Praise God, the Rapture will bring the completed manifestation of Christ’s Finished Work for us at Calvary! For the Believer, the Rapture is Independence Day! Once and for all, we will be totally and completely freed from our corrupted nature, freed from all effects of sin! Glory to God! Let’s take a closer look at the events taking place in Heaven (which parallel the events of the Tribulation on Earth). All Believers must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ according to II Corinthians 5:10. Remember this is not for the purpose of dealing with sin, however, a careful ledger has been kept of every work the Believer has performed since he became a Christian (Mat. 12:36; Rom. 14:12; II Cor. 5:10).
Believers will be judged on the basis of:
1. Doctrinal Beliefs – true or false (Rom. 2:14-16; 14:1-10).
2. Conduct toward others – kind or unkind (Mat. 18:10; Mk. 9:41; II Tim. 4:14).
3. Stewardship – faithful or unfaithful (Mat. 25:14-29; Lk. 12:42-44; I Cor. 4:1-5).
4. Words – good or bad (Mat. 12:36-37; Eph. 4:29).
5. Talents – used or wasted (Mat. 5:15-16; Mk. 4:25).
6. Attitudes – Christlike or selfish (Mat. 6:1-7; Eph. 4:30-32).
7. Motives – right or wrong (Mat. 6:16-18; Lk. 14:12-14).
8. Traits – Spiritual or carnal (Rom. 2:1-6; Col. 3:8-16).
9. Every Deed – worthy or worthless (Mk. 9:41; Col. 3:23-25).
The deeds performed in a worthy manner will be rewarded, but those deeds Christ judges unworthy will be burned and will cause the Believer lost rewards (I Cor. 3:12-15).
The following rewards have been promised for faithful service to the Lord:
1. Victor’s Crown (I Cor. 9:25).
2. Crown of Righteousness (II Tim. 4:8).
3. Crown of Rejoicing (I Thess. 2:19).
4. Crown of Life (James 1:12).
5. Crown of Glory (I Pet. 5:4).
6. Martyr’s Crown (Rev. 2:10).
7. Crown of Gold (Rev. 4:4).
And because Scripture clearly indicates that it is possible for someone else to take our crown (Rev. 3:11), it behooves every Christian to be diligent in his service to the King of kings! Believers will also be given a mansion in which to live eternally (Jn. 14:2), and Christ will determine the amount of earthly rulership to give each Saint based on his faithfulness to God in this present life (Lk. 19:12-26). Believers will reign as kings and priests with Christ forever (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). Following the Judgment Seat of Christ will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This speaks of the Bride of Christ, all the redeemed from every Dispensation who will live in the New Jerusalem. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the Righteousness of Saints. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Rev. 19:7-9). What a time of reunion, celebration, and worship Believers have in store! Are you ready? Are you in a committed, Covenant relationship with Christ? Are you a Bride adorned for her Husband? Is your heart singing, “. . . when I hear that last trumpet sound, my feet won’t stay on the ground”? If your answers are “yes,” then, as my husband often says, “Well, Glory!”
JSM
Believers will be judged on the basis of:
1. Doctrinal Beliefs – true or false (Rom. 2:14-16; 14:1-10).
2. Conduct toward others – kind or unkind (Mat. 18:10; Mk. 9:41; II Tim. 4:14).
3. Stewardship – faithful or unfaithful (Mat. 25:14-29; Lk. 12:42-44; I Cor. 4:1-5).
4. Words – good or bad (Mat. 12:36-37; Eph. 4:29).
5. Talents – used or wasted (Mat. 5:15-16; Mk. 4:25).
6. Attitudes – Christlike or selfish (Mat. 6:1-7; Eph. 4:30-32).
7. Motives – right or wrong (Mat. 6:16-18; Lk. 14:12-14).
8. Traits – Spiritual or carnal (Rom. 2:1-6; Col. 3:8-16).
9. Every Deed – worthy or worthless (Mk. 9:41; Col. 3:23-25).
The deeds performed in a worthy manner will be rewarded, but those deeds Christ judges unworthy will be burned and will cause the Believer lost rewards (I Cor. 3:12-15).
The following rewards have been promised for faithful service to the Lord:
1. Victor’s Crown (I Cor. 9:25).
2. Crown of Righteousness (II Tim. 4:8).
3. Crown of Rejoicing (I Thess. 2:19).
4. Crown of Life (James 1:12).
5. Crown of Glory (I Pet. 5:4).
6. Martyr’s Crown (Rev. 2:10).
7. Crown of Gold (Rev. 4:4).
And because Scripture clearly indicates that it is possible for someone else to take our crown (Rev. 3:11), it behooves every Christian to be diligent in his service to the King of kings! Believers will also be given a mansion in which to live eternally (Jn. 14:2), and Christ will determine the amount of earthly rulership to give each Saint based on his faithfulness to God in this present life (Lk. 19:12-26). Believers will reign as kings and priests with Christ forever (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). Following the Judgment Seat of Christ will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This speaks of the Bride of Christ, all the redeemed from every Dispensation who will live in the New Jerusalem. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the Righteousness of Saints. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Rev. 19:7-9). What a time of reunion, celebration, and worship Believers have in store! Are you ready? Are you in a committed, Covenant relationship with Christ? Are you a Bride adorned for her Husband? Is your heart singing, “. . . when I hear that last trumpet sound, my feet won’t stay on the ground”? If your answers are “yes,” then, as my husband often says, “Well, Glory!”
JSM