REVELATION - The Bema Seat of Christ

           “In the Greek, a single word is used for “judgment seat” in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10—the word is ‘bema’. A bema was a raised platform on which judges sat to view athletic games. Their job was to make sure contestants followed the rules and to present awards to the victors (see 1 Corinthians 9:24–27). The bema was never a place to reprimand the athletes or to punish them in any way. It was a place of testing and reward. In the same way, the bema of Christ will not be a place of condemnation or censure.” ^[1]

            Sin is not punished at Christ’s judgment seat, for Jesus took our punishment on Calvary’s cross once for all time. The Bema of Christ is where we’ll all be called upon to give an accounting of all that we did for Jesus while alive on this earth. It is the judgment seat that believer’s stand before, not unbelievers. THEY will stand before God’s White Throne to be judged regarding their rejection of Christ. 

            The Bema Seat is a serious and necessary time of reckoning for Christians, but it must be understood that more than anything else it is simply a time of assessment. Rewards are given out in the form of crowns. Are they literal crowns? We’ll have to wait and see, but scripture says our reward will come in the form of crowns. We’ll take a look at the crowns another day, but regardless of whether they are literal or figurative crowns truly makes no difference. We’ll receive a reward for the good we have done in our lives, in the name of Christ.          “It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the judgment is unrelated to the problem of sin, that it is more for the bestowing of rewards than the rejection of failure” ^[2]

            Paul had this to say about works in Christ’s name: “And each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” _{[1 Corinthians 3:12-15 New English Translation]}

            So what criteria will Christ use to judge the flock?  Christ will judge the motives behind our service; how we use our time, gifts, and abilities; how we treat other believers; how we use our money; our faithfulness in suffering, especially our suffering for his name; how we used our positions of authority to serve others; how we responded to trials & temptation. He will judge our faithfulness in evangelism & discipleship; our faithfulness in studying, interpreting, & teaching God’s Word to others, and how much we long for & love his coming. This assessment/judgment will take place after we are raptured, just prior to the Tribulation.

 

            Next we will take a look at God’s White Throne Judgment. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Sources: https://bible.org/seriespage/9-judgment-seat-christ; www.gotquestions.org.

^[1] - www.gotquestions.org

^[2] - Chafer, L. S., Systematic Theology, Vol. IV: Ecclesiology-Eschatology, Dallas Seminary Press, 1948, p. 406.

REVELATION - Still deeper...

           Jesus is shown as various images in Revelation; a ‘lion’ (Rev. 5:5), which represents his royal power; a ‘root’ (Rev. 5:5 & 22:16), which denotes his Davidic lineage; a ‘rider on a white horse’ (Rev. 19:11), which symbolizes his victory over evil; and finally, the image of a ‘lamb who was slain’ (Rev. 5:6). The lamb is the most important symbol for it represented his sacrifice on the cross to redeem all of mankind. In humble obedience to his Father’s will, he was the only one who could unseal the book that reveals the events that were to come.

            The Lamb shares all the power of God’s throne (Rev. 7:17). When the end of time arrives, the Lamb will come in judgment (Rev. 19:11); THEN Christ will show Himself as the Lord of the world, as foretold in the OT. He is also the source of new life with God in the NEW Jerusalem.

            Revelation has the enduring message of Jesus Christ and how he fulfills the hopes of believers, without regard to the grim circumstances that may arise.

 

            One of the unique characteristics in Revelation is its use of the numbers 4, 12 & 7. We find 4 living creatures, 4 horsemen, and 4 angels; 12 elders, 12 entry gates into the city of God, 12 foundations, and 12 variety of fruit on the tree of life; and 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls, and 7 declarations of blessings. In apocalyptic literature those 3 numbers represent completeness and perfection. Conversely, 3-1/5 is the number that is often associated with Satan and represents a fracturing and diminishing of God’s unity.

            The 144,000 elect in chapter 7 shouldn’t be taken literally. The 144,000 refers to those who were martyred ... 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel. 144,000 is a multiple of 12,000 x 12, which stands for totality. A martyr is someone who opts to die rather than renounce their religious beliefs. No martyr will fail to see God’s reward.

            While there has been much speculation thru the centuries as to who “the Beast” actually is, for arguments sake we will state, as most scholars have concluded, that “the Beast” is the Anti-Christ. His number is “666”. It would appear that John didn’t define the meaning of the number to create mystery, but more than likely, John simply wasn’t told what “666” meant. Therefore the significance of the number is inconsequential. 

            “The word diabolos signifies one who accuses another (Rev. 2:10; 12:9, 12; 20:2, 10). Hence the other name given to him is “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10). The name Satan signifies one who lies in wait for or sets himself in opposition to another (Rev. 20:2, 7). These and other names of the same fallen spirit point to different features of his evil character and deceitful operations.” ^[1]

            Next we’ll continue to dig around in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to see what else we can explore. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Sources: The Life Application Study Bible; Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

[1] Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

REVELATION - Digging Deeper Still ...

            In this writing John tells us that “The seven heads of the beast are seven mountains” ^{[Rev. 17:9],} scholars say this is a reference to the famous seven hills of Rome. Chapter 13 tells us that the dragon, who is Satan, gave authority to the beast (Rome) to draw worship from the people. The 1^st Roman emperor to demand that the people refer to him as “Lord and God” on an empire-wide basis was Domitian. It was under Domitian that the apostle John was sent to the Isle of Patmos. The 1^st Commandment told those who believe that they couldn’t worship false gods, so John sounded the alarm regarding Domitian’s challenge.

 

THE GRAND THEME

 

            It is that of two warring powers, both God and Satan, and of God’s ultimate victory over evil. These two great powers are NOT equal in strength, for God is much stronger than Satan. In spite of Satan knowing his eventual demise, he continues to scheme and plot to trip of the brethren of God. This is only because God allows him to do so for his own purposes. When the final battle takes place we find that it is NO contest, as Satan and his demons are utterly destroyed, without a contest, by fire from above (Rev. 20:7-10).

            The apostle John displays God’s majesty and power thru two key words. The first word is found in the image of the THRONE. Elsewhere in the NT the word ‘throne’ is found a total of 15 times; however, in Revelation it occurs a whopping 42 times. The ‘throne’ stands for the rightful reign of God over the course of history. Angelic choruses bow before the ‘throne’ of God and chanting, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” (Rev. 4:8).

            The second key word is ALMIGHTY. Outside Revelation this word only shows up once in the NT (2 Cor. 6:18) but occurs nine times in this book. Once it shows up as the word “OMNIPOTENT” in Rev. 19:6. ‘Almighty’ means essentially “without contenders”. No matter how fierce and evil Satan may be, he cannot defeat ‘Almighty’ God. He will fulfill his promises and accomplish his divine, sovereign purpose in history in HIS time and in HIS way. 

            Jesus Christ is the central figure in God’s army. Revelation isn’t a book of multiple revelations, but rather ONE revelation; that being Jesus Christ himself. John’s first vision was of Christ standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks, which represent his churches, with eyes blazing like fire, which stands for the “all-seeing” nature of our Lord. He had feet like fine brass which speaks of his being “all-powerful”. His hair was like snow white wool which tells the reader that he is “eternal and all-knowing”.  Finally, he had a sharp two-edged sword coming from his mouth which is the “word of truth”. [“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12] 

Christ is the “first and the last” (Rev. 1:11; 22:13), whose final promise was and is “Surely I am coming quickly” (Rev. 22:20). As a side note I’d like to point out what 2 Peter 3:8 has to say: “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” So for Jesus to say “quickly” obviously means a lot different that our definition of that word. God isn’t constrained by time as we are. He does whatever he does in his own time, for he knows the perfect time for such things to take place. That’s largely why we must exercise our faith and trust in God. He never fails. His plans are inscrutable; nothing or no one can stop what God has coming for us all.

Next we’re going to continue our deep dive into this all important book. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1995.

REVELATION - Digging Deeper

            Apocalypsis, the title of this book in the original Greek, means ‘unveiling’ or ‘disclosure’ of hidden things known only to God. This book is the only APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE found in the NT. Other examples of this type of literature can be found in the following OT writings: Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah.

            The Revelation of Jesus Christ depicts the end of this present age and the coming of God’s future kingdom thru symbols, images, and numbers. The question is why would so much imagery be used? One reason is that it was written during very dangerous times when it was much safer to hide one’s message in images than to speak plainly. Symbolism also served as an element of mystery regarding the details, such as time and place. It was not meant to confuse the reader, but to inform and strengthen believers during the difficulties of persecution. 

            Although some of the keys to the symbols have been lost over time, the overall message remains clear: we serve an ALL-POWERFUL GOD. Nothing the devil can concoct and throw at us can thwart the plans of God for his purposes are righteous. God cannot be defeated. 

 

The Seven Visions

 

            The Book of Revelation contains seven visions. The 1^st vision, seen in Chapters 1-3, tells of Christ encouraging his earthly church to remain totally loyal to him against all hostile attacks from the enemy.

            The 2^nd vision is found in Chapters 4-7, where Christ the Lamb stands with a sealed scroll before God in heaven. There are seven seals which symbolize knowledge of the destinies of individuals and nations and a series of disasters that befall the earth. It is then that the Lamb opens each of the seals.

            A series of seven angels blowing seven trumpets forms vision number three (Ch. 8-11). At the sound of these trumpets more disaster occur.  

            The 4^th vision (Ch. 12-14) consists of the persecution of the church by Satan and the beast. The church in this vision is seen as a woman with two witnesses (Moses and Elijah).

            The 5^th vision (Ch. 15-16) is another series of seven: seven bowls that are pouring out God’s wrath. The judgment of Babylon, which is a symbol of Rome, forms the 6^th vision found in Chapters 17:1 - 19:10. The final victory of God over Satan, God’s final judgment, and the final blessedness form the 7^th and final vision (Ch. 19:11-21). 

            The fulfillment of God’s eternal kingdom finds its expression in the word ‘new’. Christ comes with a promise to make all things new: a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (Ch. 21). The book closed with the longing of all Christians, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

            Next we will continue digging a little deeper into the historical setting. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1995.

REVELATION - The Beginning & the End

            The Bible tells the story of the beginning of the world in Genesis and the end of the world in Revelation. It’s the story of man from beginning to end; from the fall into sin to redemption to God’s ultimate victory over evil. It’s all found in the pages of the Bible.

 

GENESIS -                                                       REVELATION -

 

The sun is created                                                     The sun is no longer needed

 

Satan wins                                                                 Satan loses

 

Sin enters the human race                                         Sin is banished from existence

 

People run & hide from God                                     People are invited to live with God 

 

People are cursed                                                      The curse is lifted

 

Tears are shed with sorrow for sin                            No more sin, no more tears or sorrow

 

The garden of Eden & earth are cursed                    God’s city is glorified; earth is made new

 

Paradise is lost                                                          Paradise is regained

 

People are doomed to death                                     Death defeated; believers live forever 

 

ANGELS

 

            Angels are spiritual beings created by God to help accomplish his work on earth. Angels act as messengers, protect God’s people, offer encouragement, give guidance, bring punishment, patrol the earth, and fight the forces of evil. There are both good and bad angels. The bad angels, who are otherwise known as demons, are allied with Satan. They have considerably less power and authority than good angels. Once evil is eradicated the good angels main role with be to offer continuous praise to Almighty God.

 

            Next continues our look at Revelation. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

REVELATION - The Seven Churches

           “The seven churches of Revelation were real churches in Asia Minor during the first century, but their messages are also relevant to the church throughout history and today. Each message addressed the particular spiritual condition of the church and urged the believers to overcome their challenges and grow in faith and love.

The seven churches of Revelation offer a powerful and sobering picture of the spiritual condition of the church and the individual believer. Through a comprehensive chart study, we can gain a deeper understanding of their historical and spiritual significance and apply their timeless lessons to our own lives and ministries. May we heed the words of Jesus to the seven churches, and strive to grow in faith, love, and obedience, as we eagerly await His return and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom.” ^[1]

 

CHURCH	BIBLE REF	PRAISE	REBUKE	ACTION NEEDED
Ephesus	Rev. 2:1-7	Hard working, great endurance	They do not love as they first did.	Remember & repent; regain their 1st love
Smyrna	Rev. 2:8-11	They suffered persecution & poverty	None	Do not fear; endure & be faithful
Pergamum	Rev. 2:12-17	They remained loyal to God	They tolerated compromise with the world	They must repent & separate from the world.
Thyatira	Rev. 2:18-19	They exhibited love, faith, service & endurance.	They tolerated immorality & false teachings.	They must learn to discern truth from lies & repent.
Sardis	Rev. 3:1-6	They were somewhat effective.	Yet they were spiritually dead; superficial in their faith.	They needed to wake up; revive & remain in faithful obedience.
Philadelphia	Rev. 3:7-13	They were faithful.	None	Hold on; persevere.
Laodicea	Rev. 3:14-22	None	Their faith was lukewarm; self-sufficient.	They needed to repent and rekindle their dependence on God.

 

 

                  This summary of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation shows us the qualities our churches today should seek & those we should avoid.

            Next we will continue our journey thru the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] https://isvbible.com/blog/the-seven-churches-of-revelation-a-chart-study-on-church-history

REVELATION - The Mega Themes (part 2)

JUDGMENT - There is a day coming, a time no man knows, when God’s avenging anger shall be fully and completely released. At that time there will be neither any place to run, nor any place to hide from his divine wrath. Satan and his demons will be thoroughly defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire reserved for them. False religions shall be destroyed. Those faithful servants who followed the Lord shall be rewarded with eternal life, but all who have refused to believe in God will face eternal separation from God with no hope of redemption. There will be no end to the punishment that will be inflicted upon them for all eternity.

            Evil and injustice will not triumph forever, for God’s final judgment will stop it in its tracks. It is imperative that all followers of Christ are absolutely certain that their commitment to Christ is unwavering so as to escape the great final judgment of God. No one who rejects Christ will escape God’s punishment.

            I’d like to address a certain thought process that exists with many casual believers. That being that “God is a god of love; surely he wouldn’t send anyone to hell.” Let’s get something very clear; God has never SENT anyone to hell, nor WILL he ever send anyone to hell. “The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” _{[2 Peter 3:9 AMP]} Does that sound like someone who intends to ship anyone to hell? No, it doesn’t. People, by their own decision, have decided to sidestep what they believe is a restrictive lifestyle to “enjoy” a life filled with temporal pleasures. They are unaware of what awaits them as the end of life as we know it arrives. At that time there will be no clemency, nothing but sorrow and remorse for a life that has been wasted. Life with God is filled with wonderful blessings and an eternal home where we will never want for anything ever again. Not believing in what scripture details for us is very human, but on the final day no excuses will be accepted. All hope of reversal regarding the sentence that has been pronounced against those who ignored Jesus’ teachings are gone. So don’t think that God won’t send anyone to hell, because that is something man does all by himself thru stubborn, arrogant ignorance.

 

HOPE - There is a day coming when God will create a new heaven and a new earth. At that time all believers will live with him forever in perfect peace and security. The dead in Christ will be raised to life. These promises for our future bring us hope.

            Our great hope is that what Christ promised will actually come true. Having confidence in our final destination will allow us to follow Christ with unshakeable dedication, no matter what we are confronted with in this life. We can be encouraged by hoping in Christ’s return.

            Next we will continue on with our look at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His blessing,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.