Finish Well

 

Intro: Welcome to week 3 of our series, “On the Edge of Eternity.”

So far we’ve examined what the Scriptures teach regarding the Rapture of the Church and the Rise of the Antichrist.

Today let’s examine what Scripture teaches is happening after the Rapture of the Church in Heaven and next week we will look at what is happening on Earth.

Scripture never teaches believers to look for the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast or any other prophetic end-time occurrence.

Scripture simply teaches us to look for Jesus.

Our focus in this series is NOT to get everyone to agree exactly on “what happens when.”

Our focus, rather, is to remind us as the New Testament Church, “MARANATHA!” (Greek word meaning… “Rejoice!  Jesus Is Coming!)

Revelation 22:7 NLT “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

In Heaven.

The saints who have been raptured (caught away) are giving account of their lives on earth at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and then they will all celebrate at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Let’s look at these 2 events.

1. Judgment Seat of Christ

While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s love and grace, each of us will still be judged by Christ Jesus.

When someone accepts Christ into their lives and becomes a Christian, a judgment is made. God declares them righteous and their sins are covered by the shed blood of Jesus.

Once we begin living for Jesus, the goal of our lives is to finish well.

Philippians 3:14 NLT I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is where the saints go after they have been raptured from earth. Each one will stand before Christ Jesus and give an account of their lives on earth.

Romans 14:12 NLT Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 

In both 2 Corinthians 5 and Romans 14, Paul is teaching about the Judgment Seat of Christ.

This phrase Judgment Seat of Christ comes from the Greek word Bema.

Strongs [968] defines Bema as a raised step, a platform to which someone walks up to receive judgment; or literally a tribunal (a court of justice).

So the Judgment Seat of Christ is very literally The Divine Tribunal of Jesus Christ.

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, Jesus is the judge.

John 5:22-23 NLT In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

Romans 2:16 NLT And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Every person who has ever professed faith in Christ Jesus will stand before Jesus and give an account for their short time on earth.

Everything will be judged: our words, actions, motives, attitudes, character, use of spiritual gifts and material goods. Everything.

Hebrews 9:27 NLT And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 

Christ the King, will judge all who profess allegiance to Him.

He is not judging sinfulness, He made atonement for sin on the Cross.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is a time for believers to give an account of the substance of their lives as Christians.

In other words, we will be judged by how we lived as a believer.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NLT Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Our “works” are compared to materials.

Some materials become more pure when placed in fire (gold, silver, precious jewels), while other materials burn up in fire (wood, hay, straw).

If our works in our life are equivalent to gold, silver and precious jewels, when tried by fire, our works will result in a reward.

If our works in our life are equivalent to wood, hay and straw, when tried by fire they will all burn, and we will not receive a reward.

Let me explain it this way, the motives and attitudes of our actions will be revealed along with our character when we stand before Jesus the Judge.

Gold, silver, precious jewels are things done with the right motives, attitudes and character.

Wood, hay, and straw are things done out of pride or selfishness, wrong motive, wrong attitudes, bad character. These things will disappear when consumed by the fire of judgment.

At this judgment a decision is made and those standing before the Judgment seat will either receive reward or loss.

Please understand, our salvation is secured by faith in the atoning work of Jesus, our reward is a result of how we lived out our faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

There are still some people who have the idea that they are saved by what they do for God, but Paul clearly teaches that salvation is only by faith in Jesus, nothing else!

Good deeds are still important, but good deeds shouldn’t be the focus or the driving force of our lives.

Our love for Jesus should be the driving force of everything we do. We must labor for the Lord simply because of our love for Him.

James 2:20 NLT How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

James 2:26 NLT Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Good deeds can not save us, but they prove we really have the faith we claim to have. Our faith is shown by our good deeds.

Our good deeds will be revealed when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

1 Peter 5:1-4 NLT And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

Hebrews 13:17 NLT Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Why are the saints judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 NLT So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

As Christians, we are simply stewards, managers of what belongs to the Lord.

When we stand before Christ Jesus, we will give an account for the things he gave us to manage throughout our lives.

Will we be found faithful?

The Judgement Seat of Christ will reveal what each believer has accomplished in this life that God noticed and considered worthwhile.

All Christians will receive their just reward, especially those who have labored in obscurity and those who labored with great sacrifice and faithfulness.

Where you spend eternity is determined by what you do with Jesus.

How you spend eternity is determined by what you do after accepting Jesus.

2. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

After the rewards are distributed, a celebration begins.

Revelation 19:6-9 NLT Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.

8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

Those who have stood before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the redeemed, now give praise and honor to Jesus.

Matthew 22:1-2 Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.”

 

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is compared to a wedding feast.

Everyone in Heaven will attend this wedding feast, it will be an actual meal. (Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:1-10)

Jesus even referred to this great feast at the last supper with His disciples.

Luke 22:16 NLT For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

We aren’t given much detail about the great feast.

We do know it takes place near the end of the 7-year Tribulation on Earth, some even believe it takes place on the last day.

After the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the saints, dressed in heavenly garments will return to earth, led by Jesus, the King of Kings to face the Battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

The Church has been caught away.

The saints have stood before the Judgment Seat of Christ and celebrated at the marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Now the saints are prepared to return with their King Jesus as He returns for His Second Coming.

Next week we will examine what Scripture teaches has been happening on earth.

As we conclude, let me go back to a question I asked you earlier.

When we stand before Christ Jesus, we will give an account for the things he gave us to manage throughout our lives.

Will you be found faithful?

Where you spend eternity is determined by what you do with Jesus.

How you spend eternity is determined by what you do after accepting Jesus.