A Foretaste of the Judgement Seat of Christ
[A continuation from the study, “ A Prelude to the JSOC”]
Abbreviations: N.C. = New Covenant; JSOC = Judgment Seat of Christ; GWT = Great White Throne .
Rom_14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.2Co_5:10 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.
Please note the words, “....We must all stand or we must all appear before the JSOC.” So, the JSOC is an established fact for the Church Age believer, which occurs sometime after the rapture. This is the final determination [judicial decision] of Christ’s evaulation of our lives. It is here that we receive the payment of the reward or suffer loss. [that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.] e.g. 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The conclusion to the JSOC is this: there will be faithful believers and unfaithful believers
There must be a Bema evaluation of believers from all time. The Father comitted all Judgment to the Son, therefore, the evaluations will be done by the Son, John 5:22-27. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Joh 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Moses anticapted a payment of reward, Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. [recompence = payment of the reward].
There are many references to a Bema Judgments. If there are wise believers in Daniel 12 verse 3 there are unwise believers who do not shine in eternity. In the Judgment of sheep and Goats during the seventy-five days of Daniel 12:11-12, there must be different levels of sheep that enter the kingdom.
“To the degree we reflect the image of Christ now is the degree we will shine in glory.”
I believe the Bible gives us insight to the JSOC and in doing so allows us to prepare for that day.
I] His Presence in our life is a foretaste of the JSOC. And what is He doing? Answer: He is preparing us for the JSOC, Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
We are to live by faith, Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
We can stop His power from woring in us, Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, That power is not working in our life if we have shut it down through known sin, sin allowed in our life.
How can I say, I am led by the Spirit, if I am not following the Spirit? Answer, Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
V14, The word sons is the greek word hwee-os which means a mature son. The same word used in Luke 15: 11-31 to describe both sons untill V31 after the older brother refused to come in and welcome his brother home and the father used the word tek-non for son, which means an imature son, a child.
V15, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Fathe.We have the Spirit of Sonship in the family of God, which means a grown up son, led by the Spirit of God. [The Spirit of Adoption is the Spirit of Sonship]
V16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: The Holy Spirit supports our spirit that we are saved . [The greek word for children is tek-non,which is then same word the Father caled the older son in Luke 15:31]
V17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. There are two types of heirs presented. 1] The believer is an heir of God and that is the gift of eternal life and 2] the believer may become joint - heir with Christ. But it is conditioned on the word “if”, if so be that we suffer with him, The word joint-heir is alike in meaning with co-heir . Christ want the believer to share in rulership with Him. So we are a co-heir with Him if we are a co-sufferer with Him.
that we may be also glorified together. Co-heirship is predicated on Co-suffering = Co –glorification.
And that brings us back to our daily lives and the JSOC.
II] The Seven Letters to the Seven Churches is a foretaste of the JSOC. I believe they are synonymous with the Church Age.
Jesus speaks to the churches, Revelation 22:16,"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches....” I Jesus, found nowhere else in the Bible. The only time our LORD call Himself by this personal name. In Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Now Jesus says, “in the churches”. There is no number given. Why? Jesus includes all churches.
Rev. 1: 5, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, He loved us at the cross and He loves us still. His love is picture as continuing from the past into the present.
John’s vision comes on Sunday, V10, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, The first day of the week is the eighth day, Lev_23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein, Lev_23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. Neh_8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
The Lord’s Day is Sunday, the first day of the week, the eighth day. Six days, The Seventh day and the Eighth Day. Circumcision was on the eighth day, Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: An Eighth Day in the Eternal Order? Yes, I think so.
Why did the LORD say in Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Answer: In a real way, every time we sit before the LORD in wordship, we evaluate our self.
John turned to see who spoke to him, And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw. It is a good thing to know and see who is speaking to you
John saw Jesus in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks V12-13, And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Foreshadowing His judgment as shown in Rev. 15:6-7, And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. [ Like the Ancient of days, God the Father, in Dan 9:7, Jesus is God and His longevity is symbolized by the description of Him in 1:14-15]
John saw one like the Son of Man. It is as the Son of Man that Jesus is the Messiah, Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus identified the stars and candlesticks in V20, The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; He reveals His power and authority and that He is active in the churches, now. So, in a very real way, Jesus evaluates our life every day. The difference is at the JSOC the judgment is final but here the opportunity is given to hear, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And to repent and to overcome.
I believe the stars are angels [based on other usages of the word angels] Guardian Angels sent to watch over local assemblies of believers and over areas of providences Dan. 10:13;20-21; Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:15, Heb.1:13,14, But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Heb Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
III) The communion Service is a foretaste of the Judgment seat of Christ, 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
You must participate in the Communion, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
We are to examine ourselves! A self-examinatio n, A time of restoration to fellowship by naming our sins in private confession as given in 1 John 1:9. Why? To avoid divine chastening as given in 11:30-32.
To avoid participating in this service because of know sin is circumvent the purpose of the Communion Service.
Rev. 3:17-22 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He hat hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
To the church in Smyrna Jesus said, I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
It is His evaluation that counts!
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