These are deeply solemn words, which our hearts would do well to ponder. The same Savior who makes Himself known as the loving friend gone to prepare a place for us, and waiting to come again and receive us unto Himself, also reveals Himself as the Judge walking among the candlesticks with "His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like unto fine brass.”
“Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12). The lost will give account when He comes to judge the dead out of the things written in the books, and the saved also, when He reckons with His servants and dispenses rewards.
There is not a word about the two classes standing together, or for the same purpose. In the parable of the talents, recorded in Luke, besides the difference between the diligent and slothful servants, there is also a difference between the diligent servants in proportion to their merit. This shows that the saved are variously rewarded according to the measure of their faithfulness. The same principle, of the manifestation of the saved according to their works, is taught by Paul.
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15).
This is the manifestation of believers according to their works. It is certainly a solemn thing and a deep reality as true as the judgment of the lost, but at the same time it is altogether distinct from it, both as to the time and the circumstances of its occurrence.
The word translated "judgment seat" means only a step or raised platform, such as a person exercising any authority, or pronouncing a speech might occupy. It will include "the great white throne" before which the dead are summoned for their final sentence. It is a word of much wider import, and by no means necessarily (or indeed, primarily) signifies the seat occupied by a judge at a criminal trial. It is used of the dais on which Herod sat when he received the embassy from Tire and Sidon (Acts 12:2121And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. (Acts 12:21)), and is there rendered "throne" by our translators. The word would be just as applicable to the seat occupied by a judge in a civil suit or by an assessor awarding compensation, as to the seat of a judge trying a case of life and death. These are really the two different actions described. The lost will appear before the tribunal to be tried on the question of life and death "out of those things which were written in the books." Rev. 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12).
How is this possible with the believer? Can the penitent thief be taken out of paradise to be put on trial as to whether he shall be saved or lost? Can Paul, after being with Jesus more than eighteen centuries, be summoned before His bar to be tried for his life? Impossible!
No, the appearance before the judgment seat in the case of believers is of a different kind, for a different purpose, and at a different time. It is before the reign of Christ, instead of at the end of the world. It is for the purpose of determining, not whether they shall be saved or lost-a question which can never be raised again for those whom God has justified, but to what reward they are entitled by the measure of their faithfulness here below. It will be determined whether they have built the "gold, silver, and precious stones," which can endure the searching fire of the Divine scrutiny, or the "wood, hay, and stubble," which will perish before the judicial test, and leave them to be saved "so as by fire." It will also be revealed whether in the apportionment of dominion among the "fellow-heirs" they should be made ruler over ten cities or over five.
Here we would note in confirmation of what has been already said, the perfect and Divine accuracy of the language used by the Spirit of God. It is said that all shall "appear" before the judgment seat [or throne] of Christ, the real meaning being that all shall be manifested. In this all are included, saved and lost. The word used therefore, is merely that they shall "stand" or "be manifested" not that they shall be "judged." On the other hand, where it speaks only of the unbelieving dead, raised before the great white throne, the expression employed is that they shall be "judged." This is no fanciful or refined distinction. Our Lord Himself, while here on earth, says, "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]." John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Almost immediately afterward He speaks of two resurrections, a "resurrection of life" and a "resurrection of damnation." John 5:2929And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29). T. Baines