Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
Pelathais, don't do that with me, please it's late over here on the East Coast and all I wanted was an answer from a one line question.
How about you explain the scripture. We don't need to get philosophical.
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Sorry, I was just beginning to post when they started to lock up, so I ended with only a wise crack. I'm home now and I'm certain that I've missed you for this evening/morn (or at least I hope you don't keep the hours that I do). As far as being "philosophical..." No promises.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
I'm going to tell Him that I read the Bible, you're going to tell Him that you read Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
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Ah, but He would know that I was lying because Socrates never wrote anything at all for later generations to read. But, I'm getting "philosophical" already...
As I was catching up on the posts it appears that TrulyBlessed has already answered the question about the Great White Throne judgement. Though there are of course many interpretations, Apostolics have usually held that the judgement of
Revelation 20, that you cited is for "sinners" and that "saints" are judged separately at:
1) At Calvary's cross
Romans 5:8
2) Our own self-judgment
1 Corinthians 11:31 (if we judge ourselves we shall not be judged...)
3) The Judgement Seat of Christ (Gr. Bema)
2 Corinthians 5:10 (compared to the Great White Throne Judgment - Gr. thronos)
Your's was not a "yes or no" type of question. At this
link there is a pic from Larkin's classic treatment of The Book of Revelation. Notice toward the left side of the pic, near the top (along with the Rapture) you have The Judgement Seat of Christ (Gr. βημα) and all the way to the right there is The Great White Throne Judgment (Gr. θρονον λευκον μεγαν ): two different terms for each event.
Two different "judgements." One for those who have received the free gift of salvation and one for those who did not. Those who are judged in the verses you cite are condemned by their own works and thus God is justified in His judgments.
For the believer; works are good, but they don't really appear to impress God (
Romans 4:2).