The Final Judgment

[Adstar]

Hello All

I have been reading the Book of  Revelation and a thought came to my mind that I would like all your opinions on. The portion of scripture that my thought refers to is:

Revelation 20:4-6

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Now the part that is relevant is

[Matthitjah]

Hi Adstar,

Great question.

I know that in the second coming of Christ. The firstfruits are raised first. (The dead in Christ. Not all the dead. Only the dead in Christ.) Every man in his order. Christ, The first fruits, then we who remain alive. Who believe. We are changed in the twinkling of an eye. Called up into the air to be with Christ. Where we will ever remain.

The second rapture (for lack of a better word). Is when all the dead (unbelievers) are raised after the 1,000 years and the Devil has been cast into the lake of fire.

If you look at Verse 12 of said chapter. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G-d: and the Books were opened (not the book of life): and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of these things which were written in the books ,(not the book of life ,the books) according to their works.

Key word is works. Judged according to their works. We Brothers are not under works for we have Grace.

I have not the mind of G-d. I only have his Word. Which is Jesus Christ. All priase and Glory to the Lord. Amen. :thumb:

Peace :inlove: Amen

[whatsitmean]

The judgment of the church is spoken of by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:12-16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10-12 and others.  We will be judged according to our works for rewards but not for condemnation.

[Matthitjah]

Whatsitmean,

We agree,

I think the passage that Adstar wrote of was speaking of Condemnation though. We are not judged on our Works for we are not under Works, but Grace. As you have said we will be rewarded for our Works, because they are for G-ds good pleasure. Not our Salvation. :thumb:

Peace :inlove: Amen

[RCruise]

Adstar and Dr. Luke:

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."    (Revelation 20:15 KJV)

If we carefully study all the Word of God and All of John's Revelation of the millenial period, we see that not all nations and not all men/women are destroyed at Christ's return.  Life goes on during that 1000 years.  Zecharia speaks of that time in chapter 14 but, look at the following:

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles."    (Zechariah 14:16 KJV)

"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."    (Zechariah 14:17 KJV)

"And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."    (Zechariah 14:18 KJV)

"This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."    (Zechariah 14:19 KJV)

You can see that any who "are left of the nations" will be "smitten" with the "plagues of Egypt" and He will withhold "rain" from them if they do not submit and go up to Jerusalem yearly after He takes David's throne on His return.  Hence, it is clear that there will be vileness and rebellion still even though it is a time of sublime peace.  Now, going back to Rev.20:15, we can see that there is a possibility that some who are judged whether their names are in the Book of Life or not:

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:"    (Matthew 25:31 KJV)

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:"    (Matthew 25:32 KJV)

"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left."    (Matthew 25:33 KJV)

We also know that those of us who believed first, before His Return, will judge with Him:

"Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"    (1 Corinthians 6:3 KJV)

So, we being in the judgement seat with Christ, are not part of those in the final judgement.  These "sheep" He sets to his "right hand side" are those who come to Him in this millenial reign where life will continue as normal with death and birth because "Death and hell" are not taken or "cast" away until the final judgement.  I speculate now IMOHO, that I perceive this period will be when many of the Israelites will turn to Him fulfilling His promise in His covenant.

God Bless.

[Matthitjah]

R.C.,

The passage that had me stumped was 1 Corinthians 15:23. After careful reflection and reading in context. I have come to the conclusion that the dead are not raised until all the enemies are destroyed.

I was reading it as Christ,then the firsfruits ,then we at his coming.

That's not what it says. It says Christ the firstfruits(of the dead).Afterwards those at his coming then the end. First he must put all enemies down. The last enemy is death.

1 corinthians 15;26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

In light of that. I stand corrected. It pays to read carefully the Word.

This also brings new light to the reading of Revealtion chapter 20:4-15.

Thank you R.C. You are a true Berean.

Blessings to you brother. I have been blessed by this board once again. G-d is preparing me for much responsibility.

Peace :inlove: Amen

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whatsitmean

""""1 Corinthians 3:12-16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Romans 14:10-12.

"""

Looks like Game, Set and Match to me. looks like Ive been decieved ??? So much for my thoughts then. Very depressing indeed.

Thanks for your biblical reply Bless you.

Thanks to all for your input :thumb:

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Adstar]

I just thought of another question whatsitmean, I have never looked at Gods eternal society as being one where one believer will be greater than another, I saw it as God on top then the rest as equals.

Now that we are going to be judged for the Works we have done some will receive a greater reward than others Yes? So does anyone know what is a greater reward or lesser rewards in eternity?

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[whatsitmean]

Adstar, don't be depressed.

[Adstar]

WIM

One believer is not greater than another in the sense you are speaking of here.  We are the body of Christ and the bride of Christ.  In that sense we are all equal.

Being that we are going to face judgment for our works and we all know some have done more good works than others then some must receive a better reward and others lesser rewards what is the point of judging if we are all going to have the same reward? And if some receive a better reward then they are greater then their brothers.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days