PREPARING FOR THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (PART 3)

It is the Last Days; the 7-year Tribulation Period; it is the End of Man’s Day. It is the Judgement “Day of Christ” and the “Day of the Anti-Christ”…

It is the Day of strictly Judicial Judgements on all Men. And for the redeemed, the ‘Bema’ of Christ is based on the sole principle of works. (Matthew 16:27… “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward (render/repay) each according to his works.” Revelation 22:12… “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward (recompense) is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”)

The chronological order can be summarized as follows: In the closing out of this Age of Grace and Mercy, there are various great transitional judgements from that ‘Last Days’ Judgement Throne, which is to be set up in this Realm’s heaven 7 years before Christ’s Coming. This period of time ushers in the ‘Millennial Age of Justice’ where Christ and His victorious overcomers rule with a rod of iron, for 1000 years, which then ushers in the final Judgements at the Great White Throne. (Revelation 2:27; 19:14-15)

Chronological overview…

Christ’s worthiness (to be administrator of Justice in this Earth) and His investiture (pronouncement of His Kingly authority) are the End-Time Judgement Throne’s first declarations. Then, there is the coming forth of the ‘Two Witnesses’ for the first 3 ½ years (wherein they testify and bring judgement light on the ‘Covenant with Death’ that Israel made with the Anti-Christ – Isaiah 28:15-18, Revelation 11:3). Then Christ’s Bema qualifying judgement comes upon the living redeemed and there is the glorious “hope of glory” / ‘catching up’ of the redeemed Overcoming First-Fruits offering unto God. God uses agricultural symbolism to reveal deeper principles, such as the type and shadow of the firstfruits of the harvest seen in Deuteronomy 26:2… “That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there.” (See also Revelation 12:5, where the anti-type of the firstfruits is the ‘man-child’ who is being ‘caught up to heaven’ and offered up unto God as the first-ripened in the Last Days’ harvest… “And she (the Woman representing ‘the Church of God’/mother all of God’s redeemed people) brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” And these Firstfruits are described in Revelation 14:4… “These are they which were not defiled with women (‘women’ symbolizing the harlotrous wicked religious world system); for they are virgins (a reference to their spiritual purity). These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among (the living) men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Then, in 1st Corinthians 15:20-23, we see the order… “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (He being the first to rise up out from among the dead/among those who are ‘asleep’) For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (they that are among the dead at His ‘heavenly Parousia’ -2nd Coming- will be taken up into the 1st heaven of this Earth’s Realm towards the end of the Tribulation to join the Firstfruits who were caught up while alive at the mid-point of the Tribulation.) This catching up of the man-child/firstfruits is followed by the casting down of satan from this Realm’s heaven (Revelation 12:9), and the bringing up from the pit of the Anti-Christ and the False prophet (Revelation 13) who kill the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:7).

This is followed by JUDGEMENTS on the following groups of people…

JUDGEMENTS on… Israel and Jews worldwide (It is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble, seen in the following verses… Jeremiah 30:7… “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”… Zechariah 13:8-9… “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.”… Ezekiel 20:34-38… “And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”… Ezekiel 22:19-22… “Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst therof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you.”… Daniel 12:1… “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”… Malachi 3:1-3… “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”).

All the while, a contingent elect of Old Covenant Jews will be protected from the Anti-Christ and his wicked agents. (See Matthew 24:16-21… “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”… Revelation 7:1-8… “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (This sealing being at the mid-point of the Tribulation period.) Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.” With Revelation 12:13-17… “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (God’s People/the “Church of God”: Jews and unripened Christians) which brought forth the man child. And to the woman (Jewish contingent – Matthew 24:15-21) were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, (3.5 years) from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman (Jewish contingent), that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God (Zechariah 13:8-9), and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (unripened Christians).)

JUDGEMENTS on… the living unripened members of the Body of Christ judged unworthy at His Bema who were not awake and not praying, which speaks to their having believed false demonic doctrines leading to their lack of spiritual maturity. They were therefore not a part of the First-Fruits offering, and are now called to the Gospel of “Fear God” (Revelation 14:6-6) and to awaken and patiently endure unto the Harvest ‘catching up’ just before the Vials of Wrath are poured out on God’s enemies (Revelation 15:1). (See Revelation 13:7-10… “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword (even in this time, Christians are still under the law of love; they are not to fight back, but instead love their enemies, not retaliate, lay down their lives, for a “better resurrection” as the martyrs did as seen in Hebrews 11, specifically Verse 35… “not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” … Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 14:12-16… “Here is the patience of the saints (until the soon coming Harvest): here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

Revelation 7:9-17… “After this (after the sealing of the 12 Tribes of Israel, John sees ahead towards the end of the Tribulation, after the Harvest, those caught up into the “air/1st heaven” and he describes the following…) I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” With warnings to the people of God on the Earth in the Last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation… Revelation 18:4-5… “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (out of spiritual Babylon), my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities”) So it is seen from this verse and other Scriptures, that there will then be people of God on the Earth down to the last plagues, and presumably beyond even unto the Coming of Christ from the unseen first heaven to the Earth. (The ‘people of God’ in the broader End-Time definition consists of both Jews and those of the ‘One New Man’- as shown previously in Revelation 12:17; 14:12.  Israel was told that they would be a Nation of priests and kings in Exodus 19:6… “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” And the Nation of the One New Man was told also in 1st Peter 2:9… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”)

The present-day teaching of assuring His people that they all will be removed from the Earth before the “Tribulation” and Wrath of God of those last days, resists the seriousness of God’s ‘calling out’ and His warnings. God is not tacitly (implied without being stated) encouraging His people to remain in religious Babylonianism by declaring an all-inclusive miraculous deliverance from the just Wrath He is about to inflict upon the religious Whore. Wrath is not meant for ripening… rather, it is punitive, thus His call to ‘Come out of Her’. It is not true exegesis of New Testament teaching nor worthy of Christ to ignore powerful exhortations throughout Scripture to console and reassure the Redeemed of Christ that they are certain to escape the persecution of the Tribulation Period regardless of their spiritual maturity. Or that they will be judged worthy at Christ’s Bema simply because they are redeemed. Nor that they will be ‘caught up’ and stand alongside those faithful sufferers for Christ who do overcome. In that, what is the need of the Judgement Seat if all the redeemed are to be found worthy? His Just Judgement Seat implies gain or loss of inheritance in His Kingdom for which Paul strove and fought mightily out of his concern for, which was after having been redeemed and set in the race for the prize. Yet, there was a real possibility of his being rejected if he did not heartedly train his mind and body and run the race as God had mapped out. (Philippians 3:11-12, 1st Corinthians 10:24-27) Ephesians 5:6… “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” The implication is obvious. The Mercy of God during these Days of Judgement is that He allows the Tribulation period appointed for His enemies, to also bring about the maturing of His people. The Hour of the Reaping by Christ will come, and He will rescue the ripened from the Vintage Wrath of God Matthew 13:30,41,49… “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn….. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world….. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth (Revelation 14:16), and sever the wicked from among the just…” and those that remain will be gathered with the tares to be burnt (Revelation 14:19). Matthew 24:50-51… “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” John 15:6… “If a man abide not in me (note that you can’t ‘abide’ in Jesus unless you are redeemed), he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (Revelation 3:16). Revelation 20:6… “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” And though we speak this way (about the severity of God; even on His ‘people’), in accordance to the Written Word, it is also understood that eternal life is yet assured in Scripture. And where there might be a Scripture which seems to contradict the Truth of both (both His goodness and His severity), it is but the lack of understanding on man’s part, in that there is no contradiction in Holy Scripture.

Revelation Chapters 15 & 16 have to do with the destruction of the ‘destroyers of the Earth’. (Revelation 11:18… which constitutes both men and angels seen in Isaiah 24:21; the high ones that are on high; satan and his angels, and the kings of the earth, upon the earth; the confederation of nations aligned with the Anti-Christ – Revelation 17:12) In that Chapter 15 Verse 1 declares the 7 vials fill up the Wrath of God.  “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” (God’s “loud voice” call to fear Him, not man, has went out to the respondent in renouncing the system and the Anti-Christ, which answers to the ‘coming out’. This then prompts God’s terrible finishing judgements on the people on the Earth… including the redeemed who go from sharers of His Judgement Wrath with His enemies, to the experiencing of whatever follows as being received as ripening unto Harvest. – Mark 4:28)

Judgements continue….

JUDGEMENTS on… The End-Times literal city of ‘Babylon’ and Mystery Babylon; the pretentious religious/but materialistic-at-heart Babylonian Whore. (Revelation 17&18)

On… the defiant unregenerate on the Earth (Revelation 16:8; 19:17-19, Deuteronomy 32:39-43)

On… the Anti-Christ & false prophet (Revelation 19:20)

On… satan and his spirit forces (Revelation 20:1-3, Isaiah 24:21-22)

On… the Nations upon the Earth after His actual 2^nd Coming to the material earth (Matthew 25:31-46) and restoration of Israel (Zechariah 14:9, Ezekiel 28:25-26) and the setting up of His Millennial Theocratic Government.

At the End of the Millennial Age Judgement, and the time there is a time allotted for satan to be loosed out of his prison. (Revelation 20:7-10) then, God’s JUDGEMENTS continue….

On… the final rebellion when the devil and his angels are cast into the Lake of Fire for ever and ever. Note that it is seen and forever established that the ideal conditions in the Millennial reign of Christ do not of themselves produce ideal beings. Though they experience the ideal condition of there being no satan nor fallen angels to deal with, (as they are in chains for the 1000 years), Man still has the sin nature for which he is held responsible for. Though in the Age of Justice, it is less uncontrollable… yet when circumstances lend themselves to it, the sin nature may rise up. The fallen nature cannot be cleansed or rehabilitated, for circumstances do not change character… only rebirth from above and renewal of mind in the minding of the things of the spirit/Spirit can change character. These living in the Millennial Kingdom, whose lifespans are increased due to those ideal conditions, do not for the most part, submit out of loving humble obedience, rather they submit because the new Theocratic Government and conditions are far better as Christ and His appointed ones rule with a rod of iron. Submitting, but not from the heart and after a number of blessed generations, when people are as numerous as the sand on the sea, they precede without first-hand experience of the Judgements of the “End- Times” of this Age, and they are susceptible. This answers to why many are easy prey for satan’s deceptions when he is loosed towards the end of the Millennium. (Psalms 18:44… “As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.” Psalm 66:3… “Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” Isaiah 65:20… “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” See Romans 8:7… “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”)

And then after satan and all the evil spirits are forever incarcerated in the Lake of Fire, the “earth and the heaven fled away”, the time has come for the resurrection of Judgement …of all the remaining dead (men and spirits raised as they were when they died, to be faced there with the judgement of life or death verdict) as opposed to the resurrection into incorruptibility determined at the Judgement Seat of Christ – 1st Corinthians 15:52… “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Then there is the Great White Throne where the Son of God/Son of Man take up the final and completing judgements on all mankind who had no part in the First Resurrection, and on spirit beings as well. All will be judged based completely upon Works. (Revelation 20:11-15… “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Jude 1:6… “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Romans 2:5-16… “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature (by their consciences) the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”)

Then Death and Hades are cast into the eternal Lake of Fire along with all those whose names were not finally found “written in the book of life” (Revelation 20:14-15… “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”) Which closes that great 7000-year Age of Restoration/Reconcilliation of all things (Acts 3:21) and opens the Age of New Beginnings; the Eighth Day. In the creation of “a new heaven and a new earth. …the Lord said unto John, “It is done.” (Revelation 21:1; 6… “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea….. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”) (Revelation 21:7-8… “Where the overcomer shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”)

So it is that we saw KINGDOM JUDGEMENT REWARDS ON THE LIVING OVERCOMER BEGIN TO MANIFEST IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD on the Firstftuits… and then culminate in the First Resurrection.

The Truth of Scripture is that all Christians (and all in Hades) will eventually be resurrected, but this First Resurrection catching up into the ‘air/first heaven’ is in glory as was the selective Firstfruits Rapture catching up into this first heaven. THIS IS THE GREAT REWARD OF AN INHERITANCE IN THE MILLENNIAL HEAVENLY KINGDOM. (1st Corinthians 15:41-42, Revelation 20:4-6) “… for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3,10-12,19 etc… “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…… Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you….. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”) Kingdom Inheritance is based upon determinations at the Judgement Seat of Christ in doing the will of the Father, which is to say; by faithful hearing of the sayings of Jesus Christ and doing them while alive on the Earth. (Matthew 7:21-27… “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”)

The Rapture of the living faithful who are watching and praying, and the First Resurrection (out from among all the other dead) are exclusive to proven overcomers. In that Paul sets the First Resurrection out from among the dead as the obtaining of the prize; that of the High Calling in Christ. (Philippians 3:8-14… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of (out from among) the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”) For all of those first resurrected shall be priests and… REIGN as kings in His Theocratic Government. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” [Revelation 20:6] It is the great harbinger of Christ’s bestowing further rewards.

God is calling the unredeemed to the Cross: He is calling the redeemed to worthiness for the Crowns.

False doctrines which rob God of His glory will rob us of ours: Therefore, “let no man rob you of your prize.” (Colossians 2:18… “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind…” Revelation 3:11… “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”) Does anyone care about crowns and rewards today? Do any think in these terms? Do any have purifying hope? (1st John 3:3… “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”) Or has the enemy replaced the grandeur of their attainment and any sobering thoughts as to the cost, with religious presumption (thinking they have already attained)? Note that if even Paul, who had suffered so much and did so much in loving obedience to Christ, did not think he had attained, why does the average Christian believe that they have?

Eternal life is the gift of God to all Believers (Romans 6:23), but the Kingdom and its accompanying rewards are for those accounted worthy at the Judgement Seat of Christ. (Luke 20:35, 2nd Thessalonians 1:5) It is that for which Paul feared that he would at the last be rejected. (1st Corinthians 9:27… “lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”) The great exhortations of reward are designed to establish us in hope in the face of all tests, trials, chastenings, and temptations while in pursuit of our heavenly calling of Christ-like selflessness. (See Luke 6:23,35… “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.… But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”) Rewards are intended to incentivize us to service while Christ is away.

The variety of rewards validates holy ambition, as the Word exhorts us to be an overcomer of the flesh, the World, and the devil. The promised rewards are unique to the inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Kings and priests (Revelation 1:6) eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7) They are not to be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11), they eat of the hidden manna, and they will be given a white stone, and on the stone a new name will be written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17) Power will be granted him over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, even the authority Christ received of the Father. (Revelation 2:26-27) He’ll be given the morning star (Revelation 2:28) and he will be clothed in white raiment with assurance of his name in the Book of Life, having his name confessed by Christ before the Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5) He’ll be kept from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world. (Revelation 3:10) He’ll be a pillar in the temple of God, and he shall go no more out. He will have the name of God written on him, and the name of the City of God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from God, and will have Christ’s new name written on him. (Revelation 3:12) He’ll be able to sit with Christ in His Throne (Revelation 3:21) to follow Him whithersoever He goeth (Revelation 14:4) and he will drink of the fountain of the Water of Life freely. (Revelation 21:6) He will also inherit all things that are the Father’s; as a (firstborn) son. (Revelation 21:7)

Crowns will be determined for the overcoming redeemers by Christ at His Judgement Seat. It has been said, ”There will be No crown without a cross.” “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.” [Revelation 19:12] Jesus is seen having many Crowns, as He gave and overcame much. Relative to all these rewards are Crowns for distinguishing different kinds of service. THERE ARE 5 CROWNS BROUGHT OUT IN SCRIPTURE…

CROWN OF INCORRUPTION

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” [1st Corinthians 9:24-27) The incorruptible Crown belongs to those who overcome the impulses of the lusts of the flesh, in that he that sows to the flesh shall reap of its corruption: but he that sows to the spirit, reaps of it incorruption. (Galatians 6:8, 1st Corinthians 15:51-52) The flesh is a corrupting enemy to be overcome, therefore the Crown of incorruption. (Awarded with having an incorruptible glory-filled body!)

 CROWN OF REJOICING

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”  [1st Thessalonians 2:19] This Crown being offered to those who have effectively ministered the Gospel of eternal life to the unregenerate of the World.

CROWN OF GLORY

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” [1st Peter 5:1-4] This is the Crown promised to those who shepherd the redeemed/regenerated with a heart of sincerity in accord with holiness.

CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” [2nd Timothy 4:7–8] This Crown is promised to those who have faithfully wrestled with the wicked spiritual forces set against a righteous life with an eye to Christ’s Second Coming.

CROWN OF LIFE

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” [James 1:12] With “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” [Revelation 2:10] This Crown appears to have in view those who have suffered physical and mental persecution faithfully even if it meant their death.

GOD EXAMINES OUR HEARTS

“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” [Jeremiah 17:10] There is a judging that goes on in each redeemed individual every day. Working out your Salvation with fear and trembling speaks not only to the future hope of the salvation of the soul, but to the workings out by the spirit/Spirit all the convictions from our conscience on a daily basis. Our spiritual condition is known in the spirit realm moment to moment. As that is what determines our tests, trials, sufferings, temptations, judgements, rebukes, reproofs, exhortations, and encouragements. We are more spiritual or less spiritual based on our daily responses. The true spiritual condition we are in presently speaks of the Written Word’s righteous character that has been worked out within us. Our state or condition when we pass from here will not need to be thoroughly analyzed to see where we are at spiritually. To be judged worthy to be a part of the Bride and to rule and reign as kings and priests in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom will be completely self-evident to the Lord. That condition we will find ourselves in when we pass; if it be in any gauged personal worthiness, will correspond with our position and our rewards and status in His Coming Millennial heavenly Kingdom. Or if our condition at death or at the time of His decision for ‘catching up’ of the living worthies warrants; the judgement will be exclusion from His Millennial Kingdom… along with any punishment deemed Just for lack of developing service to the Lord. The Judgement Seat of Christ is not a long, drawn-out corporate affair, but is the place of determination for when our passing through the Spiritual Judgement Fire will occur; either in the first or second resurrection. Which afterwards shall leave the redeemed in the highly judicial state relevant to who we really had become IN HIM while living our redeemed lives out on the Earth. That Judgement Fire brought to bear on those of the First Resurrection is both destructive and cleansing in its immediate discovery of individual worthiness for resurrection clothing in shades (degrees) of Glory. (See 1st Corinthians 3:10-15 with 1st Corinthians 15, especially 1st Corinthians 15:40-42… “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.”)

We are being judged daily with our ‘minding the things of the spirit or things of the flesh’ in our maturing obedience and sufferings unto approved ‘first-born’ sons of God, with the first resurrection and salvation of the soul in view . And in accordance with Christ’s Judgements at His Bema, we will be determined worthy or unworthy of the First Resurrection when we pass from here, in that moment according to what we are at that moment as His eyes search the reins of our hearts after our death.  All those who have preceded us will have been judged at the Bema as to whether they have the appointment to pass through the assessment fires of the First Resurrection previously determined at the King’s Judgement Seat, at the time when He comes into His Kingdom at the closing of this Age.

It makes Scriptural sense then that all those Christ judged worthies of His heavenly Kingdom at His Bema, would in ‘effect or consequence’ face the fiery assessment for rewards, not individually manifest as they came before the Bema, but all at the same time; that is to say; in the ‘catching up’. When 1st Corinthians 3:13-14 occurs (“…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. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward”), those gifts and crowns will then appropriately match the specific ‘glory’ of his personal resurrection and rewards with his appropriate appointed authority in His heavenly Kingdom.

In that the ‘flesh’ does not pass away, nor is it cleansed from someone in death, but only in resurrection, which is to say in the ‘catching up’. Then the soul that was previously sanctified while living, who was judged at the Bema at their death and found worthy for the future First Resurrection out from among all the other dead in Hades (be it 2000 years ago or yesterday), will then, at the catching up, in the twinkling of an eye, experience the fiery cleansing from all flesh and death. While that which remains, that cannot be consumed, will represent each glorified soul’s individual reward for service and the eternal proof indicative of the extent of having lived in keeping with Christ’s commands. This would have been first experienced by the living faithful at the ‘catching up’ at the First-Fruits offering. The ‘effect’ of the Judgement Seat of Christ that manifests in that fiery assessment ‘catching up and changing in the twinkling of an eye’ on the Firstfruits and First Resurrection is the salvation of the soul. It is 1000 yrs before the Great White Throne Judgment when those redeemed into Christ during the 2000 years of the Age of Grace and Mercy who were judged unworthy at the Bema after their deaths, will now come forth out of Hades and pass through the assessing fire of 1st Corinthians 3 that answers to Verse 15…  “…but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass (represented in the Old Testament as the Brazen Laver for cleansing which every priest who would enter into the holy place must first wash his hands and feet), having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” [Revelation 15:2-4]

The sea of (molten spiritual) glass mingled with (a spiritual) fire represents the Lake of Fire and the second death… which has no effect on the overcomer. (Revelation 20:6) It is Isaiah’s “And they (the dwellers on the eternal Earth) shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed me: for their worm (soul) shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”

The implication of Revelation 20:6 adds frightening clarity on what 1st Corinthians 3:15 may mean in regards to the Christian who quickly passes through the collapsing burning structure of religious works and escapes only with his eternal life… unto more severe judgement fires that must be justly brought to bear upon certain souls, which would include His servants found at His Bema as ‘wicked’ and ‘evil’. (John 15:6, Luke 12:5, Hebrews 6:8, 10:39)

(Again, not literal fire, nor ever-lasting death in the Lake of Fire for those who once received His gracious gift of redemption from eternal ‘Hell/Lake of Fire’, but an intense spiritual punishing and purifying judgement fire that finally burns the taint of death and flesh off, that they may come forth, never to a state of glory, but cleansed. “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” [Deuteronomy 4:24] On one side of the spectrum, God uses both the threat of punishment and on the other side, He offsets His severity with the promises of reward to motivate us. May we allow both His positive and negative motivators to impress on ourselves the seriousness of working out Christ-like character while alive on this Earth, that we redeemed (by overcoming the flesh, devil, and the world in service to Christ) may receive in Judgement at His Bema, what He has intended, which is… resurrection glory to rule in this Realm, replacing satan and his angels, in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.)