Opening Prayer
Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
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.”
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.”
2 Corinthians 5:10
“We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will receive what they should as they will be paid, according to whatever they had done either right or wrong when they lived in this earthly body”.”
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’s deceptions.
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. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 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.
1 Peter 5:4
“And when the chief Shepherd appears that you will receive the Crown of Glory that does not fade away.”
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
“Say’s now the prize is waiting for me, the crown that is right with God. The Lord, the righteous judge, will be giving it to me on that day. And not to me only, but also to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming.
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.
Don’t we all get the same rewards in Heaven? 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: THE SOUL-WINNER’S CROWN – 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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
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).
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
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. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” 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.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.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 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. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
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. 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. 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. 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. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 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.”
Romans 2:6
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
Revelation 20:13
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.
John 3:18-20
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Repent and believe and get Baptized by submersion in water and start your relationship with God today. Do not wait. Time is running out.