Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Today’s Scripture:

“Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7).

Introduction:

We are continuing our survey of the judgment of God’s people to which we should be inviting those who don’t know Him. Today we are briefly discussing our final point of four from last week where we said, “This aspect of judgment is actually part of a three-phase continuum.”

Today’s Observation:

Our God is thorough! That’s right. Everything He does is perfect, just, and complete. No half-baked stuff with Him.

When you think of the number of people who have lived from the time of creation until now (that’s not to mention the number by the time Jesus returns), and the varying circumstances that have characterized each of our lives, etc., to say that there will be a judgment would be a gross understatement. Today we are going to break up the awesome judgment into the three-phases represented in the Bible. They are as follows (these are my terms):

1.Pre-Advent: As we have already outlined fairly well, this judgment has already begun with the people of God (we will demonstrate the fact this week). Only people who have accepted the invitation into relationship with God, as depicted in Matthew 22:1-14 are surveyed during this phase. We also highlighted the fact that the only safe place for people living in our day until Jesus returns is within this judgment. The Bible says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18–19). So, the goal of this phase is to bring as many people as possible face-to-face with the God who loves us all, and has made provision through Jesus Christ to be free from sin and its effects, so we can live eternally with Him. This effectively delivers those who choose to remain covered in His righteousness by faith from the condemnation that awaits during the final two-phases, which God has prepared for only the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). The only way God will be able to bring His reward for the faithful with Him at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is if their cases have been settled. Otherwise, how would it be fair for some to have everlasting life, and the rest everlasting death? God is just!

2.Post-Advent/Millennial: This phase begins at the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. By this time, all will have decided what our ultimate lot will be. Either we will have chosen to accept the blessed relationship God has provided and lived up to all of the light He has made available by faith, or we (God forbid) will have consistently spurned and despised God’s love and mercy, making us unfit for eternal life in a holy atmosphere.

The Bible says, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 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.” (Revelation 20:4–6). “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). When we get to chapter 20 in our devotional thoughts on the Revelation, we will...