Judgment Day

I know that the Scriptures say in Hebrews 9:27 that it is “appointed once for a man to die and then the judgment”. That leads me to conclude that a person is judged right after he/she dies, but is this what is referred to as “The Day of Judgment”?

Q. I know that the Scriptures say in Hebrews 9:27 that it is “appointed once for a man to die and then the judgment”. That leads me to conclude that a person is judged right after he/she dies, but is this what is referred to as “The Day of Judgment”? In other words the day that someone faces God (when that person dies), or is the Day of Judgment the time when those who are still alive at “end” of the end times are judged?

A. There are three days mentioned in the Bible that can be considered judgment days. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 describes the judgment of the Church, known as the Bema Seat judgment. Most scholars believe it takes place right after the Rapture. Everyone involved in this judgment is saved and is only judged for the purpose of awarding crowns.

In Matt. 25:31-46 Jesus spoke of a judgment to take place when He returns. This is called the Sheep and Goat judgment and pertains to the disposition of believers and unbelievers who have survived the Great Tribulation. This judgment is also mentioned in Joel 3:1-3. Believers are welcomed into the kingdom to help re-populate the Earth and unbelievers are sent to the place of eternal punishment.

Rev. 20:11-15 describes the Great White Throne judgment at the end of the Millennium. It’s for the unsaved dead from all ages and results in their transfer from their temporary confinement in Hell to the Lake of fire.