The Five Judgments, Part #3 of 5

JUDGMENT NO. 3

1. Subjects-- The JEWS.

2. Time-- "The Great Tribulation."

3. Place-- Jerusalem and Vicinity.

4. Basis of Judgment-- Rejection of the Godhead.

5.Result-- Their Conversion and Reception of Christ as Their Messiah.

This judgment is FUTURE.

This Judgment is controversial because it denies the church the right to lay claim to the promise God made to Abraham and his seeds.  The acceptance of that statement will allow a hidden Bible truth to emerge.  Understanding this Judgment will also provide an important key to a deeper understanding of the Bible.  This is a part of the prophecies that many ruler, nations and churches have tried to eradicate.

In a church Bible Study I was hastily chastened for making reference to the rebuilding of the Jewish temple before the time of the end.  A scripture out of context was read stating the we are no longer Jews or Gentiles and since the coming of Christ there has been no need for a temple to be built. 

 Jesus also foretold the building of the Third Temple, after the destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70.  In Matthew 24:2, Jesus told the disciples after they commented about the beauty of the Temple, that not one stone would be left upon another. This was fulfilled in A.D. 70, by the Romans under Titus. Matthew 24:14-15, Later Jesus refers to the time of the end, when the Third Temple would be defiled, causing the abomination of desolation.   14“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

 The abomination of desolation is referred to three times in the book of Daniel, (Daniel 9:27,11;31, 12:11). Each mention refers to the Temple being defiled.

Paul also notes the need for a Third Temple and the role the Temple will play.  The anti-Christ will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be God. This is consistent with the words of Jesus and Daniel about the role this Temple will play.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  The long absence of a Temple and Israel’s gathering are also foretold by Hosea. The many days refers to our own day.  The only other time, since Hosea day there was no Temple was for the 70-year period, between 586 B.C. and 516 B.C. Seventy years does not qualify as a long absence when when the only other time is over 1900 years.

Deuteronomy 14:2  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.    

 God’s relationship to Israel, is based on his word, to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The special relationship between Israel and God is holy, Israel has a specific purpose in the Earth. They are unique amongst the nations.  From these verses in Deuteronomy we can conclude the following points about God’s relationship with Israel.

•         God chose Israel

•         Israel as a nation is distinct from all the other nations.

•         The Lord loves Israel

•         God will keep his word he made to the fathers

 A point to remember the church and the Jews are two different groups and the promises made to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were promises made to the Jews not the Church.  The Children of Isreal are referred to as the bride of God the Father  The Church is referred to as the bride of Jesus.

While the Church is being judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ in the air, the Jews will be judged under Antichrist on the earth. The Jews are an "earthly" people; and as all the promises to them are "earthly," it follows that their judgment must be of an "earthly" character. The basis of their judgment is their "rejection of the Godhead." In the days of Samuel they rejected God the Father. 1 Samuel 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. In the days of Christ they rejected God the Son. Luke 23:18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. In the days of Stephen they rejected God the Holy Spirit. Ac 7:51,54-60. For their sin they have been scattered among the nations until the "Times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled. When the "Times of the Gentiles" are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land "unconverted," and caused to "pass under the rod." Eze 20:34-38. They will be cast into God's "Melting Pot" (Eze 22:19-22), and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE." Jer 30:4-7; Daniel 12:1. Christ calls it "The Great Tribulation," and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the "Return of the Lord." Mt 24:21-31; Zec 14:1-11. The human agent the Lord will use will be the Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the "Vials of God's wrath" upon the earth. Re 15:1,5-8; 16:1-21.

The result of these terrible judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord. Zec 12:10. Then Christ will come back to the Mt. of Olives (Zec 14:4) and the Jews will look upon Him whom they "pierced" (Zec 12:10), and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be "born (converted) in a day." Isa 66:8. This will complete the judgment of the Jews.

Next judgment will be a judgment of the nations, and remember it is the Saints (Church) not the Jews that will judge the World. 

Continued in Part #4

Your comments and questions are welcome

The Five Judgments, Part #2 of 5

JUDGMENT NO. 2

1. Subjects-- Believers as to "WORKS."

2. Time-- After The Church is caught out.

3. Place-- "Judgment Seat of Christ" (in the Air).

4. Basis of Judgment-- Their "WORKS."

5. Result-- Reward or Loss.

This judgment is FUTURE.

"We must all appear before the `Judgment Seat of Christ,' that every one may receive the things `done in the body' according to that he hath done, whether it be `good' or `bad' (worthless)." 2Co 5:10.

One of the major Keys to a deeper understanding the scripture is understanding, "Who is speaking" and "Who is being spoken to".  The Bible consist of messages to the Jews, the Gentiles and the church.  When Jesus spoke to the Jews, he often spoke in a manner that the Gentiles could not understand.  Luke 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  

The pronoun "We" occurs 26 times in the chapter, and in every instance it means the Believer, and the Epistle is addressed to the "Church" and "Saints" at Corinth, so the Judgment here spoken of is for Believers "only." The "Time" of the Judgment is when the Lord comes (1Co 4:5), and the "Place" is "in the air" (1Th 4:17) and before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

It will not be a judgment in the sense of a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a judgment of the "saved only." It will be like the judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in 1Co 9:24-27.

It is not a judgment for sin, but for "works." This judgment is described in 1Co 3:11-15.  What we know is that the wicked dead, nor the nations will meet the Lord in the air. 

"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay, stubble; every man's `Work' shall be made manifest; for the `Day' (Judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by `fire,' and the fire shall try every man's `work' of what sort it is. If any man's work `abide' which he hath built there upon he shall receive a `reward.' If any man's work shall be `burned' he shall suffer `loss;' but `he himself shall be saved;' yet so as by fire."

The result of this judgment is "reward" or "loss." All our "bad" and "dead works," represented by the wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. There is much which passes for Christian service which is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward" it will be The Crowning Day.

After the Grecian games were all over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema," or judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." But while there was no reward there was no punishment, they were not cast out.

The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns. 

1. The Crown of "LIFE."

This is the "Martyr's" crown, and is mentioned twice.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing), for when he is `tried' (at the Judgment Seat of Christ), he shall receive the `Crown of Life' which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." Jas 1:12.

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested) and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful `unto death,' and I will give thee a `Crown of Life.'" Re 2:10.

Understanding the symbology of the scripture is another important key to understanding the scripture.  

Notice it does not say "until" death, but "unto" death. They were not to recant but to remain faithful unto a martyr's death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period.

2. The Crown of "GLORY."

This is the "Elder's" or "Pastor's" crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for "filthy lucre" or "lord it over God's heritage." 1Pe 5:2-4.

3. The Crown of "REJOICING."

This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. Those brought to Jesus by us will be our "crown of rejoicing" at His Coming. 1Th 2:19-20; Php 4:1.

4. The Crown of "RIGHTEOUSNESS."

This is the crown of those who "love His appearing" and will be given in "that day"-- the Day of His Appearing. 2Ti 4:8.

5. The Crown "INCORRUPTIBLE."

This is the "Victor's" crown, and is for those who "keep under their body" (1Co 9:25-27); who do not yield to their fleshly lusts; who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the Master's work by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs.

If we do not want to be "ashamed at His Coming," (1John 2:28), let us see to it that we keep our body "under" and so live that we shall secure a crow

At this juncture the world has not been judged,  Christ has came back for his church and he did not set foot on the earth.  If we can accept this Judgement the it become easy to understand the scripture, 1 Corinthians 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

The Five Judgments, Part #1 of 5

The Five Judgments 

Mt 25:31-32 When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all of the holy  angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him he shall gather all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

Joel 3:1-2 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land."

 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Each of these scripture references a moment in time known as judgement day.  For as long as I can remember I have heard about that day and that it was coming.  Judgement Day has been used as a Bible study aid, fuel for movies and Playground acronyms.  Just how much do we know about Judgement day.  Is the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple revelent?

2 Corinthians 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.

The above verses will be the bases of our discussion, and judgment is the common thread, but there seems to be a difference in how this judgement is carried out.  By adding the word, “this” judgment seems to muddle the water even more as to how the differences between Joel 3:1-2  and  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  can be reconciled. 

The common opinion that the Millennium is to be ushered in by the preaching of the Gospel, and after the Millennium there is to be a "General Resurrection" followed by a "General judgment," and then the earth is to be destroyed by fire. This is what most have been taught but this  is not  all scriptural.  

There can be no "General" Judgment because the Scriptures speak of one judgment as being in the "Air" (1Th 4:16-17; 2Co 5:6-10); another on the "Earth" (Mt 25:31-46); and a third in "Heaven," the earth and its atmosphere, having fled away. Re 20:11-15. And to make sure that these three separate judgments should not and can not be combined in one General judgment scene, three different Thrones are mentioned.

1. The "Judgment Seat of Christ" 2Co 5:10. "In the Air." For "Believers" only. 

2. The "Throne of Glory." Mt 25:31-32. "On the Earth." For "The Nations." 

3. The "Great White Throne." Re 20:11-12. "In Heaven." For the "Wicked Dead."

The Scriptures speak of at least Five Separate Judgments. They differ in five general aspects. As to "Subjects," "Time," "Place," "Basis of Judgment" and "Result." The Judgments that we will discuss is labelled as such, Judgment #1, believers as to sin, this judgment took place when Christ died.  Judgment #2, believers as to works, it deals with when the church is caught out and take place in the air.  Judgment #3, is the Judgment of the Jews during the great tribulation.  Judgment #4 deals with the judgment of nations and Judgment #5 is the judgment of the wicked dead.  I hope I have whetted your appetite enough, now let us began.

JUDGMENT NO. 1

1. Subjects-- Believers as to "SIN."

2. Time-- A. D. 30.

3. Place-- Calvary.

4. Basis of Judgment-- Christ's "FINISHED WORK."

 5. Result-- (1.) Death as to Christ. (2.) Justification as to the Believer.

This judgment is PAST. The Bible proofs of the results of this judgment are:

"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that Believeth." Ro 10:4.

"There is therefore NOW no condemnation, (Judgment) to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the `SPIRIT OF LIFE' in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE From the Law of sin and Death.'" Ro 8:1-2.

"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 (Judgment) but IS PASSED From Death Unto Life." John 5:24.

The "Believer's" Judgment for Sin then is PAST, and was settled at the Cross. But we must not forget that the judgment of the Believer is threefold.

1. As a "Sinner."

2. As a "Son."

3. As a "Servant."

As we have already seen his judgment as a "Sinner" is Past. Let us look at his judgment

2. As a "Son."

As soon as the sinner accepts Christ as his personal Savior that settles the "Sin" question for him. For if our iniquities are laid on Him (Jesus), then they are not on Us. Isa 53:5-6. But the "Sin" question, and the "Sins" question are two different things. Christ died on the Cross to atone for "sin," to pay the penalty of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. "Sin" is that tendency in mankind to do wrong which we call "Natural Depravity." We do not get rid of this "tendency" by the "New Birth," but we get a "counteracting force" called the "New Nature." We become a "dual personality," composed of the "Old" and "New Natures," and which shall predominate depends on which we feed and which we starve. This explains the "warfare" that Paul describes as his experience, after his conversion, in Ro 7:1-25. This warfare will continue until the "Old" nature is eradicated at death. "Sins" are the outward acts of wrongdoing that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin. These sins must be put away daily by "confession."

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an `Advocate' with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1John 2:1.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9.

Our judgment as "Sons" is for "un-confessed sins." The punishment is chastisement. This explains much of the chastisement of Christians, and should show them that they are "Sons" and not "Bastards." Heb 12:5-11. Paul says--

"If we would `judge ourselves' we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned (Judged) with the world." 1Co 11:31-32.

Our duty then as "Sons" is to "self-judge" ourselves daily, "confess our sins," and so avert the chastisement of our Heavenly Father.

3. As a Servant. This leads us to--Judgment #2

    

                                                          Continued in Part #2

                                                       Comments are welcome

A Study of Heaven, Part #2 of 2

    With the knowledge provided us in the scripture it seems Christians should have a better view of Heaven and the total scheme of things.  Jesus spoke in such a manner that those who search for or  ask for spiritual enlightenment could find it.  We need to be more concern about the attributes or "fruit" of the spirit rather than  natural entitlements.  What did Jesus mean when he said  in Matthew 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  We pray for cash, we pray for fine cars, we pray for nice homes, but do we forget Matthew 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
     The Scriptures speak of three Heavens. (1) The Heaven of the earth's atmosphere. "God gave you rain from heaven." Ac 14:17. (2) The Heaven of the Stars. The "High Places" where the "Principalities and Powers" of evil have their abode. Eph 6:12. (3) The Heaven where God dwells. It was to this "Third Heaven" that the Apostle Paul was caught up, when at Lystra he was stoned and his spirit apparently left his body. (A Biblical reference to an out of body experience.) Ac 14:19-20.   Paul calls it both the "Third Heaven" and "Paradise." 2Co 12:1-4. The two then must be identical, or "Paradise" be a part of the "Third Heaven." It is to this "Paradise Section" of Heaven that the "Soul" and "Spirit" of the Righteous go since the Resurrection of Christ. " The word "Paradise" means a "garden" or "enclosed place." It must therefore be a most beautiful place of trees and flowers and fruits.  There the "Spirits" of the Righteous in their "Soulish" bodies, conscious and happy, and in fellowship with loved ones and the saints of all Ages, await the First Resurrection, when, having received their glorified bodies, and been judged at the judgment Seat of Christ, and married to the Lamb (Christ), they go to dwell in the New Jerusalem, the home of the Bride. From this we see that we must distinguish between Heaven proper, and its suburb Paradise, and the New Jerusalem.

     But we must not forget, that while Paradise, the place where the Saints of God now dwell, is a glorious place, and the Saints are there in the enjoyment of Heavenly things, that they are under certain limitations. They have not as yet received their resurrection body with all its glorious powers, nor been judged so as to receive their reward, or a crown, if they are entitled to any. The description of Heaven and the New Jerusalem as given in the Book of Revelation from the third chapter to the end of the Book, is still future, and the things there described will not come to pass until after the Rapture of the Church, so what is said about the New Jerusalem and its occupants do not apply until after the judgment of Believers. While the Saints were removed from the Paradise section of "The Underworld" when Christ rose from the dead, and taken to the Paradise of the "Third Heaven" to be near Christ, so that now to depart and be with Christ (Php 1:23) is most blessed, it does not follow that their state there is any more blissful than it was in The Underworld. It is well that we get this Scriptural view of the place and condition of the Saints between death and the resurrection of the body clearly in our mind, since there is so much un-scriptural teaching as to the state of the dead between death and the resurrection.
    When I first presented this as a teaching point I was referenced to Ecclesiastes 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. My question was, "Is he addressing the natural or spiritual aspect of humanity?  The answer is in the verse, read it slowly.  Now lets continue. 

     While the state of the Righteous dead is incomplete, it is most blissful and happy, but more a state of rest and waiting than a state of activity or service. Re 14:13; 6:9-11. The Saints in Paradise will be free from sin and temptation, from sorrow, sickness and death. Their environment will be conducive to holy living, and the atmosphere of the place will be that of love. They will enjoy the society of holy men of old, as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Peter, John and Paul. They shall meet and know their loved ones, and the mysteries of this life will all be solved. They will have a "New Song," and delight in ascribing their salvation to the Lamb. But after they get their resurrection body, and are rewarded for their works, they will be assigned to tasks for which they are best qualified, and for which their earth life fitted them. For instance David will be a King or Prince, Daniel a Statesman, Moses a Lawgiver, Paul a Missionary, for during the Millennial Reign of Christ the saints will be coworkers with Him. Moses and Elijah came back to earth as God's witnesses, and why shall not we? The angels work and the redeemed shall work. But with all our services we shall never grow old, nor tired, nor weary, and we shall pass the whole of eternity with our Lord as "joint heir" with Him of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that shall not fade away, reserved in Heaven for us. 1Pe 1:3-5. Heaven then is our "Father's House," it is a HOME, and a place of "many Mansions." Joh 14:2. It will be delightful to go there. Some people live in fear of death (Heb 2:15), and cannot bear to think of it, but those of us who know that Heaven is to be our Eternal Home ought not to fear "Death," for it is "Death" that opens the door for our "Exodus" from earth to glory.  

     Did you ever stop to think of what happens to the righteous soul during the first five minutes after death? Now I will reiterate, I said righteous souls because my experience with death was not as a righteous soul.  Before the funeral has been held, and the body laid away in the cemetery, nay, before the undertaker has been sent for, or the neighbors and relatives notified, or the shades drawn, or the silent watchers at the bedside have realized that you are dead you have been FIVE MINUTES out of the body and reached Paradise and know where you are to spend eternity. Now what will be our experiences in those first five minutes? (1) Our first experience will be that death was so easy. That it was like falling asleep and awaking in a beautiful world. That there was no "Valley of Death," with its hobgoblins, satyrs, and demons, to traverse, no "dark river" to cross, but that "Ministering Angels" were waiting to convoy us to Paradise as they carried Lazarus. Lu 16:22; Heb 1:13-14. What a delight it will be to meet our "Guardian Angel," who has watched over us in our "earthly life," and who will not desert us in that supreme moment when we shall need a guide to conduct us to our Heavenly Home. (2) Our second experience will be the consciousness that we have left behind our earthly body with all its weaknesses, sufferings, and limitations, and have a body that is absolutely well and fitted in every way for the spiritual realm in which it is to dwell. (3) Our third experience will be that we are being transported swiftly upward through the ethereal space toward a beautiful country whose radiance is brighter than the sun, and as we approach it see coming out to meet us and escort us home, groups of angels who sing-- "Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates of the city." Re 22:14. (4) Our fourth experience will be that we are in a new environment whose atmosphere is LOVE. That there is no discord, or lack of harmony in our new home, and that its chief characteristic is HOLINESS. (5) Our fifth experience will be the feeling that we are near Jesus. If we do not actually see Him, we shall have the consciousness of His nearness. (6) Our sixth experience will be that of meeting our loved ones. While I do not believe that our loved ones have any direct knowledge of what is going on on this earth, yet I believes that our "Guardian Angel" may communicate with our loved ones and inform them of our coming, and that they will be waiting to receive us. (7) Our seventh experience will be the meeting with the saints who have preceded us to glory, such as the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and Christian leaders of our own day. The experiences named may not all happen in the first five minutes after death, but they doubtless will happen before our funeral service is over and our body laid to rest in the tomb.

     1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Thus began the  judgements.  The Bible speaks of five judgements..