OUR FUTURE REDEMPTION
/“For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (Thessalonians 4:16-17)
What does “future redemption” mean for the believer in Jesus?
This is Part 3 of our redemption study. We have explored our moment of being redeemed in the PAST - that instant when we stepped into our salvation. We then examined being redeemed in the PRESENT – our ongoing sanctification process.
Paul talks about it in Philippians 2:12 when he says to “work out our salvation”.
The Greek context of that phrase is written in a tense meaning that we are to let the reality of the moment we stepped into our salvation – play out through our daily walk and talk.
LET THE PAST GIVE VICTORY IN THE PRESENT! Get it?
Now, let’s take a look at our FUTURE redemption, which we’ll experience when we leave this world. We’ll either ride out through a physical death or get carried up in the Rapture!
If physical death, our souls will immediately be with Jesus, while our bodies remain in the ground.
2 Corinthians 5:8 plainly states that while we are absent from our body, we are present with the Lord.
Take note of this scripture again! If the RAPTURE occurs first, Paul describes it playing out this way.
”For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV)
After the Rapture - and while the Tribulation years are evolving on earth, we will enjoy the Judgement Seat of Christ – also called The Bema Seat.
Many Bible scholars believe this will happen right after the rapture. There will be NO CONDEMNATION at this “royal event” for Jesus has already paid the price for our sins! We will be rewarded for those actions and thoughts motivated by our love for Jesus. He looks intently inside our hearts at all that is pure, right, and done in His Name.
Everyone will not get the same rewards. In fact, according to scripture, some believers will arrive in Heaven, only because they trusted in Jesus for their salvation. They did nothing afterwards in their thoughts and deeds to merit a reward from Him.
Jesus tells a story in the "Parable of The Talents" ( Matthew 22) to help us understand how it will all play out at the Bema Seat. You may want to take some time to read His words and imagine where YOU fit in, in the description of the servants in this parable.
Oh, I long for those rewards so I can give them right back to Jesus! I long to hear His WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Additionally, as we experience our redemption in our glorified future, we have a GLORIFIED BODY to look forward to. Now, that’s something to celebrate!
Our "glorified self" will also attend the Marriage Supper of The Lamb. This is when we will gather and feast with all those who have died in Jesus.
Friend, there’s MUCH for us to celebrate about our future redemption. I've just offered a highlight of what we have to look forward to, according to Scripture. The beauty of this reality – is that we can start celebrating right now!
Paul sums up his rapture description with an instruction for all of us. . .
”Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
Lord Jesus, I AM encouraged by thinking about my future redemption! Knowing I’ll be the REAL ME in Heaven, with a body without aches and pains – and receiving REWARDS to lay at Your Feet, keep me excited. I consider lots of wonderful food and heavenly conversations with the Old and New testament saints. I’m excited to be reunited with family and friends who have beat me into Your presence. And, I’m super pumped that MY learning will never end. You have so much more to share with me, than I could possibly understand now. Thank You Jesus, for redeeming me past, present, and future. Amen.
Joyfully encouraged,Cindi
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