Judgments Occurring Now in The Church Age:

     •  Self-Evaluation (1 Corinthians 11:28).
Believers practice self-examination, prayerfully and honestly assessing their own spiritual condition. The church helps in this endeavor to purify the Body of Christ (Matthew 18:15-17). Self-judgment requires each believer to be spiritually discerning, with a goal of being more like Christ (Ephesians 4:21-23).

     •  Divine Discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11).
As a father lovingly corrects his children, so the Lord disciplines His own; that is, He brings His followers to a place of repentance and restoration when they sin. In so doing, He makes a distinction between us and the world: “When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32). Whom Christ loves; He chastens (Revelation 3:19).

Judgments to Occur in The Future:

     •  The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
This final judgment of unbelievers for their sins occurs at the Second Coming of Christ, before the creation of the new heaven and earth. At this judgment, unbelievers from all the ages are judged for their sins and consigned to the lake of fire.

Historically, all these other judgments mentioned have been understood as different aspects (or phases) of the Great White Throne Judgment. At this final Judgment, all of heaven and earth is finally judged and declared either worthy or unworthy of eternal life.

     •  The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Resurrected believers will be judged for their works. Salvation and sin is not in view at this judgment, as that was paid for by Christ, but only faithfulness in Christian service. Selfish works or those done with wrong motives will be burned up (the “wood, hay, and stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12). Works of lasting value to the Lord will survive (the “gold, silver, and precious stones”). Rewards, which the Bible calls “crowns” (Revelation 3:11) will be given by the One who is “not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him” (Hebrews 6:10).

     •  The Judgment of the Nations (Matthew 25:31-46).
Jesus will sit in judgment over the nations. This judgment is also called the judgment of the sheep and the goats because of the imagery Jesus uses in the Olivet Discourse. Those who showed faith in God by treating people favorably, giving them aid and comfort are the “sheep” who will enter into the Kingdom. Those who followed the Antichrist’s lead and persecuted God's people are the “goats” who will be consigned to hell.

     •  The Judgment of Angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
Paul says that Christians will judge angels. We aren’t exactly sure what this means, but the angels facing judgment would have to be the fallen angels. It seems that Satan’s hordes of demons will be judged by the redeemed ones of the Lamb. Some of these demons are already imprisoned in darkness and awaiting judgment, according Jude 1:6, due to their leaving their proper dwelling place. 

     •  Degrees of Punishment and Rewards (Revelation 22:12).
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." Christ will come to repay everyone for what he has done (Revelation 22:12-13), rewarding faithful servants and punishing every evildoer. “Recompense” (Greek: misthos, “wages, reward”) indicates degrees of reward for believers and punishment for unbelievers (Luke 12:47-48; 1 Corinthians 3:14-15).

One of the Holy Spirit’s tasks in this world is to convict the world of the coming judgment (John 16:8-11). When a person truly understands his sin, he will acknowledge his guilty position before a Holy God. The surety of judgment should cause the sinner to turn to the Savior and cast himself on the mercy of God in Christ. Praise the Lord that, in Christ, “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

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