The Bible tells us that there are two primary judgment events which will occur in the end-times. The first is known as the Great White Throne and the second is called The Judgment Seat of Christ (also known as the Bema Seat).  So to answer the obvious question: Do Christians face judgment from God when they die?  The short answer is YES.  So what is the difference between these two judgments?

According to the Bible, Christians will not be a part of the Great White Throne Judgment.  The Great White Throne Judgment is a condemnation judgment. Instead, believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, which you may have heard called the Bema Seat.   This is a judgment for rewards based on our earthly works.

If you have ever been to church or have read a Bible or have heard a Gospel message inviting you  to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and to humbly bow to Jesus. sometimes it is referred to as that born-again experience or a salvation message.   It is a choice that you must make before you die.

The Great White Throne Judgment: A Judgment of Condemnation
The Great White Throne Judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15. It's a judgment of the unsaved dead. In other words, it’s for those who never accepted salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. You do not accept that Jesus died on the Cross for your sin.  It’s a judgment leading to eternal separation from God. The end result is referred to in the Bible as the 'second death', the eternal lake of fire or better known as hell.  REMEMBER: HELL IS FOREVER (and that's a REALLLYYYY Long time) AND THERE ARE NO EXIT DOORS IN HELL!!!!!   So, be sure to choose wisely today!

The Judgment Seat of Christ: A Judgment of Rewards
As already stated, we see from scripture that the Great White Throne Judgment is not for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior!  The Apostle John tells us in John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

While believers escape the Great White Throne Judgment, we are reminded in scripture that we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This event is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,(Bema Seat) so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Unlike the Great White Throne Judgment, this judgment is not about salvation or condemnation but rather rewards. It is an evaluation of a believer's works during their lifetime. Just like a review is at your work or in school when you get a report card.
 
Eternal Rewards, Not Salvation
It's important to understand that these rewards are not equal to salvation! Salvation is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  You must receive Christ while you are on this earth.  That decision must be made before you die.  The judgment at the Bema Seat is about how believers have lived out their faith, the ways they have served Christ, and the motives behind their actions.

In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Paul describes how our works will be tested by fire. 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 still be saved.

A Call to Faithful Service
This understanding of the Judgment Seat of Christ should inspire and challenge us to live faithfully. We should serve Christ wholeheartedly, not out of duty, but out of love and gratitude. As we sow seeds for the faith here on earth, we look forward to the day when we stand before Jesus Christ, not to be condemned, but potentially for rewards that reflect His grace and mercy and our faithful response to it.

So Christians can have assurance that they will not face the Great White Throne Judgment (Punishment).  However, Yes, all Christians will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, which calls for an earnest reflection on how we spent our time, talents, and treasures for God's kingdom.

Remember and keep in mind that we live in a society where homosexuals lecture us on morals.  Where transsexuals lecture us on humans biology.  Where baby killers lecture us on human rights.  Where communists lecture us on economics and where satanists lecture us on religion.

Choose Wisely, Choose Christ, Choose Faith,  Choose Today!

Over the years that I pastored a church one of the questions that came up repeatedly was:
Is hell real? What is Hell really? So today, let us take a look in the Bible and see what the Bible tells us about hell.

The Bible describes hell as:
A lake of fire……………………………………Revelation 20:15
A bottomless pit………………………….. ……Revelation 20:1
A horrible tempest……………………….. ……Psalm 11:6
A devouring fire………………………………..Isaiah 33:14
A place of sorrows……………………………..Psalm 18:5
A place of weeping……………………………..Matthew 8:12
A place of wailing ………………………. …….Matthew 13:42
A place of torments……………………………..Luke 16:23
A furnace of fire…………………………. …….Matthew 13:41 -42
A place of everlasting burnings…………. …….Isaiah 33:14
A place of everlasting destruction………. …….2 Thessalonians 1:9
A place where they curse God………………….Revelation 16:11
A place of outer darkness………………………Matthew 8:12
A place where people pray………………. ……Luke 16:27
A place where they gnash their teeth……. ……Matthew 13:42
A place where they cry for mercy…………….. Luke 16:24
A place of everlasting punishment………. ……Matthew 25:46
A place of everlasting fire……………….. ……Matthew 18:8-9
A place of separation from God………… ……2. Thessalonians 1:9
A place of unquenchable fire…………………..Matthew 3:12
A place of eternal damnation…………………..Mark 3:29
A place where they gnaw their tongues………..Revelation 16:10
A place of fire, brimstone and torment…………Revelation 20:10
A place prepared for the devil and is angels……Matthew 25:41
A place where they cry for one drop of water….Luke 16:24
A place where they will be tormented with fire and brimstone….Luke 16:24
A place where they will drink the wine of the wrath of God……Revelation 14:10
A place where their worm diet not, and the fire if not quenched…Make 9:48
A place where they do not want their loved ones to come……….Luke 16:28
A lake of fire burning with brimstone……………………………Revelation 19:20
A place of darkness………………………………………………Jude 1:13

Revelation 21:9 says……But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Many people used to tell me that when they go to hell that there will be a big party awaiting them. They willparty with their friends. You do know that there is not one Bible verse to substantiate that idea!!!!!! Unfortunately, these Bible verses paint a vivid and sobering picture of hell as a place of torment, darkness separation, destruction and eternal punishment.  Your choice, choose wisely!

My question to each of you reading this: Is this where you want to spend eternity?

If you want to escape or avoid this place of torment, then take a moment today and confess your sins to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you, tell HIM that you believe that HE is the Risen Savior and the ONLY way to GOD and receive HIM as your Savior!   It is the most important decision you will ever make and it will have ETERNAL BENEFITS!