By the time we arrive at the book of Judges, God had delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt, given them the law through Moses and led them into the Promised Land through Joshua. While before his death, Joshua admonished the Israelites to choose to serve the Lord, the book of Judges shows how hot and cold they were in their servitude to God. We see several key historical figures such as Gideon, Samson, and Deborah. We also find some of the most violent and graphic passages in all scripture. God is not only our merciful father, he truly is a God of judgement.
At the time of this writing, I ended up in a conversation with my mother and my cousin. I do not believe in coincidences and this was a conversation for such a time as this. While discussing some of what I have shared in this blog series, my cousin shared the name of a podcast with us, so I went to Spotify to see if it was there. While it wasn’t, the search pulled up a podcast episode of a sermon by Amir Tsarfati called The Bema Seat. What are the odds that while working on a post about "law giver" and God being our judge that I would happen across a podcast about the Judgement Seat of Christ? Godly odds. Please, I strongly urge you to click that link and listen to that episode. If you are redeemed, it will set your heart to dancing. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your savior, it lays out what is in store for each of us and I implore and invite you right now, this moment to ask Jesus into your heart. Reach out to Him, confess with your mouth and your heart that you are a sinner in need of a savior. We have all fallen short of the glory of God, but that is why Jesus died on the cross for us. For YOU. Ask him to forgive you of your sins, to come into your heart and fill you with His love and His grace. His cleansing blood will wipe away every sin and cast it as far away as the east is from the west. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
There are 3 judgements that will take place that are covered in that podcast.
1. The Berma Seat Judgement, which is for believers, the saved. It is where we, will be rewarded accordingly as to what we have done with the gift of our salvation. When does this happen? At the time of the rapture.
2. The second judgement takes place after the return of Christ after the tribulation and concerns those who survive the tribulation. This is the time that Jesus will sit on His throne in the temple, Satan has been cast into the lake of fire for 1000 years and there will be no excuse not to serve God, but it will still be each persons choice.
3. The third judgement is at the White Throne of God. This judgement is heartbreaking. This is where God will cast those from him. Eternal separation from God. That will be the real definition of hell.
We all have an appointment to be judged. It is up to us what type we will face. Gory or damnation. Hebrews 9:28 says that So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Amir Tsarfati explains in this podcast that He (Jesus) came to bear the sins of MANY, not all, only those who receive Him. I pray that you are one who receives Him.
We have come 6 books of the Bible on our journey of who He is, and when you look at just the first 6, you can see how they all flow together encompassing a single, holy Father. He breathed life into us, He became our sacrificial lamb securing our salvation, He then became our High Priest and mediator, He is a choice, and He has given and perfected the law, before He becomes our judge. He is all this and so much more, and it we will soon see how even more personal He wants to be with us.
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