Scripture reading: Revelation 20:11-12
It would seem that the “white throne” judgment seat mentioned in Revelation 20:11-12 would be for the Christian a case of giving them a reward; for the sinner it would be a case of casting them into a permanent place of separation from God. Now, if someone thinks that this is somewhat too harsh, then we need to have a little discussion on this point.
Let us deal with “the book of life.” James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” It is clearly stated here that there are different rewards given to the people of God, and that the rewards will not all be the same. Someone says, “Well, I do not care, as long as I make it in.” Well, praise God, but in heaven there are different powers of angels, different rewards, different positions, different situations.
For instance, there is Michael and Gabriel, and there are many other angels of lesser degree which God calls mighty angels. We call them archangels. (I do not know how correct the word is, but for want of a better word, we call them archangels.) God calls them, in Ezekiel, “STONES OF FIRE.” These angels have the power to change everything, like fire. These angels have this magnificent power so that whatever they come upon, they can change it by just sheer power and the glory of God that is with them.
1 Corinthians 15:40-43, “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised IN POWER.” We understand, therefore, that there will be a difference, and this is why people should labor that they might receive all the goodness that God has for them. I do believe that in our endeavors and in our work as Christians, God has certain rewards to give, and I do believe that it is possible for one to miss their reward and fail to receive it.
No deed, no thought, no action dies. It is all being stored up in a record. We know that God can record our thoughts. Listen to this scripture. Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” It is indeed awesome for us to even think that God hears everything we say and hears the things we do not say; that is, HE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF OUR HEART. A man will be judged on a level which is so high, that he will be judged for the things he thinks and the things he plans to do, even if he did not accomplish them. We look at Scripture to carry this thought out. Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” God is speaking about idle words of sinners and also of Christians. We are going to be surprised to see how much loss we suffer at “the judgment seat of Christ.” “The judgment seat of Christ” is designed of God to give rewards to the Christians. See 2 Corinthians 5:10.
(Excerpt from The Book of Revelation, Volume 3, pages 109-110)
Thought for today: No deed, no thought, no action dies. It is all being stored up in a record.
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