Judgment

We all realize that there will be a judgment. The confusing part is that there will be several. Anyway, the idea of several judgments, two or three resurrections, the kingdom on earth and the kingdom of heaven is a real mystery. Put into it the idea of saints being alive in heaven now and others in the Lord asleep awaiting resurrection judgment and you are only left with more questions.

"Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. And is it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you.. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

The big question that we need to ask ourselves should concern what the heavenly calling is. Eternal life begins now in this life but some have tasted the heavenly gift and fallen away. We see a judgment and a resurrection judgment, a private judgment and a general judgment and as we shall see, there is resurrection and there is the resurrection of the dead. We have those that have had deliverance that apply to judgment, that it might not matter in the long run, Jesus is the resurrection and the life, there is still a question of being raised in a mortal body (re-incarnation during the millenium), righteous judgment begins with salvation into the light and disclosed at the second coming. There is certainly more than one resurrection but the important thing is not to look for a reward but look to Jesus.

There is judgment coming to the church. A big, big part of that judgment will be against false authority, the attitude that pastors and church "leaders" can Lord it over the flock just because that it the way it is done. Revelation the fourth chapter, before the seals are opened, have 24 elders bowing before the throne and casting down their crowns. Giving up our authority to Jesus is the first step in avoiding the judgment. If we cannot give up our crowns, Jesus will take them away. We know that the spirit of prophecy is judged by the prophets, that means that we defer to each other, not to our own understanding and that we may have a part in the judging. We are to judge ourselves and that is plural. We know that it will be God that will judge His people but Paul also says in I Corinthians 6:2 that the saints shall judge the world, angels too. If that is true, again, we may have something to do with the judgment coming to the church.

We must proceed as the remnant and part of the restitution. How do we proceed? I am still listening but if the judgment on the church precedes the harvest and the marriage supper and the Bride being ready, then what are we to do? It is real hard for many to pronounce judgment on the church and easy for others. How do we speak the truth in love if it is in condemnation? Ultimately it is God that will be doing the judging and we are to come into repentance. What is our responsibility here? We shall see.

Many pastors are learning and coming into one accord. It is pride that keeps churches bound to incompatible doctrine, their pride sets them apart as special and above the rest. That is the mark of denominationalism. It takes more than love and deference, it also takes unity to the one truth that comes from a common denominator and that will involve repentance and humility. Pride stands in the way of that and often enough to insulate Bible teachers with misquotes and half truths. It takes taking it into the heavenlies and hopefully, they have ears to hear what the spirit is saying. If not, they will fall with Babylon. Pastors are hearing a lot from prophets lately, some listen and learn, some try to gag them. If you have special unction from the Lord to prophesy to your pastor, speak clearly but test all things first.

He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life... The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man... I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 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. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...

Now we come to the question of being translated, there is the dead in Christ and there are those that have been translated. God is truly the God of the living, not of the dead. There are those of us that have been raised in newness of life already and those that await resurrection judgment but we all believe that there are loved ones in Heaven now and there are many of us that stand with the church fathers and still believe in the communion of saints. This is not just those that take the Lord's supper with saints around us but actual communication with those that have gone on. Don't be surprised, this is a valid teaching if God is truly the God of the living, it is not communication with the dead. Some of the reformation teaching set the church back when everything like the proverbial baby with the bath water was thrown out. We are to be reconciled with the truth of our Fathers, not separated by throwing out true truth along with the half-truths.

I believe that we are judged for the words we say, out of our mouth or off of the keyboard. What we say has tremendous repercussions in the day of judgment and the Bible teaches the possibility that we can be erased from the book of life. Those that cast stones at any of us better be without sin or they will be exposed as fools in the day of judgment and numbered with the transgressors. Judgment begins at the house of God.

It is not the purpose of these forums to put people down but rather lift them up. One is done through the flesh and one is done through the spirit. It is not the responsibility of Christians to be the judge of others, those that try have judged their own selves. Where is the love? Those that use their sword of faith to cut the flesh of our brothers and sisters are not part of the restoration process any more that David was allowed to build the first temple. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood but of spiritual principalities and the high places. We do need to judge and discern false doctrine but it is not our job to condemn the man that brings it just because we disagree.

But why do you judge your brother? or why do you set at naught your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep and goats.

[Psalms, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews 6, John, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Matthew, judgment resurrections were a topic of the latter rain discussion list.]



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