Thank you for the biblical question on Matthew 7:21–23, “Does Matthew 7:21-23 describe the white throne judgment?“
The Scriptures teaches that there are three future judgments of believers and unbelievers. They are as follows:
A. The Bema Seat of Christ (I Cor. 3:10–15).
The text says this, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (NIV).
It is important to note that the believer is not saved because of his/her good works but is rewarded for how that person built upon the one foundation, Jesus Christ. Even if that believer suffers loss of reward that person is still saved.
When does the Bema Seat of Christ happens? There are varying viewpoints. I believe this happens at the return of Jesus Christ for the Church prior to the Great Tribulation. Other Christians place this at the end of the Great Tribulation.
B. The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11–15).
The text says this, “11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (NIV).
According to Revelation 20, this is the Final Judgment for those individuals whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. In other words, those individuals who lived a sinful and selfish life on earth. All those people will be judged based on their conscious when their conscience will either condemn or excuse them for each action (Rom. 2:12–16).
C. The Judgment of the Nations (Matt. 25:31–46),
The text says this, “31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (NIV).
In Matthew 24–25, Jesus declares what happens at his return at the end of the Great Tribulation. There will be a gathering of nations and people who will be judged in how they responded to the Jews being persecuted.
Those who aided the persecuted believers will be granted entrance into the Kingdom of God and those who refused to aid the persecuted will be denied entrance into the Kingdom of God. There will be a thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on earth (Rev. 20:1–5).
With those three judgments in view, then one may conclude that Matthew 7:21–23 is referring to the entrance into the Kingdom of God. The reason being is that Jesus is declaring how Kingdom people are to live in the Kingdom of God.
John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching that the Kingdom of God is near. Thus, the people were to prepare their hearts and spirit for the King to come and to welcome them into his kingdom. Thole people who refuse to live by faith in anticipation of the coming Kingdom will be denied entrance into the Kingdom of God. The Parable of the 10 Virgins supports this point of view. Their denial will lead them to be ultimately judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.
On a side note, God’s promises to Israel are not necessarily the same for the Church. God promised the Jews a perpetual land and king. The Church is not promised any land for we are part of the Temple which will come down out of heaven.
Summary: Matthew 7:21–23 refers to Judgment of Nations in entering the Millennial Kingdom of God or denial in entering the Millennial Kingdom of God.
-Kingston