. . . the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great. (Rev.11.18)
In twenty years of tracking Bible prophecy teachers, I have yet to find one that has directly dealt with Rev. 11.18. Even when I’ve brought it up in conversation with some . . . no comment!
So what’s the issue? Well, this verse reveals the judgment seat of Christ to be an event connected with the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Whether you agree with my assessment of the timing of the seventh trumpet or not, it is certain that no one would believe the seventh trumpet would be blown at the beginning of Daniel’s seventieth week. Plain and simple, this verse creates a problem for those who hold a pre-trib view of the rapture. Ignoring it will not make it go away.
. . . the time of the dead, that they should be judged. (Rev. 11.18)
There are only two appointed times of judgment for the dead revealed in scripture. The first is the judgment seat of Christ which is exclusively for the just. (John 5.29, Acts 24.15) The second is for the unjust, who will appear before the great white throne judgment. (John 5.29, Rev. 20.12) Two judgments, that’s all. Each one distinct and sure. The first carried out at the onset of Christ’s millennial reign, the second at the end.
Who then are the dead of Rev. 11.18 if not the righteous dead? Is not the mention of the rewards to be given and them fearing His name enough to make it evident?
The crux of the matter is that there is no time lapse between the rapture and the judgment seat of Christ. They are connected events. You simply cannot have one without the other, or have one occurring separate from the other. Allow me to demonstrate this point.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. (2 Tim. 4.1 KJV)
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Tim. 4.8 KJV)
And at the manifestation of the chief Shepherd, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5.4 YNG)
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it . . . (1 Cor. 3.13) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come . . . (1 Cor. 4.5 KJV)
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matt. 16.27 KJV)
There is no debate over whether or not the rapture immediately precedes the judgment seat of Christ (at least not until some read this article.) The issue doesn’t exist until you face Rev. 11.18 head on. That’s why it has been conveniently dismissed or reasoned away. Some have endeavored to rationalize it away by concocting the idea of the multiple rapture theory in an effort to maintain a mental hold on their end-time chronologies. In view of the scriptures, there is only one judgment seat of Christ, hence, only one rapture. Whether convenient or not, there is no evidence otherwise, only conjecture.
Furthermore, Paul draws a connection between the judgment seat of Christ, His appearing, and His kingdom.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. (2 Tim. 4.1 KJV)
The connection is further evidenced by the announcement of the seventh trumpet concerning Jesus and the inception of His millennial kingdom.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ (Rev. 11.15) . . . And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. (Rev. 11.18)
There is only one judgment seat of Christ, and there is no way to deny its mention in this verse as an event tied to the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
I intend for this article to be only a lead-in to something I will be dealing with at length in future posts; the rapture. Clarity is much needed on this subject, and by the grace of God I will endeavor to do my best to present it as clear as possible.
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