The Seed Blog: The End of the Beginning

We've had a couple of eye-opening, sobering messages lately—the kind that can literally shift how you live and worship. This is one more of such messages—the very last day of this world, of this entire creation as we know it—a day that I think we can accurately call "The End of the Beginning." After this day nothing will ever be remotely the same. In past weeks and months, there has been much focus on End Times Prophecy, the Rapture, and the Tribulation to Come. Today we [...]

We've had a couple of eye-opening, sobering messages lately—the kind that can literally shift how you live and worship. This is one more of such messages—the very last day of this world, of this entire creation as we know it—a day that I think we can accurately call "The End of the Beginning." After this day nothing will ever be remotely the same. In past weeks and months, there has been much focus on End Times Prophecy, the Rapture, and the Tribulation to Come. Today we’ll go beyond all of these events which are extremely important but all of which pale in comparison to this one day. Let's walk through a very simplified view of the coming events in the not-so-distant future of mankind. We are here living near the end of the "Church Age" where Christ established His Church after His Resurrection; the Grace Period where we've had the task and privilege of showing the world what Jesus did for us; the Grace Period where God has withheld Judgment on the world waiting for all who would turn from the world and come to know Him. The next major events on God's calendar are: the Rapture of His people; the Seven Years of Judgment on the whole earth: Tribulation; and then what Scriptures call "The Judgment Seat of Christ" or, "The Bema Seat." The exact moment of this Judgment is conjecture, but it will occur sometime during our time with Christ after the Saints are taken Home. This Judgment is for the "Redeemed" children of Christ, and it is not a Judgment of the wrongs we've committed because all of those sins have been removed from record with the priceless Blood of Our King, Jesus. It will rather be an evaluation of all of our good works to establish the motivation and passion behind everything we've done for Christ and reward us with ‘crowns’ and ‘positions’ in His New Kingdom. Then at the end of the Tribulation Period we will return with Him where He will separate the sheep and the goats remaining—gather all who have lived through the Tribulation and remove those who have turned against Him, leaving those who have suffered through the Tribulation for Him on the earth, joined by those previously Redeemed—to live on this earth for 1000-year Period: the Millennium—where Satan is bound and the Saints govern earth. This will be a time of perfect governing on earth by Jesus Christ Himself, as we who have been made new again govern with Him, and those who lived through the Tribulation will live out their lives, have children, and continue. But, Revelation 20:5 says the "rest of the dead" did not resurrect until after the 1000-years. Near the End of this 1000-year period, Satan is released again to test the population of the earth. Even in Christ's perfect, revealed presence among them, the nations—still in their fallen nature—will eventually turn on Him and rebel, attacking Jerusalem, ending in their destruction forever: Revelation 20:7-10. It is here  at the end of the Millennium that God removes Satan and his horde from creation forever. All of the dead who rejected Christ from earth's entire history are raised to life again, together, at one time to face final judgment: the Great White Throne.
Let's look at this awesome, terrifying moment together, the literal end of time before eternity: Revelation 20:11. This will be a massive Judgment Hall before a breathtaking throne of brilliance. Jesus Christ is the One sitting on the Throne. Many think this to be God the Father, as Judge—because after all, didn't Jesus die to save us from Judgment? Jesus did die to save us from Judgment—that is exactly why He alone has the ultimate right to judge us—because we rejected His sacrifice and love: John 5:22-23, 27. The awesomeness, seriousness, and dread of this moment at the Great White Throne Judgment are set forth by God in the ungraspable action here. "Earth and heaven fled from His presence,
And no place was found for them." Many take this verse to say, "The inhabitance of Heaven and earth hid from His Presence,”—but that is not what it at all. The Greek Words used for Heaven and Earth here mean the literal soil of earth and the literal Heaven, not the inhabitance therein, and the Greek word used here for ‘fled’ is the same word used in Revelation 16:20. When the islands and the mountains fled (were destroyed) and were nowhere to be found again. At this Judgment Christ allows all of His Saints and Angels and all of those standing before His Throne for Judgment to see His unimaginable power and His unimaginable hatred of sin's effect on creation by burning away all of his ‘sin tainted’ creation before them: 2 Peter 3:10. The main reason it is obvious that God destroys creation here is that in the very next His next act after this Judgment takes place begins with this proclamation: Revelation 21:1. Now, let's look at those who are present for the Judgment part of the Second Resurrection: Revelation 20:12-15. All of the dead throughout all of human history will be raised at that moment to stand before Him. Since the moment of Christ's death and resurrection, all who die under Christ's Blood go straight into His presence—their sins paid for, their way Home made. But those souls destined for Judgment go to a place of torment and waiting (Hades)—not their final destination Gehenna—but awaiting the Day they are Judged and sent to Gehenna as their sentence. Why wait until the very end of time to Judge a sinner? Why not just get it over with? Because every sin, every evil influence, ripples through generations to come, exponentially affecting many until the Last Day of Time. Has Hitler affected every generation to the end? Has Hugh Hefner? In ways we cannot comprehend, each and every one of us does the same. And not until the end of days will we know the extent of damage our sins have caused as well: Revelation 20:12: These "Books" opened are the books where everything that lost person has ever done was recorded. This may have seemed far-fetched to some in the past, but not today. In a world where even our limited technology makes it is conceivably possible. Think of everything you've ever done while no one was around; every sin committed when you thought you got away with it; every thought ever in your head; every secret word spoken: Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16; Luke 12:2-3. How would we feel about these things being revealed before loved ones? How about before God Almighty? And not just the actions, but the selfishness, lewdness, and hatred that was in our hearts exposed as well? If we, as His redeemed, are present at these moments, I can assure you this will be one of our most thankful moments. When we realize that we have had the same moments written in our books, but our books were erased and we cannot be held accountable for these things ever again: Isaiah 43:25; Colossians 2:14.
Let’s stop and get an idea of the type of people who will be there on this Day. 1) People who openly choose to reject what they know is true. Some, because they hold Christ in contempt and Judgment when they haven't gotten the life they feel they deserve; blaming God, not Satan, for the evils in life—or because they simply just don't care because they want their own life now at any cost; because they do not take the Power and Wrath of God in fear. Some even saying they can't wait to see Jesus Face-to-face so they can tell Him how they feel—even fight Him. After being taken from their prison and brought before this Great Throne and watching the entire Creation melt before Christ—do you think they feel powerful, threatening and independent now? 2) People who put off accepting Christ until they live life their way for a while, ’maybe later’. The problem is a) You may die at any moment, unexpectedly and repentance will not be an opportunity b) If that is the game you think you are playing, your repentance would never be real. You never wanted Him anyway, just Salvation for self (and He doesn't have to accept your fake, late repentance). 3) Good Ole Church people who believe in God, have said a little prayer but never truly lived a single day in deep love and allegiance, never lived a day really loving or caring for others. They just love religion, feeling secure and saved, even love judging others, but they have never had a relationship with Christ. They are still living life their own way; they've never even really craved a closer walk with Christ; they are comfortable. 4) People who feel they have lived a pretty good life and because they haven't done these terrible things others have done, God is bound to let them into His Kingdom. They aren't one of those who needs forgiveness: James 2:10. Even one little sin in life is condemning because it shows the condition of the heart which is all Jesus is concerned with. A darkened heart will continue to grow in selfishness and has no real love: Jeremiah 17:9-10. The fact that someone is more worried over how big or little their sin may be than they are worried over knowing, loving and thanking their Creator Who died for them shows their selfish heart has deceived even them. 5) That person who simply never thinks about salvation or God at all. No one can possibly go through life even if you haven't been to church a day and not see the proof of God in everything around you, not feel Him in your own conscience that screams in your sins. To not think about God is an open, purposeful choice to live your own way and be accountable to no one. It is a passive-aggressive way to reject God in your heart; an act of willful selfishness that doesn't have any love or thankfulness to God, and isn't interested in learning anything that would change that. Try and grasp the reality of this situation: You have died rejecting Christ immediately knowing Truth on the other side; have been imprisoned for many years now, knowing that you are simply awaiting the unknown day when the prison will be opened only to release you to face your Judge. And when that Day finally arrives, you are resurrected to stand before this Throne facing the Wrath of the Creator. No one there can save you—they look on in Judgment as well. And His first Act in your presence is to literally destroy and burn away all of Creation in an overwhelming, deafening display of Power, Fury and Hatred for [your] sin. You will not punch, yell at, or even speak to Him, but simply cower in uncontrollable fear. And the only one you may have thought you might possibly serve or stand with in Hell itself (Satan) was just thrown into the pit of hell before you like a rag doll to be tormented himself. And now, your entire life on earth is about to be totally revealed to this dreadful King and God. You will never see another friend or family member again; you will get your wish: you will be left alone; you will be thrown away for eternity, forsaken, rejected, gone from anyone's life or thoughts. How would you be feeling at this moment? Would you do anything, say anything, to go back and have a second chance?
Here is your second chance. Do you want to be under His Blood, Forgiven, Loved, Cared for, Adored? Or trample His Blood, the Gift of God's own Life given in Love for you? What more could He Do to show His Love and Save you? You have to Want to be Saved; want Him back. You can come to the Throne of mercy now or be taken to the Thrown of Judgment then, against all of His Will and fight to save you—literally over His Dead Body: 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:9-10. Now is the time for you and to reach others.