The Judgment Seat of Christ
Spiritual Building-Stone No. 180
II Corinthians 5:10-11,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
The Prophet of God, Bro. Branham, told a dream:
I want to tell you a little thing happened. This was a dream. I was asleep. And now, I've never told this publicly before. I told it to a couple of people but never publicly before as I know of.
I dreamed about a month after that that I was standing one day, and I was watching the great time that... Not the judgment now. I don't believe the church ever comes to the--I mean the Bride goes to a judgment. But I was there when the crowns was being given out (I Cor. 4:5).
And the great big throne set up here, and Jesus and the recording Angel and all was standing there. And there was a stair-steps-like coming down this way of white ivory (run down in a circle and made a panoramic like this and went out), so that all this great host standing out there could see what was happening.
And I was standing way back to one side. And I was just standing there, never an idea I had to walk them steps. I was standing there, and I'd see a recording Angel would call a certain name, and I know--recognized that name. I looked and way back out there, here come the brother walking, or the sister, walk up here like that, the recording Angel standing there by the side of Christ (just a dream now), and was watching, and their names was on there. It was found in the Book of Life; He'd look out over them and say, "It was well done, my good and faithful servant. Now, enter in."
I looked back where they was going, there was a new world and the joys. And said, "Enter into the joys of the Lord that's been for--yours since the foundation of the world." See?
And oh, I thought, "They go through there and meet one another and just rejoicing and going over mountains and great big places." I thought, "Oh, isn't that wonderful. Glory. Hallelujah," just jumping up and down.
Then I'd hear another name called, I would say, "Oh, I know him. I know him. There he goes. Watch him right up..." "Enter into the joys of the Lord, my good and..."."Oh," I said, "praise God. Praise God."
Just think, just like they would say, "Orman Neville." See? And then," I'd say, "that's old Brother Neville; there he is," and here he come out of the crowd, goes up. I hear Him say, "Enter into the joys of the Lord that's been prepared for you since before the foundation of the world. Enter in." (Matt. 25:21). And old Brother Neville just changed and just start back in there just screaming and hollering. Boy, I'd just shout and say, "Glory to God." Standing over here by myself, having a wonderful time, watching my brethren go in.
And a recording Angel stood and said, "William Branham."
I never thought I'd have to walk that. So then I was scared. I thought, "Oh, my, will I have to do that?" So I went walking down there and just everybody patting me on the, like that, "Hi, Brother Branham." "God bless you, Brother Branham," patting me as I go along through a great big crowd of people. And all of them reaching over and patting me like that. "God bless you, brother." "God bless you, brother."
I was going; I said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," like coming out of a meeting or something; you know, and I was going to have to walk these great big ivory steps.
I started walking up through there and just as I made the first step, I stopped, and I thought... I looked at His face, and I thought, "I want to get a good look at Him this way," and I stopped. I had my hands like this; I felt something slip in my arm here. It was somebody else's arm. I looked around, and there stood Hope, those big black eyes and that dark hair hanging down her back, white robe on, looking up at me like that.
I said, "Hope." I felt something hit this arm, looked around and there was Meda, that dark eyes looking up, and that black hair hanging down, a white robe on. And I said, "Meda." And they looked at one another, you know, like that. I got them in my arms and here we went home.
Oh. I woke up, and I got up and set down in a chair and cried, you know. I thought, "Oh, God, I hope that comes like that." Both associated with me in life and bringing children and things like that, and here we are walking into the new world, oh, my, where perfection and everything. No nothing...Why, it's going to be a wonderful thing. Don't miss it; don't miss it. By the grace of God, do all you can do, and then it'll be up to God to take care of the rest of it. [1]
And I know someday I must stand at the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for the things that we've done in this life. [2]
Now, there may be many things that I do not know, but I do know Jesus Christ. I do with the bottom of my heart. And someday I've got to meet every one of you at the judgment seat of Christ. I've got to stand there. That's right. I've got to give an account for what I say and do. [3]
There’s people here that I’ll never see no more until I see you at the judgment seat of Christ. [4]
And I appreciate--many of you people are poor people, and tonight, you probably maybe put in the last nickel you had. And on that great day, when we stand up there at the judgment seat of Christ, and you hear those heathens screaming, when, after you hear my name called, and I got to come up and stand on--the tape recording will be played, and the screen will show it all, and some of those natives and heathens from the other countries, saying, "Oh, Brother Branham, if you hadn't of come, I'd of been lost." and then God will look down to you and say, "You were the ones that sent him."
If there's any blessings to be got out of it, may you receive it. 'Cause I'm just doing it as a duty. Each one of you could do it. God sent me, and you're the one that's helping me go. May God bless you richly and restore to you a hundred fold. [5]
If I never see you again, when I meet you there at the judgment seat of Christ where we'll all meet, remember I've told you the truth. [6] And I'll have to be responsible for what I... God will make me responsible. [7]
If I come back next year, there's some of us won't be here. You know that. I may not even be here myself. You may not be here. This will be our last meeting on this earth. Then we got to meet one another again. That'll be at the judgment, or judgment seat of Christ. You'll either be standing there justified or unjustified. It'll be too late then. You can't do nothing about it. And you know and believe, that God through His Bible here has proved over and over that His Presence is here (I Cor. 3:11-15). [8]
"When will it be, Brother Branham?" I cannot tell you. I do not know. But one of these days, if we never meet again on this earth, we're going to meet yonder at the judgment seat of Christ.
I thank God for His Word; I thank Him for Jesus Christ. For without sending Him for the propitiation of our sins, we'd all be in a big muck of sin with no hope. But by His grace, His Blood cleanses all sin (I John 1:7-9; Rev. 1:5-6). Just like the drop of ink in a bucket of Clorox, you'd never find the ink again. When our sins are confessed, it's put in the Blood of Jesus Christ; they'll never be known again (Rom. 8:1-2). God forgets them; they never was even done. And as long as that Sacrifice is laying there in an atonement for us, then that's all... That's it. See? We're not sinners no more; we're Christians by the grace of God. [9]
And there was a young fellow there; I think it's some movie star's people. His name's Danny Henry, and he was a Baptist boy. Well, he come to the platform to put his arms around me, and he said, "Brother Branham, I hope this don't sound sacrilegious," but said, "I believe that could almost be the 23rd chapter of Revelation."
And I said, "Thank you."
And he started to say something else and he started speaking in tongues, a Baptist boy. And when he did, there was a woman from here in Louisiana; she was a Frenchman, kind of a big heavyset woman; she wrote down the interpretation.
Well, then there was another young fellow setting over here was a Frenchman; he wrote down what he said. They compared the notes, and they both was the same.
And then a big, light-headed boy standing way back in the back, come walking forth. He said, "Let me see those notes." [10]
Now, here's the message: “Because thou has chosen the narrow path, the harder way; thou hast walked of your own choosing; thou hast picked the correct and precise decision, and it is My way. Because of this momentous decision, a huge portion of heaven awaits thee. What a glorious decision thou hast made. This in itself is that which will give and make come to pass their tremendous victory in love Divine.” [11]
How that it's going to be a terrible thing for those when the last trumpet sounds, and when the last battle is fought, when the last sermon's preached, when the last song is sung, and we stand at the judgment seat of Christ. You're going to be asked, "Why didn't you receive it? What did you do with the Life that I give you?" You'll be asked to give a reason. What then? (Rom. 14:10,12). [12]
And brethren, may I say this with reverence and respect to you as my brethren, knowing that maybe before night we'll all stand at the judgment seat of Christ in heaven... [13]
And you remember this: I've got to stand by every one of you in the judgment seat of Christ. I have to meet you there, and I'll be responsible for you. [14]
Shall we pray. Heavenly Father, in Whom we love and trust, knowing this... As a minister, priest, ministering spiritual things to people, standing here tonight between the living and dead, knowing this, that someday without a shadow of doubt, I'll have to answer for every word at the judgment seat of Christ. Seeing men and women in here, lovely people, do anything that I'd ask them to do, Father. [15]
I had a vision not long ago, and I looked there, and I seen all those people there; they was millions of them. And I said, "You mean He comes to me."
They said, "Yes, and then we go back with you." I said, "Well, does every minister have to stand like that"?
"Yes, sir. Every minister stand on his ministry with his congregation?"
He said, "Yes, sir." (This Angel that was speaking to me said that.)
And I said, "Then Paul will have to stand too?"
"Paul has to stand with his generation."
I said, "Then I know I'm all right, 'cause I've preached word by word the same thing he did." And when I did that, millions screamed out, "That's where we are resting." Amen. On that Word, that Word, no matter what it was, that Word (Rom. 14:10-13). [16]
And while I was laying there thinking that, I heard something just as plain as you hear my voice, said, "Keep pressing on." It comes in such a way, just like these visions here. You say it, and you don’t know you said it. You’re speaking, talking; you don’t know you’re talking. When I see a vision before somebody, I don’t know what I said. Only the way I know it, go back to the tape here and find it. I don’t know what I said, ‘cause you’re somewhere else in another place, maybe forty, fifty years back down somebody’s life or way yonder ahead in somebody’s life. You don’t know; you just don’t know you say it. And I said, “I am pressing on.” Said, “Keep pressing on; keep pressing on.” Said, “The great reward is at the end of the road.” [17]
References:
[1] “The Sixth Seal”, Seal’s Book pg. 453-470
[2] “Who Hath Believed Our Report?” (51-0719), par. E-20
[3] “Faith Once Delivered To Saints” (53-1129A), par. E-129
[4] “Jesus Christ The Same” (52-1027), par. E-25
[5] “Divine Healing” (54-0620E), par. E-14
[6] “Influence” (64-0315), par. E-9
[7] “Go Wake Jesus” (63-1103), par. E-110
[8] “It Is I, Be Not Afraid” (62-0726), par. E-83
[9] “The Seventh Seal”, Seal’s Book pg. 568
[10] “Trying To Do God A Service” (65-1127B), par. 32
[11] “Birth Pains” (65-0124), pg. 2
[12] “Revelation Ch.4 Pt.1” (60-1231), par. 111
[13] “India Trip Report” (57-0126B), par. E-26
[14] “Separation From Unbelief” (55-0228), par. E-57
[15] “Jubilee Year” (54-1003E), par. 155
[16] “Condemnation By Representation” (60-1113), pg.32
[17] “From That Time” (60-0716), par. E-88