rollinTHUNDER
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Hi Alfred,Now, regarding the Judgment Seat of Christ, the question remains about whether this occurs in heaven or on earth. To deal with this question, I will expand on what the Bible says. When Christ returns at Armageddon, this event will be seen across the entire universe: in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. In Rev 1:7, when Christ returns, "every eye will see him, even those that pierced him (NIV)." The people that crucified Christ are dead and in hell today, yet they will see Christ's return. When he returns, his glory will be revealed across the entire universe.
I believe "even those that pierced Him" is referring to the Jews living in (Israel) who rejected Him. Those that have already passed away, they will wait until after the millennium at the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:7-13). Only the righteous will be raised up in the 1st resurrection when Christ returns.
Everyone will bow, but not all on the same day. In the Old Testament, they didn't know that the two resurrections would be separated by 1000 years, but it came to light in the New Testament. We see both resurrections in Daniel 12:2, but he had no way of knowing this either. No one knew this until the New Testament.Phil 2:9-11 tells us that one day every knee will bow and every person will acknowledge Christ as Lord "in heaven, on earth, and under the earth." When Christ returns, this event will be fulfilled. When his glory is revealed, everybody in heaven, on earth, and in hell will bow their knee and acknowledge who Christ is. Isaiah 45:22-24 adds to this and tells us that everybody who opposed Christ will come and be put to shame. Psalm 22:29 also corroborates the same thing said in Isaiah. (Funny to note that this verse also alludes to some type of feast...maybe a wedding feast....)
From this I conclude that all of creation will one day bow their knees to Christ.
Now comes the question of judgment. Rom 14:9-12 warns of a coming judgment when "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God (NIV)." "We will all stand before God's judgment seat (NIV)." These verses refer to the Judgment Seat of Christ (also known as the Bema Seat in the original Greek). The Pre-Tribbers argue that this Judgment Seat is only for believers and occurs in heaven. I argue that this judgment occurs after Christ returns at Armageddon and includes all people: "in heaven, on earth, and under the earth."
The question is: does scripture corroborate the view that both believers and nonbelievers will appear at the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ? II Tim 4:1 tells us that Christ is ready to judge "the living and the dead."
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
The same here. The quick and the dead saints at His appearing (rapture), where the quick are those living believers that will be changed and the dead believers will be raised to life in this 1st resurrection. There will also be living unbelievers that will be killed when He comes, and they will be raised up again (resurrected) after the thousand year kingdom at the great white throne judgment for the second death (eternal).
Additionally, Rev 11:18 tells us "the time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants...." These verses make strong indicators that believers and nonbelievers will all be judged together. For that to happen, it would have to occur after Christ returns, not during the Tribulation. Also, this judgment is not confined to earth, It also includes people that are currently in hell.
Revelation 11:18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
The nations being angry shows the great tribulation (see also Dan. 12:1), then follows rewards for the righteous (rapture), which precedes the Day of the Lord's wrath (like days of Noah), which will destroy the evil ones (goats) living on the earth, while the sheep will be protected. The sheep are the ones that had their works burned up (wood, hay and stubble). They too, belong to Him and will be saved (protected), but only as one going through the flames. The sheep will remain in their flesh and be ruled over by Christ and His saints for 1000 years.
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