#4. The TWO Judgments After Death – TWO Very Different Places.  Where Will You End Up? (KJV)

December 24, 2025 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde

After realizing that my church had been teaching me false doctrine for my entire life, I set out on a journey to learn the truth.

I knew that Jesus Christ came to this earth to teach us all His gospel. This “Gospel” is recorded in the Bible. This book would be my focus entirely, and not clouded by any other documents that have been produced by a church.

Like most of us, I wanted to know what Christ taught about the things that we need to do here on earth, to be reunited with Him in Heaven, for this is my goal…To Be with my Savior after I die.

I read the story about when Jesus was hung on the cross with two thieves. Do you recall the event?

As they hung on their crosses, one thief joined the crowd in mocking Jesus, saying that if He were truly the Christ, He should save Himself and them. The other thief rebuked him, admitting that they were receiving the due reward of their deeds, but that Jesus had done nothing wrong (Luke 23:39–41, KJV).

This repentant thief then said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus answered him with the promise: “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42–43, KJV). In that moment, the crucified, condemned thief received mercy and the assurance that he would be with Christ that very day in paradise.

There is NO BETTER teaching than one directly tied to the words of Christ. This thief was a “BAD” person who was being punished for a crime, but only after a brief conversation, Jesus told him that he would be with him in heaven.  How is this possible?

Let’s break this experience down, using perhaps some common beliefs that we might have related to us making it to heaven. What are some of the requirements that you have been taught or feel are true in your making it into heaven?

Your Likely Answers:

Baptized

Church Attendance

Tithing

Good Deeds

Repentance

Live a ‘perfect” life

Accept Christ as our Savior

Temple Ordinance

Others?

Now let’s go back to this thief and see which requirements from our list that he had actually accomplished. There is ONLY ONE… Accepted Christ as his Savior. This was why Jesus told him that he would be in Heaven with the Savior… That’s it!

There is NOTHING tied to OUR WORKS that is required to qualify a person to enter into Heaven…NOTHING!!

Christ’s Gospel as He taught gives us further insight:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV):
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”​

Titus 3:5 (KJV):
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”​

Romans 11:6 (KJV):
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”​

Can’t you see it here? Our works are NOT what gets us into Heaven. So, what does?

John 3:3 (KJV):
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

So, with the qualification of being “Born Again” as the requirement of getting into heaven, where do our Good Works come into play?

Those good works come as a result of being born again, so where do they fit into the judgment. Let’s learn more about this.

Today, I’d like to teach you about TWO Judgments that will happen after we all “die.”

The Judgment Seat of Christ – For those who are “Born Again”

The Great White Thorn Judgment – For those who did not accepted Jesus Christ.

The Judgment Seat of Christ refers to a future event where believers in Jesus Christ will stand before Him to give an account of their lives and deeds. This is distinct from the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers, focusing instead on rewards rather than condemnation.

2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”

Romans 14:10

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”​

These verses emphasize accountability for actions performed “in the body.” Now, for those who have accepted the atonement of Jesus Christ, they will have NO SINS to be judged on. ALL sins have been completely removed. If you do not believe this, then you do not believe in the power of Christ’s Atonement. They are GONE! There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. No punishment for sin occurs here, as Christ already bore that penalty.

So, what is left for Him to judge us on?  OUR GOOD WORKS.

The term “judgment seat” translates the Greek bema, a raised platform for awarding prizes in ancient times, underscoring its rewarding focus.​

During this judgment, all who are present will be Rewarded for any Faithful Service which they have done while on the earth. The scriptures explain it as Christ giving out “CROWNS” to those who have done such works:

incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25),

crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19),

crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8),

crown of life (James 1:12),

crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).

I invite you to read these scriptures and study these crowns. Will you be receiving one?

This will conclude the judgment, and again, all of those who are in attendance of this judgment (those who have been born again) will then be with Jesus Christ in Heaven.. Forever.

This Judgment begins right after the RAPTURE:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in the King James Version describes the rapture of the church, where the dead in Christ rise first, followed by living believers caught up to meet the Lord in the air.​

This passage comforts grieving believers by outlining the resurrection and rapture sequence, often linked to the timing of the Judgment Seat of Christ occurring afterward in heaven before the tribulation or second coming.

The Second Judgment – The Great White Thorn Judgment

The Great White Throne Judgment refers to the final judgment of unbelievers described in Revelation 20:11-15 of the King James Version Bible. It occurs after the millennium, where the unsaved dead are resurrected to face divine justice. This event underscores God’s holiness and the eternal consequences of rejecting salvation through Christ.

Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV) states:

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And 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.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”​

Now look at this in a “common sense” fashion. People who reject the atonement of Jesus Christ still carry all of their mortal sins around with them. They have not been erased by the atonement, and thus, they are held accountable for all of their sins. Because of this, they can not live in the presence of God. So, what does their judgment bring? Being cast into the Lake of Fire.

Books record every person’s works, opened for scrutiny, while the Book of Life determines eternal destiny. No one is saved by works here; judgment confirms condemnation for those not in the Book of Life, with degrees of punishment based on deeds and revelation received. Death and hell follow into the lake of fire, termed the “second death.”

Can you see the “Simplicity” in the “Complex” event of the atonement of Jesus Christ?

Accept His atonement, and repent of your sins, and you will be forgiven…thus making you clean and pure.

Reject His atonement, and you will be held accountable for all of your sins, for there is no one on earth who is free of sin…No One! Being a sinner will result in your being cast into the Lake of Fire.

We must all run to the Savior to be forgiven of the sins that we have committed…and HE will save us.

Now you know of the two judgments that are to come. You can know which judgment that you will attend as well as your final outcome, right now by asking the question:

            Have you become Born Again and accepted the atonement of Jesus Christ into your life?

If you haven’t done this, the consequences for you are SEVERE. Do it NOW! RUN to a secluded place and drop to your knees and invite Jesus into your life. Repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your savior and redeemer. Ask Him to assist you in learning more about Him.

As you give your life to Him, you will indeed see that you will become a better version of yourself. You will receive the Holy Spirit, and your countenance will change. You will desire to do good works for others. This is how you know that you have been Born Again.

Now, one last thing. Many of us are feeling that we are in the “season” of the Rapture. The rapture is where Jesus Christ comes and removes “His Church” (Born Again Believers) from the earth. He is coming to save us from the 7-year Tribulation period.

A person does not have to believe in the rapture to be included. OTHER than being born again, there is nothing that you need to do to prepare for this. Christ will find you, and lift you up. He will rescue you from the terrible things that are coming.

Do the things that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do. Help others come to Christ. This is something that all of us can do to the very hour that we are called up to be raptured.

I’ll see you arain tomorrow, as we continue to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as He taught when He was on the earth. Merry Christmas!