What happens when a saved person dies?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
2 Cor. 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Is this place of judgment heaven, paradise or purgatory?
Let’s examine the text to see.
Where is paradise?
Luke 23:43 "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise".
2 Cor. 12:2-4 "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
Revelation 2:7 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
Paradise is wherever Jesus is.
Where is Jesus?
John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. "
He has gone to be with God.
Hebrews 9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: "
Where is God?
Matthew 6:9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. "
Jesus is in Heaven with God and that is exactly where we will be when we die or are taken in the rapture.
A Christian’s Most Important Appointment
2 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."
Must Stand before the One Who Saved Us
1. An appointment only for believers
2. Lost people not judged until later
Rev. 20:5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
3. Not one Christian will be excused ("We must")
Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
1 Cor. 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
4. Not one Christian will be left out ("all")
5. Think of who we will be meeting
a. The One who came down to save us
b. The One who endured the cross for us
c. The One who arose for us
d. The One who has taken away our sins
e. The One who has heard our prayers
6. We ought to live with this meeting in mind
We Must Stand before the One Who Knows All about Us
1. "We must all appear" (be made manifest)
2. Standing before the One who knows His sheep
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
a. Nothing will be hidden from Him
b. No way to bluff our way through this meeting
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."
How will we be judged?
John 12:48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "
3. Some things Jesus knows about us
a. What occupies our minds
b. What we read at home and at work
c. How we spend or give our money
d. The degree of our dedication
e. The secret desires of our hearts
4. What adjustments ought you to make before that meeting?
a. What changes in priorities?
b. What changes in goals?
As we study the final judgment, we should keep in mind that it is not intended to ascertain our spiritual condition or status, for that is already known to God. Rather, it will manifest or make our status public.
1 Cor. 3:14 "If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."
God offers to the lost, salvation; and for the faithful service of the saved, He offers rewards. The passages are easily distinguished by remembering that salvation is invariably spoken of as a free gift (Jn. 4:10; Rom. 6:23; Eph.. 2:8-9), whereas rewards are earned by works:
Matthew 10:42 "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
Luke 19:17 "And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. "
1 Cor. 9:24-25 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And 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. "
2 Tim. 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Rev. 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."
Rev. 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
The rewards are to be given at the rapture: see 2 Tim. 4:8 and Rev. 22:12
What are the rewards to be given at this time:
1.The Crown of Rejoicing for soul winning
1 Thess. 2:19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"
2. The Crown of Righteousness for loving His appearing
2 Tim. 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
3. The crown of life for suffering
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."
4. The crown of glory for feeding God’s people
1 Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
Will there be varying rewards in heaven?
That there apparently will be degrees of reward is evident in, for example the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27). Ten servants were each given one pound by their master. Eventually they returned differing amounts to him and were rewarded in proportion to their faithfulness. Supporting passages include:
Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. "
1 Cor. 3:14-15 "If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
What will our resurrected body be like?
1 Cor. 15:35-58
