The Church in Heaven

Good Monday Morning To You!

Yesterday was another fantastic day at Friendship Harmony. The service was so very uplifting, and you could feel the Holy Spirit working. Our newest small group, Extraordinary Women of the Bible begins tomorrow morning. Many have shown interest in this group and I expect to hear great things from it quickly. Our Jewish Roots of Christianity group is continuing to meet and seems to get better week by week. If you are here with us, I hope you can get connected through our small groups. There is no limit to how many you can attend or how few. Also by way of announcement, our ladies luncheon is this Thursday at 1:00 at the Island Grill in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza. Any of you ladies in the area is invited to come. The average price of lunch --- ten dollars. The value of the fellowship and fun --- priceless.

Yesterday we continued our prophecy series with events in Heaven after the rapture. Most prophecy teachers, preachers, and conference leaders focus on the beginning of the time of tribulation on earth post rapture. Indeed, to be true to the doctrine of future things, known as Eschatology, one must fully examine the seven year tribulation. However, that time is for unbelievers; what about the Church?

The Church will be in Heaven where two events will take place: the reception of the bride, and the Judgment Seat of Christ. The sermon notes are below. I hope they help in your personal Bible Study.

The Church In Heaven
By: Victor Cooper

I. Our bodies must be changed. Why?
A. To be fit for Heaven. You could no more live in Heaven in your natural body than you could at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico dressed only in jeans and a tee shirt.
Phil. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1. vile --- lowly
2. glorious body --- exhalted The opposite of vile is glorious.
B. To be presentable to the Father
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

II. Two events in Heaven for the Church
A. Reception of the bride.
1. Ancient wedding traditions did not mirror modern, western wedding ceremonies.
2. Ancient wedding traditions picture our wedded relationship with Christ. There were three parts to ancient eastern weddings.
a. The legal marriage. The parents of both the bride and the groom made a legal agreement and the dowry was paid. The bride stayed with her parents.
(1) This is a picture of our salvation. We are legally Christ’s bride, but we are not yet in His home.
b. At a point in time, the groom and his friends will go to claim his bride. He takes her home to his house.
(1) This is a picture of the rapture.
c. The marriage feast, lasting several days, is enjoyed by all.
(1) This is a picture of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This supper is held on earth immediately following the Second Coming of Christ.
(a) Prophecy teacher J. D. Pentecost says the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is the Millennial Reign of Christ.
B. The Judgment Seat of Christ.
1. What it is not.
a. Judgment to determine entrance into or rejection from Heaven.
(1) Remember, at this point the Church is already in Heaven.
2. It is a place of rewards Read 2 Corinthians 5:9-11
a. good or bad is useful or useless.
3. Christ will judge using three criteria.
a. Stewardship. Christ’s question will be, “What have you done with what I gave you?” Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
b. The building materials of a life built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15
(1) gold, silver, precious stones --- fireproof
(2) wood, hay, stubble --- flammable and reduced to ashes
(a) wood – strong and looks good, but can be burned
(b) hay – animal food not fit for human consumption, also can be burned
(c) stubble – garbage fit only for burning
(d) gold – in Scriptures gold depicts God’s glory and perfection in His attributes
(e) silver – is often portrayed as the plan of redemption through evangelism
(f) precious stones – not one kind, but many – represent the many good things done in service for the LORD

Next week we will see just what those rewards are. Until then I hope you have a good, safe, and healthy week. I look forward to our time together every Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.