Contrary to traditional theology which maintains there is one general judgment, a careful study of the Scriptures shows several judgments. Of at least eight specific judgments I wish to notice four main judgments which occur at different times, in different places, of different subjects and for different reasons.

1. Judgment of the Cross. When the Lord Jesus hung on the Cross, He suffered the judgment of God against sin. The three hours of darkness when He cried, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me," was when He, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18). At the completion of those three hours of suffering at the hands of a Holy God who lifted up His rod against His Son, Jesus cried, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Judgment against sin was exhausted on Him who "was made sin [or, a sin offering] for us" (2 Cor. 5:21). The foundation for the believer's salvation was laid. In the Person of this Divine Substitute the one who believes on Christ has already been judged in the judgment He bore, and consequently "shall not come into judgment" (John 5:24).

2. Judgment of the Believer's Works. This judgment will occur in heaven after the rapture. It will not be a matter of judgment for sin, which was once for all judged on the Cross, but it will involve the Lord's appraisal of the works and service of the Christian. This will result in either reward or loss of reward (see 1 Cor. 3:11-15, and 2 Cor. 5:10). Should a believer's life's works have the character of wood, hay or stubble, he shall suffer loss of reward, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Should a believer's works have the character of gold, silver and precious stones, he shall receive a reward. Rewards, spoken of as "crowns," will be cast at Christ's feet (Rev. 4:10). However, according to the faithfulness of the believer, his place in the millennial kingdom to reign with Christ will be determined (see Matthew 25:23).

3. Judgment of Living Nations. This judgment is revealed in Matthew 25:31-46. It will take place on earth at the end of the seven year tribulation period when the Son of Man appears to judge the world in righteousness and set up His kingdom of peace for a thousand years. The Gentile nations will be judged on the basis of their treatment of Israel during the tribulation period. The "goat" nations on the left hand will be those who will show their rejection of the coming King presented to them in the everlasting Gospel, by persecuting the Jewish messengers. The "sheep" nations on the right hand will be those who show their acceptance of the coming King, the Lord Jesus, Israel's coming Messiah, by treating the messengers with kindness and help. The "goat" nations will receive everlasting life and enter the millennial kingdom with converted Israel, the 144,000 who will be the nucleus of the kingdom of the Son of Man.

4. Judgment of the Unsaved Dead. This will be the last judgment of all. We read of it in Revelation 20:11-15. It will take place at the end of the beginning of eternity. Both heaven and earth shall have passed away from the face of Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will sit upon the throne. It will be "a great white throne." The unsaved dead of all time will be brought before this throne, their unsaved souls and spirits joined to their resurrected bodies. They shall be judged every one according to his works, which indicates degrees of punishment righteously meted out upon all. But every one there will not have their name in the book of life, indicating they were never born again into God's family while they had opportunity on earth, and now hope is forever gone. We read, "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

So that men might not suffer this eternal doom, the judgment of the Cross was endured by the Lord Jesus. No one before that throne will be able to say he did not have an opportunity to accept Him as Saviour. Consequently, He now necessarily becomes his Judge. May I urge my reader to give earnest heed to this judgment and flee now to Christ. Put your name in the "whosoever" of John 3:16.