ER4. Overview of the Eternal Rewards
Part 2
I.
Review:
1. A Great Theme of Jesus
Teaching was Eternal Rewards
·
Jesus
constantly taught about seeking Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them
·
“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.”(Mat.16:27)
2. There are very Many
Different types of Rewards
·
In
Rev.2-3 Jesus names many different rewards for those who Overcome specific
challenges and trials
·
The
many Eternal Rewards that are described potentially form an important part of
our Eternal Destiny
·
We
need to be familiar with the significance and importance of the different
rewards revealed.
·
Understanding
what is at stake gives us great motivation for perseverance and transformation
“Bondservants,
obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service,
as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
And whatever
you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord
Christ.
But he who does
wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality”
(Col.3:22-24)
3. Rewards are Not Given
Automatically…Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions
·
“To him who overcomes
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with
My Father on His throne” (Rev.3:21)
·
“If anyone serves Me, let
him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves
Me, him My Father will honor” (Jn.12:26)
·
Note that in each of these
scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in
response to Jesus
4. Our Small Sacrifices Now
have Huge Recompense Eternally
·
“You
were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things.” (Mt. 25:21)
·
“Well
done...you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten
cities.” (Lk. 19:17)
·
God
greatly values our small expressions of obedience in our mind , emotions and
will
·
He
remembers them and rewards them in a much much
greater proportion
·
God
is a “Rewarder” ( Heb.11:6) and He is extremely
generous!
·
“Everyone
who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit
eternal life.” (Mt. 19:29)
5. Possible Categories of
these Many Rewards
·
The
many Rewards mentioned in the Bible could be listed under the following
headings:
1. Eternal Intimacy
2. Eternal Authority
3. Eternal Glory
4. Eternal Garments
5. Victor’s Crowns
6. Honour & Praise
7. Treasures & Riches
8. Vindication
·
The
first three of these rewards deserve
special attention
·
One
of the Rewards mentioned more than any other is Ruling and Reigning with
Christ
·
This
is because God’s original design for man is to be a Son
Having Intimate Relationship
with Him
Working with Him to extend
His Kingdom with Power and Authority
Representing Him…His
Character and Glory
II.
Reward 3: Eternal Glory
1. Jesus Manifested
Resurrection Glory
“For we did not
follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
For He received
from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the
Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
And we heard
this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain”
(2Pet.1:16-17)
·
Three disciples were
eyewitnesses to the Majesty and Glory of Jesus in His resurrected Body
·
This is not a fable…some
form of fiction or myth that has been invented
·
“Eyewitnesses”…..spectators,
personally present to see with our own eyes
·
“Majesty”…megaliotes….magnificence, visible splendor, wonderful, superbness, brilliance, regal dignity
·
The disciples visibly
encountered Jesus in the Glory and Honor of His Resurrected Body
·
Not all the disciples were
given this revelation of His Glory
·
They identify clearly when
they saw His Majesty and Glory…on the Mount of Transfiguration
2. Jesus
Resurrection Glory Revealed
·
By Mathew
“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.
Assuredly, I
say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they
see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Now after
six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high
mountain by themselves;
and He was transfigured
before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white
as the light” (Matt.16:27-17:2).
·
By Luke
As He prayed,
the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and
glistening” ( Lk.9:29)
·
By Mark
Now after
six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain
apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
His clothes
became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can
whiten them” (Mk.9:2-3)
·
Jesus prophesies in Mathew
that some of His disciples will be eyewitnesses to his resurrection glory and
His second coming before they die
·
As Jesus prayed on the
mountain He is transfigured before His three disciples
·
“Transfigured”…Gk. metamorphoo …to completely change into another form
Metamorphosis….a
change of form or structure by supernatural means (Miriam Webster)
In nature this
word is used to describe the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a
butterfly…radical transformation
3. We will Have a Resurrected
Body Like Jesus Body
·
“For our citizenship is in
heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
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”
(Phil.3:21-22)
·
“Transform”…..to change the
figure of, totally change the external condition
·
“Conformed” …to bring
something into existence that was not there previously
·
“Like”…………….Gk summorphos… to have exactly
the same form as another
·
There
will be a demonstration of the supernatural power of God that totally changes
our physical body
·
“Working”
…….supernatural energising by the Spirit of God
·
“But if the Spirit of Him
who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells
in you” (Rom.8:11)
·
Our
physical body will be made like Jesus resurrected physical body, it will be
totally transformed by the supernatural power of God
4. What Was Jesus Resurrected
Body Like?
(i) Jesus had a Physical Body with Flesh and
Bones (Jn. 20:27).
“Then He said
to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your
hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be
unbelieving, but believing." (Jn.20:27)
“Behold My
hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does
not have flesh and bones as you see I have."( Lk.24:39)
Jesus gave
evidence that he was the same person as before when He went to the cross
His body
retained its scars, perhaps as eternal badge of Honor
Jesus body was
a real physical and spiritual body, able to operate in both the physical and
spiritual worlds
(ii)
The Disciples Touched Jesus and Ate and Drank with Him
Jesus Disciples Touched Him
“And as they
went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,
"Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him”
(Mat.28:9)
Jesus Disciples Ate and
Drank with Him
“Jesus said to
them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask
Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came
and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish
” (Jn.21:12-13)
Him God raised
up on the third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to
witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate
and drank with Him after He arose from the dead” (Acts10:40-41)
·
Jesus body was tangible,
physical and material…it was a real physical body. It had been transformed,
transfigured to become a glorious spiritual body without limitations
(iii) Jesus Could Materialise and Dematerialise in His
Physical Body.
·
Jesus
was no longer controlled by time, space and physical laws or limitations of
this world
·
He
could enter and exit the natural world at will
·
He
could supernaturally transport from one location to another location
·
Luke
describes Jesus Sudden Disappearance
“Then their
eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight”
(Lk.24:31)
“Vanished”……vanish out of sight, become
invisible, disappear from sight suddenly
·
He
sometimes vanished from their sight suddenly…there physically one moment and then
suddenly gone
·
John
describes Jesus Sudden Appearances
Jesus possibly walked
through walls on
two occasions when doors were “shut”
“Then, the same
day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where
the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in
the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." (Jn.20:19)
And after eight
days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the
doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to
you!" (Jn.20:26)
Mark describes
Jesus appearance
“Later He appeared
to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and
hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He
had risen” (Mk.16:14)
·
Paul Lists Jesus Many
Appearances after His Resurrection
“For I
delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was
buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He was
seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
After that He
was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part
remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
After that He
was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
Then last of
all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time”
(1Cor.15:3-8)
·
Paul identifies several
different occasions when Jesus appeared and then disappeared before people.
·
Paul himself had a personal
face to face encounter when Jesus appeared in blinding light. Paul’s companions
heard Jesus voice but saw no one (Act.9:1-9)
·
Luke also Lists Ongoing
Daily Appearances of Jesus
These
appearances and disappearances took place daily over a period of 40 days
“The former
account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
until the day
in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given
commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
to whom He
also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs,
being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining
to the kingdom of God” (Act.1:1-3)
·
Jesus continued
sharing His message regarding the
Kingdom of God over 40 days in a resurrection body
·
No doubt He appeared as
they gathered in worship, taught them and then suddenly disappeared.
·
Can you imagine how that
must have felt to those experiencing this happening?
·
The impact of Jesus
appearing could be mentally and emotionally overwhelming
“Now as they
said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and
supposed they had seen a spirit” (Lk24.36-37)
“Terrified”……….to be overcome
by astonishment, fall down prostrate on the ground
“Frightened”……to cause to
tremble in fear.
The sudden
appearance of jesus out of nowhere must have been a
deeply disturbing experience
(iv) Jesus Body Could Change Form
·
The Disciples on the
Road Did Not Recognize Jesus
·
“After that, He appeared in
another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country”
(Mk.16:12)
“Form”….visible shape
or appearance.
Jesus body
appearance could alter so people not recognize Him
“So it was,
while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with
them. But their eyes were
restrained, so that they did not know Him” (Lk.24:15-16
·
Mary
Magdalene did not Recognise Him
Then they said
to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because
they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Now when she
had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not
know that it was Jesus”
Jesus said to
her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (Jn.20:13-15)
(v). Jesus’ Resurrected Body Radiates Glory
·
“and He was transfigured
before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as
white as the light” (Mat.17:2)
·
“His clothes became shining,
exceedingly white, like snow, such as no
launderer on earth can whiten them” (Mk.9:3)
·
“As He prayed, the
appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening “
(Lk.9:29)
·
“Shone”………..lampo….to beam or radiate forth
light, to radiate out brilliant light
·
“White”………..leukos….brilliant, dazzling white,
radiating out dazzling bright rays of light
·
“Glistening”….To shine out
lightning
·
The Glory of God
transformed Jesus face, His body and His
garments so they radiated out lightning and rays of brilliant white light
(vi) John saw Jesus in His Resurrected Glory in
a Vision
·
Then I turned to see the
voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
and in the
midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment
down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
His head and
hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of
fire;
His feet were
like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many
waters;
He had in His
right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance
was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev.1:12-16)
·
Jesus countenance shone
with the brilliance of the sun…He displayed His resurrected glory to John
·
The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. (Mt. 13:43)
(vii) Jesus Could Veil His Glory—fully or
partially.
·
Sometimes
Jesus appeared in His Glory…other times He did not
·
At
times, Jesus was not recognised as He veiled or concealed His resurrection
glory
·
He
could suddenly appear or vanish from sight.
·
Jesus’
resurrected body has “supernatural flesh” with bones and has the capacity to
eat and drink
·
“Jesus
Himself drew near and went with them [to Emmaus], Their eyes were restrained,
so that they did not know Him.” (Lk.24:15-16)
“Then their
eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight”
(Lk.24:31)
(viii). Christ
In Us, The Hope of Glory
·
“But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not
of us” (2Cor.4:7)
·
Each believer is joined to the
Spirit of God. He is the treasure
dwelling within us
·
To them God willed to make
known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we preach,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present
every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
To this end I also labor,
striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col.1:27-29)
·
Each of us has a measure of
the Glory of God within us. It is veiled and is not visible to people
·
That measure of Gods presence and Glory is like a downpayment
on what He has planned ahead for us
“In Him you
also trusted, after you heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is the guarantee
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the
praise of His glory” (Eph.1:13-14)
·
“Guarantee”…..earnest……the deposit
given in advance as a downpayment or pledge that the
final payment will be completed
·
That Glory within us is a
reminder of the Greater Glory we are each called to take hold of, to possess
·
This motivated Paul to
persevere in his ministry calling mature believers for their Eternal Destiny so
that they would qualify for their Reward
5. Believers will Manifest
Different Degrees of Glory
·
We
will Have a Body Like Jesus Body
·
“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.
(Phil.3:21)
·
:The first man was
of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
As was the man
of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so
also are those who are heavenly.
And as we have
borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the
heavenly Man.(1Cor.15:47-49)
·
Beloved, now we are
children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know
that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is.
And everyone
who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1Jn.3:2-3)
·
We Will Have Supernaturally
Enhanced Abilities
1. Mental: Enhanced abilities to
understand, remember, and reason
2. Emotional: Enhanced abilities to feel: Love, joy,
peace, etc.
3. Communicate: Enhanced abilities in speech, song, music, writing, poetry,
etc.
4. Strength: Enhanced abilities in speed,
endurance, lifting objects without fatigue or sickness
5. Transportation: Enhanced abilities in flight and speed,
transportation Eg Elijah, Philip
6. Material: Enhanced ability to pass
through walls or crowds like Jesus
7. Beauty: Enhanced physical appearance
….physical countenance, fragrance, light, color, etc.
8, Incorruptible……..Unable
to become sick, injured or die
·
Our
Five Senses will be Enhanced
by the Power of God.
“There are also
celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is
one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
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. (1Cor.15:40-44)
Note the
changes to our physical body:
Incorruption: …….Vitality and strength
replace sickness and decay.
Glory: ………………..Purity and honor replace failure, shame, and dishonor
Power: ………………Safety and strength
replace pain, vulnerability, and addiction.
Spiritual body….. Supernatural capacities
replace natural limitations.
Immortality: ……..Unending life and love
replace physical death and loss.
Our Physical Body will
become Transformed and Greatly Enhanced
·
Our
current physical bodies are limitation and deterioration. Our resurrection body
will be gloriously transformed
·
Our
spiritual body (Resurrected body) will not be subject to the physical
limitations and laws that govern the natural world
·
Our
new body will be glorious and have amazing abilities
1. Sight:
Ability to see at a distance and at close range
2. Hearing:
Ability to hear with clarity and perception at great distances
3. Taste:
Enjoyment of food and water to the fullest degree (1 Cor. 10:31; Rev. 22:1-2)
4. Touch:
Glorified physical senses
5. Smell:
Supernatural ability to enjoy and discern heavenly fragrances
...will transform our lowly
body that it may be conformed to His glorious body... (Phil. 3:21)
·
Each Believer will Receive a Different Measure
of Glory in their Resurrected Body (Mt. 5:19).
“Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall
do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
There will be
least and greatest in the coming Kingdom..ie different realms of glory
“There are also
celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is
one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one
glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the
stars: for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is
the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in
incorruption” (1Cor.15:4
There will be
different realms of Glory for each believer based upon their life and
stewardship
Believers will
not have the same degree of glory in their resurrected bodies
·
Just as there are great
differences in the bodies of the Animal Kingdom there will be great differences
in the coming Heavenly Kingdom
·
Believers
will have varying degrees of glory in their resurrected bodies just as
stars differ from other
stars in brightness.
The degree of glory that we
will have is based upon the way we live on earth.
·
The
degree of glory in our resurrected bodies will be directly related to what
we overcome in this life and the amount of inner transformation
to become like Christ.
6. The First Resurrection: The
Resurrection of Reward
(i) The Bible Reveals That There are Two
Resurrections
The First resurrection
But the rest of
the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath
part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years” (Rev.20:5-6)
·
If there is a First
resurrection then there must also be another resurrection
·
The First resurrection
takes place at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth
The General
resurrection
·
The Second or General Resurrection takes place at the end
of the millennial reign of Christ at the Great White Throne Judgement
·
“And I saw a great white
throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled
away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works.
And the sea
gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead
which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”
(Rev.20:11-15)
·
Those who take place in the
First Resurrection become Priests and Kings
to God and reign on earth for the 1000 years working with Jesus to establish
His Kingdom and Rule over the earth
“Then comes the end, when
He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and
all authority and power.
For He must
reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” (1Cor.15:24-25)
(ii)
The First Resurrection: Resurrection of Reward
·
Participation in the First Resurrection is
Reserved for those who are Overcomers
This would be a
significant point of difference of doctrine or belief among Christians
Some Christians
do not know that there are actually two resurrections
Some Christians
believe that the First resurrection has already taken place
Some Christians
believe that All believers will participate in the First Resurrection
Other
Christians believe that The First resurrection is a prize to be won. It is not automatic
(iii)
Evidence that Points to the First Resurrection being a Reward
Paul’s Letter
to the Philippians
“ But what things
were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yet indeed I
also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain Christ
and be found in
Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law,
but that which is through faith
in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
that I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death,
if, by any
means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil.3:7-11)
·
Paul considers all his
achievements meaningless compared to the prize ahead….winning Christ
·
Since he has already
experienced Christ indwelling, he is referring to a future prize to be won
·
“Resurrection from the
dead….”ekanastasis”…literally the out from
resurrection
·
This refers to the First
Resurrection when a people will be resurrected out from among the dead at the
beginning of the Millennium
·
“If by any means” tells us
that he is uncertain that he will attain to this prize of the First
Resurrection.
·
Paul,
six years before his death, wanted to make sure that he was qualified to
participate in the resurrection of the dead….The First Resurrection
·
Paul tells us that there is
a possibility that this will not happen…
·
It is a Prize to contend
for, a prize to be won
·
It is the High Calling of
God in Christ
·
“Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do
not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead,
I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore let
us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” (Phil.3:12-15)
·
Paul
goes on to tell us ….he has not yet attained to that “out from resurrection”
·
He
also tells us he has not apprehended that prize but makes it the
motivation for his life and ministry
·
“Attain”………..to
take in the hand
·
“Apprehend”..to take
possession of, to lay hold of so as to make one’s own possession
·
“Press”………….to run , to flee, to run
swiftly in order to take hold of a prize
The Letter to The Hebrews
·
Women received their dead
raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that
they might obtain a better resurrection. (Heb.11:35)
·
All knew of the general
Resurrection when all people would be raised from the dead
·
These people by faith
refused to deny Christ even to the point of death
·
Why? …” In order
to obtain a stronger resurrection”
·
“Stronger”…….more excellent,
nobler, having dominion or power or strength
·
This refers to the First
resurrection…..reward for remaining faithful to Christ
Paul’s Letter to the
Thessalonians
“When he shall
come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Wherefore also
we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and
fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and
the work of faith with power: (2Thes.2:10-11)
·
Note Paul’s prayer that
believers would be counted worthy of this calling to manifest the glory of God
·
He would not be praying
this if He did considered it to be guaranteed
The Book of Revelation: The Promise to Him
that Overcomes
·
“And he who overcomes, and
keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
(Rev.2:26)
·
“To him who overcomes
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with
My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches." ' "(Rev.3:21-22)
·
The promise to rule with
Christ in both Revelation ch.2 and 3 is s given to those who Overcome
·
Those who rise in the First
resurrection “ shall be priests of God
and of Christ and shall reign with him
one thousand years”(Rev.20:6)
·
These means that those
participating in the First Resurrection must be Overcomers in life
7. Where Will We Live in
Resurrected Bodies?
·
Those
with resurrected bodies will live in the New Jerusalem, but they will reign
on the earth.
·
There
will be instant transportation from the New Jerusalem to any place on
the earth, just like angels can move back and forth between the realms
effortlessly.
·
The
veil will be lifted between the realms. Limitations on travel will be removed
·
There
will be a Supernatural dimension merging with the Natural world
·
In
the Millennium, the natural human processes will not be suspended, but will be
significantly enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit.
·
People
with natural bodies, not resurrected will continue life on earth as before with
all the the natural realities and processes of life.
·
Those
with resurrected bodies will be interacting with them, but will have
government and exercise leadership over them.
·
A
Brief Glimpse:
·
We
see brief aspects of this natural and supernatural realm flowing together
during the forty days after Jesus
resurrection and before He ascended into heaven
·
“to whom He also presented
Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them
during forty days and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God.’ (Act.1:3)
·
Him God raised up on the
third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen
before by God, even to us who ate
and drank with Him after He arose from the dead” (Acts10:40-41)
·
He
was teaching them. He was eating their food with them. He was hugging them and
ministering to them. He was appearing and disappearing. What an unbelievable
time!
·
They
would have been overwhelmed with joy and excitement
·
This
is just a brief insight to what life will be like in the Millennial kingdom
Intense Joy, or Great
Sorrow?
·
God’s
purpose has always been that heaven would come to earth….that the two realms
would overlap, and that God would dwell among us
·
Imagine
what it would be like to be part of this, to see and experience this.
The Intense Eternal Joy
of being resurrected and part of the Fist resurrection and this Millennial
ministry
The Great Sorrow at
missing out on what you had been called to participate in!
·
We
have to make the daily choice…..Run our
Personal Race to Win this Prize of The High Calling of God
·
Num 14:21 but
truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD—
III.
Questions For Personal Reflection
1. What has the Holy Spirit
being speaking to you about during this session?
2. What response or actions do you need
to make?
3. Why would building your
inner spirit life be so important\/
4. Why is embracing personal inner transformation
so important?
5. What issues currently
hinder you running passionately for Christ?