JudgmentSeat2

www.scatteredchristians.org
The entire King James Bible is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO us!
We learn from the "For" and study Paul's writings to apply the 'TO!"

2008 - King James Bible Church in Touchet, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2008

Sermon Outline/Notes for the Starving Bible Believing Christians
throughout the World Wide Web
Preaching Paul's Greater Commission
Expounding the way of God more perfectly... - Acts 18:26
...with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15
That which is perfect HAS COME - the King James Bible - I Corinthians 13:10

Judgment Seat of Christ

The Light of Tomorrow
Part II

March 16, 2008

The Light of Eternity!
For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians 3:20-21

Let's pick up where we left off at II Corinthians 4:4-7 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. What is this glory of God?

There are two aspects of the glory of God. First - it is God's glory through the risen Jesus Christ - "in the face of Jesus Christ..."
Secondly - according to I Corinthians 11:7, it is man, For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Back to verse 7. What is this glory of God?

Man was to be the glory of God, but for now, because of Genesis 5:3 - And Adam... begat a son in his own likeness, after his image..., we are God's image only in a spiritual sense - we must still 'work' at the outward image we portray physically.

God gives us HIS spirit to rank above ours!
God cleans our soul so He can be in us!
The physical is still corrupt - and will need the Judgment Seat to sort out the works done in our body!

But after the Judgment Seat, when we shall be like him - I John 3:2, we will truly be an actual image and glory of God.

By the way: that has always been the goal of the devil!
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The Glory of God lights up the New Jerusalem Revelation 21:1,2 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:22,23 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Notice in verse 23 that the Lamb (Jesus) AND the glory of God lighten the Holy City Jerusalem. What is this glory of God? The glory of God is, as we have seen, Jesus Christ - but it also looks like it must be man in his glorified state.

Remember, II Corinthians 5, we will receive the things done in the body.
Could it be that only those that choose to allow the Lord to light up their Christian daily walk on this earth will actually light up heaven in the future?

Will we light up heaven, too? Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

How does the Lord God give them light?

Will Christians that have been rewarded for their works on earth actually reflect the light that God gives them

Our vile body changed Revelation 21:23 said that the Lamb is the light thereof. According to Philippians 3:21, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body... we are going to receive a body fashioned like Jesus' body.

If He lights up heaven, wouldn't we do the same? Fascinating!
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Summary so far:
Jesus Christ was the light of the world when He was in the world.
We are the light of the world now as light-bearers for Jesus Christ.
We shall all be changed and shall have a body like the body of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ (the Lamb) will light up heaven, and so will the glory of God.
As is Jesus Christ, man also will be the glory of God and as our body will be like Jesus' body...
...then we will light up New Jerusalem as He will light up New Jerusalem.

Well, let's look even closer at this 'possibility' of actually being part of the light of God's glory!

Example: Moses Shining Face

Turn to II Corinthians 3:7-11. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Also, look at verse 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The children of Israel could not look on the face of Moses after he had been with the Lord.

Why?

Exodus 34:29 says that the skin of his face shone... when he came down from the mountain after speaking to God. If God did this to Moses (prior to the cross and death of Jesus Christ), the glory that will shine from the Christian will be much greater (see above 7-11).

Example: The Glory of the Sun, Moon and Stars
The next passage discuss the glory of the sun, moon and stars and likens them to the resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

This is the issue here in that above verse: What body will the Christian have after the resurrection?

Answer: We will have a glorified body, of course, likened to the body of Jesus Christ; but the connection goes much further than that.

Will we all shine alike? I Corinthians 15:41-44 - 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: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Will everyone shine alike? The Bible obviously does not and would not teach that. Verse 41 says that one star differeth from another star in glory. Apparently there will be no need of the sun, moon and stars in heaven because the resurrected bodies will lighten it.

If the Christian allows the Lord to light up this earth by his walk with Jesus Christ,
he will actually have the opportunity to really lighten up heaven!

Ask the question again
I ask the question again: Will everyone light up heaven? NO!

Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 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. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Colossians 3:24,25 - Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Daniel Adds the Finishing Touch! Now, look at Daniel 12:1-3. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 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.

To help understand the above verses:
Verse 1
Michael - the archangel
time of trouble - Jacob's trouble - the Tribulation
the book - the Book of Life - the Tribulation

Verse 2
the two judgments after the resurrection:
everlasting life - the redeemed - Judgment Seat of Christ
shame & everlasting contempt - the lost - the White Throne Judgment

Verse 3
Two categories of light
a) the wise - as the brightness as the firmament
b) they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever

In conclusion: This seems to be a good time to encourage each and every one of us to look into what it takes to be 'wise' and to also put more efforts into turning our friends and family to righteousness, whether it be God's own righteousness or the righteousness that deals with our physical walk.

In light of the fact that the life we now live will determine our position eternally, how should we live in the here and now?

What manner of person's ought we to be?

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 - but go ahead and read the rest of the chapter for more details on life that should be now.

Yes, it appears that there will be some that shine and there will be some that won't.

Our light in heaven will be directly proportional to the light that we allow God
to shine through us while we are on this earth.

Christian, will you light up New Jerusalem tomorrow?
Or are you a 'Dimmed Christian' today!