HOW MANY JUDGMENTS ARE THERE AND WHEN DO THEY TAKE PLACE?

WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US ABOUT GOD’S HOLDING PLACES AND THE JUDGMENTS

BEFORE JESUS DEATH, SPIRITS OF EVERYONE WENT TO HADES, WHICH HAD TWO COMPARTMENTS, ONE FOR THE EVIL, ONE FOR THE SAINTS
Before Jesus went to Hades at his death and took the spirits of Old Testament saints to heaven, everyone’s spirit went to Hades at death. Saints went to Abraham’s Bosom and all others went to a place often referred to as Torments, Luke 16:19-31. This scripture is clearly not a parable.

AFTER JESUS DEATH; SPIRITS OF BELIEVERS GO TO HEAVEN WHILE UNBELIEVERS STILL GO TO TORMENTS.
After Jesus death all believers go directly to heaven at death, 2 Cor 5:6-10, while all others still go to Torments where they will be held for the great white throne judgment soon after the end of the millennium, 2 Peter 2:9-12, 3:7.

EVERYONE NOW FACES A QUICK INITIAL JUDGMENT WHEN THEY DIE.
What is it?
When a person dies it appears from Luke 16:22 that an angel meets their spirit and accompanies them to one of two places, either heaven for believers or to Torments for unbelievers. The decision on the destination of the spirit does not take long. If the name of the person is recorded in the book of life they go to heaven; if not they go to Torments, Ps 69:27-28, Rev 13:8, 17:8. This dynamic changed at the death of Jesus, because before his death believers went to Abraham’s bosom in Hades. After Jesus died for believer’s sins they go directly to heaven at death because God then sees them as perfect, Heb 10:14,1 Thess 4:14, Eph 4:7-10, Acts 7:59, 2 Cor 5:6-10, 2 Peter 2:9, Isa 26:19-21.

DEFINITION OF “FIRST RESURRECTION” & “SECOND RESURRECTION” EVENTS
We can infer from Rev 20:4-6 that a FIRST RESURRECTION is a resurrection of believers in Jesus; those who will be with him forever after their resurrection. The Bible says in many places that the body dies but the spirit lives on, Eccl 12:7. James 2:26 says that the body without the spirit is dead. At a resurrection of the dead, the spirit is given a new body, a glorified or resurrected body and the combination becomes a renewed soul, a living being again. In Hebrew Scriptures a soul is always a spirit living in a body, or a living being. The Greeks viewed things a bit differently and introduces some confusion into the way that God defined a soul in Gen 2:7. The glorified or resurrected body that believers get at a rapture or resurrection event is exactly the same as the body that Jesus had after his resurrection according to Phil 3:10-11, 20-21. A glorified body is one of the rewards that all believers get at the judgment seat of Christ.
There seem to be multiple resurrection events for believers as we will see below and they are all referred to as THE FIRST RESURRECTION. Unbelievers of all ages will be judged at THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (GWT) of Rev 20 and there appears to also be a resurrection associated with it. Apparently God wants those who he is going to judge, and then throw into the lake of fire, to be judged in the same type of nature in which they lived on earth, namely as a spirit living in a body. This event is referred to as THE SECOND RESURRECTION. When the unbelievers are thrown into the lake of fire the event is called the SECOND DEATH. It is death in that the spirit will again be separated from the body. The body will be consumed in the lake of fire, Heb 10:26-27, and the spirit will be sent to outer darkness, 2 Pet 2:17, Jude 1:12-13. Matt 25:30. Rev 20:5-6 says that believers will not have to worry about the second death. They will have their glorified bodies forever.

JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, 2 COR 5:6-10
BELIEVERS ARE JUDGED & RECEIVE THEIR REWARDS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WHICH TAKES PLACE AT A RAPTURE/RESURRECTION EVENT
Rev 22:12 says that Jesus is coming soon and that his rewards are with him. Several of the rapture scriptures say that the rapture is in the end times. Luke 17:26-37 says that the general rapture takes place on the very first day of the tribulation period. Jesus gives believers their rewards at the judgment seat of Christ, from 2 Cor 5:6-10. These facts clearly place believers receiving their rewards at the judgment seat of Christ which is at a rapture event. A resurrection always accompanies a rapture in the Bible, 1 Thess 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51-53. Rev 20:4-6 defines a resurrection of believers as the first resurrection. The implication seems to be that the second resurrection is one of unbelievers. One of the rewards that believers will receive at the judgment seat of Christ will be a glorified body. This is clear from 2 Cor 5;1-10. In the first five verses Paul is saying that he is really yearning to leave his earthly body, receive his resurrected body, and then be with Jesus in heaven. In the next five verses he tells us when we will receive our new resurrected body; at the judgment seat of Christ. James 2:12 says that believers will be judged by the law that gives freedom, the royal law, the golden rule, the law that says to love your neighbor as yourself. A few details of the mechanics of the judgment are presented by Paul in 1 Cor 3:8-15.

FIRST RAPTURE EVENT
GENERAL RAPTURE OF BELIEVERS OF ALL AGES; A FIRST RESURRECTION EVENT
This is the very first rapture/resurrection event and it takes place on the very first day of the seven year tribulation period, Luke 17:22-36. It is accompanied by the first judgment seat of Christ. This rapture is often referred to as the rapture of the church.

SECOND RAPTURE EVENT
MID-TRIBULATION RAPTURE, CALLED THE RAPTURE OF TRIBULATION SAINTS; ANOTHER FIRST RESURRECTION EVENT
Since this rapture is a rapture of tribulation saints, Rev 7:13-15, it is quite obviously a rapture of new believers sometime during the seven year tribulation period after a large number of people have died or been killed. We can infer that a rapture has taken place at the end of the fifth or beginning of the sixth tribulation judgment, about five months past mid tribulation, Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17. Those raptured are most likely the fruits of the harvest of the two witnesses who did their witnessing work in the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation period, Rev 11:3. There is a rapture and first resurrection event described in Rev 11:7-13. This is the rapture of the two witnesses which seems to include the 144,000 Jewish servants of God as well as those new believers killed in the tribulation period up to that point. We know that the 144,000 have been killed and raptured to heaven because in Rev 14:4 they are described as following Jesus everywhere he goes after they have been purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. Rev 14:3 says that they had been redeemed from the earth. There can be no question that they have been raptured. The timeframe in Rev 14 seems to be in either the 6th or 7th judgment. It is clearly before the Second Coming in the 7th judgment. They were likely a part of the mid-tribulation rapture. The evidence for this mid-tribulational rapture is indisputable given the large number of places it appears in Revelation. KEY NOTE: No where does it say that this is a rapture of LIVING saints. It clearly is a rapture of only those new believers who had been KILLED in the first half of the tribulation. This is not and cannot be the general rapture that is taking place. It clearly does not fit the characteristics of the general rapture described in several other places in the New Testament.

A FIRST RESURRECTION EVENT THAT LIKELY OCCURS SOON AFTER THE SECOND COMING
There are few if any new converts after the deaths of the two witnesses at the end of the fifth judgment because Rev 16:11 and 9:20-21 tell us that this is the case. This event involving the two witnesses seems to be at the transition from the 5th to the 6th judgment. However, in Rev 14:6-7 we see an angel who goes to everyone on earth just before the Second Coming and proclaims the gospel of Jesus to them, along with a warning that their judgment is coming very soon. Apparently many people heed this warning, especially those Jewish people who are still alive. These will be the only humans who will then be allowed to enter the coming 1000 year millennium. However, Jesus does bring the resurrected saints back to earth with him at the Second Coming to serve him and reign with him during the millennium on earth, Rev 5:9-10, 20:6. Thus there will be both humans and resurrected saints both on earth during the 1000 years. Rev 11:18 discusses a judgment that takes place soon after the Second Coming. This clearly includes the judgment of the Old Testament saints, but it must also include a judgment of the few who have become believers and then been killed in the 6th and 7th judgments just preceding the Second Coming. As believers they certainly will be judged and receive resurrected bodies so they can participate in the millennium.

RAPTURE, RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Dan 12:1-3 says that the Jewish people of all ages who have their names written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and delivered. Multitudes will arise, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Note that this does not say that they will go to the GWT judgment and the lake of fire.) This judgment or these judgments will take place at the time that the archangel Michael, the protector of the people of Israel, arises. When will he arise? According to Rev 12 he comes into our view again when there is war in heaven between God’s angels led by Michael and Satan’s angels. This will take place in the mid-tribulation period, sometime between the 3rd – 5th judgments, Rev 12:7-9, 8:10-12. Satan and his angels will lose the battle and be thrown down to earth for 3-4 years. After their defeat at Armageddon Jesus will throw them into the Abyss for 1000 years, after which they will face judgment as we will see below. This judgment or judgments of the dead Jews of all ages thus could take place at the beginning, middle or end of the seven year tribulation period. Which seems most likely? Roman’s may provide us with a few clues. We will present two of these scriptures.
` Rom 3:22 The righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and gentile.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.
If there is no difference between believing Jews and gentiles does that mean that they will be judged at the same time and in the same way? It does seem that there will be some differences. One difference may come about because Rom 3:25-26 says that in his forbearance Jesus left the sins committed beforehand unpunished so as to be totally just. My take on this is that the Jews who lived after the time of Jesus may be judged at the same time that the gentiles are judged. That places the believing Jews judgment being at the first judgment seat of Christ, and at follow on judgment seats as well. Isa 26:19-21 describes the rapture of believing Jews. In this description the rapture clearly takes place at the beginning of the future tribulation period. This is precisely the time that Jesus describes the general rapture of the church taking place in Luke 17:22-36.
That would leave the judgment of unbelieving Jews who lived after Jesus taking place at the GWT judgment. That seems to agree with other scriptures describing the GWT judgment. We will address this with the GWT judgment given below.
That leaves the question of when Old Testament saints will be judged. Matt 19:28-29 seems to be addressing this question. Let’s read and discuss this passage.
Matt 19:28-29 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Jesus was speaking to the disciples when he made this prophetic statement. The disciples must have already been judged because in this glimpse into the future they were in the presence of Jesus and personally acting as judges. They likely were judged at the judgment seat of Christ at the very beginning of the tribulation and were then a part of the bride of Christ. However, there was now another judgment taking place. Jesus describes it as taking place at the renewal of all things, when Jesus is reigning on his throne. There are renewals at the beginning and the end of the millennium. This must be at the beginning of the millennium and be a judgment of Old Testament saints. To fulfill his promises Jesus must give each of the Jewish tribes their land inheritance in Israel. There are many other promises that must be fulfilled as well. These all involved the Old Testament saints. We also see in verse 29 that it is a judgment of rewards, so it cannot be a judgment of unbelievers. All of these scriptures seem to come together quite well with this interpretation. This agrees with Rev 11:18 which describes a judgment for rewards for Jesus’servants and prophets. It takes place in the timeframe of the seventh tribulation judgment.

THE SHEEP-GOAT JUDGMENT
Matt 25:31-46 begins by telling us exactly what the judgment is and when it takes place. Verse 31 says that this takes place when Jesus comes in his glory with his angels with him. This is at the Second Coming when there is war between Jesus and his angels against Satan and his angels on earth. This results in Satan and his angels being sent to the Abyss for 1000 years. Verse 32 says that all the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate the sheep from the goats. Joel 3:11-14 seems to place Armageddon and this judgment together. This is a very different sort of judgment since it is a JUDGMENT OF THE LIVING at the end of the tribulation. The purpose is to determine those who have become believers in Jesus. Only those who are believers will be allowed to enter the paradise of the millennium and be part of the kingdom of heaven, vs.34. Those who have not become believers will be sent to Torments awaiting the GWT judgment. This is clearly presented in Matt 25:31-46.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (GWT)
 SPIRITS OF ALL UNBELIEVERS OF ALL AGES, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE GO TO TORMENTS & REMAIN THERE UNTIL THE GWT JUDGMENT AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM; NO BELIEVERS ARE JUDGED AT THE GWT.
Books were opened at the GWT, then another book, the book of life will be opened, Rev 20:12. Just what are these books that will be opened? I did a Bible search to try to identify the books mentioned in the Bible. I divided the list into two categories, those which are books on earth and those which are in heaven. The list is given below. It is likely that the books that are in heaven will be used. However we find in Matt 12:42 and Luke 11:31-32 that God will call witnesses at the trials of unbelievers. Thus he may also use books on earth as witnesses for or against those being judged.
Who was standing before the great white throne to be judged in Rev 20:12? The DEAD, great and small were judged according to what was in the books. These could not possibly be believers who were being judged because believers never die. They have eternal life which they receive when they become believers in Jesus. At the death of the body they are merely changed to another form of life, 1 Cor 15:51-53. Those standing before the GWT are the dead unbelievers of all ages past going back to creation. They will all receive the same verdict; guilty with the death penalty. Rev 20:15 says everyone whose name is not written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. This is called the second death in Rev 20:6, 14. Rev 20:5-6 says that believers will never face the second death. They will be part of the “first resurrection” which is a resurrection of believers only, generally at a rapture. Rev 21:27 says that only those whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the new Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth.
Again this is a judgment of all unbelievers of all ages and all receive the same verdict. Guilty, with the Second Death penalty in the lake of fire with Satan and his angels. Confirmation of these conclusions is found in the following scriptures, as well as many others.

Heb 10:27 Raging fire will consume the enemies of God at their judgment.
2 Peter 2:12 The ungodly are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. (Does this speak to animals being in heaven?)
2 Peter 2:9 The unrighteous are being held for judgment on the day of judgment.
2 Peter 3:7 The present heavens and earth will be destroyed by fire on the day of judgment and the day of destruction of the ungodly.

THE JUDGMENT OF ANGELS
Paul asks two very interesting questions in 1 Cor 6:2-3. The questions are
Do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And,
Do you not know that we will judge the angels?
Peter and Jude add some of the answers that are posed about judging angels as follows;
2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6 say that some evil angels are being held in Tartaros awaiting their judgment on the great day.
This confirms the judgment of angels and tells us that it will likely be held at the end of the millennium in the same timeframe as the GWT judgment. This seems to be a judgment of evil angels who seriously disobeyed God. In Gen 6:4-7 we read about a strange being called Nephilim who seemed to be part human and part angel. This was the timeframe that Peter and Jude were referring to in their passages on judging angels, so there seems to be a connection. My suspicion is that Satan was trying to pollute mankind so that he could disrupt God’s plan for providing a bride for Christ. God threw those responsible into Tartaros, apparently in the lower portions of Hades, awaiting their judgment. Angels were also fearful of Jesus sending them to this place as we read in the passage about Jesus sending the evil spirits into the herd of pigs. The responsible spirits were pleading with Jesus not to send them to this prison for angels. It looks like resurrected believers will sit on the jury at their trial.

MESSAGES FROM SEVERAL OTHER INTERESTNG SCRIPTURES DEALING WITH JUDGMENTS
Matt 12:4 and Luke 11:31-32 say that God will call forth witnesses from the past to testify for or against those being judged.
John 5:2 says that God has entrusted all judgment to the Son.
Rom 14:10 says that everyone will stand before God’s judgment seat.
1 Tim 3:6 says that the conceited may fall under the same judgment as the devil.
Heb 6:2 says that the resurrection of the dead and judgments were two of the first things taught to new believers.
James 2:13 says that judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who does not show mercy; however mercy trumps judgment.
Rev 14:7 implies that there is a day of judgment coming soon, at the Second Coming. What judgment is this? It is the judgment of the wrath of God being poured out on an unbelieving and horribly sinful world.

A LIST OF THE “BOOKS” MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE

BOOKS WRITTEN BY MEN & AVAILABLE ON EARTH, WITH MOST LIKELY INSPIRED BY GOD
Book of the Covenant, Exod 24:7, likely the Torah scroll
 Book of the Wars of the LORD, Num 21:14
 Book of the Law, Deut28:61, and Book of the Law of Moses, Joshua 8:31. likely the Torah scroll but also possibly the Leviticus scroll
The book of the law contains God’s commands and decrees and also the curses of the covenant as recorded in Deut 29:21, 30:10 and 31:26.
Book of Jashar, Joshua 10:13
Book of the Law of God, Joshua, 24:26, again likely the Torah scroll
Book of the annals of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:41, the events of Solomon’s reign
Book of the annals of the kings of Israel, 1 Kings 14:19; Book of Kings or Chronicles?
Book of the annals of the kings of Judah, 1 Kings 14:29
Book of the annals of King David, 1 Chronicles 27:24
Book of the kings of Judah and Israel, 2 Chronicles 25:26
Book of Moses, Ezra 6:18
Book of the Annals, Esther 2:23
Book of the Chronicles, Esther 6:1
Book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia, Esther 10:2
The book of the vision of Nahum the Ashoite, Nahum 1:1
Book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, Luke 3:4
Book of Psalms, Luke 20:42
Book of the prophets, Acts 7:42

BOOKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN HEAVEN AND LIKELY USED AT THE GWT JUDGMENT
Book of the Truth, Daniel 10:21, This is a book in heaven referenced by Gabriel the angel. In Dan 11:2 Gabriel tells Daniel that he is going to tell him the truth about the future of the nations of earth. This is obviously the book in which God has recorded the whole future of the earth which he has already predestined. We call it prophecy.
Book of Life, Psalms 69:28, A book which lists only the righteous; indicates that names can be blotted out
Book of Life, Phil 4:3, contains the names of Paul’s co-workers in Christ
Lamb’s book of life, Rev 13:8, does not contain names of those who follow other gods
Book of life, Rev 17:9, all of those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation will be astonished when they see who the beast is. Why? Because they knew him in the days of old and he will return to earth in the end times.
Books were opened, then another book, the book of life was opened, Rev 20:12. Who was standing before the great white throne to be judged? The dead, great and small were judged according to what was in the books. These could not possibly be believers who were being judged because believers never die. They have eternal life which they receive when they become believers in Jesus. They are merely changed to another form of life when they die. These are the dead unbelievers of all ages going back to creation. They all received the same verdict; guilty with the death penalty. Rev 20:15 says all whose name was not written in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire, called the second death in Rev 20:6, 14. Rev 20:5-6 also say believers will never face the second death. Rev 21:27 says that only those whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the kingdom of heaven.