Monday, December 27, 2010

On the Subject of Rewards

There is an accepted view of the Rapture, known as the pre-trib Rapture, which places the Rapture of the Church prior to the Great Tribulation period. After the Rapture, it is taught, the wrath of God will be let loose on earth for seven years, and during this same seven -year period something wonderful will be happening in heaven. During these seven years, the Church will receive her rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and will be married to the Lamb.

But this is NOT found anywhere in Scripture. It is a total fabrication. (I don't say that to be mean-spirited, just to be plain-spoken.)

Do we receive our rewards at the time of the Great Tribulation? Do we receive them after the secret Rapture of the Church but before the glorious return of Christ? What does the Bible say?

Here is what the Lord Jesus said, "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." (Mark 16:27)

When is every man rewarded? At a secret Rapture? At a quiet coming in the clouds? Before the second coming of Christ? No, the Lord brings his rewards with him when he returns in the GLORY OF HIS FATHER. With his angels!

Again, the book of Revelation tells us the same thing, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12)

The Lord brings the rewards AT his visible, glorious revelation! At the second coming!

As we have seen in prior posts, the Lord will return at the end of this age, on the last day. At that time, he will return in glory. He will have his rewards with him. He will call his saints to him to meet him in the air, and they will immediately return with him to the earth. After a short skirmish known as the Battle of Armageddon, Christ will set up his kingdom and pass out the rewards to every man.

A third witness to the timing of the rewards is found in Isaiah 40:10. "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." (Isaiah 40:10)

I would almost think that this is the passage that the Lord Jesus has in mind when he says Mark 16:27; it sure does sound the same! Here again, we see the Lord returning to RULE with a STRONG HAND. Here again, we see the glorious second coming of Christ. And, here again, we see him bringing his rewards with him!

We are NOT rewarded in the air. We are NOT rewarded during the time of the Great Tribulation, prior to the Second Coming of Christ.

We are rewarded AFTER the Second Coming of Christ.

(As this blog continues, I hope that you will see two things. First, that the pre-trib Rapture is not biblical, and second, that the Rapture occurs AT the Revelation.)


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