Judgment Seat of Christ Series #5 - Part 142 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if God's people, those who say they are born again, would determine in their hearts each day to find ways to out-love other Christians?  Instead of "random acts of kindness" let's change that to "daily acts of kindness" and see how that brings peace in the world! 

 

Think about it - instead of criticizing, finding fault and finding ways to convince those in our circle of family and friends they just don't measure up - if we actually believed and acted on what Jesus said?  What did Jesus say?  I'm sorry you have to ask, but let's read it together and vow to apply it faithfully from this day forward - I know I will.

 

Jesus told His followers...a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another...by this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another...John 13:34-35.  In other words, if the body of Christ does not show love for each other, how dare we say we are followers of the Christ!  Jesus Christ personifies unconditional love.  It seems our words are not sufficient proof we are Christians - we can only be known by our acts of love for one another.  Loving someone the way God loves us----begins with forgiveness. 

 

If we don't apply His New Commandment to our lives while we live on the earth, when we die and stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be devastated to learn what great loss we will suffer - albeit too late.  Jesus will not be able to give us the reward He brings with Him at His return.

 

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened...and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...Rev. 20:12   When were last together I asked, "In this mass of billions of human beings, how does Jesus differentiate between His followers and Satan's followers, so that all will understand clearly?"

 

We all know that Jesus knows everything, but I asked the question so that we can find out that the answer is in the Bible.  This is important in case we have to make some adjustments in our lives while we are still on the earth in order to be presented as blameless, when we meet Jesus face-to-face at the Great White Throne, the day He returns. This biblical answer is not only for believers, but also for non-believers alike - those seeking the truth about Jesus Christ and eternal life.

 

Let's find out what one prophetic parable of Jesus tells us regarding how He differentiates His followers from Satan's followers.  When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory...all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats...and He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left...Matt. 25:31-33.

 

This text reveals that when the Son of Man (Jesus) returns for His people...He will sit on His throne of glory...where all people will stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This text is very clear - no interpretation needed - even though this is a future event.  Jesus divides the masses into two groups - sheep on His right hand - goats on His left hand.  How does Jesus know who is a sheep and who is a goat?

 

Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...Rev. 20:12.  If the name of a human being standing before Jesus is found in the Book of Life, this means that his name was preserved in this book by the blood of Jesus Christ.  He is  sheep.  If his name is not found in this book, this means that his name was not preserved in this book by the blood of Jesus Christ.  He is a goat.  The Book of Life records the eternal destiny of every human being - it is final!

 

You may be asking right now, "Well what about all the people who lived before Jesus Christ?  Good question.  The blood covenant of Abraham and the Law of Moses provided eternal provisions for the people of that day.  A Messiah - deliverer - was promised from the book of Genesis forward. Those who obeyed God, believing in the promise of a Messiah, are covered by blood sacrifices as directed by God, practiced in past ages.  So their names are preserved, by blood and faith, in the Book of Life.  Moses revealed that a name can be blotted out of God's Book - but only those who sinned against Him...Ex. 32:32-33.

 

Those who have followed my blog for three years know that I ask a lot of questions.  So as I studied this prophetic parable, I asked myself, "Why must the separation of the sheep and the goats take place before we look in the other books?"  At the Judgment Seat of Christ we see...books were opened...and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...Rev. 20:12. 

 

Books were opened indicates there are books that record the works of believers in Christ while they were on the earth.  Paul said to believers...we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad...II Cor. 5:10.  These works had to be recorded some place in order to be presented to each believer.

 

Why aren't the works of all human beings written in the "books" that were opened?  The works of a believer - sheep - defines the house he builds on the foundation of salvation.  The goats don't have a foundation of salvation, so they did not build a house for the Lord to be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  They are already judged - condemned - by the rejection of all blood sacrifices provided by God throughout the ages.  How did their names get in the Book of Life? 

 

All human beings born on the earth were written in God's Book at conception.  For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb...Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed, and in Your Book they all were written...the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them...Ps. 139:13-16.  Since it was not our choice to be created, God gave all human beings equal access to Him and His Kingdom.  But He did give us the choice to stay in the Book of Life or be blotted out.  We get to decide where we will spend eternity - Heaven or Hell!

 

Since the goats names were blotted out of God's Book, no other books apply to them.  What happens to the goats?  Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

 





Judgment Seat of Christ Series #4 - Part 141 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together in this series I asked if you knew why humility is a primary building material for you to build your house for the Lord, on His foundation of salvation, that will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ? 

Jesus exemplified humility so that we will clearly understand how to apply it to our lives.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God...but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men...and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross...Phil. 2:5-8.

This scripture explains clearly the importance of humility.  Our Lord and Savior left the glories of His kingdom to become like a man - yet sinless - in order to pay the ransom for the sins of mankind.  If a human being humbles himself before the Lord, repents and accepts Him as his Savior, he will be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven.  If the new believer walks humbly before men, he will build a house - temple - for the Lord that will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

But sadly, many Christians allow sins of the heart to pollute the houses they build for the lord, by allowing lust, greed, pride, jealousy, envy, unforgiveness, hatred,  anger, bitterness, resentment, criticism, malice, revenge, etc. to rule their lives.  If our Christian identity is defined by these adjectives then we have not understood redemption, and what it means to be called a child of King Jesus.  This house is defiled and will burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

I believe that John the Baptist exemplified humility in clear language when he said...He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease...John 3:30.  I remember when I first read these words, I asked the Lord, "How do I decrease so that I can glorify You?"  Little did I know that trials and tribulations would reveal all the poison that was still residing in my heart from unresolved past experiences.  Until I addressed these issues I would continually blame others for my condition, rather than myself.

If we are not defined - identified - by the attributes of Christ, we will continue to walk in the flesh, and the house we build for the Lord will be from wood, hay and straw, which will burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  If this happens, He cannot give us His reward.  A child of King Jesus must build his house from gold, silver and precious stone in order to receive His reward.   Why is the symbolism of precious stones so significant?

In my series "144,000" posted 2/15 through 3/29/2015 (part 46-52 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation), I explained the significance of precious stones in building the New Jerusalem in Heaven.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb...Rev. 21:14.  The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones...Rev. 21:10. 

Precious stones symbolize born again human beings - the Bride of Christ.  Only precious stones will have on a wedding garment in order to enter the Heavenly Wedding Hall...Matt. 22:11-12.  The treasures we store in Heaven that will build a house for the Lord were exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ while He lived on the earth:   love, humility, mercy, peace, forgiveness, patience, kindness, faithfulness, endurance, charity, gentleness, and self-control.  These are the building materials that will build a house for the Lord that will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them...Rev. 20:11.  Although the word throne is used 182 times in the Bible, this text is the only place that describes - Great White Throne.  It means the greatest stately seat of light.  We see that the earth and heaven fled away...there was found no place for them.  Where did they go?

The Apostle Peter explains this phenomenon...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Pet. 3:10.  On Judgment Day, when Jesus Christ returns, the heavens will pass away and the earth will melt with fervent heat and burn up, along with the works that are in it - works of the flesh.  Peter speaks in very clear language - no interpretation needed.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened...and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...Rev. 20:12.  This text reveals that after all people have been removed from the earth when Jesus returns, all human beings whoever lived on the earth are standing before Jesus Christ.

In this mass of billions of human beings, how does Jesus differentiate between His followers and Satan's followers, so that all will understand clearly?   Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Judgment Seat of Christ Series #3 - Part 140 of Riddles, Engimas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together in this series of the Judgment Seat of Christ, I asked you if there is a scripture that clearly states that born again believers will appear at the Great White Throne judgment?  The Apostle Paul said to believers in Corinth...for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad...II Cor. 5:10.

There is no interpretation needed for what Paul said, it is clear that a believer in Christ will appear before the Lord on that Day.  Why?  Believers will be judged for the things done in the body - whether good or bad.  A born again believer in Christ has a foundation of salvation.  But God has given him talents in order to build a house - temple - for the Lord on the foundation of salvation. 

Each believer is given a choice of spiritual materials with which to build his house.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones...wood, hay, straw...each man's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is...I Cor. 3:12-13.  The works of a believer accomplished while he lived on the earth will be judged - whether good or bad - at the Great White Throne judgment. 

Did his works glorify God and benefit the Kingdom of Heaven or did his works glorify and benefit himself and the material world of the earth?  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward...if anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...I Cor.3:14-15.

We have two types of born again believers standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ at the end of the world.  A believer who built his house from gold, silver and precious stones (treasures stored in Heaven) on the foundation of salvation provided by Jesus Christ, will receive a reward from his Lord. 

A believer who built his house from wood, hay and straw will find his house burned down to the foundation of salvation because it is defiled.  He had no treasures stored in Heaven.  This believer will be allowed in Heaven, but Jesus cannot give him His very important reward - so he will suffer loss.  The word loss in the original Greek language is zemioo meaning:  to injure; experience detriment; be cast away. 

Throughout the writings of the apostles, we find them beseeching the new believers to live a life of righteousness, humility, forgiveness, love, mercy. charity and patience, while also demonstrating the miraculous power of their Lord Jesus Christ.  They urged believers to resist falling back into the old habits of serving the Law - strict man-made rules, formulas, and fleshy rituals, because these dead works produce a form of godliness - a pseudo-Christian - denying the power of the Cross.

Paul told his disciple Timothy to...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness...I Tim. 6:11.  This means to pursue the attributes of Christ - these are the treasures stored in Heaven that will produce the reward that Jesus will to give to His Bride, so she can participate in the marriage of the Lamb.  Without His reward a believer cannot enter the Wedding Hall...Matt. 22:11-12.

Love sent Jesus to the earth to pay the price of death for the sins of mankind.  So love is a primary material that a believer must use to build his house for the Lord while he lives on the earth.  Paul said...may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you...so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints...I Thes. 3:12-13.

The word blameless in the original Greek language is amomos meaning:  unblemished; without spot; faultless.  If we build our house on the foundation of salvation with love - unconditional love, forgiveness and mercy exemplified by Jesus Christ - our house will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ - we will receive His reward.

Why is humility another primary material to build a house for the Lord that will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Judgment Seat of Christ Series #2 - Part 139 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery Imagery of Revelation

When Jesus Christ returns for His people, all human beings that ever lived on the earth will appear before Him at the Great White Throne - Judgment Seat of Christ...Rev. 20:11-13.  He told us...behold, I am come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work...Rev. 22:12.  The last time we were together I asked you, "What is the meaning of the word reward in the original Greek language?"  You will be surprised!

The word reward in the original Greek language is misthos meaning:  pay for service.  This reward can only be given to human beings that accepted the free gift of salvation provided by Jesus Christ.  You are probably asking by now, "Why would Jesus pay human beings for anything?"  I asked the same question which sent me on a search for the answer - which I will share with you in this fascinating series - Judgment Seat of Christ.

Pay for Services means that Jesus will reward believers - His Bride - for the works (fruits of labor) they did that glorified Him, while they lived on the earth.  If the fruits of their labor are worthy to be accepted by Jesus Christ at the Judgment Seat, they will receive His reward - pay for service.  This reward can only be given to born again believers, yet not all  born again believers will be prepared to receive His reward. 

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake...rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you...Matt. 5:11-12.  This text equates the reward with persecution - horrors!   Jesus is reassuring His followers that His pay for service - for enduring and overcoming severe trials - will be waiting for them in Heaven.  His reward in Heaven is additional to His salvation, which they received on the earth.

During the earthly journey a true disciple of Christ must be about his Father's business, which is establishing and benefiting the Kingdom of Heaven - to glorify Jesus Christ.  Believers are not asked to establish kingdoms for men - to glorify men.

A faithful ambassador of the Lord will be placed in the pressure cooker of trials and tribulations:  persecution, reproach, reproof, rebuff, false accusations, humiliation, slander, and gossip - especially painful from Christian brethren.  But sadly, many will also experience torture, imprisonment, and even murder from pagan and religious governments.  This pressure cooker of life's trials squeezes out the poison of men's carnal nature - self-indulgence - which would otherwise contaminate his temple where the Holy Spirit dwells.  The Apostle Peter says...he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin...I Peter 4:1.  Sin separates us from intimacy with Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul, who experienced severe trials and tribulations, challenged believers to...glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope...Rom. 5:3-4.  Paul knew that the character of men could only be transformed by intimacy with Jesus Christ who would reveal each ones motives.  He was speaking to believers when he said...you are still carnal...for where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?...I Cor. 3:2.

Paul knew that God gave mankind a will to choose for himself what path he would take - a path that leads to Heaven or a path that leads to Hell.  So he told believers...set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth...Col. 3:2.  The earthly walk is for a short time, but eternity is forever.  So Paul was instructing them as to how to be prepared for the return of Jesus when he said...when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory...Col. 3:4.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?...if anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him...for the temple of God is holy, which you are...I Cor. 3:16-17.  The Apostle Paul is explaining to these believers that they have become the temple - house - of the Lord where the Holy Spirit resides...the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you...Rom. 8:11.  This society knew only about a brick & mortar temple where they worshipped God, so becoming a temple where God dwells was a totally foreign concept.

It must have been concerning to these believers when Paul said...if anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. Wow...how scary that statement must have been - what could this mean?  To understand we must find out the meaning of the word defiles.  The word defiles in the original Greek language of the Bible is phthio meaning:  to pine; languish; waste.  What could this mean?

After Jesus rose from the dead, He sent the Holy Spirit to the earth to help believers walk in holiness, so they will be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ and receive the reward that He brings with Him.  But...a believer is given the freedom to build his temple - house - on the foundation of salvation of Jesus Christ, anyway he wants. 

He can choose to build a house that becomes defiled - filled with the cobwebs of worldly pleasures and every entanglement and snare of the devil - carnal works of the flesh.  If so, this would result in this believer languishing in his iniquities, striving for fame and fortune, wasting the talents God gave to him at his conception - all for the treasures of the world...Ez. 24:23.  A defiled house will burn up when this believer faces the Judgement Seat of Christ - at the Great White Throne...Rev. 20:11-13.

On the other hand, if a believer in Jesus Christ builds his temple - house - from works of righteousness, following the example of  his Lord, his temple - house - of virtuous works will not burn up when he stands before Jesus on the Day of Judgment.  He will receive His reward!

Is there a scripture that clearly states that born again believers will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ - Great White Throne - where they will be judged for things they did in their body?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Judgment Seat of Christ Series #1 - Part 138 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esotric Imagery of Revelation

 

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who 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, standing before God, and books were opened...and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life...and the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them...and they were judged, each according to his works...Rev. 20:11-13.

Yes, we are are still in Revelation chapter 20 because there is so much information in it to unpack for our understanding, so that we will be spiritually ready for the return of Jesus Christ.  We will address verses 1-3, Satan bound a thousand years, in the next series. 

In the last series we explained who participated in the second death - they are human beings who rejected God's plan of salvation...anyone not found in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire...Rev. 20:15.  After Jesus Christ delivers the punishment for these people, He still had human beings standing before Him.  What happens to these people?

Anyone who has followed my blog knows that I believe that most of the visions in the Revelation Prophecy have been fulfilled.  If you read my past blogs you will see that I have provided names, dates and historical documentation for their fulfillment.  Looking in the rearview mirror at prophecy of scripture provides accuracy for clear understanding of the message, because it has already been fulfilled and documented. 

The Apostle Peter warned us against interpreting prophecy of scripture when he said...know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...II Peter 1:20-21.  Because of his admonition the body of my work has carefully documented the visions of the Revelation prophecy as already fulfilled, or in the process of fulfillment, because the prophecy was meant to encourage all Christians, from the beginning of the Christian era to the end of the world.

That being said, now we embark on future events, so we must be very careful to read prophecy of scripture as it is written.  We can have some fun speculating in this series, which is perfectly acceptable, as long as we don't declare it as fact. 

As we take this adventure into the future, we will find that Jesus left us with many parables that addressed the events in Revelation chapter 20.  When we put His prophetic parables together - in the correct order - we will see in clear language His message to us regarding what we will face when we die and leave the earth. No interpretation needed.  I believe He spoke clearly so that we will be qualified to accept the reward He brings with Him.

In this vision, John saw all human beings that ever lived on the earth, standing before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment.  Those who were alive on the earth the day He returned, and those who were still in Hades, the place of the dead.  If you are a Christian, you have been told by your denomination that you will not appear before the Great White Throne judgment, because it is only for unrepentant sinners.  After all, you have already repented and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, so you will not be judged again.  But...is that really what the scriptures tell us?

The short answer to this question:  the Judgment Seat of Christ has nothing to do with determining where a believer in Christ will spend eternity - that was accomplished while he lived on the earth.  The Apostle Paul referred to Judgment Day when he told believers at Rome...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to My gospel...Rom. 2:16

So what is the purpose for all human beings - small and great - appearing at the Great White Throne judgment?  Jesus said...behold, I am come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work...Rev. 22:12.  After I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I have continually searched the scriptures for the answers to my many questions.  This particular verse haunted me until I found out what is the reward that Jesus brings with him - a reward determined - according to his work.

Over the years I asked pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers and any Christian who humored me, "What is the reward that Jesus brings with Him?  While none knew the answer to my question,  many would say, "I don't need to know about any reward, as long as I make it to Heaven, nothing else matters."  But I knew that His reward was very important, because it was inextricably connected to His return in this text - so it must be significant - and it is!  I was passionate in finding the answer, which I will share with you in this series.  Are you a tiny bit curious by now?

When Jesus returns He says that...My reward is with Me.  What is the meaning of the word reward in the original Greek language?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~