The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Immediately following the Rapture, the true believers, who have committed themselves by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Every court room has an elevated platform where the judge is positioned prominently before the accused, the attorneys, the jury and the congregants. Such was the origin of the bema (pronounced bay-ma) seat. In the Olympic Games, the bema was at the finish line. There the judge sat, so positioned that he could determine who was first, second, and/or third in the races.

Paul uses the word and the concept to assure us that one day we believers shall all stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. Unbelievers will certainly be judged –and by the LORD– but they will not be at the Bema Seat. True Believers have already been forgiven and justified through the Death and Resurrection of our LORD Jesus. Now, they will hear the LORD’s witness to a full and complete account of how they lived their Christian lives. He will assess and verify how we utilized our time, our energies, our study, our prayers, and our witnessing –our full and total commitment to Him. Our works in this life will be divinely assessed, and rewards will be distributed for works that resulted in the glorification of our LORD.

Following the Bema Seat, comes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:7-9, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he said to me, ‘Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’”

The New Testament clearly avows that the Church (the body of truly committed believers – not religious denominations, as we think of them today). The True Church is the Bride of Christ. Thus, the Supper is the celebratory activities of Jesus, the Groom, and His Bride, the Church. It will be somewhat as we have in wedding parties today. We are not given a list of the Supper’s activities, but we may rest assured that the Bride’s eyes will be fully focused upon Jesus!

All of this should serve us well as an admonition toward good works – works that serve and glorify Him!

Read your Bible carefully. Savor every word. Pray sincerely, personally, and often. Witness always in love. There’s a GREAT DAY Coming! Be ready! Don’t miss it! God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NEXT LETTER: Armageddon!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”