Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - by Bill Perkins - https://compass.org/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner/ …the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. Rev. 19:7b At the Rapture, all Church Age Believers are taken to heaven where we’ll join the Old Testament Saints whom Jesus redeemed at the cross. Got any questions for Adam? Get inline. During this seven-year period with the Tribulation going on below on the earth, the Church Age Believers will be meticulously judged for their works. God knows our thoughtsso He knows WHY we did something, not just that we did something. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed [rewarded] for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whethergood or bad. 2Cor. 5:10 The first thing you need to know is that the word “judgment seat” (Greek word “Bema”) is actually “judgment step.” The “bema” is not a place of judgment for right or wrongcrimes. Those took place in a different location. The “Bema” is a step (see picture of Susie and me in Ancient Corinth, Greece) in front of the rostrum where athletes came to bow down and show their allegiance to the RomanEmperor (or local Roman official) and receive their reward, a perishable wreath. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1Cor. 9:25 So the Judgment Seat of Christ is not about judgment for salvation because Jesus paid for all our sins at the cross. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, [for salvation] but has passed out of deathinto life. John 5:24 Rather, the bema is first about our allegiance to Christ...those who are indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit. Then it’s a judgment for rewards for what we allowed Jesus to do throughus. Since our sin is a continual action (Rom. 3:23, Greek = “keep on sinning”) and our works are like “filthy rags” to the Lord (Is. 64:6—“menstrual rags”), the only thing thatcounts for rewards are for things we allow the Lord to use us for. We can’t, He can. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13 We have to allow God to drive, not as a copilot, as the only pilot. He is not a crutch, He is the whole gurney. So our judgment for good works is about how often we allowedGod to use us, to take control. This judgment even has a litmus test for purity. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. Ifany man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1Cor. 3:11-15 It goes without saying, that verse confirms God knows when you do something right for the wrong reasons. Also, notice a Believer can get all his doctrine wrong after salvationand still be saved. We'll all get our doctrine corrected We don’t know too much about the specific rewards Believers receive. The only ones mentioned are the five crown rewards that symbolize triumph. 1).The Imperishable Crown—given to Believers who gain mastery over the flesh. …exercises self-control in all things. 1Cor.9:25 2) The Crown of Rejoicing This is given to those who love to evangelize. 1Thes. 2:19, Luke 15:10, 2Tim 4:5 he who is wise wins souls. Prov. 11:30 3) The Crown Of Life This is given to Believers who persevere under great trials. Rev. 2:10 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; James 1:12a 4) The Crown Of Glory This is given to Believers who faithfully shepherd God’s people. shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 1Pet. 5:2,3 5) The Crown Of Righteousness This is given to those watching and longing for the Rapture. …to all who have loved His appearing. 2Tim. 4:8 I know a lot of people reading this who will at least receive crown #5! At the end of the 7-year Tribulation, Church Age Believers return to earth with Jesus as the Bride of Christ where we’ll reign with Jesus for 1000 years. reigned with Him for a thousand years. Rev. 20:6 When we return to the earth with Jesus for His Second Coming, we know our Christian judgment has been completed because what we’re wearing is based on Jesus’ examination ofour allegiance and allowing Him to use us. “… the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is therighteous acts of the saints. Rev. 19:7b-8 This brings up and interesting theological point: Believers are to be constantly yielding to Jesus using us so we don’t lose any awards we have gained! ...hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Rev. 3:11b Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 2John 8 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-controlin all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preachedto others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 It’s important to note that any crowns we receive we don’t wear for eternity. Instead, we’ll have the privilege of placing them at the feet of Jesus. the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, Rev.4:10 As far as what we’ll look like under those white robes, we’ll have new bodies like Jesus received at His resurrection. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity withthe body of His glory, Phil. 3:20-21a I have a friend who died for several minutes and then came back to life. He said while he was out of his body, what was odd was that he was in a room full of absolutely beautifulpeople who all looked to be in their early twenties. He concluded that if someone dies in their 90s, they won’t have to look like a wrinkled-raisin for eternity. Whew! But our new bodies will still be human-shaped. Just like the resurrected body Jesus has, we’ll also have arms, legs, head, eyes, nose, etc. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity withthe body of His glory, Phil. 3:21a The Old Testament Saints, which include both pre-Abraham Believers like Adam, Eve and Enoch, and post-Abraham to the cross Believers like Moses and David, are distinct anddispensationally different from the Church Age Saints like Paul and Silas. These Old Testament Saints also return to the earth with Jesus. We know this because they’re invited as special guests at the Believers big wedding day celebration. …blessed are those who have been invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb… Rev. 19:9b All this is more easily understood by looking at how a Jewish wedding transpires. 1).The groom initiates the covenant with a payment for the bride In ancient days, marriage was not an agreement between two individuals, but between two families. It was customary for the Jewish father of the bride to pay a dowry for his daughter to the groom's family. That’s what Christ did for us, He initiated the relationship and called us to Himself. The payment for the bride was what Jesus accomplished for us on Calvary 2000 years ago. For you have been bought with a price: 1Cor. 6:20 And He gave us the Holy Spirit as a non-refundable deposit. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2Cor. 1:21-22 2) The Bride Is Set Apart She is exclusively set aside for the husband. That’s currently where Believers are... set apart. But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; Psa. 4:3a Believers are like a woman who is spoken for—we have been positionally set aside for God. 3) The Groom Separates From The Bride He returns to his father’s house to prepare the bridal chamber. This is what Jesus has been doing for the last 2000 years, preparing the bridal chamber. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 4) The Loyalty Test During this time of separation, until Jesus returns, we’re to be loyal to Him. This is the basis of our rewards … use us, Lord! You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.James 4:4 5) The Bride is Retrieved The groom returns at an unknown time preceded by a shout with escorts to retrieve the bride. For Believers, this is the Rapture that includes a loud shout. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we whoare alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1Thes. 4 15-17 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3 6) The Bride and the Groom are Hidden in the Father’s House for Seven Days This lines up with the church being in heaven, the Father’s house, during the seven year Tribulation. 7) The Bride Is Cleansed The bride undergoes a ritual cleansing prior to the wedding. This lines up with the Bema Seat/Judgment of Christ where Christians are either rewarded or not rewarded basedon how they did during the loyalty separation time. …Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might presentto Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Eph. 5:25b-27 8) The Wedding Ceremony There’s a meeting with the Father’s assembled wedding guests, a private wedding ceremony in the Father’s house. The deceased Old Testament Believers initially could not go to heaven until the Messiah came and paid for their sin. So until the Messiah died as a qualified blood sacrifice, the “saved by faith” who died prior to the cross went to a place called Paradise. (See Luke 16:19-31 … and note thatJesus is not speaking in a parable but rather telling a true story.) When Jesus paid the price of redemption, the first thing He did was go retrieve the Old Testament Believers from the center of the earth.(1) (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascendedfar above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) Eph. 4:9-10 The “lower parts of the earth” was also called the “bottomless pit,” because every direction was up (Rev. 9:1-2). Paul also was caught up to “Paradise,” but when he went up, it was post-cross and is now located in heaven. was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 2Cor. 12:4 Therefore, Paradise is now located in heaven. And the pre-cross Believers (Adam through the thief on the cross) will be coming to the Wedding of the Lamb as invited guests. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” Rev. 19:9 So the Believers in the Church Age are married to Christ and those Old Testamant Believers are “invited” and “blessed” guests. I suspect those who die as martyrs in the Tribulation will also be invited. But the Bride of Christ is ONLY for the Church Age Believers. 9) The Consummation of the Marriage The Bride and Groom consummate the marriage. This lines up for Believers as being presented to the groom spotless. That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Eph. 5:27 10) The Marriage Feast The new husband and wife are revealed. For Believers this is when the formal announcement is made.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col. 3:3-4 Marriage Supper of the Lamb After the marriage comes the celebration. Think Jesus turning the water into wine in Cana. We know this big dinner celebrating the marriage between Christ and the Church takes place on earth for a couple of reasons. First, we just saw in these verses Jesus returning to earth forHis Second Coming. Second, we have a wedding parable about someone showing up withthe wrong clothes on. But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, Matt. 22:11 There would be no one in heaven, which is a perfect and sinless place (Is. 6), who could have on the wrong clothes. So we’re in store for a really big dinner at the conclusion of the Marriage of the Lamb. We’re not guests, we’re the Bride of Christ. Jesus referred to this at the last supperthe night before He was crucified: But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. Matt. 26:29 Jesus drank fermented wine while He was on the earth. He even turned water into wine at a wedding. And He will drink wine again in the future, beginning with the MarriageSupper of the Lamb. That will be some party and I can hardly wait to taste His wine. Use us, Lord! CQLJ! BP References: 1) https://compass.org/article-when-jesus-went-to-hell/