Pastor's Corner

Christians have faced trauma throughout history both nationally and personally.

Christians at the present time are deeply concerned about the destructive path our nation is on.

We are also concerned about the open attacks upon Christianity in our nation and what the future holds for our children and grandchildren.

In the Book of Revelation chapter 22 the final words of Christ to the Church are recorded.

After giving wonderful truths about the believers future home in the New Jerusalem (chapter 21 and chapter 22:1-6), the Lord Jesus Christ encourages the Church Age believers in 22:12-17 with a promise.

In order for believers to have victory over the flesh, the world system and the devil we need to focus upon God’s promises for us in time and in eternity.

Revelation 22:12, says “behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” The futuristic present tense of the Greek word ERCHOMAI refers to the imminency of the Rapture. The apostles believed it could happen in their day and believers have been waiting for the visible return of Christ for over two thousand years. Those who continue to look for the coming of the Lord at the Rapture will find comfort in facing their daily testings for they know their ultimate destination.

Because there is no intervening prophecy between the baptism of the Spirit at the beginning of the Church Age (Acts 2) and the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) we therefore use the word imminency. Imminency means that the Rapture could occur any time. No one knows the time when it will happen. When the Bride of Christ has its completed number of believers then the Church will be resurrected into eternity.

Revelation 22:12 tells us that when Christ comes He will bring His reward with him and distribute it to His believers. This means rewards or decorations or anything that indicates something well-deserved. Our service to the Lord in time will result in rewards and eternal blessings in the New Jerusalem as described in the book of Revelation.

Following the assembly of all believers in the air (Rapture) next we have Philippians 2:9-11. The first item on the agenda is an unprecedented worship of Christ by the entire assembled Bride of Christ which is assembled for the first time in history. Every believer who has died before the Rapture (“ones under the earth”) and every believer alive at the Rapture (“ones who are on the earth”) shall bow their knees before Christ and all of them will acknowledge that “Jesus is Lord, the glory of God the Father.”

Then all believers shall stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10) where the rewards and crowns are given to those who were faithful and served the Lord. There are some warnings given regarding the possibility of losing those crowns before you depart from this life (2 John 8, 10, 11; Revelation 3:11) so be faithful, study and apply the Scriptures, live for Christ every day.

Do not be caught up in the chaos of the world system and all of its political ideologies and philosophies rather focus upon the eternal Word of God and His teachings. Look up and look forward to what He has in store for you in eternity.

Ron McMurray,

Sheriff’s Chaplain