THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST PART 3: CHAPTER 11 OF INCENTIVIZED TO OVERCOME 

The Judgment seat of Christ has to do greatly with two very important understandings from Scripture. The first one being that of the catching up of the First Fruits and the second being the Harvest of the First Resurrection. How can we discuss the awards or rewards of recompense without knowing these truth principles? (A more in depth view of these two vital and interrelated subjects will be forthcoming.) It appears from Scripture that the presentation of the First Fruits (rapture) is the first installment of the fulfillment of the heavenly calling. It is a determination made from the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST upon last days living Believers, on those who are overcoming and those Christians who are not. It is in answer to Christ’s promise to keep faithful overcoming Believers from the Great Temptation that will affect the entire World. (See Revelation 3:10) This First Fruits offering is at least 3 ½ years after the start of the 7 year Tribulation when a throne of justice is set up in the first heaven (in the AIR) associated with this World. This judgement of worthiness on only the living in that day can only be issued from the BEMA of Christ. This First Fruits (rapture) offering of only the living faithful precedes the Harvest of the First Resurrection of the faithful Believers out of Hades who are caught up along with those Christians who patiently endured the Great Temptation. Both being caught up together in the Air (the first heaven) to join the First Fruits about 3 years later when the vials begin to be poured out (towards the end of the Tribulation). These two great events, occurring in that 7 year Tribulation period, herald the Millennial Kingdom. They are the basis for the Judgement Seat of Christ, the prominent rulings and first manifestation of the promised heavenly kingdom calling. 

SOME CHRISTIANS OPPOSE THE DOCTRINE OF REWARDS. They discount the idea of a Christian gaining or losing the favor of God based upon works of service, in that Christians are justified by faith only and should serve God from the principle of love. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead (if we received Christ’s death as our own as it relates to Adam’s sin we are saved from eternal death) together with him, we shall also live together with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign together with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.” [2nd Timothy 2:11-12] To die with Christ is to be justified from eternal death which pertains to every Believer. But not all suffer with Christ and for him. Many deny Him service, and therefore not all will reign with Him during the Millennial Kingdom.  

They (Christians who discount the idea of rewards for faithful works) represent Jesus as having bridged the gap of any lack of works on a Believer’s part, but if that were true, then the necessity of faithfulness of the Believer is undermined. Love is exalted at the expense of faithful service. The sin of which is portrayed as covered in the most part in Christ’s Works, giving the Believer a false sense of security. This religiously skewed idea of recompense is opposed to Scripture. “I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [Hebrews 10:30-31] The truthful understanding of God’s Nature of recompense for works begins with the Son of Man Himself. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Christ Himself was motivated by reward for what He suffered.  

The subject of recompense for all deeds, both good and bad is vitally important to a Christian’s truthful apprehension of the throne of Grace and the Judgment Seat of Christ. A wrong belief instilled by some professed teacher of the Word of God, who not only forfeits his own inheritance (1st Corinthians 3:10-15) could disastrously steal away a Christian follower’s rightful eternal inheritance. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”  [Revelation 3:11] Reward is a motive to faithful living and overcoming power. [Hebrews 11:24-26]  

Recompense according to every man’s work is the Scriptural principle of God in both Old and New Covenant. “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” [Genesis 15:1] with “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [Hebrews 11:6] with “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation….” [Hebrews 2:1] 

The present Throne of God in Heaven is that of the Day of Grace. (Hebrews 9:16) For it is the present Day of building His holy habitation on the foundation of His Son, by test and trial, in the ferreting out of faithful men out of this World. For it is faith being discovered that God’s patience is being exercised, in this Age now fast closing. It is for whom we have exercised our members, while alive, which will be the final test of recompense. God’s eye from this present Day throne of Grace is on who will render what service for His Son. For according to the differences of works, and sufferings for Jesus Christ’s sake, reward or loss in the hereafter will be accounted, and no two will be the same. 

The Judgment Seat of Christ coincides presently with the Throne of Grace in the Great Sanctuary of the Highest Heaven. For Christ is the High Priest and Advocate for those living Believers enrolled in His Church (being Advocate, His appeal must be unto the Father…Luke 13;8,9, John 15:2). “…that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (That is to say while we are yet alive. Hebrews 4:16) But He is also the appointed worthy Judge after death at His Bema. “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.” [2nd Corinthians 5:10] 

JOHN PROPHETICALLY SAW AND WROTE…. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” [Revelation 4:1,2] 

“…and behold, a throne was (being) set in heaven, and one sat on the throne…” 

And as Christ’s Bema currently coincides with the Throne of Grace, so it will coincide in the future time of the setting up of the Throne of Judgment seen here in Revelation 4:2 in the Last Days. This throne is Kingly in nature as it represents power with Justice and Judgment to be administrated in and from the heavens above this Earth. (Revelation 4:2 with Daniel 7:9-11) It is the throne being set up then for the Investiture of God’s worthy Viceroy with Holy Power. Thus in the future scene, Jesus is raised up above all the Elder Angles (as Daniel was, in type, made the “ruler over all the province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”) He was made a little lower as the Son of man. Now “..thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of they hands…thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.” [Hebrews 2:7] That is in this new Day of Justice dawning to exercise Justice and Judgment in the coming forth in the opening of the seals, the sounding of the trumpets, and the pouring out of the vials of God’s Wrath. All its just judgments encompass and recompense both allies and enemies, humans and spirits, living and dead. These proceedings now commence as the Age of Grace and Mercy closes and the Age of Judgment in Justice opens.  

The Age of calling out a people worthy to rule with God’s Viceroy is coming to a close. (Acts 15:14-16) That “….a door was opened in heaven…” (Revelation 4:1) is a sign that the High Priest has left the Holy of Holies. It’s a sign that His Priestly ministry for the Church of the New Man at the Sanctuary Throne of God is finished. (We have the New Covenant application of the Book of Leviticus seen in the clean and unclean.) It’s also a sign that it’s time to take the Kingdom. (Like in the type of Joshua taking the Promised Land.) His judgment arena is expanded in this Age of Justice to the living upon the earth. Those being Jew, Gentile, all regenerate and unregenerate, ancient spiritual Babylon and the City Babylon, the Anti-Christ and the false prophet, Israel and the Gentile Nations, satan and his angels. The coming day is described as an AGE, of which some will be accounted worthy. (Luke 20:34-36) It is to begin at the seventh or last trump, when Christ is to take the kingdom, and the promised reward is to be given to His servants of various classes. (Revelation 11:15–l8) 

THE AGE WILL LAST 1000 YEARS.… 

It is to be really a time of reward; a repayment of labour expended for Christ; a consolation for suffering; a harvest in return for good works sown. 

“And the seventh angel sounded…. (or begun to sound. The Harvest time has arrived, the laborers will receive their wages, the time or Age of reward begins at the commencement of the Last Trumpet, towards the end of the 7 year Tribulation period) ….and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world (openly the Gentiles and secretively satan’s) are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, (the Angels of God now governing over those kingdoms) which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, (the time of the First Resurrection has arrived) and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great… (those who have suffered as prophets for righteousness sake both in the Old Covenant and those who have suffered with Him because of their testimony of Him. See Romans 8:17. And in type, a foreigner takes rule over the Kingdom in Daniel 2:49…“Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”) and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” [Revelation 11:15-18] 

The First Resurrection is inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ. “Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection.…And Jesus answering said unto them….they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the (out) resurrection from the dead….” [Luke 20:27,34,35] with “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 (out) resurrection of (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.” [Philippians 3:10-14] “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” [Revelation 20:4,5] 

The Throne of Judgment and Justice is set up at the beginning of the Tribulation in the Air. That is to say in the heaven associated with this World. But the actual awards of inheritance begin at the middle of the Tribulation, at the 42 month period with the catching up of the Man-Child to tabernacle with Christ. And war is thereby declared in the affected heavens, where the hatred of satan springs out against mankind and the Arch Angel of God and His Hosts of Angels defend them. The Dragon and his angels are cast down out of that place wherein they have ruled over the earth from since the fall of Adam. (Revelation 12) Battles in the spiritual realm do not have to do with slaughter in killing, but with displacement and relocation as satan and his angels are cast down out of the heaven of this World to the Earth. 

KINGDOM REWARDS BEGIN IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD…. 

The Truth of Scripture is that all Christians will eventually be resurrected, but there is a selective rapture and first resurrection glory in the catching up to this first heaven. THIS IS THE GREAT REWARD OF AN INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM. (1st Corinthians 15:41-42, Revelation 20:4-6) “….for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3,10-12,19 etc.) This is based upon doing the will of the Father, by faithful hearing of the sayings of Jesus Christ and doing them (Matthew 7:21-27) while on this earth alive.  

The Rapture of the living faithful who are watching and praying and the First Resurrection (that is out from among all the other dead) is exclusive to proven overcomers. And is the great harbinger of Christ’s bestowing further rewards, 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) For all of those first resurrected shall be priests and… REIGN….“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.”  

Eternal life is the gift of God to all Believers (Romans 6:23) but the Kingdom is a reward to those accounted worthy. (Luke 20:35, 2nd Thessalonians 1:5) It is that for which Paul feared that he would at the last be rejected. (1st Corinthians 9:17) 

The great exhortations of reward is 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. (Luke 6:23, 35) 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 of the second death (Revelation 2:11), they eat of the hidden manna, and 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: and 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; as a son. (Revelation 21:7)“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] 

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) The flesh is a corrupting enemy to be overcome, therefore the Crown of incorruption. 

 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 1:-4] This is the Crown promised to those who shepherd the 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.