FIVE GREAT JUDGMENTS

           [Rightly Dividing the Great White Throne Judgment]

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Pastor Rick Jackson

If you ask many people how many judgments are in the Bible you would get a wide range of answers. Some think there is only one general judgment and one general resurrection--- but they would be wrong. Some say two judgments- one for the lost and one for the saved. Again--- wrong. The Bible teaches there are 5 "Great" judgments. (We say "Great" because individual "judgments" or decisions are going on all the time. God sometimes judges believers' behavior causes them to be more trouble than they're worth and He takes them home prematurely.

1 Corinthians 11:29-31 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Many have mixed these 5 judgments together to their own confusion. It is not the objective of this message to cover each one exhaustively today but to give us a general idea of the FIVE GREAT BIBLE JUDGMENTS so as not to confuse them.

I. JUDGMENT of THE BELIEVER'S SIN

Here is a strange thing, this judgement is passed. It occurred almost 2000 years ago. This is one judgment you want to be sure and get in on. Every believer's sin was judged and paid for on the cross of Calvary by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

II. JUDGMENT of THE BELIEVER'S SERVICE (THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST)

This judgment will cause tears in Heaven.

1. Tears of shame 1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

2. Tears of loss [1 Cor. 3:10-15]

3. Tears of Terror [2 Cor. 5:10-11]

Thank God, after the millennium God will wipe away ALL tears. [Revelation 21:4]

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

III. JUDGMENT of THE NATION OF ISRAEL DURING THE TRIBULATION [EZ. 38-39]

Jer. 30 calls it "the time of Jacob's trouble" but this judgment prepares their hearts to accept Jesus Christ for Who He is, the long-awaited Messiah [Zech. 14:2-4; 12:1-14]

IV. JUDGMENT of THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH [REV. 19:11-16, MT. 25:31-34]

This determines who will enter the millennium in their natural bodies for 1000 years of peace on Earth.

V. JUDGMENT of All THE LOST OF ALL THE AGES (THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT) [REV. 20:11-15]