ER4: Overview of the Eternal Rewards (Part 2)
I. Review:
1. A Great Theme of Jesus Teaching was Eternal Rewards
- Jesus constantly taught about seeking Eternal rewards, and the need to pursue them
- “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”(Mat.16:27)
2. There are very Many Different types of Rewards
- In Rev.2-3 Jesus names many different rewards for those who Overcome specific challenges and trials
- The many Eternal Rewards that are described potentially form an important part of our Eternal Destiny
- We need to be familiar with the significance and importance of the different rewards revealed.
- Understanding what is at stake gives us great motivation for perseverance and transformation
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Col.3:22-24)
3. Rewards are Not Given Automatically… Only to those who fulfil specific Conditions
- “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev.3:21)
- “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (Jn.12:26)
- Note that in each of these scriptures receiving a reward is conditional upon our works and actions in response to Jesus
4. Our Small Sacrifices Now have Huge Recompense Eternally
- “You were faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things.” (Mt. 25:21)
- “Well done...you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” (Lk. 19:17)
- God greatly values our small expressions of obedience in our mind , emotions and will
- He remembers them and rewards them in a much, much greater proportion
- God is a “Rewarder” ( Heb.11:6) and He is extremely generous!
- “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Mt. 19:29)
5. Possible Categories of these Many Rewards
The many Rewards mentioned in the Bible could be listed under the following headings:
1. Eternal Intimacy
2. Eternal Authority
3. Eternal Glory
4. Eternal Garments
5. Victor’s Crowns
6. Honour & Praise
7. Treasures & Riches
8. Vindication
- The first three of these rewards deserve special attention
- One of the Rewards mentioned more than any other is Ruling and Reigning with Christ
- This is because God’s original design for man is to be a Son
* Having Intimate Relationship with Him
* Working with Him to extend His Kingdom with Power and Authority
* Representing Him… His Character and Glory
II. Reward 3: Eternal Glory
1. Jesus Manifested Resurrection Glory
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:16-17)
- Three disciples were eyewitnesses to the Majesty and Glory of Jesus in His resurrected Body
- This is not a fable…some form of fiction or myth that has been invented
- “Eyewitnesses”…..spectators, personally present to see with our own eyes
- “Majesty”…megaliotes….magnificence, visible splendor, wonderful, superbness, brilliance, regal dignity
- The disciples visibly encountered Jesus in the Glory and Honor of His Resurrected Body
- Not all the disciples were given this revelation of His Glory
- They identify clearly when they saw His Majesty and Glory…on the Mount of Transfiguration
2. Jesus Resurrection Glory Revealed
- By Mathew
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matt.16:27 - 17:2).
- By Luke:
As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening” (Lk.9:29)
- By Mark:
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them” (Mk.9:2-3)
- Jesus prophesies in Mathew that some of His disciples will be eyewitnesses to his resurrection glory and His second coming before they die
- As Jesus prayed on the mountain He is transfigured before His three disciples
- “Transfigured”… Gk. metamorphoo …to completely change into another form
Metamorphosis….a change of form or structure by supernatural means (Miriam Webster)
In nature this word is used to describe the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly… radical transformation
3. We will Have a Resurrected Body Like Jesus Body
- “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil.3:21-22)
- “Transform”…..to change the figure of, totally change the external condition
- “Conformed” …to bring something into existence that was not there previously
- “Like”…………….Gk summorphos… to have exactly the same form as another
- There will be a demonstration of the supernatural power of God that totally changes our physical body
- “Working” …….supernatural energising by the Spirit of God
- “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom.8:11)
- Our physical body will be made like Jesus resurrected physical body, it will be totally transformed by the supernatural power of God
4. What Was Jesus Resurrected Body Like?
(i) Jesus had a Physical Body with Flesh and Bones (Jn. 20:27).
“Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." (Jn.20:27)
“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Lk.24:39)
Jesus gave evidence that he was the same person as before when He went to the cross His body retained its scars, perhaps as eternal badge of Honor
Jesus body was a real physical and spiritual body, able to operate in both the physical and spiritual worlds
(ii) The Disciples Touched Jesus and Ate and Drank with Him Jesus Disciples Touched Him
“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (Mat.28:9)
Jesus Disciples Ate and Drank with Him “Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish ” (Jn.21:12-13)
Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead” (Acts10:40-41)
- Jesus body was tangible, physical and material…it was a real physical body. It had been transformed, transfigured to become a glorious spiritual body without limitations
(iii) Jesus Could Materialise and Dematerialise in His Physical Body.
- Jesus was no longer controlled by time, space and physical laws or limitations of this world
- He could enter and exit the natural world at will
- He could supernaturally transport from one location to another location
- Luke describes Jesus Sudden Disappearance
“Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Lk.24:31)
“Vanished”… vanish out of sight, become invisible, disappear from sight suddenly
- He sometimes vanished from their sight suddenly… there physically one moment and then suddenly gone.
- John describes Jesus Sudden Appearances
Jesus possibly walked through walls on two occasions when doors were “shut”
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." (Jn.20:19)
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" (Jn.20:26)
Mark describes Jesus appearance “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mk.16:14)
- Paul Lists Jesus Many Appearances after His Resurrection
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remains to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1Cor.15:3-8)
- Paul identifies several different occasions when Jesus appeared and then disappeared before people.
- Paul himself had a personal face to face encounter when Jesus appeared in blinding light. Paul’s companions heard Jesus voice but saw no one (Act.9:1-9)
- Luke also Lists Ongoing Daily Appearances of Jesus. These appearances and disappearances took place daily over a period of 40 days
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Act.1:1-3)
- Jesus continued sharing His message regarding the Kingdom of God over 40 days in a resurrection body
- No doubt He appeared as they gathered in worship, taught them and then suddenly disappeared.
- Can you imagine how that must have felt to those experiencing this happening?
- The impact of Jesus appearing could be mentally and emotionally overwhelming
“Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit” (Lk24.36-37)
“Terrified”……….to be overcome by astonishment, fall down prostrate on the ground
“Frightened”……to cause to tremble in fear.
The sudden appearance of Jesus out of nowhere must have been a deeply disturbing experience
(iv) Jesus Body Could Change Form
- The Disciples on the Road Did Not Recognize Jesus
- “After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country” (Mk.16:12)
“Form”….visible shape or appearance.
Jesus body appearance could alter so people not recognize Him
“So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him” (Lk.24:15-16
- Mary Magdalene did not Recognise Him
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus”
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (Jn.20:13-15)
(v). Jesus’ Resurrected Body Radiates Glory
- “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Mat.17:2)
- “His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them” (Mk.9:3)
- “As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening “ (Lk.9:29)
- “Shone”………..lampo….to beam or radiate forth light, to radiate out brilliant light
- “White”………..leukos….brilliant, dazzling white, radiating out dazzling bright rays of light
- “Glistening”….To shine out lightning
- The Glory of God transformed Jesus face, His body and His garments so they radiated out lightning and rays of brilliant white light
(vi) John saw Jesus in His Resurrected Glory in a Vision
- Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev.1:12-16)
- Jesus countenance shone with the brilliance of the sun…He displayed His resurrected glory to John
- The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt. 13:43)
(vii) Jesus Could Veil His Glory—fully or partially.
- Sometimes Jesus appeared in His Glory…other times He did not
- At times, Jesus was not recognised as He veiled or concealed His resurrection glory
- He could suddenly appear or vanish from sight.
- Jesus’ resurrected body has “supernatural flesh” with bones and has the capacity to eat and drink
- “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them [to Emmaus], Their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” (Lk.24:15-16)
“Then their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Lk.24:31)
(viii). Christ In Us, The Hope of Glory
- “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2Cor.4:7)
- Each believer is joined to the Spirit of God. He is the treasure dwelling within us
- To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col.1:27-29)
- Each of us has a measure of the Glory of God within us. It is veiled and is not visible to people
- That measure of Gods presence and Glory is like a down-payment on what He has planned ahead for us
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph.1:13-14)
- “Guarantee”…..earnest……the deposit given in advance as a down payment or pledge that the final payment will be completed
- That Glory within us is a reminder of the Greater Glory we are each called to take hold of, to possess
- This motivated Paul to persevere in his ministry calling mature believers for their Eternal Destiny so that they would qualify for their Reward
5. Believers will Manifest Different Degrees of Glory
- We will Have a Body Like Jesus Body
- “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil.3:21)
- The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.(1Cor.15:47-49)
- Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1Jn.3:2-3)
- We Will Have Supernaturally Enhanced Abilities
1. Mental: Enhanced abilities to understand, remember, and reason
2. Emotional: Enhanced abilities to feel: Love, joy, peace, etc.
3. Communicate: Enhanced abilities in speech, song, music, writing, poetry, etc.
4. Strength: Enhanced abilities in speed, endurance, lifting objects without fatigue or sickness
5. Transportation: Enhanced abilities in flight and speed, transportation Eg Elijah, Philip
6. Material: Enhanced ability to pass through walls or crowds like Jesus
7. Beauty: Enhanced physical appearance ….physical countenance, fragrance, light, color, etc.
8, Incorruptible……..Unable to become sick, injured or die
- Our Five Senses will be Enhanced by the Power of God.
“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1Cor.15:40-44)
Note the changes to our physical body:
Incorruption: …Vitality and strength replace sickness and decay.
Glory: …Purity and honor replace failure, shame, and dishonor
Power: …Safety and strength replace pain, vulnerability, and addiction.
Spiritual body… Supernatural capacities replace natural limitations.
Immortality: ….Unending life and love replace physical death and loss.
Our Physical Body will become Transformed and Greatly Enhanced
- Our current physical bodies are limitation and deterioration. Our resurrection body will be gloriously transformed
- Our spiritual body (Resurrected body) will not be subject to the physical limitations and laws that govern the natural world
- Our new body will be glorious and have amazing abilities
1. Sight: Ability to see at a distance and at close range
2. Hearing: Ability to hear with clarity and perception at great distances
3. Taste: Enjoyment of food and water to the fullest degree (1 Cor. 10:31; Rev. 22:1-2)
4. Touch: Glorified physical senses
5. Smell: Supernatural ability to enjoy and discern heavenly fragrances ...will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body... (Phil. 3:21)
- Each Believer will Receive a Different Measure of Glory in their Resurrected Body (Mt. 5:19).
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. There will be least and greatest in the coming Kingdom. i.e. different realms of glory “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption” (1Cor.15:4)
There will be different realms of Glory for each believer based upon their life and stewardship.
Believers will not have the same degree of glory in their resurrected bodies
- Just as there are great differences in the bodies of the Animal Kingdom there will be great differences in the coming Heavenly Kingdom
- Believers will have varying degrees of glory in their resurrected bodies just as stars differ from other stars in brightness. The degree of glory that we will have is based upon the way we live on earth.
- The degree of glory in our resurrected bodies will be directly related to what we overcome in this life and the amount of inner transformation to become like Christ.
6. The First Resurrection: The Resurrection of Reward
(i) The Bible Reveals That There are Two Resurrections
The First resurrection
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev.20:5-6)
- If there is a First resurrection then there must also be another resurrection
- The First resurrection takes place at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth The General resurrection
- The Second or General Resurrection takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ at the Great White Throne Judgement
- “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev.20:11-15)
- Those who take place in the First Resurrection become Priests and Kings to God and reign on earth for the 1000 years working with Jesus to establish His Kingdom and Rule over the earth
“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” (1Cor.15:24-25)
(ii) The First Resurrection: Resurrection of Reward
- Participation in the First Resurrection is Reserved for those who are Overcomers
This would be a significant point of difference of doctrine or belief among Christians
Some Christians do not know that there are actually two resurrections
Some Christians believe that the First resurrection has already taken place
Some Christians believe that All believers will participate in the First Resurrection
Other Christians believe that The First resurrection is a prize to be won. It is not automatic
(iii) Evidence that Points to the First Resurrection being a Reward
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians:
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil.3:7-11)
- Paul considers all his achievements meaningless compared to the prize ahead….winning Christ
- Since he has already experienced Christ indwelling, he is referring to a future prize to be won
- “Resurrection from the dead….” ekanastasis …literally the out from resurrection
- This refers to the First Resurrection when a people will be resurrected out from among the dead at the beginning of the Millennium
- “If by any means” tells us that he is uncertain that he will attain to this prize of the First Resurrection.
- Paul, six years before his death, wanted to make sure that he was qualified to participate in the resurrection of the dead….The First Resurrection
- Paul tells us that there is a possibility that this will not happen…
- It is a Prize to contend for, a prize to be won
- It is the High Calling of God in Christ
- “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” (Phil.3:12-15)
- Paul goes on to tell us ….he has not yet attained to that “out from resurrection”
- He also tells us he has not apprehended that prize but makes it the motivation for his life and ministry
- “Attain”………..to take in the hand
- “Apprehend”..to take possession of, to lay hold of so as to make one’s own possession
- “Press”………….to run , to flee, to run swiftly in order to take hold of a prize
The Letter to The Hebrews:
- Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Heb.11:35)
- All knew of the general Resurrection when all people would be raised from the dead
- These people by faith refused to deny Christ even to the point of death
- Why? …” In order to obtain a stronger resurrection”
- “Stronger”…….more excellent, nobler, having dominion or power or strength
- This refers to the First resurrection…..reward for remaining faithful to Christ
Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians:
“When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: (2Thes.2:10-11)
- Note Paul’s prayer that believers would be counted worthy of this calling to manifest the glory of God
- He would not be praying this if He did considered it to be guaranteed
The Book of Revelation: The Promise to Him that Overcomes
- “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (Rev.2:26)
- “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev.3:21-22)
- The promise to rule with Christ in both Revelation ch.2 and 3 is s given to those who Overcome
- Those who rise in the First resurrection “ shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him one thousand years”(Rev.20:6)
- These means that those participating in the First Resurrection must be Overcomers in life
8. Where Will We Live in Resurrected Bodies?
- Those with resurrected bodies will live in the New Jerusalem, but they will reign on the earth.
- There will be instant transportation from the New Jerusalem to any place on the earth, just like angels can move back and forth between the realms effortlessly.
- The veil will be lifted between the realms. Limitations on travel will be removed
- There will be a Supernatural dimension merging with the Natural world
- In the Millennium, the natural human processes will not be suspended, but will be significantly enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit.
- People with natural bodies, not resurrected will continue life on earth as before with all the the natural realities and processes of life.
- Those with resurrected bodies will be interacting with them, but will have government and exercise leadership over them.
- A Brief Glimpse:
- We see brief aspects of this natural and supernatural realm flowing together during the forty days after Jesus resurrection and before He ascended into heaven
- “to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.’
(Act.1:3)
- Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead” (Acts10:40-41)
- He was teaching them. He was eating their food with them. He was hugging them and ministering to them. He was appearing and disappearing. What an unbelievable time!
- They would have been overwhelmed with joy and excitement
- This is just a brief insight to what life will be like in the Millennial kingdom Intense Joy, or Great Sorrow?
- God’s purpose has always been that heaven would come to earth….that the two realms would overlap, and that God would dwell among us
- Imagine what it would be like to be part of this, to see and experience this. The Intense Eternal Joy of being resurrected and part of the Fist resurrection and this Millennial ministry. The Great Sorrow at missing out on what you had been called to participate in!
- We have to make the daily choice…..Run our Personal Race to Win this Prize of The High Calling of God
- Num. 14:21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD
III. Questions for Personal Reflection
1. What has the Holy Spirit being speaking to you about during this session?
2. What response or actions do you need to make?
3. Why would building your inner spirit life be so important\/
4. Why is embracing personal inner transformation so important?
5. What issues currently hinder you running passionately for Christ?