Introduction to the Book of Revelation, Part 4
8.19.20
Pt 1 — Prologue, vision of Jesus, 7 churches (Rev 1-3)
Pt 2 — “Before the Wrath” Docudrama
Pt 3 — Rapture (1 Thes 4), Heaven’s Throne (Rev 4)
Pt 4 — The simultaneous events occurring in heaven and on earth after the rapture of the church.
Heaven:
-
-
- Judgement seat of Christ (believers standing before the bema)
- The Marriage super of the Lamb
-
Earth:
Rise of the Antichrist, Great Tribulation
A. Judgment seat of Christ
Once the rapture of the occurs, the next major event for the church is the judgment seat of Christ or the bema seat judgment, in heaven.
Those raptured saints, dead or alive from the church age will stand individually before God to receive their rewards — tangible rewards doled out by Jesus based on a faithful life and service, and ministry for the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
It’s called the judgment seat “of Christ” because Jesus will be the judge.
John 5:22 (NIV)
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…
The judgment seat of Christ will occur in heaven immediately after the church is raptured to heaven.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Each person work for the Lord will be tested and tried.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Those good deeds done with right motives will survive the fire but the same good deeds done with impure motive will burn like wood, hay and straw. God knows not only what we do, but why we do it. Examining our motives is the most searching aspect of this test.
Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
The Bema seat is not about salvation but stewardship. It is not for sinners but the saints.
The prize will be in the form of a crown crown. There are 5 types of crowns mentioned
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
2. The crown of righteousness
2 Timothy 4:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
3. The crown of life
James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Revelation 2:10
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
4. The crown of rejoicing
1 Thessalonians 2:19
19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
5. The crown of glory
1 Peter 5:1-4
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
The Bema seat judgment is different than the The Great White Throne judgement. The judgment of unrighteous people will occur at the end of the Millennium. They will be judged according to their works and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
B. Marriage supper of the lamb
Revelation 19:6-9
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Earth: Rise of the Antichrist
Before the antichrist is revealed, the church must be gathered to the Lord in the rapture The main purpose of the Rapture is to end the church age.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-7 NIV
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
v. 3 apostasia means
1. physical departure (pre king James, 1599)
2. spiritual departure (King James bible and modern translations)
2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: [a]for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that [b]that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition.
The Bible speaks of an evil personage who will come on the scene of history at the time of the end. This individual will be like no one else who has ever lived.
He is known in Scripture by many names,
—the man of rebellion,
—the ”lawless one,”
—the anti anti christ
—the “Beast,”
—Little horn and the final Gentile world ruler.
He will in actuality attempt to counterfeit Messiah and King, Jesus.
—he will deceive and lead the whole world astray
—global leader possession great power
—force a mark on the world
Antichrist is currently a spirit that will grow in influence and culminate in a person
1 John 2:18
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.
The spirit of antichrist is the embodiment of all this is
—other than Christ
—in place of Christ
—anything seeks to replace Christ
Personification of all who hate Christ
—false teachers
—false prophets
—pseudo Christs
Daniel gives a good picture of this person in chapters 7-11
7:23-25
—oppress God’s holy people, the Jews
—change times and laws
—devour the whole earth
—Make false peace with the world and with the Jews
and he will exert oppressive power over God’s people for 3.5 yrs
9:27 desecrate the Jewish temple (abomination causes desolation)
11:35 will speak against the Most High
11:36 exalt himself above every God and speak against God
11:36 experience great international success
11:37 no desire for women
11:41 he will invade countries like a flood
Revelation 13 fills in the picture started by Daniel
—like a beast arising out of the sea
—global leader possession great power
—fatal wound that will be miraculously healed
—force a mark on the world, unable to buy or sell without it
***Ultimately Jesus will destroy the antichrist with the breath of his mouth at the second coming.
Book of Daniel tells us that a some point, the antichrist will take an existing covenant and turn up the volume on it
Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
He (antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[a]
The seven-year covenant brokered by the Antichrist will usher in a temporary peace for the Middle East, and one that will briefly encompass the entire world.
Homework: read Revelation 5-8 and download Free Digital Book : Stewart, Don. Look Up!: A Timeline of 50 Last Days Events