EP. 250 God Will Judge Everyone—Here’s How It Will Happen
- timscott
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
To View the Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u93SgDZHMrg
SHOW NOTES
Welcome back to the Hope Rescue Podcast! This week in Episode 250, we’re continuing our series on end-times prophecy by diving into a topic that many believers today shy away from—the coming judgments of God.
In past generations, churches often emphasized God's wrath and judgment—sermons filled with warnings of hell, fire, and brimstone. Today, the pendulum has swung toward highlighting God’s mercy, love, and grace—which are true and central to the Gospel. But have we neglected an essential part of who God is? Is there still a place in our theology for the justice of God?
The Bible clearly teaches that judgment is not only real but necessary. God’s justice is not in conflict with His love—it is an expression of it. If God overlooked sin, He would cease to be holy, righteous, or trustworthy. That’s why understanding the coming judgments matters so deeply.
Today, we’re unpacking the three major end-times judgments described in Scripture:
1. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat)
This judgment occurs after the rapture of the Church and is reserved only for believers. It is not about salvation but about rewards. Jesus will evaluate the quality of each believer’s works—whether they were done in the flesh or in the Spirit—and reward accordingly.
2 Corinthians 5:10"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
1 Corinthians 3:10–15 explains that believers build on the foundation of Christ with either valuable or worthless materials. At the Bema Seat, the Lord will test each work with fire:
Works empowered by the Spirit and done for God’s glory will endure and receive reward.
Works done in selfishness or for human praise will burn up, resulting in a loss of reward—but not of salvation.
This judgment is about faithfulness, not condemnation. Believers are secure in Christ but will give an account for how they lived in response to His grace.
2. The Judgment of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25)
This judgment occurs after Christ’s Second Coming and just before the Millennial Kingdom begins. It is also called the Judgment of the Nations but this is an individual judgment, not a judgment of governments.
Matthew 25:31–46 describes this scene:Jesus separates the "sheep" from the "goats" based on their treatment of His brethren (likely referring to faithful Jews during the Tribulation).
The sheep—those who showed kindness and faith—will enter the Millennial Kingdom.
The goats—those who rejected Christ and oppressed His people—will be cast into judgment.
This judgment includes Old Testament saints and Tribulation survivors, determining who enters the Millennial Kingdom in earthly bodies. It reinforces the truth that salvation is always by faith, but genuine faith produces fruit.
3. The Great White Throne Judgment
This final and most sobering judgment takes place after the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom, and it involves only unbelievers—those who rejected God's salvation throughout all human history.
Revelation 20:11–15 vividly portrays this moment:
All the dead are resurrected and stand before God.
The "books" are opened, detailing every thought, word, and deed.
Another book, the Book of Life, is consulted.
Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life are judged by their deeds—and condemned to the lake of fire, the "second death."
This judgment affirms that there is no second chance after death. Universalism—the idea that everyone will ultimately be saved—is a false teaching that flatly contradicts the Word of God. Salvation is found in Christ alone, and rejection of Him results in eternal separation from God.
Why Does This Matter?
We cannot truly understand the beauty of the cross without grasping the seriousness of judgment. The same God who offers mercy through Christ also promises justice for unrepentant sin. These truths should stir both reverence and urgency in our hearts:
For believers, the Bema Seat should motivate a life of faithful service, knowing that nothing done for Christ is ever wasted.
For the world, these coming judgments remind us of the desperate need for the Gospel and the call to proclaim it boldly while there is still time.
Let’s not shape our theology around comfort or cultural trends but around the unchanging Word of God. As we await Christ’s return, let us live with clarity, conviction, and compassion—knowing that both His mercy and His justice are perfect.
Join us for this crucial conversation as we explore the role of God’s justice in the end times—and how it calls us to live with both hope and holy fear today.
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