The Bema Seat

7/30/2019 The Bema Seat

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BY BOBBY GRAPENTHIN


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Table of Contents

Location of Patmos and the Seven Churches Map . 3

The Bema Judgment Seat .. 4What is a Bema? .. 4

The History of the Bema Seat .. 5The Judge at the Bema Seat .. 9

What are the Rewards? ... 12

Five Crown Worksheet ... 13

Five Crowns of Rewards1. The Crown of Glory .. 14

2. The Crown of Life .. 173. The Incorruptible Crown .. 224. The Crown of Righteousness .. 245. The Crown of Rejoicing .. 28

Seven Privileges From The Bema Seat Worksheet 31

Seven Privileges From The Bema Seat1. To Eat of the Tree of Life . 33

2. Not Be Hurt of the Second Death.. 39Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 1 45

3. A Stone With A New Name . 464. The Morning Star and Authority . 51

Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 2 595. Divine Identification Clothed in White Raiment. 606. A Pillar and a New Name Given ... 69

Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 3 797. A Throne Given .. 80

Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 4.. 90

Test . 91Prayer of Salvation . 92References . 93

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LOCATION OF PATMOSAND

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

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WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU ADD1 BEMA SEAT, WITH 5 CROWNS AND 7 PRIVILEGES?

This is what this study is going to investigate. All three items arementioned throughout the Bible, but wait till you see what happens when all

three of them come together. We will start with the Bema Seat, or what has

been translated as The Judgment Seat.

The Judgment Seat has been a topic in the Bible that has caused mentalunrest in the life of the Christian. We have had so many controversial and

negative things said about the topic, that it leaves the person discussing it with

a sense of impending doom. People with near death experiences discuss abouthow their whole life passed before them in their experience. Others say they

saw a light and were drawn to it, only to find they began going the oppositedirection once they approached it.

What we will endeavor to do is to unlock the mystery of this as found in

the Bible and uncover what Paul and others were referring to that the earlychurch understood from their eastern mindset, with little explanation from thewriters. I think you will be surprised at what will be uncovered.

WHAT IS A BEMA?

What is a bema? Bema appears twenty-two times in the New

Testament and is a Greek word used to describe a platform. The Greekdefinition found in Britannica Concise Encyclopedia states that it is a raised

stone platform originally used as a tribunal where orators addressed thecitizens and courts of law. By its definition, bema itself is a raised platform.

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 the word bema is repeated twice, followed by theGreek word christos. The translator used this combination to say judgment

seat of Christ. Lets look at how this raised platform, a judgment seat, and

the judgment seat of Christ all work together.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-106 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at

home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the

body, and to be present with the Lord.9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be

accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;that every one may receive the things done in his body, according

to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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THE HISTORY OF THE BEMA SEAT

In the time of Paul, the Greeks and the Romans built coliseums for aform of public sport that involved gladiators that fought to the death, as well

as other physical feats. These victorious gladiators would then go to the Bema

seat placed at the finish line where a judge would sit and distribute money foreach victory they had over their opponent. When the gladiator had an

outstanding performance, he received an additional bonus of a laurel crown.

After receiving this, he would salute the public as an acknowledgementthat these witnesses had observed his outstanding performance. If the defeat

of his opponent was an extreme accomplishment, he would receive thegreatest prize that could be awarded to him which was a permanent discharge

from the obligation to fight again. The symbol he received for this level ofaccomplishment was a wooden sword. If the victor happened to be a criminal,

he could earn his freedom if he survived more than three years of this kind of

combat.

At the end of the combat, the winner would exit the arena through the

Porta Triumphalis gate, while the loser exited through the Porta Sanavivarigate. The Porta Triumphalis was probably used only during triumphal

processions that started from here, or, as in the case of the funeral of

Augustus, a Roman emperor, for celebrations of major importance.

The Roman culture was very enthusiastic when it came to victories.

Triumphant victories were publicly celebrated and the government sanctifiedthe military achievements of an army commander who had won great military

successes. The triumphing general was ritually elevated to near-divine or near-kingly status for the day of the public triumph and he made the people thinkhe was invincible. In the lives of the Roman citizens, the triumph is considered

a Roman ceremony which represented Roman wealth, power and grandeur tothose honored by the ceremony.

In the competitive games of the Romans, the contestants would be

carefully watched by the judges who would make sure that every rule of thecontest was obeyed. The judge on the Bema seat, being placed at the end of a

finish line, could determine first, second and third place winners easier than inthe center of the colisseum.

The judges required participants to have knowledge of the rules and the

dedication to the necessary training that had to be taken to make a person fitfor the competition. Trainees and judges were required to take a vow

promising to take part in the events in a moral way and to abide by the rules.Cheating was profoundly discouraged, and anyone found at fault would have to

pay a fine.

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In the competitive games of Olympia, the competitors were both men

and women. The gender was not discriminated against as the women wereallowed to compete with other women and the men with men. Most of the

competitors were amateurs, but trained to become proven athletes worthy ofnotice.

Olympia trainees were not only educated physically for the competitions,but mentally as well. They were required to undergo a full education in music,

arithmetic, writing and reading. The mind was just as important as the musclein their belief and they employed the finest instructors to develop the full

potential of the trainee. The Greeks felt it was important to balance the

athlete both mentally and physically.

This process, in our current time, could be compared to training for themodern day Olympics. Hours of training under the watchful eye of a coach are

required by those who want to go on to the Olympic competition and represent

their country. Only the finest are chosen to go all the way, though many train.

Not all the prospective trainees are willing to pay the ultimate price torepresent their nation. That is why so few appear from each country.

In the Christian circles and faith, the athlete is the Christian and thecoaches are the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, those in the five-fold ministries,

and others that know and impart the ways of God into our lives. These could

include parents, grandparents and other Godly family members and friends.Books have been written by those that have studied the Word and have made

their findings available to the public.

All the training was made available to all who wanted to win the prize.Paul said this training could be compared to that which a soldier wouldundertake. This is not just a plain soldier, but a chosen soldier.

A chosen soldier has potential that is recognized by someone higher than

himself, and that is considered a valuable asset to the rest of the troops,

though it may not yet be fully developed. To be a chosen soldier is an honorthat shows a person has been hand picked. The one that selects this soldier

knows the only way to bring out the highest potential, will be through training.Sadly, many drop out before their highest potential is achieved. That is why

Paul wrote to Timothy the following:

2 TIMOTHY 2:4,5

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of thislife; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned,except he strive lawfully.

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The affairs of this life do not make this chosen soldier reach his highest

potential, but the focus on what needs to be developed in his life will. Theaffairs of this life are but distractions to the character that has to be developed

in the soldiers life. In the military, those that are drafted or enlist, are takento a training camp that is away from the distractions and pulls of this life.

They are put into an environment that will teach them the skills necessary to

be the best of all they can be.

When they finish their first set of trainings, they will come out with themindset of focusing on victory, not defeat. They will view themselves as part

of a team, with team responsibilities, not as isolated individuals.

What Paul was saying was something that not only Timothy needed to be

mindful about but then he states this in verse seven:

2 TIMOTHY 2:7

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all

things.

Paul is telling Timothy, This is vital information, dont ignore it, but ask

the Lord for the understanding of the fullness of what I am telling you.

Paul was familiar with all the Roman traditions and cultures and wove

them into his writings when he addressed armor, races, disqualification,witnesses, crowns, rewards and more. The churches he helped to birth would

understand the gospel of the Kingdom of God by those things with which theywere familiar. The early Christians would be able to translate his analogies

into their real life situations. These were all things that were known by thecultures of his day.

Pauls references to the competitions pictures the believer as acompetitor in a spiritual contest. In the end, the earthly competitor will

receive a perishable award, but the Christian will receive an imperishable

award. The judge at the earthly bema seat in the arena dispensed a reward tothe victor of the competition. How much more will our Great Judge in the

heavenly bema seat reward us for what we have successfully been a victorover?

The bema seat judges never whipped the participants nor sentencedthem to hard labor. The seat was designed for and portrayed as time of

reward following the examination, not a time of punishment. That would beinconsistent with the purpose of the seat. Even a loser in the competition

viewed the loss of the reward, and did not receive a punishment.

It cannot be emphasized enough that the Bema Judgment Seat is

designed for the bestowing of reward, not the rejection due to failure.

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The judgment seat of Christ, the bema seat of Christ, is not a place and

time when the Lord will hand out punishments for sins committed by the childof God, but a place where rewards will be given or lost depending on how one

has used his or her life for the Lord. The Christian life is like a race, you run itand when you come to the end, you stand before Jesus and He determines

what your reward is.

This is a valuable truth as it is among the final words of Revelation and is

stated in the last chapter as a closing reminder. These rewards will be givenfor the Christians faithfulness in life, not because he was saved. Salvation is a

free gift, rewards are received or lost because of faithfulness.

REVELATION 22:12

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to giveeveryman according as his work shall be.

The choice to serve the Lord and be mindful of what areas of our lives we

need to grow in or walk away from is up to every believer. No one can makeanyone grow in their relationship with God and other believers, change theircharacter and integrity where it reflects the life of a real believer, or force them

to do works fitting for reward.

Only an individual can qualify or disqualify themself from the rewards

they will receive at the bema seat. Paul knew this and stated that his purposein life was to let the mighty works of Christ be reflected in his life.

COLOSSIANS 1:29

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working,which worketh in me mightily.

I CORINTHIANS 9:24-2724 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one

receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in allthings. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an

incorruptible.26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that

beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest thatby any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be

a castaway.

This is why we need to live for the day not for today. One day we willall stand in front of the bema seat of Jesus Christ and give an account for the

way we lived. This is Biblical stewardship of our life.

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THE JUDGE AT THE BEMA SEAT

So who will be the judge of the Christian at the bema seat? It will be the

Lord Jesus Himself, judging our lives and bringing to light the true nature ofour walk as well as our works when we stand before him. Jesus will be the

Examiner and the Rewarder at this seat, with the purpose of finding something

positive to say about each believer so that they may have praise of God.

ACTS 10:38-4238 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and

with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were

oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land

of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on atree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,

even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from thedead.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify

that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge ofquick and dead.

We have the opportunity to give Jesus something to brag to God aboutus. We can pick how large or how small those items will be by our faithfulness.

There is no believer that will be omitted from this event, everyone will beincluded. There will be no excused absences. This is why it is of the utmost

importance that the believers know the seriousness of this upcoming event in

their life. The Word plainly teaches the consequences for rejecting the Word ofGod in our life and the rewards, not only here on earth but in eternity, for

faithfully living according to Gods Word.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will

make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall everyman have praise of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1010 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;

that every one may receive the things done in his body, accordingto that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Anything that is done as a work of the flesh will be regarded as worthlessfor reward and anything done in the power of the Holy Spirit and under His

guiding will be abundantly rewarded.

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Works by the Holy Spirit are regarded to be items of gold, silver andprecious stones, while those done by the flesh are wood, hay and stubble. To

give an easy example of how the wood, hay and stubble got into the gold,silver and precious stones could be put this way.

Suppose I have a Thanksgiving Day dinner and have food left over. Idecide to take the food down to the homeless shelter to share with the people

there. I have just committed an act that will bring gold, silver and preciousstones into my reward. However, when I get back home, I call someone and

tell them of what I did and they praise me for what I did. Now I have added

wood, hay and stubble to my act. It would have been better if I had saidnothing after I took the food to the shelter.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-1512 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,

precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shalldeclare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try

every man's work of what sort it is.14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall

receive a reward.15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he

himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Notice that this scripture states gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,

stubble. It does not use the conjunctions and, or, if, or but. The way

these six words are placed shows that there is a valid possibility that all six ofthese categories can be found in each work. The wood, hay and stubble will be

burned up but the gold, silver and precious stones will remain.

Gold and silver, under the influence of fire may liquefy, but they will not

be burned up and can re-solidify. Fire can put a haze on a stone, but even

that can be removed.

However, wood, hay and stubble, when tried by fire, are consumed andtheir energy is lost. The original material is destroyed and no longer retains its

previous property.

Paul says the day will expose these works for what they are. That is

why he encouraged them to live for the day not today. There is a daywhen our works will be unveiled and tested. Not for the sake of punishment

but for the sake of approval.

Jesus will judge our lives not by outward appearances and shows ordisplays, but by righteousness. There is nothing that impresses Him when it is

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done for display. Only that which is from righteous motives captures His

attention.

JOHN 7:2424 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous

judgment.

JOHN 8:15,1615 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but

I and the Father that sent me.

Before Jesus judges the believer, He is giving each believer the

opportunity to judge himself and how he measures up to the Word of God.You have the opportunity to erase those things that would disqualify you from

your rewards before they are judged. What an awesome opportunity to get ridof everything that would disqualify you from your reward.

This same opportunity also extends into the present life you live. You

have a merciful God that wants to remove loss of rewards in the eternal andjudgment for sin in the present. Those in the world will undergo a judgment,

but you can escape that earthly judgment by confessing and obtaining

forgiveness for sin (areas in your life where you missed the mark) now.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:31,32

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we

should not be condemned with the world.

The whole purpose of the Bema Seat of Christ is to evaluate thebelievers life to find out what is worthy of reward and reject those things that

are unworthy of rewards. This evaluation is actually going on every day. Wesee this in Revelation chapters two and three. The Bema Seat of Christ is

where the believer is going to be rewarded for all the good they have done,

and they are encouraged to keep on going. There are some negative aspectsof the bema seat, but these will be addressed later. 2 Corinthians 5:10 does

address this when it said according to what he has done, whether good orbad.

WHAT ARE THE REWARDS?

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This is where things get exciting. The participant in a competition looked

forward to the reward ceremony. When he won, he had a confidence like noother. He knew the spectators in the coliseum were going to see the reward

for his victory and he was excited to get it. In the Olympics of Pauls day,rewards were given according to where the games were located and the time

of year.

These are some of the rewards given in earlier Olympic competitions by

the location that the event took place.

Olympia - Crown of wild olive leavesDelphi - A Laurel crown

Corinth - A pine crown

Nemea - A Wild Celery crown

The most valuable and prized crown was the one made of olive leaves.It not only represented a victory, but stated that peace was to be given to the

wearer for the rest of his or her life. The symbol of the olive leaf became anicon for peace world wide. That is why we see the olive branch representingpeace on monuments, flags and coins in many nations.

After the Olympic events, lavish banquets were held in honor of the

Olympic winners. When these athletes would return to their home cities, they

would be met by the cheers of those who lived there. The victors wouldexperience an honor for the rest of their lives and poets would write verses

celebrating their feats. They were often given homes, money and otherrewards for their efforts in their home towns. When they died, images of their

victory wreaths would be put on their tombs as a way of celebrating their

successes.

We find Paul, Peter and John addressing rewards for the believer. Thethree of them primarily addressed the victors crown while John, on the Isle of

Patmos, revealed the seven privileges that the steadfast believer would begiven for his faithfulness to Christ.

FIVE CROWNS

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ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIVE CROWNS OF REWARDS

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Five crowns are referenced in the New Testament. Paul talked about

three of them, Peter and John addressed one each. Here is a list of thesecrowns and how they were acquired. These crowns are available to all

believers upon them following the requirements to obtain them. Following therequirements qualifies a person or disqualifies their ability to secure any of

them.

1. THE CROWN OF GLORY Awarded for feeding and being an example to

the Flock.

1 PETER 5:1-4

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the

glory that shall be revealed:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight

thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a

ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamplesto the flock.4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a

crown of glory that fadeth not away.

In this passage, Peter is exhorting the elders, which today are thepastors of the churches, to feed the flock of God. Peter knew what failure felt

like when he denied Jesus three times before His crucifixion. But because ofthe goal of Jesus to reconcile mankind back to God, He gave Peter the key to

reinstating his relationship with God. We find this statement in 1 Peter 5:2

matching what Jesus said to him.

JOHN 21:15-17

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon,son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him,

Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feedmy lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that Ilove thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest

thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the thirdtime, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all

things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feedmy sheep.

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Peter exhorts the elders to feed the flock. He is not saying to go feed

everyones flock, but the flock that they have in front of them for which they

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are given charge. This includes the young lambs, the middle aged and older

sheep that are in their charge.

Just as John 21:15-17 addresses all age brackets, so does Peter when hegives the elders charge to feed all age brackets. But he goes on to say just

feeding them the Word of God is not sufficient. There is more the elder must

be aware of and that is the example part.

Peter knew what it was like to deal with people and different

personalities in the body of Christ.

Peter had experienced a loss of relationship with Jesus. He had people

leaving him, turning against him, not listening to him and lying about him. Heknew these things would discourage a genuine elder. He didnt want that elder

to stay with their flock or congregation because of bitterness or anger, butbecause they wanted to, they loved the people and were willing to do it freely.

The financial provision they should receive for being the elder of thatcongregation should not be the motive they held the position, but because they

loved God and his people, no matter what they did to him personally.

The quality of love that forgives shortcomings and faults yet still stays on

track with the vision God has for that congregation would be an example tothose who observed the elders way of life. The works and the words of the

elder should be one and the same. He should not be living a double life style.

Peter knew the reward for being an elder was not sufficient for the price

an elder paid. There was no amount of money that could compensate theelder for what he had to put up with and go through for the sake of loving the

congregation.

Peter wanted to encourage the elder and the potentially discouraged

elder that there is a reward for what they are going through and having toendure. This reward is going to be given when they stand before the presence

of the Chief Shepherd. This reward is called a CROWN OF GLORY.

Peter is not only ranking himself as an elder over the flock of God, but

ranks Christ himself with the pastors, being the Chief Shepherd over the

shepherds.

This statement in no way states that this reward is a pastors only crown.

It is a crown for pastors that feed and are examples to the flock but within thechurch structure, pastors who work in unity with those pastors above them

qualify for the same reward.

As a pastor submits to Christ, and the chain of command goesdownward, there are those in the congregation that are feeding the flock and

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not holding the pastor title. They are elders also in the church by what they

are doing and not necessarily because they hold the title.

This includes all that have been faithful to the interest Christ has inpeople and souls. This includes all that keep their focus on what Jesus would

have them do and not respond to those negative things done to them. I was

told one time by a person I highly respect to think of it this way. I am whereI am today because of how I treated you, and you are where you are today

because of how you treated me. That says a lot.

You will be where you are today because of how you treated others by

the standard found in the Word of God, not by how they treated you. This isthe example we are to set. We treat others by how the Word of God tells us to

treat them, not by how we feel. Feelings have no place in the way we treatothers. The Word of God is the only pattern we should follow in developing our

character and integrity toward others. It should be the only thing that dictates

our attitudes and actions when others are not doing what is right in their lives,

even when their wrong-doing is directed toward us.

Judge your responses to situations like this, If Jesus walked into the

room and heard your thoughts or words about someone, or observed youractions, would He be pleased or would you be embarrassed?

2. THE CROWN OF LIFE Awarded to those who are faithful unto death.

Also known as the Martyrs Crown.

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REVELATION 2:8-10

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These thingssaith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou artrich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews,

and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, thedevil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and

ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, andI will give thee a crown of life.

The word Smyrna is a word derived from the name of an herb, which

when crushed gives off a sweet aroma. This herb is an ingredient used toembalm the dead and the word has the additional meaning of bitterness. This

is a prophetic name for this church because they suffered bitterly.

This letter is very short compared to what was written to the other

churches and in it, Jesus has no condemnation, only exhortation, for Smyrna.If you professed to be a Christian during this time period, it was the

same as signing your own death warrant. If certain people found you to be aChristian you could become entertainment in the coliseum by having to face a

gladiator, hungry lions, or some other wild beast. The Romans killed Christians

by the millions just for sport. He who is alive forever more tells this church notto fear death; it is not the end. Death is only a phase they must pass through

to enter into eternal life.

The only place of refuge for Christians in the days of persecution was a

tunnel system dug by their hands. The system was called the catacombs and

it stretched for several miles underneath the city of Rome. Only the Christianscould find their way without getting lost through these tunnels by a set of

secret inscriptions showing the way. They lived their lives hiding in a maze oftunnels where they worshiped God and buried their dead.

In this passage, Jesus is stating through John, that the church at Smyrnahad experienced, by wicked men under the influence of the devil, tribulation

and poverty and some of them were going to be cast into prison. Thisstatement is not limited to wicked men of the world, but also includes the

members of these churches addressed in chapter two and three of the book of

Revelation.

He didnt promise them exemption from the suffering but informed themas to how this suffering was going to happen.

Suffering will present itself to every believer, but Jesus will turn whatSatan meant for evil into a reward greater than the trial. The trial will come to

see if your faith is genuine and you are a legitimate believer. You know whatkind of person someone is when the heat is on.

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JAMES 1:11-12

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but itwithereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of

the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away inhis ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is

tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hathpromised to them that love him.

James mentions this crown of life also as a reward for enduringtemptation. The word temptation in the Greek is not of the same root word

as the word tempted found in verse thirteen of this passage. The word

temptation here means;

a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil],solicitation, discipline or provocation); by impl. adversity:

What James states is that when a person endures adversity or anexperience of evil and successfully overcomes the response the adversary

wanted that person to give instead of a godly response, there is a crown of lifethat will be given for the right response, providing they do not compromise.

James says this trial will secure a crown of life for the one being tried.

He ties it in with a response a person would see when grass experiencesburning heat, or a flower that is cut off from the main source of life, and how

the outward perception of the flower is that it is destroyed or died.

We know when we leave these earthly bodies we are present with theLord, so we have not been destroyed or no longer exist, by the definition ofman. Everyone has eternal life; the difference is where we will spend it

eternally.

The word tried in the Greek from verse twelve has a second meaningthat would make this passage even more effective to why a crown is being

given as a reward. The other word that dokimos means besides tried isapproved. This would make the passage read, Blessed is the man that

endureth temptation: for when he is approved, he shall receive the crown of

life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

At the bema seat, where rewards are distributed, the approved winnerreceived the crown or reward for successfully completing the competition. He

did not receive anything for partially completing it, but for going all the way

with what he was tried in.Perhaps it would be better to say, after you have endured something

from the adversary and did not compromise, but responded in a godly manner,even if it meant death, you did not lose - you won! And you will receive a

reward called the crown of life.

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In Revelation 2:8-10 John gives us a number as well as a reward. This is

significant in the way God used numbers. John goes on to say that the trialwill only last ten days. That is a two-fold comment. It means a literal ten

days, but in the case of Genesis 24:55, it also is used to represent a few

days.

GENESIS 24:5555 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide withus a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

In the study of numbers, the number ten means rebirth. We find many

things happening in relationship with the number ten in the Bible.

When we consider our numbering system from 0 to 9, we find the

number ten is the beginning of a new series of numbers. Ten also is the

number that shows the perfection of Divine order. Divine order implies notonly mans responsibility, but also his responsibility toward God.

In the beginning in the book of Genesis, the first grouping of ten was in

the phrase, God said. This phrase appears ten times showing the Divineorder of which creation occurred. Noah was the tenth generation from Adam,

showing mans responsibility, or lack of it, that caused judgment to fall.Pharaohs heart was hardened ten times before he undertook judgment. The

Tabernacle had ten curtains, ten pillars and ten sockets, and its foundation wasten by ten, showing complete redemption. Even the tithe is built upon this

number, as it is a tenth.

In the case of Rebekah, after ten days she left with Abrahams servant tobe Isaacs wife. She had a new life after those ten days and a new

responsibility.

It was ten years after the Lord said Sarai would bear a son, before shegave up and tried to produce an heir another way, by giving Abraham her

servant, Hagar, to produce a promised child.

GENESIS 16:2,3

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath

restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; itmay be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to

the voice of Sarai.3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after

Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to

her husband Abram to be his wife.

This trial, which lasted ten years, caused compromise to set in andaltered what God intended to give her. She did receive the promise, but it

came with strife between her, Hagar and Ishmael. Sarai even admits in versefour that what she did was wrong. How much different would this story be if

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both she and Abraham had continued to stand on the promise of God without

taking matters into their own hands?

I found it also interesting that the ten years happened in the land ofCanaan. Canaan was a land founded by Kenaan, a son of Ham. His name

meant humiliation.

The people tested God ten times in the wilderness and He finally

withdrew the fulfillment of His promise from that generation and passed it onto another. It is guarantee their lives were never the same after God withdrew

from fulfilling His purpose for the generation that left Egypt.

NUMBERS 14:22-23

22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and mymiracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have

tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my

voice;

23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto theirfathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

It is also of great interest that even the antichrists world power iscomposed of the ten kingdoms and Nebuchadnezzars dream had this

symbolized with ten toes while Daniels vision had a beast with ten horns.

Even in the parable of the ten virgins, responsibility is enforced.

We also find ten declared forms of security that the child of God haswhen coupled with faith in Jesus in Romans 8:38-39.

ROMANS 8:38-3938 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,

nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor thingsto come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor anyother creature, shall be able

to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus ourLord.

John wants the reader to know above everything else, regardless of the

trial, being put in prison and even being put to death, we must stay faithful,

and focus on the crown of life we are going to receive for our faithfulness, evento death.

Trials and tribulations will come to every believer. Some may even takeour lives, even if we are not put in a physical prison. This crown is not for

prisoners only. It is for those going through trials, persecutions from wicked

men, and those who stay faithful even to the death. It includes martyrs aswell as non-martyrs.

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It is directed in verse nine to everyone that suffers persecution, poverty,or the blasphemy from those that oppose the believer, yet keeps doing the

works of God and does not abort their faith.

Dont surrender your crown of life in the face of a trial from the

adversary. The trial is only temporary, the crown is eternal. What Godpromises, He can and will deliver to the over-comer.

3. THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN (The Victors Crown) - Awarded forstriving for mastery.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:25-27

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25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all

things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we anincorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one thatbeateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that

by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should bea castaway.

Because Paul is familiar with the competitive games found at Corinth he

had the knowledge that those who were going to compete in the games of

running and wrestling would commit themselves to a strict prescribed diet,both for quality and quantity, in preparation for their event. They did not

indulge themselves in gluttony, or any sort of excess, but were temperate in allthings, that they might be the winner of the crown for that event; which was

nothing but a garland of leaves or flowers.

As a parallel, he advised the Corinthians to be very moderate in the useof all worldly things, and to abstain from whatsoever might hinder theirrunning the Christian race and their receiving the incorruptible crown. He

sought not worldly honor; but that honor which comes from God.

The Corinthians understood that in the competitive games, crowns would

be issued made of leaves woven together to form an ornamental crown. Theleafy crown received by the victor would begin to die, wither and fall apart.

The crown they would get from God would not be influenced by deterioration,but would last for eternity.

This kind of crown could not be obtained by living a double lifestyle. Itwas awarded to those that would strive to master the situation before them.

They were not mastered by hardship, but mastered the difficulty in front ofthem. They were familiar with adversity but not subdued by it.

They kept the right attitude and focus and did not take on a defeatedattitude. They kept their words and confessions so they lined up with the Word

of God and they refused to stop in the face of discouragement.

Daniel in the lions den, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariahs (also known as

Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego) facing a fiery funace in the book of Daniel,Esther standing in the gap for her people, Jehoshaphat in the face of a multi-

million enemy army, and David facing Goliath are all examples of thisdetermination.

They wouldnt bow to man, they wouldnt burn in a furnace, theywouldnt abandon the call for their time, they praised when it didnt seem

logical and they didnt retreat or give in to intimidation. They remained

unmovable, unshakeable, untouched, unbothered, undamaged and unharmed.

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They mastered their challenges and did not let the challenge master

them. They looked to a God that was well able to overcome the adversary,and like Caleb, refused to give an evil report against the direction of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty

through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth

itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity

every thought to the obedience of Christ;

When adversity comes, we dont jump ship on our confession. Wedont change our confession because of what we see. The most powerful voice

in our trial is our own voice. We can change our situations but we will have todiscipline ourselves now for things that are coming, not once we are in the

midst of them.

We choose to discipline our own body. Master the emotions that rise up,

master the thoughts that fly through our mind, and bring into captivity everythought that rises against the knowledge of what God can and will do for us.

We go all the way for the Incorruptible Crown, the Victors Crown!

4. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Awarded to those who love His

appearing.

Why would a crown of righteousness be given to those who love His

appearing? Doesnt every Christian love His appearing? Apparently not.When Paul was writing this to Timothy there were many Christians that didnt

want Jesus to appear. Today there are also many people that would not want

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Him to appear, as they know what they are doing is wrong, but they think they

are getting away with it.

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,

who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and hiskingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall beturned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of anevangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure

is at hand.7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have

kept the faith:8 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.

This is the easiest crown to receive. There is no excuse for someone notbeing able to receive this crown if they recognize what it entails to get it. Lets

look at the history of what is going on when Paul wrote this letter to Timothy.

In the first five verses, Paul is writing to Timothy to be faithful and to get

the message out that Jesus is Savior and Messiah, that He died for mankind torestore them to God, and salvation is available through faith in the completed

work on the cross and not by observing rituals, rites and ceremonies. There is

a tremendous need for Timothy to be faithful as Paul is about to depart this lifeand is at the end of his ministry.

Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my

departure is at hand". Time is short for Paul. He wanted the gospel to continue

going out, he wanted Timothy to pay attention to what he was saying. He tells

Timothy to, Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove. Rebuke. Exhortwith all long suffering and doctrine".

In verse seven, Paul says he had fought a good fight. A good fight is

any fight you win. Paul doesnt see himself as being a loser, although those inreligious circles had branded him as a defector of the Jewish faith, but as being

an athlete that had finished his course and did it according to the rules. He

had been a good athlete and soldier. He never once failed to carry out thatwhich was entrusted to him.

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Today, liberalism challenges faith. The infiltration of liberalism

encourages and allows anyone to do anything he wants to, and it is done byinjecting false teaching into society and the church.

Liberalism doesnt build its belief system on the Word and faith, but on

whatever creates a user friendly environment. Liberalism focuses onwhatever is pleasing to men while faith focuses on pleasing God, and following

His Word and His standards. Yet no matter how hard man tries to circumventGod and His Word, this still small voice continues to speak and declare eveninto the hardest of hearts, the love of God and what is right, and what is

wrong. Psychology has labeled this still small voice the sub-conscience,believers call it the Spirit of God.

This is why Paul called it a Crown of Righteousness. It is a crown for

doing what is right. It is doing what God considers right.

Righteousness has already been imputed to you if you have trusted theLord Jesus Christ as your Savior. When you, by faith, make Jesus your Savior,

you receive the ultimate righteousness available. You cant take on any higherrighteousness than Gods.

ROMANS 1:17

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith

to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

ROMANS 3:22, 24-2622 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus

Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is nodifference:

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption thatis in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his

blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sinsthat are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he

might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth inJesus.

Paul tells Timothy, "Now, if you fight a good fight you will receive the

Crown of Righteousness". Notice Paul does not say, "If you run a good race,you will receive the Crown of Righteousness" or "If you keep the faith, you will

receive the Crown of Righteousness".He says, "If you love His appearing, you will, in spite of the challenges

you faced, fighting a good fight, running the race of life, finishing the course

and keeping the faith, keep going. None of these obstacles stopped you fromloving the appearing of Jesus.

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How can I love His appearing? Think of it like a child waiting for a loving

daddy to come home from a business trip. Daddy has promised this child thatwhen he returns, he is going to bring that child a special present. The child

doesnt know what the present looks like, only that it is special and it is forthem.

Once the child has been informed that daddy will be home in the nextfifteen minutes, the child stands at the window, looking and watching for the

appearance of daddy.

The childs full focus is on seeing the returning daddy, not the distracting

television, or a dog barking. The child doesnt worry about justifying whatwent on when daddy was gone, it just wants to see daddy. Nothing else

matters to that child than daddys appearing.

Now take that same child and if daddy says, If you are not good when I

get back, Im going to punish you will that child love daddys appearing?

Probably not.

The child will probably do all it can do avoid seeing daddy when he

appears. This is what has happened to many believers and non-believers.Daddy, to them, has been the abusive, uncaring, disciplinarian that has

disappointed them and filled their lives with broken promises. If God is

anything like daddy, why should they love his appearing? God is probably justlike that male they call daddy.

That thought has infiltrated mankinds belief system and made its way to

the pulpit. Hurt, wounded and disappointed people have come to believe thatGod is just like the daddy that hurt, wounded, abused and disappointed them.The Fathers love is so opposite of what a cruel world has dumped on them.

He is more excited about seeing them than they are of seeing Him.

God is good, Satan is evil. If God was out to fling lightning bolts at usevery time we messed up or fell short, then He would have become like Satan.

God is ever so frequently labeled as being behind things that the

adversary has done. After all, God has been presented as the mean, cruel,father that is waiting to send you to hell for messing up, when in reality, He

wants you to come to Him so He can help you clean up what you messed up.

When we see what God really did for us through Jesus, we will probably

be saying, "Daddy, we never realized the sacrifice you made because you loved

us".When we have a relationship with a Father that loves us and just wants

to reward us for accepting His Son as our Savior, and wants us to love Hisappearing, it is hard to imagine anyone NOT wanting Him to return. His return

brings rewards, not punishments. Yet that is so hard to believe by what we

have been taught in religion and tradition.

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This crown is the easiest to get and all you have to do is get excitedabout His appearing.

5. THE CROWN OF REJOICING Awarded to those who win the lost to

Christ. The soul-winners crown.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:19

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are noteven ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

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Let us look at this verse in two different translations. It widens thescope of understanding.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD VERSION

After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence ofour Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it?

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward

and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It isyou!

In this letter to the Thessalonians, Paul does not separate our confidence

related to this crown without a reference to people. This crown is directly tiedinto mans relationship with man. This crown of rejoicing, which we will

receive, cannot be expressed without a relationship to people. Paul had

referenced this crown to the people in Philippians and stated it was because ofpeople that he was going to obtain this crown.

PHILIPPIANS 4:11 Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy

and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Paul recognizes that they are a present joy to him now and that they willbe a crown for him when he stands in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at

His coming. He states to the Philippians and the Thessalonians that bothgroups gave him joy and were going to be a crown because of the souls that

were won there. It is interesting that what Paul is saying is that every personwhom he has led to the Lord, every person to whom he has ministered theWord of grace and salvation, will make up his crown when he stands at the

Judgment Seat of Christ.

This crown is made up of several aspects and emotions. The first aspect

and emotion is joy.

1. JOY

The Bible says there is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repents.

LUKE 15:1010 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the

angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.If there is joy in the presence of angels because a sinner repents,

imagine when you stand before the Lord with that person in their finishedstate, how much more that joy will be magnified.

In the day-to-day life of knowing that persons short comings, failuresand disappointments they may bring to our current life, there doesnt seem to

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be a lot of reasons to have joy. But those who have been born again because

of you, when you stand before the Lord and see them as finished products,there will be joy.

2. BOASTING

The Greek word for rejoicing used in this passage is also the sameGreek work used for boasting. This crown of rejoicing is a crown that boasts

of an accomplishment. Our crown is going to consist of boasting as well. Wewill be able to boast, not in our own effort, not in what we have done, but we

will be able to boast about how gracious and wonderful God's grace was to the

lost.

In 2 Corinthians 10:13 the word that was translated from the Greek torejoicing in Luke 15 is used as boasting here.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13,15-16

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compareourselves with some that commend themselves: but theymeasuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves

among themselves, are not wise.13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but

according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to

us, a measure to reach even unto you.

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other

men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, thatwe shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not toboast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

In the entire 10th chapter, we discover that he is boasting about the factthat he has preached the gospel without any strings attached to it at all.

Paraphrased, what Paul is saying is, "No one is going to take my boasting awayfrom me. What I did was not because I was in competition with anyone or was

stealing from another mans works, but is because God put you in my life to

raise up.

This boasting is to bring glory to God, not ourselves. There is a vastdifference between boasting of ourselves and boasting of the Lord. This

boasting is bragging about the Lord.3. PAULS CONCERN

Paul, and every believer, should have a mindfulness in regard to crowns.The main concern Paul felt concerning this, and the other crowns, was not so

much that he would not receive the crown (he had confidence that he wouldreceive it), but his thought was that a possibility existed that the crowns would

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become tarnished. His apprehension was related to the possibility of the

crowns losing some of their glory and some of their sparkle.

Paraphrased, he was saying, "You are my crown, so stand fast in theLord". We as believers are not only to bring the lost in, but encourage them to

be everything they were designed to be for the Lord. We are to encourage

them to grow and master the challenges before them. We are to be, like thecoach at the training center, cheering them on and giving them the tools to be

successful, without taking the place of the Lord in their lives.

Paul took it upon himself to watch over their growth, to pray for them

and to come back to teach and instruct them. When he couldnt make thejourney, he sent others in his place to build up the new believers life. He was

acting from the position of a concerned father, wanting the best for his spiritualchildren.

Paul did not begrudge any moment that was spent in the energy of the

flesh over the people in his care. He was like a jealous parent that tended toall the needs of his child. Yet he knew there were more lost and he desired tobring them into the family.

This crown of rejoicing is waiting for anyone who has directed any person

to the Lord. If you have never brought anyone to the Lord, dont be too hard

on yourself yet. If we are one body then look at Matthew 10:41,42.

MATTHEW 10:41-4241 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall

receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous

man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteousman'sreward.

42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones acup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto

you, he shall in no wise lose his reward

Supporting ministries that are out there leading the lost to the Lordentitles you to receive the same reward they are receiving for physically doing

the work. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they see theyqualify for this reward and they never left the town they live in.

Supporting others in the mission field causes you to have a part in thesalvation of multitudes of people whom you have never met and who will be

part of your crown when you stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

SEVEN PRIVILEGES FROM THE BEMA SEAT

TREE

OFLIFE

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ACQUIRED BY: _____________Keeping your first love andbeing an overcomer.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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ACQUIRED BY: ____________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACQUIRED BY: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SEVEN PRIVILEGES FROM THE BEMA SEAT

1. TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE. Revelation 2:7The result of a heart full of love for Jesus

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REVELATION 2:7

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the

churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree oflife, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

This is the first of seven privileges that are granted to the believer at theBema Seat. The current teaching is that we will receive one or more of the

five crowns that are awarded but then privileges are awarded also that have

not been taught about. This is available to all the churches and believers.

In the day Paul taught about the various crowns, they were being

compared to things the people understood in their culture. The number oneevent he compared them to was the Olympics. He used the words like victor

and imperishable to describe the achievement and condition of the crown.

John, in the book of Revelation, exposes the privileges that went along

with obtaining a crown and overcoming obstacles. These were not revealed toPaul. Because they are mentioned primarily in the book of Revelation, theywere awarded above and beyond the things that could be obtained in the Old

Testament. These were to be given both to the Jew and Gentile believer and

not specifically reserved for the Hebrew people only.

Reading this in context with the entire verse section, we find that John is

writing about the way the Lord is addressing the church at Ephesus. Godacknowledged their good works, their good labor, their patience, the way they

evaluated and proved things with wisdom and how they wanted nothing to dowith evil. They were so set on being upright before the Lord that they even

evaluated the Apostles and were able to determine which ones were false andliars. They were quick to identify those that were corrupt in doctrine andpractice.

Paul especially took the time to warn the Ephesians what would happen

to them after he departed in Acts because of their zeal to be righteous.

ACTS 20:29-31

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse

things, to draw away disciples after them.31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three

years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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Even in the face of trials and hardships, they refused to be a badexample of the type of character a Christian bearing the name of Christ should

display.

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Yet in all their ability to stand upright in all they did, the Lord had

something against them. It was that they were now operating by theguidelines Paul gave them so strictly that it caused them to lose the key

ingredient to their Christianity. They lost their first love.

It was there at one time as Paul had even complimented them about it.

EPHESIANS 1:15-16

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my

prayers;

It appears that their zeal had outlasted their love. That happens soeasily when we are trying to guard the things of the Lord in our lives. It is a

result of isolating ourselves instead of insulating ourselves. When we isolate

ourselves, we remove ourselves from those we believe can damage what we

possess. When we insulate ourselves, we can stand in the presence of whatcan hurt us and not be affected by it. In the presence of suffering, love can belost if we do not insulate ourselves.

Much love for the lost is birthed out of revivals. Large revivals were

birthed out of Germany, England and Switzerland for the lost and hurting.

Godly love came halfway around the world for those in the Americas despitethe perils they encountered to get there. The Moravians, an Evangelical

Protestant denomination birthed in 1457 in the modern day Czech Republicwanted to evangelize the world.

They held a personal commitment to helping the poor and needy despitetheir persecution. On August 13th, 1727 the community underwent a dramatic

transformation when the inhabitants of Herrnhut, Germany "Learned to loveone another," following an experience that they attributed to a visitation of the

Holy Spirit, similar to that recorded in the Bible on the day ofPentecost.

The people of Herrnhut grew rapidly following this transforming revival

and became the center of a major movement for Christian renewal and missionduring the 18th century.

Some of their accomplishments included:

1. Setting up continuous prayer that ran uninterrupted, 24 hours a day,for 100 years.

2. Establishing more than 30 settlements internationally on the Herrnhut

model, which emphasised prayer and worship, and a form of

communal living in which simplicity of lifestyle and generosity withwealth were held to be important spiritual attributes.

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3. Starting missionary work.

4. Forming many hundreds of small renewal groups operating within the

existing churches of Europe. These groups encouraged times of prayerand worship, Bible study, confession of sins and accountability.

These people truly had a love for the believer as well as the lost. The

Moravian missionaries were the first large-scale Protestant missionarymovement. They sent out the first missionaries when there were only 300inhabitants in the Herrnhut, Germany awakening. They were not large, but

they were powerful in zeal and love.

In 1732 they established the first missionary church on the island of St.

Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. In 1740 they established a church in NewYork by converting the Mohican Indian people. On Christmas Eve in 1741,

David Nitschmann and Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, led a small communityof believers to found a mission in the colony ofPennsylvania which they named

Bethlehem.

At their height they were active in 18 provinces, including all of the

Americas, the congo, Britian, all the West Indies, all continental Europe,Honduras, Jamacia, Nicaragua, South Africa, Suriname, and all of Tanzania.

All this from a group that came from a town of less than 300, motivated by

love.

In verse five, the Lord reminds the people of Ephesus that they are aboutto lose their position and light. He exhorts them to return to their first love

before it is too late. The Lord was about to extinguish the light of that church,

which was an awful warning which Christ eventually was forced to fulfill to thechurch in Ephesus. That church today is extinct, as are so many other

unfaithful churches that existed in the day of Paul and John.

In verse six, the Lord addresses a group of people called theNicolaitanes. They were a corrupt sect that seemed to have turned Christian

liberty into licentiousness. The Nicolaitanes taught that the men could have a

community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things that could bepracticed and that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful. They mixed

several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies. They are also supposed to

have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned inActs 6:5.

In verse seven, the Lord grants them the right and privilege to eat of the

Tree of Life, but under certain conditions.To eat of the tree of life in the earthly paradise was to our first parents

the token of immortality. It was clearly stated in Revelation 22:2 that if

something was physically out of order, the leaves of this tree could fix it. In it

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was healing for anyone in any nation that would ever come from the Adamic

race.

We find in Genesis 2:9 that God made many trees for food, but only onewould bring immortality and life to the one that ate it.

GENESIS 2:9

9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every treethat is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of lifealso in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good

and evil.

The fact that God says, I will give in Revelation 2:7, shows that theaccess to it is no longer available to mankind and can only be obtained by the

Lord himself. This tree that once existed in the garden is now safely in the

midst of the paradise of God. It was because of Gods love that He removedthe tree and did not destroy it. Imagine what it would be like today and the

impact it would have on salvation if Adam and Eve had eaten of the tree afterthe fall. They would have immortality in a fallen state and nothing could be

done to change it. They would forever be evil and without redemption.

Mankind would have to live eternally cut off from God without hope of escapefrom the terrible consequences of sin.

The Bible doesnt say that they never ate of it in the beginning, the issue

is eating it after eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

GENESIS 3:22-24

22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of

us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, andtake also ofthe tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden ofEden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of thegarden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every

way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Gods plan for mankind did not change since Genesis 1:1. He still wants

immortality for man, just not in his fallen state. The fact that the over-comer

will be able to eat of it states His plan has not changed. He preserved it allthese years. By eating the fruit of this tree the immortality of Adam wouldhave been secured. By us eating it, ours will be too. However, I believe God

has a much larger purpose for it than just securing immortality. This tree of

life is a real tree with a real purpose.

The tree of life is mentioned ten times in ten different scriptures in theBible. In Proverbs 3:18 wisdom is compared to as a tree of life. We find in

Proverbs 11:30, righteousness is spoken of as a tree of life as well. Then

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Proverbs 13:12 puts an interesting comment with the phrase tree of life. It

says that when a person loses hope, they become sick, but when that whichthey hoped for comes to pass, it is like a tree of life bringing healing.

Proverbs 15:4 says our words can be like a tree of life if they are wholesome.

This is not the wholesome most people think of when they use that

word. It means healing, medicine, sound and deliverance. When you speakwords of healing, it brings healing. When you speak words of deliverance, it

comes to the hearer. Sometimes we are the hearer and need to have our ownmouths speak into our own lives.

PROVERBS 15:44 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein

is a breach in the spirit.

Two other places in particular that we will pay attention to in the Bible

that this tree of life is mentioned is in Ezekiel 47:12 and the other in Revelation

22:2.

EZEKIEL 47:12

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and onthat side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade,

neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new

fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued outof the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and

the leaf thereof for medicine.

REVELATION 22:2

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river,was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits,and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were

for the healing of the nations.

Notice the similarities of the tree. Ezekiel states there are all kinds oftrees available where Revelation singles out one of the trees, the tree of life.

It may be that God placed one of these trees in the garden with the rest of

them being available at a future date.

Besides that, since God is a creator and has not ceased to be a creator,

perhaps these trees were to be available to other planets as mankindexpanded. I believe His intention was to fill the universe with His highest

creation, mankind. Why create planets and galaxies and keep expanding theuniverse if it is to remain dark and uninhabited? Perhaps we need to think

outside the box of our tradition and limitations we have placed on an unlimitedGod.

At the end of the age, a blessing is connected to the tree of life. We find

it called a right. We find this located just a few verses away from themention of this tree in Revelation 22:2. Look at Revelation 22:14. God says

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that those that do His commandments have a right to the tree of life. Plus

those that do his commandments have free access to come into the city wherethis tree is located, without hesitation. This privilege opens the gates into the

city to us.

REVELATION 22:14

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they mayhave right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates

into the city.

But all of this is conditional and based on two things being an over-

comer and not losing our first love.

The scriptures did not say, to him that striveth or resisteth will I give toeat of the tree of life, but to him that overcometh. It is not enough that we

resist, but we must conquer. That puts a whole different light on things. We

must not just resist offenses when they come, but conquer our response to it.

We must not just resist getting angry when things are frustrating us, butconquer our wrong responses to it so we dont repeat negative responsescontinually. Resisting a thing is far different than conquering it. Our character

will reflect whether we have conquered an emotional response or not.

Trials are not going to be a one-time event either. The fact that the

word overcometh ends with a e-t-h means it will have the opportunity to berepeated. Our trial will come again to be repeated in our lives to test our

victory over it.

Trials are to make us firm and unshaken in our character. When we arefirm and unshaken emotionally, we have conquered our trial. As each trialcomes, our character should continue to be unshaken so that this privilege will

be granted to us when we stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. We need tostrive to be one that has the right to eat of the tree of life.

2. NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH - Revelation 2:11The results of a sound witness

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REVELATION 2:11

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto thechurches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second

death.

We find this second privilege being addressed to the church in Smyrna.Smyrna was an ancient city of Ionia, located on the western coast of Asia

Minor, about 40 miles to the north of Ephesus. Its name means myrrh whichsymbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus starts addressing this church from the fact that He had himselftriumphed over death in all its forms, and was now alive forever. He did not

want them to fear being put to death, as He had experienced that, but was

now alive. Death is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new one. To thedegree one is dying, is the degree they are becoming alive in the next realm.

We see this demonstrated at the death of Stephen.

ACTS 7:54-6054 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and

they gnashed on him with their teeth.55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly

into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing

on the right hand of God,56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of

man standing on the right hand of God.57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears,

and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the

witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whosename was Saul.59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not

this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The word used for sleep means to put to sleep. It was as if God had

to put his body to sleep to remove his spirit. His request is that Jesus receiveshis spirit, but this appeal is followed with God putting him to sleep. It never

mentioned Stephen in pain and torture, but Stephen calling upon God not to

lay this offense to their charge. This was pure forgiveness in action. It wasthe same thing Jesus did as part of his last actions on the cross.

LUKE 23:34

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not whatthey do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The commendation given by Christ of this church at Smyrna is large withnothing to lay to the blame of what they were doing with their lives. There

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were failings in this church, but Almighty God mercifully overlooked them

because of their ability to forgive.

How do we know they were forgiving? Look at the pattern in verse nine.We find the Lord addressing four areas they had endured for the gospel sake.

1. works

2. tribulation3. poverty

4. blasphemy

The followers of Jesus are never promised to be free from persecution. In

fact, the godly in Christ are always persecuted in some way, especially whenthey are doing a good work. It is easy to become weary in well doing when

persecution comes upon you for no other reason than you were doing what isright and good to someone else. And to forgive becomes more difficult the

longer the persecution continues.

Jesus was fully aware of the tribulation they endured and how it hadcaused them poverty. Then on top of that, they were being blasphemed bytheir own people they once had a friendship with. Many were of their own

households that were doing the rejecting.

These people were highly familiar with loss. Yet in all of that, they

retained the ability to forgive.

It says in verse eleven, that he that overcometh would not be hurt bythe second death. What did he have to overcome? The wrong response to all

that they were going through. It would be easy to blame, get revenge andbecome angry for the way they were being treated. They could have easilyretaliated at those who were against them, but they didnt. To respond to their

persecutors with the same vengeance would have made them like theiroppressor. What fruit would that have produced? What would God be saying

about them then? Could it have directed them into being part of the second

death rather than escaping it?

We are told not to participate with this evil, but overcome it with good.If that is the case, then the over-comer must not respond to the offense or evil

that comes against them in a negative, non-Christ like behavior. Our response

must be according to the way the Word of God tells us to respond.

We find in Romans 12:21 what the correct response is when offensescome. We should not struggle with making the right choice as this struggle is

addressed in the verses that follow Romans 12:21. Even resisting the power ofGod or his ordinances open the door for damnation. This is not a category a

believer wants to fall into.

ROMANS 12:21, 13:1,221 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there

is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the

ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive tothemselves damnation.

Want to know why you have continuous bad days? What are you usingto overcome the evil around you with? Are you complaining, being negative,

or saying things you should not say about someone or something? Are youoperating in independence or inter-dependence? Have you become isolated or

insulated against your trials?

I had a situation one time where forgiveness was the last thing I wanted

to do, much less couple a correct attitude with it. That day, everything wentwrong that could go wrong. By the end of the day, I didnt think I could carry

anymore weights. That night the Lord told me, If you think today was bad,

wait till you see tomorrow!

I knew what He meant but I had no motivation to forgive, onlyexhaustion from the day. He told me that to forgive those who were behind

the attacks that day was not me saying they were right and I was wrong. Itdidnt mean I was right and they were wrong. It meant I was forgiving and

releasing them from the punishment they deserved.

I had to choose to lay the offense aside. I had to choose of my own free

will to lay it aside and omit it from my life. Like Stephen was forgiving themfrom the punishment they deserved for attacking and stoning him, I was to

release those from what they did to me that day. Feelings were not to becalculated into the response.

Out of obedience, I chose to forgive them. When I refused to let myemotions dictate my obedience, I knew I was released from the assignment

Satan had on my life for the next day. For me to have continued in holding my

offenses against others would be like me drinking a poison and waiting forsomeone else to die.

It says in Matthew 18 that we are to forgive a person seventy times

seven times. Then he gives an example of a person who was forgiven, but did

not apply that to someone else.

MATTHEW 18:21,22,21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my

brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times:

but, Until seventy times seven.

Look at the story from Matthew 18:23-32 and see how it concludes forthe unforgiving person.

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MATTHEW 18:33-3533 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy

fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the

tormentors, till he should pay all th

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