by Tim LaHaye
“Actually, Naomi, ‘the judgment seat of Christ’ has already taken place. It happened in heaven so that the church that was raptured with Jesus could be adorned as His bride when it descended with Him at the Glorious Appearing. Revelation 19:7-8 says, ‘Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.’ Those of us who remain alive will be judged by Christ soon, before the Millennium actually begins.
“As for us Jews, the Tribulation itself was the time when God made Israel ‘pass under the rod,’ according to Ezekiel 20. God says, ‘I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
“‘As for you, O house of Israel, . . . go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, . . . there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me. . . . Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers.’
“Zechariah 13 says that two-thirds of Israel would die, so that of those left, ‘all Israel will be saved.’ According to Romans 11:26-27, ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’
“We elders have estimated that there are between five and ten million of us Jews who will enter the Millennium. But the Tribulation was also a time of judgment of unbelieving Gentiles. That should have been obvious from the twenty-one judgments that came from heaven during the past seven years.”
George Sebastian raised a hand. “Elder Tiberius, Tsion and Chaim taught us there would also be a judgment of nations, but either I missed it or we didn’t get into it. What’s that about?”
“That is yet to come, and likely soon. The Scriptures seem to indicate that the valley created by the splitting of the Mount of Olives is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which means ‘Jehovah judges.’ The forming of that valley buried the rubbish of nearly four thousand years of civilization and runs from the Mount of Olives right through Jerusalem. In that newly purified area it appears the Lord will conduct three judgments: He will restore the Jewish nation; He will judge the sheep; and He will judge the goats.”
“I remember studying the sheep-and-goats judgment,” Hannah Palemoon said. “But I forget who they are.”
“Some call this a Semitic judgment,” Eleazar said. “Jesus will judge you Gentiles on how you have treated His chosen people. Those who honored the Jews are the sheep, and those who did not are the goats.
“When Jesus slayed all His enemies by the sword that came out of His mouth—the very Word of God—Antichrist’s armies were put to death in preparation for the millennial kingdom. Soon all remaining unbelievers—yes, including those who did not take the mark of the beast and yet who never decided for Christ either—will also face death.”
“Just people here in Israel?” Ming Woo said. “Or from all over the world?”
“Oh, from the entire world, I’m sure.”
“And they will be judged here? Or in their own countries somehow?”
“Good question. I don’t know. The Bible seems to indicate that this all takes place in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.”
“So it might be awhile before everyone can get here. And what if they choose not to come?”
Eleazar chuckled. “Did you see anyone at the judgment today who appeared to have a choice?”
“So what you’re saying,” Ree Woo said, “is that only believers populate the Millennium?”
“It appears that way, yes. At least at the beginning. People born during the Millennium will have to make their choice, of course.”
Priscilla Sebastian said, “Then the Great White Throne Judgment, at the end of the Millennium, is the final one?”
“Yes.”
“But it doesn’t sound like there will be much to judge. People either received Christ as their Savior, or they didn’t.”
“Right, but we believe that God, being wise and fair and wanting to demonstrate how far men and women fall short of His standard, will judge them based on their own works. Obviously, all will fail to measure up. This will show that the punishment is deserved, and as I have said, they will be sent to the lake of fire for eternity.”
“But what about the goats in the coming judgment? Where do they go? And will they also be judged again at the great white throne a thousand years from now?”
“Yes. For now they will be sent to hades, apparently a compartment of hell, where they will suffer until that final judgment, and then they will be cast into the lake of fire.”
“Sad.”
“Yes, it is. Very. And yet I believe all these judgments will demonstrate to the whole world God’s justice and righteousness and will finally silence all who have scoffed.”
Just before turning in, Rayford called George Sebastian to check on Kenny, hoping the phone wouldn’t wake the children.
“He’s out cold,” Sebastian reported. “Priss is a little surprised, because all he can talk about is Jesus and seeing Mommy and Daddy tomorrow.”
“We covered everything from the millennial kingdom to the resurrections and judgments tonight. You?”
“The same. Fascinating stuff.”
“Tired, Sebastian?”
“Exhausted. It’s about time. I had begun to wonder if I would ever be hungry or thirsty or tired again.”
“And were you hungry?”
Sebastian laughed. “After the dinner we had tonight, I’m still wondering if I ever will be again.”
“I hear you. I can still taste the lamb.”
“I can still taste everything.”
Rayford closed the shades and lay on his back, pulling a single blanket over himself. The light streaming through the cracks around the shade was so bright he had to cover his eyes with the crook of his elbow. He began thanking God for the events he had witnessed, beginning with his own healing, but before he could even mention them, Jesus said, “I know, Rayford. I know. I am right here, and I will always be right here. I will never leave you nor forsake you.
“My blood is precious, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
“Thank You, Lord.”
And believing Jesus was there, Rayford drifted off into the sleep of the redeemed.
CHAPTER 20
Leah could tell it was morning only because of the dew on the roses and the coolness of the air. It was as bright as it had been at midnight, the last time she checked her watch before falling asleep. She had awakened with the knowledge that she was to go to the new Valley of Jehoshaphat. There was no question in her mind. As she showered and dressed, she knew she was not to eat, not to do anything else. Just go.
Leah had not been aware of Jesus speaking to her again in the night or in the morning, but this inner conviction about what she was to do was so strong and persuasive that He might as well have shown up in person and told her.
She hurried to the front of the house where Eleazar and Naomi were greeting their guests as they emerged from various sleeping quarters. Not a word was said about breakfast or plans for the day. Leah thought about mentioning her urge and asking how she might get there, but she could tell from the looks on the faces of George and Priscilla Sebastian, Hannah Palemoon, and Ree and Ming Woo that they too were on a mission that needed no words. Even the children, Beth Ann and Kenny, seemed eager to get moving.
When everyone was there, Kenny said, “Can we go now?”
Eleazar r
oared, his bulging eyes twinkling. “And where would you like to go, little one?”
Kenny shrugged. “To see Jesus.”
Leah was struck that he didn’t mention his mother or dad. For some reason, he too was being drawn to Jesus so forcefully that nothing else seemed to matter.
They all crowded into a vehicle driven by Eleazar, and Leah found herself next to the Woos. “Where’re we going, Ming?” she said.
Ming said, “I don’t know where anyone else is going. I just hope Elder Tiberius stops within walking distance of the new valley.”
Walking distance didn’t begin to describe it. Eleazar drove directly to the valley. As they got out, Leah was staggered to see millions and millions of people. They were white and black and red and yellow, and they were all headed the same direction. Leah sensed Jesus was at the end of this rainbow of humanity, and she knew where to find Him as soon as she turned her eyes to the sky. He was not there, but not only was His heavenly army host hovering on horseback, but also tens of thousands of angels flanked them on the sides and behind.
Leah stopped walking, already separated from her friends. She simply had to stare. The sky seemed nearly filled with heavenly beings, forcing her to shield her eyes. But that did no good. The light of the glory of Christ was all about her, and even behind her hands it glared into her eyes. It felt as if she were staggering toward the object of everyone’s attention.
Leah had been to professional sporting events where the crowds were so huge going in and out of a stadium that one could not see the end of the people. This was a million times bigger. As she began to walk again, snatches of conversations grabbed her interest.
“I was in my home, minding my own business.”
“Where?”
“Johannesburg.”
“When was this?”
“Not ten minutes ago!”
“I was asleep in Michigan!”
Leah followed the gently rolling terrain until it opened on an area just enough below Jerusalem that she could look up and see the Eternal City. She also had a view of Golgotha, the site of Calvary, which took away her breath. Again, Leah had to stop and stare.
“Leah,” Jesus said.
“Yes, Lord.”
“When you see My throne, join those on My right, your left.”
“Yes, Lord.”
She turned and continued to follow the crowd, realizing that everyone must have been given personal directions. The masses were breaking to the right and to the left and heading for separate destinations.
Rayford tried to stay with Chaim. The men had left the Rosenzweig home without breakfast and without a word, as if they all somehow knew where they must go. Rayford decided that whatever was to come, he wanted to be close enough to Chaim to ask questions. The others must have had the same idea, as they all stuck together despite the crowds.
When Jesus told Rayford where he should go, he moved to his left without question, and as waves of people moved both directions, suddenly the view before Rayford became clear. Directly below and centered under the vast heavenly hosts, saints, and angels, a great raised platform stood, bearing a throne on which Jesus sat. Behind Him were the three angels of mercy. On either side of Him stood the archangels Michael and Gabriel.
Rayford knew instinctively that every living person on earth was gathered in that valley. “I’m guessing several million, Chaim, but it’s really not many compared to how the earth was once populated.”
“Very few,” Chaim said, keeping up with Rayford. “Half a billion or more were raptured seven years ago. Half the remaining population was killed during the seal and trumpet judgments during the next three and a half years. Many more were lost during the vial judgments, and millions of believers were martyred. What you are looking at is probably only one-fourth of those who were left after the Rapture. And most of these will die today.”
Indeed, Rayford realized, those assembling on Jesus’ right were scant compared to those on His left.
Enoch was sitting behind the wheel of his car in his Palos Hills, Illinois, driveway, praying. When he finished and opened his eyes, he was sitting in the sand in Israel with millions of people moving past him. Enoch stood and saw the heavenly hosts, the City of God, and the Place of the Skull. And Jesus told him where he should go.
“And, Lord, my flock. Are they—?”
“Of course they are, beloved. I will direct them to you.”
It took most of the morning for the masses to find their places and settle. To Rayford it appeared that those to Jesus’ left were puzzled at best, frightened at worst.
Gabriel stepped to the front of the platform and stretched out his arms for silence. “Worship the King of kings and Lord of lords!” he shouted, and as one the millions on both sides of the throne fell to their knees. In a cacophony of languages and dialects they cried out, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
Those on the left of Jesus began rising to their feet, while all around Rayford, everyone remained kneeling. “Clearly two different groups of people here, eh, Chaim?”
“Actually three,” the old man said. “Those are the ‘goats’ over there, the followers of Antichrist who somehow survived to this point. You are among the ‘sheep’ on this side, but I represent the third group. I am part of Jesus’ ‘brethren,’ the chosen people of God whom the sheep befriended. We are the Jews who will go into the Millennium as believers, because of people like you.”
Hannah Palemoon knelt in the sand, worshiping her Savior. Those millions in the crowd to Jesus’ left had acknowledged Him, but she sensed no worship was involved.
Since the moment she had awakened, she had wanted—needed—to be here. To have Jesus speak to her in her native tongue was more than she ever could have dreamed or asked for.
Now people around Hannah began to rise, and she looked to the platform to see why. Gabriel was gesturing that they should stand. When everyone was in place and quiet, Gabriel spoke in a loud voice, saying:
“John the revelator wrote: ‘I saw an altar, and underneath it all the souls of those who had been martyred for preaching the Word of God and for being faithful in their witnessing.
“‘They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before You judge the people of the earth for what they’ve done to us? When will You avenge our blood against those living on the earth?”
“‘White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them.’
“People of the earth, hearken your ears to me! The time has been accomplished to avenge the blood of the martyrs against those living on the earth! For the Son of Man has come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and He will now reward each according to his works! As it is written, ‘At that time, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,’ says the Lord, ‘I will gather the world into the Valley Where Jehovah Judges and punish them there for harming My people, for scattering My inheritance among the nations and dividing up My land.
“‘They divided up My people as their slaves; they traded a young lad for a prostitute, and a little girl for wine enough to get drunk.’”
Hannah was startled when the larger mass, the group to Jesus’ left, immediately fell to their knees again and began shouting and wailing, “Jesus Christ is Lord! Jesus Christ is Lord!”
She wondered if she should be doing the same, but Jesus said, “Hannah, I know your heart.”
“Thank You, Lord,” Rayford said. “I know You do.”
“Cleburn,” Jesus said to Mac, “come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
Priscilla Sebastian responded, “Lord, when did I see You hungry and feed You, or thir
sty and give You drink?”
Enoch said, “When did I see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?”
Razor said, “When did I see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”
And Jesus said in Spanish, “Assuredly, I say to you, Razor, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
“Thank You, Jesus,” Razor said, bowing his head. But he was distracted by a commotion from those to the left of the throne. He looked up in time to see Jesus stand and walk to the edge of the platform.
With anger and yet sadness, He said, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”
The millions began shouting and pleading, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?”
Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. You will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
“No! No! No!”
But despite their numbers and the dissonance of their desperate bawling, Jesus could be heard above them. “As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
“We honor You! We do! You are Lord!”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
“But My Father has given Me authority to execute judgment also, because I am the Son of Man. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”