Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (I Corinthians 6:2,3)

Many Christians hold that the white throne judgment that comes at the end of the thousand-year period is not the Judgment Seat of Christ. The truth is, Revelation 20:11-15 is describing the Judgment Seat of Christ, because it is a judgment seat and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who judges men. It also is true that the members of the royal priesthood that were raised at the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age will be seated with Christ in the Judgment Seat and participate with Him in the judgment of the world and of angels.

The Father judges no one. Only Christ judges. All are standing in the Presence of Almighty God but only Christ and His saints (who have been judged previously) perform the work of judging (Acts 17:31).

Christ's work of judging has commenced already and it has begun with the household of God (I Peter 4:17). The work of judging will continue until the end of the thousand-year period. All human beings, saved and unsaved alike, will appear at one time or another before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The dead are judged "according to their works" (Revelation 20:12); "according to that he hath done" (II Corinthians 5:10).

Speaking to the members of His churches, Christ warns: "I will give to every one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2:23).

Can we claim that no Christian will appear at the last judgment and be judged according to his works, when Christ says to the members of the "lampstand" of Thyatira, "I will give to every one of you according to your works"?

Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (Romans 2:6-8)

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)

"According to your works" (Revelation 2:23).

"According to their works" (Revelation 20:12).

"According to that he hath done" (II Corinthians 5:10).

"To every man according to his deeds" (Romans 2:6).

"According as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12).

"Will give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).

Since Revelation 2:23, Romans 14:10-12, and II Corinthians 5:10 are spoken directly to Christians, and Romans 2:6 and Revelation 22:12 were written to God's people and no doubt are meant to apply to God's people (as well as to all other people), the claim of Christian teachers that Revelation 20:12 cannot possibly apply to believers in Christ because it is a judgment of works appears to be on shaky ground indeed.

Not only the above, but the tenor of the writings of Paul, John, the writer of Hebrews, James, Peter, and Jude is that all persons who have lived on the earth, including Christians, will be rewarded according to their works. The same is true of the teachings of John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the teachers and prophets of Israel.

To be continued.