Shayla: Does everyone get judged at the same time? If that is true, how could that be if everyone dies at a different time?

Meforshim:

The Bible says,

• Hebrews 9:27 HCSB “…it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment”.

The point of this concept is not that EVERYONE will die, because the Scriptures also teach that some will be alive when Christ returns.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:15 HCSB “For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.”

So the principle point of the passage in Hebrews is that as it is appointed to everyone to die once (countering the whole ‘reincarnation’ idea) Christ only had to die once for our sins (countering the whole Catholic ‘sacrifice God every time we have communion’ idea).

Notice, however, that the Bible does not say “it is appointed for people to die once – and after this all be judged AT once.” That is because there are two seats, or times, of judgment. One is called the Bema Seat.

· Romans 14:10-12 HCSB But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

· 2 Corinthians 5:10 HCSB For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.

This judgment will not determine our salvation, which is determined by the placement of our faith in the Master, but to determine what rewards we have earned as His stewards (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). We were given a glimpse of what that will be like in Jesus’ parable of the talents when the good steward was told,

• Matthew 25:21 HCSB "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!'

The other seat of judgment is called the Great White Throne of Judgment. That is one that you want to avoid because its purpose is to determine the accused’s salvation and to get to the point – all those who appear before this Judgment are found guilty.

• Revelation 20:11-15 HCSB Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

When the unrighteous die, their souls go to Sheol (what the Greeks called Hades) where they await their judgment.

• Luke 16:22-24 HCSB One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 'Father Abraham! ' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'

When the righteous die, their spirits wait in heaven for the Second Coming of Christ when they will be reunited with their “glorified” bodies. In this case, “glorified” means changed and improved, the subject of which is for a entirely different meforshim.

• 2 Corinthians 5:8 HCSB yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
• Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. 10 They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" 11 So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until [the number of] their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.

At some point after Christ returns, everyone will appear before one of these two Judgments. Those who are in the Book of Life appear before the Bema Seat and then go on to their eternal bliss. Those who have been blotted out of the Book of Life by refusing Christ’s gift of salvation will be judged by their deeds alone, found lacking, and cast into the lake of fire.