LEADERSHIP AND ETERNITY

John 6:26-27

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Luke 14:12-14

¹² Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. ¹⁴ And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

2 John 1:8

⁸ Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

I.                   ETERNAL REWARDS PROMISED

1.      Judgment Seat of Christ

a.       Judgment unto Works (Judgment Seat of Christ)

Revelations 14:10-12

¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. ¹² So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

                                    2 Corinthians 5:10-11

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. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”

1 Corinthians 3:13-15

¹³ Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2.      The reward of the inheritance

Colossians 3:24

²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

3.     Dwelling Places

John 14:2

² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

4.     Seeing the Face of God

Revelations 22:4

⁴ They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

5.     A Glorified Body

Philippians 3:21

²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

6.     Varying degrees of Glory

Daniel 12:3

³ Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

7.     Joint heirs with Christ

Romans 8:17

¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

8.     Inherit all things

Revelations 21:7

⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

9.     Assist in Judging the World

1 Corinthians 6:2

² Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

10.  Reigning on the Earth

Revelations 5:10

¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God, And we shall reign on the earth.”

11. A Crown of Righteousness

2 Timothy 4:8

⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

12.A Crown of Glory

1 Peter 5:4

⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

13.Incorruptible Crown

1 Corinthians 9:25

²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

           

14.The Countenance of Jesus

Isaiah 60:19

¹⁹ “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.

15.Fullness of Joy

Psalm 16:11

¹¹ You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

16.More than you can imagine

1 Corinthians 2:9

⁹ But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

17.Given at the Second Coming

Matthew 16:27

²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

II.                BENEFITS OF AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

1.     Endurance

Hebrews 10:34-35

³⁴ for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

2.     Increase in Treasure

³³ Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3.     Faithfulness unto Death

Revelations 2:10

¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

4.     Perspective on Current Problems

Romans 8:18

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us.

III.             END TIME ORDER OF EVENTS

1.     Increasing Signs of the Times

We are called to know the signs and the times.  (1 Thessalonians. 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians. 2:1-11)

Matthew 24:32-34

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

a.       12 Global Trends are the signs

b.      False Christs, wars, ethnic conflict, economic warfare, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Matthew. 24:4-8

c.       Commotions, fearful sights, great signs from heaven, distress in the nations and roaring waves.  Luke. 21:7-18

2.     A World Ruler striking a peace treaty with Israel and other nations (Daniel. 8:24-25; 9:27)

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

3.      The Abomination of Desolation (Daniels. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11;Mark. 13:14)

Matthews 24:15

¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

           

During this time the False Prophet will command all to make an image (statue) related to worshipping the Antichrist (Revelations. 13:14, 15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2;19:20; 20:4). He will cause the image to speak and breathe.

4.     The Beginning of Great Tribulation

Matthew 24:21

²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

5.     Great Falling Away

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

a.       Deception will be rampant

1 Timothy 4:1-2

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.

b.      Jesus warned of Deception

Matthew 24:22-24

²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.²³ “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand. ²⁶ “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

6.     Seal Judgments

Revelation 6:1-2

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” ² And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

a.       The first seal is release of the antichrist.(Revelation 6:1 – 2).

a.

b.      The second seal great war(Revelation 6:3 – 4).

b.

c.       The third seal Shannon. (Revelation 6:5 – 6).

d.      The fourth seal, plaques, more famine, more (Revelation 6: 7 – 8).

e.       The fifth seal is martyrs. (Revelation 6: 9 – 11).

f.        The sixth seal deliverance for the martyrs. (Revelation 6: 16– 17).

g.      The seventh seal introduction of the seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:1-2)

7.     Trumpet Judgments

a.      First Trumpet Hail and fire that destroyed plant life. (Revelation 8:7)

b.      Second Trumpet Meteor hitting oceans death to most sea life (Revelation 8:8-9)

c.      Third Trumpet judgment legs rivers and streams.(Revelation 8:10 – 11).

d.      Fourth Trumpet sun and Moon darkened.( revelation 8:12).

e.       Fifth Trumpet plague of demonic locusts that torture humans (Revelation 9:1 – 11).

f.        Sixth Trumpet release of a demonic army that kills 1/3^rd of all humans.

8.     7th Trumpet

Bowl Judgements, Second Coming, The Rapture of the Church

a.      Scripture teaches the rapture happens at the last trumpet

Isaiah 27:13

So it shall be in that day, the great trumpet will be blown; They will come who are about to perish in the land of Assyria and they who are outcast in the land of Egypt and they shall worship the Lord in the holy Mont at Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherits incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b.     The Seventh Trumpet (Last Trumpet) wraps up God’s Plan

Revelations 10:6-7

⁵ And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, ⁶ And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer; ⁷ But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Revelations 11:15-17

¹⁵ And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ¹⁶ And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, ¹⁷ Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

The trumpets are seven successive trumpets blown by Angels that begin in Revelation Chapter 8

c.      Jesus taught when the rapture would occur

Matthew 24:29-31

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

d.     The whole concept of Dispensationalism and a pre-tribulation rapture is very young.

Dispensationalism is the belief that world history is divided into seven-time frames or dispensations. This was taught by John Darby in 1830. It became popular when printed in the Scofield Reference Bible. It included a belief that God would secretly rapture His people before the tribulation starts. This view is less that 200 years old.  There are many in Church History who believed in rapture during second coming before the Millennium.

Early Church Fathers

·         Justin Martyr (165 AD)

·         Papias (155 AD)

·         Tertullian (220 AD)

·         Commodianus (240 AD)

·         Victorinus of Petau (304 AD)

·         Methodius (312 AD)

·         Lactantius (325 AD)

Prominent Voices in Last 200 Years who believe this

·         Charles Spurgeon

·         J. C. Ryle

·         Robert Murray N’Cheyne

·         Hudson Taylor

·         George Mueller

·         John Warwick Montgomery

·         Francis Schaeffer

·         R.A. Torrey

·         F.F. Bruce

e.      We Misunderstood Jesus teaching on Separation during the end times.

Matthew:26-37

²⁶ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: ²⁷ They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; ²⁹ but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.³¹ “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. ³² Remember Lot’s wife. ³³ Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. ³⁴ I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. ³⁵ Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. ³⁶ Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”³⁷ And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

f.        Jesus Told us He would appear after the Tribulation

Matthew 24:29-31

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

9.     Bowl Judgments

The bowl judgments are not against God’s people

a.       First Bowl Painful sores on humans (Revelation 16:2)

b.      Second Bowl Death of all life in Seas (Revelation 16:3)

c.       Third Bowl Rivers turn to Blood (Revelation 16:4-7)

d.      Fourth Bowl Sun heating up scorching men (Revelation 16:8-9)

e.       Fifth Bowl Great Darkness (Revelation 16:10-11)

f.        Sixth Bowl Euphrates River drying up so antichrist armies can march to Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-14)

g.       Seventh Bowl Global Earthquake and great Hail Storms (Revelation 16:15-21)

10.Royal Procession (30 Days)

11.Battle of Armageddon

12.Jesus taking over Government of the Earth

Jesus, as King of Kings, will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with resurrected saints, establishing a biblically based social order (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). The saints’ roles in the Millennium are as priests (intercessory worship) and kings (ruling). In Revelation, the saints are called kings who reign on the earth (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 22:5) and priests (Isa. 61:6; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Priests will worship, intercede, and mediate the knowledge of God to others (non-resurrected people on the millennial earth, to saints and angels in the New Jerusalem, etc.). As kings, the saints will rule with a rod of iron and will conduct war tribunals, judge, and administrate punishments on sinners. The rod of severity against sin will be used by Jesus with His saints (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:4; 24:23, 32:1; Jer. 30:21; Ezek. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Rev. 2:27; 19:15; 12:5).

13.Satan Bound 1000 years

Revelations 20

14.Millennial Reign of Jesus

Daniels 2:44

⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

15.Post Millennial Reign Testing

Revelations 20:7-9

⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

16. New Heaven and New Earth  (1 Chr. 23:25; Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; 28:8; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20).

Rev 21:1-4

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth, had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God, Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”