Judgment Day is Coming

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

Every person will be judged by God one day.  What a person does with their life here on Earth has eternal consequences.  The Bible divides the whole world up into 2 groups.  Depending on what you do with God's Son Jesus determines which Judgment you will find yourself standing at after death. There is the saved (believers) and the lost (unbelievers). Notice the Scriptures below which reveal belief on Christ determines destiny:

"He that believeth on him (Jesus Christ) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18

"He that believeth on the Son (Jesus Christ) hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36

Once a person believes (trusts) on Jesus Christ as Savior (accepting the Gospel of their salvation - how Jesus died a substitutionary death on their behalf to pay their sin debt in full, and rose again), they are saved forever! They have received everlasting life, a home in Heaven, and the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell them until the day of redemption (deliverance). (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:12-14) If an individual does not trust on Christ accepting the Gospel of their salvation, they stay condemned in their sins and will remain standing in their sins at Judgment Day when they meet God.  They will not be saved and will spend an eternity in Hell separated from God forever.

Now, let's look at the Judgments for both believers and unbelievers: 

Believers in Christ (saved individuals) will spend eternity in Heaven.  There is no way to undo that spiritual transaction once they trust Christ as Savior, as they have been "born again" (born of God - they belong to God as His child - see John 1:12, Gal. 3:26, 1 Cor. 6:20).  However, after salvation, a believer needs to make that second decision to serve God with all their being because our works for the Lord will be judged by God.  Our new life in Christ will be judged to see whether our deeds/works have eternal value at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  The Judgment Seat of Christ is a rewarding stage for the believer.  The believer's works will be judged primarily in 3 areas - according to the quantity of our works (see Luke 19:11-27, Rom. 2:6-7, 1 Cor. 3:12), the quality of our works (1 Cor. 3:12-13), and as to our motive for our works (1 Cor. 3:10, 4:5, 10:31).

Judgment Seat of Christ - (Only for Believers in Christ)

"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 (eternal value) or bad (no eternal value)." - 2 Corinthians 5:10

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (notice the foundation is Jesus Christ - if you've trusted in Christ as Savior then you are on the foundation). 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 (notice you will still be saved if you have no works, but you will suffer loss and be ashamed before God)." - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

The fire will try (or test) our works to see if they have any eternal value.  Did you live your life after salvation for the Lord?  Was serving God on your mind after salvation?  As believers, we are to serve God daily (pray, read your Bible, evangelize to the lost, fellowship with other believers, practice self-denial and God approval, love all people by words and action, be a servant to the Lord).

Unbelievers will not appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Unbelievers remain condemned in their sins and they will be judged at another Judgment called the Great White Throne Judgment.  This is a Judgment which will evaluate sinner's deeds on Earth, and they will be assigned a degree of punishment in Hell for all eternity, separated from God. (see verses for degrees of punishment for the unbeliever - Matt. 11:20-24, 23:13-16, Luke 10:10-12, 1 Thess. 2:16, Rev. 20:12-13). Judgment for the unbeliever will be based primarily on how much light (exposure of God's Word or revealing of God's presence and character) they refused or rejected.

The Great White Throne Judgment - (Only for Unbelievers)

"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 (notice these books are the deeds/works of every individual): and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead (unsaved) were judged out of those things which were written in the books (notice these are the books which have recording of the deeds/works), according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death (speaks of the body or grave) and hell (this is Hades - the place of the departed dead where unbelievers go) 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 Eternal Hell - 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." - Revelation 20:11-15

Please believe (trust) on Jesus Christ as your personal Savior right now if you have not done so already!  Jesus shed His sinless blood for your sins, died, and rose from the grave.  He offers you eternal life when you believe on Him to save you. There are no second chances after physical death. Don't wait, as none of us know when Judgment Day will come!