Opening Prayer
Revelation 19:9
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Revelation 21:1-8
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Five crowns in the Bible are for those who will do the work of God because whatever we will do on earth will be recorded in the book of remembrance.
Malachi 3:16: “then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened to them and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on his name.”
Christ will judge according to the book of remembrance, we all will stand in front of God, and our judgment will be done.
The first crown is the Incorruptible Crown in the Bible. It will be given to those who will have victory over the world and the flesh and the Satan.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
The Second crown is the Crown of rejoicing, and it will be given to those who will win the souls for Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:19
“You are our hope, our joy and the crown of rejoicing. We will be proud when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.”
This Crown will be given to those who will endure pain and be faithful in God in short for the martyrs.
James 1:12
“Great blessings belong to those who are tempted and remain faithful! After they have proved their faith, God will give them the crown of eternal life.
Revelation 2:10
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to put some of you into prison, that he will do this to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. But be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The fourth crown is the Crown of Glory, and it will be given to the shepherds.
The fifth crown is the crown of righteousness, and it will be given to those who have the Hope for the second coming of Christ.
2 Timothy 4:8
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Revelation 22:12
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
The short answer to this is no. The rewards that saints receive in Heaven will vary greatly. Some people think the term “eternal reward” just means that all saved people will be given the reward of eternal life.
The Bible promises several types of rewards to people who qualify for them. Here are some examples of crowns that the Word of God promises people:
To people who labored to save souls from the fires of hell.
1 Thessalonians 2:19
“You are our hope, our joy, and the crown we will take pride in when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.”
Is it right for Christians to seek eternal rewards? Yes, it is.
First, we must determine what earns eternal rewards. The answer to this is wrapped up in the words of Jesus:
Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”
The “things” that will be added when a Christian seeks to do what the Kingdom of God requires – absolute obedience to all commands found within His Word are blessings on this side of Heaven and are rewards for eternity.
Under this prescription found in Matthew 6:33, it is not only okay to desire and seek eternal rewards, but it is commanded by the believer.
Paul the Apostle made no apologies for saying:
2 Timothy 4:7-8
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”
1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
What exactly will be “judged” at the Bema seat for Christians? What is the ‘Bema’ Seat of Christ?
Answer: The ‘Bema’ seat of Christ occurs at the time immediately following the rapture of the Church (“Rapture” – See: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
What will be judged for Christians:
One thing no human can run from is Judgment Day. The first Judgment, you definitely want to be there as one of God’s Saints. The second Judgment, you do not want to be there.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Romans 14:10-12
“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
This first Judgment is for the believers in Jesus Christ to reward them for being faithful to God and this happens after the rapture and during the tribulation and before the Wedding Supper of The Lamb and before the thousand year reign of Christ here on earth with the saints. There is no condemnation.
Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Faithful believers will receive rewards for their service to The Lamb. Any good works done In The Name of Jesus Christ will be rewarded as a prelude to eternity spent in The Presence of God. Each person’s motives, desires, and reasons for serving God will be judged. Works rooted in pure motives will be rewarded, all others will be burned according to scripture.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
All believers will stand blameless before the throne because of The Righteousness of Jesus Christ in which he delivered them from the punishment of the sins that they all deserve. Serve God Faithfully and do not judge others. Trust in God’s Perfect Wisdom.
Romans 14:10-12
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
This judgment seat is for the unbelievers who rebelled against God’s Righteousness. This takes place after the thousand years of peace on earth when satan and his henchmen are bound up with chains. Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
Everyone who is spiritually dead who has not put faith in The Lamb of God will be judged. There will be no defense attorneys at this appeal. You will stand alone. The spiritually dead will be thrown into the lake of fire and separated from God’s Presence. All who stand before the Judge at The Great White Throne will be condemned but the fire will be hot