has severely persecuted as also have many of the wicked
nations, like Russia today. This is a judgment of nations that are
living; there is no mention of the dead.
c) Of the Great White Throne.
Rev. 20:11-15. It is called the final judgment and takes place
at the close of the millennium, after the judgment of the living
nations (Matt. 25). It is a judgment of "the dead"; no mention is
made of the living in connection therewith.
Note the difference between the judgments of the Living Nation and
of the Great White Throne: the former at the beginning, the latter
at the close of the millennium; one deals with the living, the other
with the dead; one deals with conduct towards "the brethren," the
other with general sins recorded in the books.
d) Of Israel.
Ezek. 20:33-44; Psa. 50:16-22. Takes place probably at the end of
the great tribulation.
e) Of the Fallen Angels.
Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4. Believers are associated with Christ in this
judgment (1 Cor. 6:3).