## Countdown to the Millennium: Judgment and Blessings

## II Corinthians 5:10

Last week we began a series on the Second Coming of Christ and the related events that we find outlined in the Scriptures. We looked at the next event that will take place, and that is the rapture. The rapture should not be confused with the Second Coming, it is Christ coming in the air to meet all the believers who are resurrected and transformed for eternity.

The rapture of the believers coincides with the beginning of the tribulation period on the earth. This is a seven-year period of judgment that will be poured out on unbelieving mankind. We will see more about that in future studies. While all of that is going on down here on earth, there will be some very important things happening up in heaven.

Tonight, we want to consider two special events that will only involve the born-again believers who have been raptured by the Lord Jesus Christ. They are the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb.

(2 Cor 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."

(Rom 14:10-12) "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. {11} For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. {12} So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

(1 Cor 3:13-15) "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the 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. {14} If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Note: This is NOT the same as the great white throne judgment of Rev. 20:12. One is for the saved the other is for the lost!

I. The Judgment Seat of Christ.

A. The meaning of 'judgment seat'.

1. A raised platform where rewards are given out; it is also called the 'Bema' seat.

2. In the ancient athletic games of Greece it was where the high official was seated and where he distributed the rewards.

3. The term is never used for a judicial seat where punishment is given.

B. The subjects of the 'judgment seat'

1. As I mentioned before, they will be the believers who have been raptured out of this world.

2. Note that Paul was writing to the believers at Corinth and Rome, not to lost people.

3. This will be part of a three-fold judgment upon believers.

a. Christians are judged as sinners -- this judgment is past because the believers' sin was judged and punished in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.

(John 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."

(Rom 8:1) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

b. Christians are judged as sons -- this judgment takes place here and now while we are on this earth in our bodies, It is not to decide our sonship but rather to discipline us as sons when we become disobedient.

(Heb 12:6) "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

c. Christians are judged as servants --This judgment will take place at the judgment seat of Christ; it is a matter of stewardship, and responsibility.

(1 Pet 4:10) "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

C. The results of the 'judgment seat' examination

1. Loss of reward. (not a matter of salvation)

a. In 2 Co. 5:10, 'bad' doesn't mean evil, it means worthless.

b. Much the same as what Paul spoke of when he talked about not becoming a castaway.

(1 Cor 9:27) "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

c. This had nothing to do with salvation, but it had to do with service.

2. Gain of reward

(1 Cor 3:14) "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."

a. There is the incorruptible crown

(1 Cor 9:25) "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

b. There is the crown of life.

(James 1:12a) "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life…"

c. There is the crown of righteousness.

(2 Tim 4:8a) "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…"

d. There is also the crown of glory.

(1 Pet 5:4) "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

II. The Marriage of the Lamb

A. Three stages of Marriage.

1. The betrothal or espousal.

a. This was considered a binding contract that meant essentially that the couple was married.

b. The example of Joseph and Mary.

(Mat 1:18) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

2. The presentation.

a. This was a ceremony where the bridegroom called for the bride to be brought to him, or went to her home to get her himself.

b. It is at this point when they begin their life together.

3. The final stage was the supper, banquet, or feast.

a. This was a ceremony where the bridegroom would gather all his friends together so that he might introduce his bride to them.

b. The length of the feast varied.

c. The example of the wedding feast of Cana.

(John 2:1) "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:"

B. The Biblical Application.

1. The espousal.

(2 Cor 11:2) "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

a. If we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ then we are part of the 'bride'.

b. The 'bride' has been chosen by the Father for His Son.

(Eph 1:3-4) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: {4} According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

2. The presentation.

(Eph 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {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."

a. We have been espoused and one day we shall be presented unto our, bridegroom as the 'bride'.

b. This will take place sometime after the rapture and after the judgment seat.

c. Because we will be presented without spot or blemish (that which is wood, hay, and stubble).

3. The supper.

(Rev 19:7-9) "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. {8} And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. {9} And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."

a. The phrase 'is come' literally means 'is completed'.

b. We have already been rewarded at the 'BEMA' seat…

c. We have made ourselves ready, our 'wedding gown' will be made up of righteousness as we have been granted at the "BEMA" seat.

d. This stage of the wedding will begin when Christ returns to the earth at the Second Advent and we shall be with Him as His bride.

(Rev 19:11-14) "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. {12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. {13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

Remember, these events will take place in heaven while the events of the tribulation are taking place here on earth. The judgment seat of Christ and the marriage supper of the Lamb will be exciting events! But, just like the rapture, they will only be for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.