SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE 122C
June 4, 2003
The Judgment Seat of Christ
Part I
The inspired words translated as “accepted of him” in II Corinthians 5:9 are “euarestoi auto,” which literally mean “well pleasing to.” The saved will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged as to how well pleasing, or non-pleasing, the things done in their earthly bodies were in the sight of the Lord. Since I have spent more than two years on this web site trying to convince the viewers that, while I did not know the exact time of Christ’s arrival, I was certain it was at our doors, perhaps it is appropriate that I warn those same viewers what is awaiting them if they are saved, namely judgment at their Savior’s Judgment Seat. During the past fifty years, I have listened repeatedly to many expositors on the subject constantly stress it as a judgment seat for rewards, and indeed it is, but it is also for the lack of rewards, and contrary to popular belief, it is also a place of rebuke for those souls who fought against the Spirit of Christ that indwelled the bodies of flesh they occupied.
II Corinthians 5:9-11 – Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. [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. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Paul, after giving an unmistakable discourse in the first eight verses of the fifth chapter of II Corinthians about the glorified body, which all the saved will receive at the rapture, then quickly begins a discourse in verses nine to eleven that warns of the consequences of failing to live a pleasing life in our present body in response to Christ, who indwells it. For those who will not labor for Christ by responding to his indwelling Spirit, there are definite consequences at his heavenly judgment seat, and he is no respecter of persons. I have repeatedly heard a constant stream of references to Christ’s judgment seat as a place where the saved will receive rewards, and indeed it is, but rarely have I heard it mentioned that it is also going to be a place of rebuke for those who would not respond to Christ after salvation, but rather followed the desires of their flesh. Such an individual is vividly pictured in Paul’s first epistle to the church at Corinth, and surely the “terror” of the Lord, found above in verse 11, is the “fire” of his judgment in I Corinthians 3:13-15.
I Corinthians 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.
“BY” IS “DIA,” and it means “THROUGH” fire. This is hardly a happy camper at the judgment seat of Christ. I certainly do not disagree he will be happy to be where he is, rather than in Hell awaiting the great white throne judgment, but there will be deep agony at Christ’s Bema Seat for those whose works are burned. This man failed to weave an outer robe of works wrought by Christ in him through his soul’s response to his Spirit.
The word “accepted,” in II Corinthians 5:9, is certainly not the Greek word used in Ephesians 1:6, which is “echaritosen,” which means “to be favored by God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:6 – To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
All the saved are accepted once in Christ, never to be separated from the love of God that is in him.
Romans 8:38,39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word translated as “accepted” in II Corinthians 5:9 is quite different from Ephesians 1:6. It simply means “well pleasing.” The purpose of our laboring in response to his indwelling Spirit after we are saved is to please him. The greater the frequency, consistency, and willingness of our response, the more pleasing we become to him, and the more joyous our fellowship is with him.
I do not think the judgment seat of Christ is going to be a time when we ALL dance around the flagpole in a very happy state of fantastic joy. It will certainly be that for a few, but not for ALL. Over the years we have come to emphasize it as a place of rewards and great joy – for some, yes – for others – no! The same word translated “terror” in verse 11 is also translated as “terror” in I Peter 3:14.
I Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Many of God’s children are more afraid of men’s terror than God’s terror. They are afraid and ashamed to give a personal testimony of salvation to others, while others have such little interest in the word of God they are not able to give reasons for the hope they have in them. The verse following I Peter 3:14 makes this point.
I Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Those who are ashamed of Christ, not willing to suffer for him, and who know nothing from his word they can pass on to others, will know the terror of the Lord at his judgment seat. All believers died with Christ, and all of them shall live with him, for their salvation was given by grace through faith.
Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
But if a saved man or woman, who is dead in Christ, will not suffer for him, then the question becomes this – To what degree will they reign with him? Is the degree to which we are allowed to reign with him not tied to how we respond to him in the life after we are saved? I am not talking about going to heaven – I am talking about what we are given to do after we get there by his amazing grace. You cannot lose your salvation, but you can lose your crown. And is not a crown associated with reigning?
II Timothy 2:11,12 – It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
II Timothy 2:5 – And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Christ has given believers the victory of salvation as an everlasting gift. He tells believers he will resurrect them in I Corinthians 15:51,52, and then advises them what to do with the victory he has given them in verses 57 and 58. His judgment seat follows the rapture, and those who do not heed his advice in verse 58 will know the terror of his rebuke.
I Corinthians 15:52,57,58 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
I certainly do not envision the Judgment Seat of Christ as a place where the unfaithful are tied to posts and whipped, but I am certain that many will suffer embarrassment for lack of rewards, and others will receive a severe rebuke from Christ for causing great consternation and trouble in God’s work. Remember, the tears are not wiped away AT the Judgment Seat of Christ – that occurs AFTERWARD.
If you, as a child of God, have been flittering your time in the flesh away, you need to wake up, and redeem what time you have left.
Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
If you have never been saved by grace through faith, you will not appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ. You will appear at the final judgment seat, and your sentence will be as follows.
Revelation 20:15 – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
If you want to be at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what follows is the only way.
Acts 20:21 – Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 125
A Series on the Judgment Seat of Christ
June 20, 2003
Part 2
Created in Christ Unto Good Works
II Corinthians 5:10,11 – 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. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
The praise of God will be bestowed upon those who followed the Spirit of Christ in them to allow him to do good works in them, which they were created in him to perform. The terror of God will be bestowed by rebuke to those who followed the flesh rather than Christ’s indwelling Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God’s Spiritual workmanship is his creation of his Son in us, so that it is possible for him to perform good works in us as our saved soul responds to his Spirit. Salvation by grace through faith is a good and perfect gift given from above by God, who does not vary in his promise, nor change it in time like the moving shadow on a sundial. A man cannot receive it or manufacture it – it MUST be given to him from heaven, and it his will that we be born from above by his word of truth. Only then can a man work the righteousness of God by his Spirit working in him.
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
John 3:7,27 – Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
James 1:18,19 – Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
We were created in Christ Jesus so that we could learn to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath by responding to his Spirit in us. If we respond to the flesh we reap the crop it grows, which is temporal. If we respond to Christ’s indwelling Spirit we reap the crop he grows, which is eternal.
Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Doers of the word sow to the Spirit and reap an eternal spiritual crop. Those who hear the word, but don’t practice it, sow to the flesh and reap a temporal crop in the present life.
James 1:22 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
II 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 Spiritual workmanship of God that saved our souls was a work in which he spiritually crucified us with his Son, and spiritually resurrected us by the life of his Son he placed in us. There has never, and will never, be any man who could live a perfect, sinless life of absolute faith. I have the faith of the Son of God living in me. If I yield to his Spirit, I sow to an eternal spiritual crop. If I yield to the flesh, I sow to a temporal earthly crop. A saved man or woman who is obedient to the Word of God is sowing an eternal crop. A saved man or woman who is obedient to the flesh is sowing a corruptible crop. I have an incorruptible seed in me from above that saved my soul. It is God’s will that I yield to that seed for a crop that will not pass away.
Galatians 2:20,21 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If our saved soul lives it’s life in the flesh sowing to the flesh, it reaps a corruptible crop that lasts only for this life. If our saved soul lives it’s life sowing to the Spirit, it reaps a crop that lasts forever in its eternal life.
Galatians 6:8,9 – For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 126
June 27. 2003
A Series on the Judgment Seat of Christ
Part 3
The Reaping of Two Kinds of Crops
II Corinthians 5:10,11 – 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. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
After being born of corruptible seed, our only hope to escape hell, and to insure our presence in heaven before Christ’s judgment seat, is to be born from above by the receipt of God’s incorruptible seed, the living Word, the Spirit of his Son, Jesus Christ, as the savior of our soul. We MUST have Christ’s new birth Spirit in us before we can sow a spiritual crop in response to him.
John 3:7 – Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Once we receive a born again spirit by the incorruptible Seed, it dwells alongside our soul, and the eternally saved soul can either sow by the corruptible seed in the flesh around it by responding to it, and in so doing produce a corrupt crop that lasts only for this life, or the saved soul can respond (sow) to the new incorruptible Seed dwelling alongside it, and thereby reap an eternal crop for the life following Christ’s judgment seat. It most assuredly pays great spiritual benefits to the saved soul that sows a crop in response to the Seed dwelling alongside it.
Galatians 6:7-9 –Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The crop that a saved soul reaps at Christ’s judgment seat has eternal consequences as to the degree of joy it experiences eternally in heaven. All will be happy, but some will be happier than others. And if our saved soul responds (sows) to the corruptible seed in the flesh of its physical carnal birth, and does not “lay aside” the things in verse one of the Scripture following I Peter 1:23, it will reap a crop that will not be a part of its life following the judgment seat of Christ. But if our eternally saved soul responds (sows) to the newly implanted incorruptible Seed, the Spirit of Christ, then it reaps a spiritual crop that goes into its life that follows Christ’s judgment seat.
1 Peter 1:24 to 2:1 – For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. [1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
And it is the saved soul’s response to the sincere milk of God’s word that causes it to keep on coming to the living Word to sow a crop that is pleasing to God because it obeys his word. A corrupted seed can only produce a corrupt crop, and corrupted fruit or vegetables have a very bad taste. Am uncorrupted seed produces a gracious crop of vegetables or fruit, and they have a pleasant taste. The Lord knows how to plant and produce a crop that tastes good. And when you taste what his seed grew in you, you keep coming back for more and more. In fact, the “To whom coming” in verse four, in the original language, directs us “to keep on coming.”
I Peter 2:2-4 – As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
And the saved soul is to produce its crop in one of the Lord’s churches that preaches and teaches the truth. It matters to God where, how, and for whom you grow his crop.
Colossians 3:23,24 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
I Peter 2:5 – Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I Timothy 3:14,15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 128
July 11, 2003
The Judgment Seat of Christ
Part 5
Our Works Do Follow Us!
II Corinthians 5:10-11 – 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. [11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
We are all born of the seed of corrupted flesh and blood, which we received from our forefather Adam. For this reason we are born corrupted in body, soul, and spirit. That is why our spirit and soul must be born again to give us a new “heart.” The “heart” consists of our spirit and soul. But even after our soul is saved when we are born again, being made perfect in the spirit, we are still totally corrupt in our flesh. Our corruptible flesh cannot enter into the kingdom. Nor will any works generated in response to our flesh by our saved soul, ever be allowed to follow us into the kingdom.
I Corinthians 15:50 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
I Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
My soul was saved by grace through faith. And the new birth was the workmanship of God, who created me in Christ Jesus for the purpose of sowing to produce a crop of good works by the power of his Son, so that the glory might be of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
And the sowing and crop production of good works is to be carried out in one of his local churches by the power of Christ Jesus in us.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Every day my saved soul either sows by the Spirit of Christ in me to produce an incorruptible crop, or it sows to the flesh around it to produce a corruptible crop. The corruptible crop cannot get passed the judgment seat of Christ, but the incorruptible spiritual crop goes into the kingdom.
Galatians 6:7-9 –Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
What kind of a crop is your saved soul producing? How much of it will get by the judgment seat of Christ?
Christ’s churches are facing a time of great testing in the tribulation period. Will you faint, or will you allow Jesus to produce a crop in you during this period?
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12,13 – Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
I Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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