LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 20 11-12, 15 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 np 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 were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

The Bible tells us of the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment (GWTJ).  The Judgment Seat of Christ occurs after the rapture of the Church during the seven-year period of the Tribulation.  Its purpose is to give rewards to Believers based on the work they did that honored the Lord (Read 1 Corinthians 3).  The judgement of nations takes place at the end of the Tribulation.  The GWTJ takes place at the end of the Millennium after Satan is finally put into the lake of fire for eternity.  This is the time unbelievers will be judged.  There will be no jury, no defense, a sentence is handed out with no appeal.  Unbelievers will stand before a holy and righteous God to give an account of their sins.  Most people only want to read and hear about a God of love; they must read and hear about a Righteous Judge who must deal with sin and sinners as well.

 

Believers have had their sin already dealt with by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.  That is what He offers to anyone who would believe that He took their place on the cross.  Therefore, their works are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ and rewards are given based on that which glorified Him – not us!  It is extremely important for to give your life to Jesus Christ now; let Him judge your sin now not later.

 

There are several verses of Scripture that trouble me.  In the space I allow, I need you to go to the verses yourself and read them.  Read Matthew 7:21-23; 18:3.  Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Read Galatians 5:19-21.  This goes back to staying on the narrow way to God’s kingdom and eternal life.  Do not be deceived into thinking that you can be a Believer and then live anyway that you want!  It does not work that way.  This is going to be hard to read – but better for you to be mad at me than face the GWTJ and be sentenced to eternal hell and torment!  The Apostle Paul states clearly, as did the Lord Jesus Christ, spiritual death is the result of habitual sinning – even for the Christian.  The verses I want you to read above state no one can live for immoral gratification and still inherit the kingdom of God.  Salvation without the regenerating (when we begin to do the things that help us stay on the narrow way – living as Christ wants us to live) and the sanctifying (a process by which Believers live freed from sin) work of the Holy Spirit has no place in the New Testament.  Believers are going to sin.  The difference is not using God’s grace and forgiveness to do so.  When you sin, pray 1 John 1:9.  Jesus forgave sinners and told then to go and sin no more.  My guess is those who say they are a Christian and continue to sin using God’s forgiveness were never really saved.

 

This second resurrection and the GWTJ is for the unsaved dead from Adam to the end of the Millennium.  Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

 

Forgive the length of this today.  I pray I have been clear.  “In the judgement of the unsaved, the Christian finds a foundation for forgiveness and hope for justice.  When it seems that the wicked of the earth enjoy unfettered privilege and unrestrained license, and when it seems that those who mistreat us escape punishment, it takes a reminder of the coming judgement to make us give up thoughts of vengeance, hatred, or lack of forgiveness.  Then, in front of the His white throne, God the Judge will settle all accounts of those who would rebel against His righteous ways, bringing a holy justice that will make all things right.”  David Jeremiah Study Bible

 

And I wonder how much longer, Lord?!