The first view teaches that unfaithful believers will be cast into a literal place of outer darkness, which may also involve being cast into Gehenna during the Millennium or even longer. With this groundwork and understanding in place, let’s now consider the various views dealt with in this book as we seek to answer the opening question of this chapter. Thus, the doctrinal aberrations dealt with in this book concerning Christians being punished after the Rapture are limited to premillennialists, especially premillennialists who strongly believe that salvation is solely by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, in distinction to the false gospel of salvation by works and Lordship Salvation.
All are premillennialists most are even pretribulational with respect to the timing of the Rapture. Although this book interacts with the views of various authors and Bible teachers about what is in store for Christians at the Judgment Seat of Christ and thereafter, most of the authors and Bible teachers agree on the general order of the prophetic events explained above. This description of prophetic events is commonly known as the premillennial pretribulation position (or dispensational premillennialism) since it focuses upon Jesus Christ’s coming before the Millennium and even before the Tribulation. In contrast, the redeemed of all ages will dwell with the Lord forever in the New Heavens and Earth. They will be judged according to their works (because they did not trust in Christ) and cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Following the millennial phase of the Kingdom, there will be the final judgment of all the lost at the Great White Throne. Though the Kingdom is eternal, it will have an initial earthly phase of 1,000 years. This celebration is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb or the Wedding Feast. At the very beginning of the Kingdom, there will be a joyful celebration for all who are eternally saved who have entered the Kingdom. God’s long-awaited covenant promises to the nation of Israel will also be fulfilled at this time. At this time, all Old Testament and Tribulation saints will receive resurrected bodies to enter Christ’s Kingdom. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth accompanied by the Church to set up His Kingdom on the earth. With the Church in Heaven following the Rapture, the earth will undergo an unprecedented time of divine judgment known as the Tribulation, which will last for seven years. The nature of this event, whether it includes the bestowal of positive rewards and/or negative punishments, is largely the focus of this book. This event is called the Judgment Seat of Christ or Bema (the Greek word for this seat). While in Heaven, each believer who comprises Christ’s Church will stand individually before Jesus Christ to have his or her post-justification life and good works evaluated in order to determine the believer’s eternal reward. When it happens it will be instantaneous and will involve every member of Christ’s body, the Church (whether deceased or still living), being bodily resurrected to meet Christ in the air and then being taken back to Heaven to be with the Lord forever. This event is imminent, meaning that it could happen at any moment. The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church. Since these events are discussed frequently throughout this book, a basic understanding of the order and terminology of these events will be helpful. Perhaps you are reading this book and you are not familiar with key future prophetic events such as the Rapture, Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema), Tribulation, Second Coming, Wedding Feast, Millennium, Kingdom, and so on. But before explaining each view, it is important to lay a little groundwork.
Like you would expect, there are several views in answer to this important, multifaceted question, though they ultimately boil down to either “Yes” or “No”! This chapter will introduce you to each view with representative quotes from supporters of each position. Should unfaithful Christians (not unbelievers) fear punitive damages (not just a lack of reward) at the future Judgment Seat of Christ (when Jesus Christ comes back and the believer’s post-justification life is examined), that include being cast into outer darkness (whether actual or figurative) and experiencing wailing and gnashing of teeth (resulting from deep regret or remorse)? The main question this book 1 seeks to ask and answer may be summarized below:
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