Introduction


[2 Corinthians 5:17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;: behold, all things are become new.

[Galatians 6:15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new: creature.

Why do you think God created a new creature to inherit the kingdom of heaven? Why couldn't God have used the Gentile? or what about the Jew's? Let us consider these questions for a moment.

Up until the first advent of Christ there was really only two species of humans on the earth. The Gentile and the Jew. The Gentile, in God's eyes were disqualified because they were under Adam's curse [dead in sin and trespass].

But the Jew was different. The Jew's were of the seed of Abraham and therefore the Jew's were had to be offered the kingdom of the heavens first. They were the natural choice to inherit the promise of Abraham's covenant. [Genesis 17:5] [Genesis 17:9] Israel having been adopted as a Firstborn Son, [Exodus 4:22-23], was the one nation in the earth that could claim Abraham's inheritance through their Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The Word of God reveals that Israel rejected the heavenly kingdom, [the double portion of the inheritance due a firstborn son] at the first advent of Christ. When they had their Messiah crucified we read that a second offer of the kingdom was made to the national leaders of Israel during the book of Acts, by Paul. [Colossians 1:25] They rejected that offer as well and therefore God disqualified them [Acts 28:28] and took the offer of inheriting the Kingdom of Heavens to the Gentiles and any Jew that would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God - the Messiah.

If a person would believe with all their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God they would be made a new creature in Christ whether Jew or Gentile. [2 Corinthians 5:17] and [Galatians 6:15] This would qualify any person for the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom since the new creature is adopted into the family of God as a child of God. But there is conditions for this new creature to adhere to just as there had been conditions for the Jews to adhere to.

The conditions for the Jews had been "repent and be baptized for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". You see, Israel had been disobedient to God for six hundred years. God had chosen them to establish a nation in the earth and introduce all of the Gentile nations to their God. But they disobeyed and so, when the time of Christ's first advent came, God called them to repentance before they could receive the heavenly kingdom.

The conditions for the new creature is very much like the conditions that were expected of the Jews. The new creature is expected to separate themselves from the world, worship no other God, love their brothers in Christ as they love themselves, and introduce all men [the Jew and the Gentile] to Christ so they can also become a new creature and thus become a child of God, as well.

The new creature is adopted into the family of God [as the Church - the body of Christ] and they are considered to be of the body of Christ until they are called out from the raptured body or assembly of the dead [called out from those of the Church being held or hurt of the second death], [Philippians 3:11] [Revelation 2:11] just before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The body of those called out from the body of the Church is called the body of the bride. [Colossians 2:17] As the body of Eve was removed from the body of the first Adam so to will the body of the bride of Christ be removed from the body of Christ - the last Adam. [1 Corinthians 15:45] Is the Church not called the body of Christ? [Colossians 1:18] [Colossians 1:24] Then it will only be the body of believers known as the bride of Christ that will inherit the reward of ruling and reigning with Christ in the Kingdom of the Heavens [as king/priests or servant kings] with Christ for 1000 years [the Lords Day] and then go on from there to inherit the city of New Jerusalem in the new heavens and the new earth and throughout eternity for the everlasting ages to come. [Revelation 22:5]

Let us now look at these truths in more light and detail.

The Word of God states that the [church], during the dispensation of the Church, is considered to be the [Body of Christ].

1 Corinthians 12:12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

[1 Corinthians 12:27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

[Ephesians 5:22-32] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

[Colossians 1:24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

This is a perfect example or type, of how God intends to remove the body of the {Bride of Christ} from the general assembly of believers, the Church, also known as the {Body of Christ}, or the {Last Adam}.

Man and woman were created as one body. Eve was taken from Adam's body and even though they were two separated bodies they were still one flesh since Adam's rib bone is what God used to create Eve.

[Genesis 2:21-24] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Once God creates something it is created perfect for His purposes and it can't be made any more perfect. Once God creates something new, in a certain way, that is the way it will be created from then on. It does not change because God does not create anything imperfectly.

Therefore, since Eve came from the first Adam's body, the Bride of Christ will come from the last Adam's body [the general assembly of all believers] just after the rapture and before the Judgment Seat of Christ has commenced.

We can get a good look at the Bride of Christ in [Hebrews 12:22-24] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Notice that verse 23 said the general assembly of the firstborn. The firstborn of the Holy scriptures are those who receive the double portion of the inheritance [that is if they haven't done anything to negate that double portion as did Esau and Reuben]. They only inherited a single portion of the inheritance just as any child would inherit a single portion. Why? Because they defiled their positions as firstborn sons.

The 'firstborn' of the church dispensation are the overcomers, the obedient faithful that will not only receive everlasting life [the single portion] but, they will also receive the reward of being made Priest-Kings of the order of Melchizedek to rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years in the Kingdom of the Heavens . This millennial age is translated as "eternal" or {age lasting} life in the King James version bible.

The next age to come is the Millennial reign of Christ.

The title [firstborn] is synonymous with the title [Bride of Christ]. Both of these terms or titles are used in scripture to convey the idea of someone who is rewarded or inherits more than a single portion of the inheritance [in this case eternal or age lasting life and therefore a place in Christ's Kingdom for 1000 years over the Earth]. Simply said straight out, it is the gift of spirit salvation in addition to being rewarded soul salvation, as well.

Spirit salvation is a gift of God and not of the works of any man except Christ's works on the Cross; plus nothing, minus nothing.

However, after being born again of the Spirit, all believers are called on to be, not only hearers but doers or laborers as well. Believers must do the 'work' of dying to self daily in order for God to bear fruit through our daily lives.

Our work, then, are to die daily to our own wants, Love God, Love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and confess our sins daily.

The firstborn inherits a double portion and in the case of the use of this term in scripture, the firstborn [in the Semitic tribes] always inherited {the kingship or leadership position of the family}, {the priest or spiritual leadership position}, and {an extra portion of any material possessions} being passed down.

In similar manner a bride inherits all things that the Bridegroom possesses.

So, we see the use of these two terms or titles being used metaphorically and synonymously to convey the idea that believers who are found accepted or worthy to stand {be out resurrected from the second death} so that they may be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ, will share Christ's inheritance with him during the 1000 year, Kingdom reign of Christ [that is the Kingdom of Christ's reign, from the heavenly realm, over the Earth].

There is a difference in being a [child] of God and a [firstborn son]. A male child [in the Jewish economy] is not considered to be a son until he is thirteen years of age.

The Jewish bar mitzvah is the celebration of the thirteenth birthday of a Jewish boy. But, this still doesn't make him a firstborn son. This ceremony only recognizes the child now as a son [one who would inherit only a single portion of the inheritance] {a type for the gift of spirit salvation}.

When a Jewish patriarch dies all of the male children inherit their share of the patriarch's possessions. The [firstborn son] becomes the leader [Prince] of the family, plus becomes the religious leader [Priest] of the family, and gets an extra portion of all material possessions. That is what the story of Esau and Jacob is all about.

Esau callously gave his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage [material possessions] at a time when Esau was very weak and hungry. Therefore, Jacob received the birthright title of Prince\Priest of the family and later on, when Jacob returned to the family and met Esau out on the valley plain, Jacob made up for his deceit of Esau by giving Esau a large portion of his material possessions, cattle, sheep, goats, and so on. This satisfied Esau and again Esau never really ever got the double portion of their father's {Isaac's} possessions. In fact, that last transaction was the final seal on Esau's rejection of the his birthright.

I wonder how many Christians have given away their inheritance [their birthright] in the Kingdom of Heaven for the things of this world [material possessions]? This story is the Old Testament [type] for believers in this dispensation who have been neglectful of their right to inherit [with Christ] His inheritance of the Kingdom of Heavens over the Earth during the Millennial reign of Christ.

Yes, we are children of God, in the since that we are saved by grace through faith and that not of our own works but by the work of Christ on the cross and we can never lose this salvation by grace since it is a gift of God and we have been adopted into the family of God and part of our experience, in Christ, is everlasting spirit salvation.

But, there is so much more - there is a double portion that we have the potential of receiving if we are found worthy to stand up or be out-resurrected from the second death and that double portion is the [firstborn son-ship or bride-ship], or the {salvation of the soul} or {the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven} all synonymous terms.

But, that inheritance or salvation goes far beyond the 1000 year kingdom reign of Christ.

Christ, in his judgment of the Church of Philadelphia, gives the overcomers this promise.

[Revelation 3:7] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down (5723) out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

So, we see that the inheritance of this position, in the government of Christ/God, carries on into the everlasting ages.

New Jerusalem is associated with the new Heaven and new Earth which is created only after the Great White Throne judgment and this judgment occurs only after the 1000 year reign of Christ. Eternity future can only begin 'after' the 1000 year reign of Christ has ended.

This inheritance of the double portion [soul salvation] is associated with the 1000 year Millennial reign of Christ and is dependant, not on the work of Christ on the cross, but rather, is dependant on our obedience and faithfulness to God by living our lives faithfully which yields the precious fruit of the Spirit of God.

We can not do this work by our selves. It requires the help of the Holy Spirit working through us. Therefore, if we are accepted of Jesus Christ at the out-resurrection, it is because of Christ's works in the Spirit [fruitfulness] that we are accepted [not because of our works [through the flesh] and in or of our purely human efforts without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Bride of Christ must be removed from the Body of Christ, [the Last Adam] just before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

[2 Corinthians 5:9-10] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

But not all at the same time. Please read Will We "All" Stand Before the Judgment Seat of Christ? to find out what is meant by this statement.

Will we receive a good reward [the kingdom] or bad reward [loss of the kingdom]?

5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

[1 Corinthians 3]

3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

[verse 3:11 is referring to everlasting or Spirit salvation]

3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

These things are metaphors for types of works that we build upon the foundation of spirit salvation in Christ.

Is your works the works of the Spirit of God through you or your own works of the flesh and done for the sake of the traditions of men and not for the sake of the testimony of Jesus, the Christ?

Note: Non-overcomers will not have gold, silver, or precious stones (works of the Spirit of God). All that they have are wood, hay, and stubble (works of the flesh), hence they will not be present at this Judgment Seat of Christ.

It is only overcomers that have both works of the Spirit of God and works of the flesh.

3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

It is only works of the Spirit of God that will abide at this judgment.

[verse 3:14 is referring to Soul Salvation]

3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Here is a picture of the loss of reward [Kingdom exclusion] but an unquestionable statement indicating that these believers, even though they have not overcome, shall be saved and eventually go into everlasting life at the time God creates the New Heavens and New Earth. They can not lose their everlasting, spirit salvation.

3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

God's rest is called the Sabbath rest in scripture {for on the seventh day God rested}.

[Genesis 2:1-3] Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

God considers one day as one thousand years. [2 Peter 3:8] thus there has been almost 6 thousand years since God began His restoration of the Earth and of Man. This is six days to God but six thousand years to us. The Sabbath rest of Christ [God] will be the seventh [one thousand year] day. That day is the one thousand year [Millennial] reign of Christ upon the Earth.

[Revelation 20:1-3] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The one thousand years of [Revelation 20] is the Sabbath rest of Christ [Hebrews 3:11] otherwise known as the Millennial reign of Christ and those saints who are found worthy, will enter into Christ's rest [the one thousand year {Millennial} reign of Christ, in the heavenly realm of the Kingdom of Heaven].

The Kingdom of Heaven is the same place that Satan and his angels rule over the dominion of the Earth from today.

Dominion of the Earth and the Kingdom of Heaven associated with the Earth was given to Adam and Eve in [Genesis 1:26] but, Eve fell to Satan's lies, thus, Adam had to yield the crown of dominion back to Satan who was the original holder of the crown when God first created this dominion in [Genesis 1:1] [Isaiah 14:12-15].

Satan will retain the crown until the times of the gentiles expires sometime in the not to distant future. Satan and his angels will be forcibly removed from the Kingdom of Heaven about half way through the tribulation period. This is after all believers have been delivered to the Kingdom of Heaven via the rapture of the Church.

Shortly after they enter into the kingdom of the heavenlies all of the body of the Church will die the second death, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of the heavenlies. This is the second death (which, by the way, is not the lake of fire), but rather, is separation from God for some predetermined period of time.

For some believers the time of separation is for no longer than the moment of the twinkling of an eye. For others it will be for 1000 years, maybe more. But, for those who have never been saved it will be for the everlasting ages.

The saints who have been accepted as what the Bible describes in metaphors as (firstborn sons or the Bride of Christ} will receive the double portion of Christ's heavenly inheritance with Him and become Priest\Kings and rule with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven for the duration of the 1000 year reign of Christ and then throughout the everlasting ages, as well.

Many unfaithful, apostate children of God will not enter in to the rest of Christ,

[Hebrews 4]

4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Apparently we can come short of entering into Christ's rest.

4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. ...
4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

The overcomers will enter into His rest.

4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

"Another day" meaning the Kingdom of Heaven also known as the 1000 year reign of Christ. It is a 1000 year day.

4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Christ's rest is also our rest, [if we overcome], for, His inheritance is our inheritance. [Eph 1:11], [Eph 1:14], [Eph 1:18], [Eph 5:5], [Col 1:12], [Col 3:24]

4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

If we overcome we will have "ceased from" our works "as God did from his works on the seventh day."

"Let us labour" is the definite indication that [our] works [the works of the Holy Spirit through us] are what is in view here and not the work of Christ. [2 Corinthians 5:9-11] and in addition to that, we, through unbelief, can fall or forfeit our inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven by the way we live our lives (in this physical life) due to unbelief [disobedience].


4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is a powerful word picture of the "hurt of the second death".

[Revelation 2:11] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

[Revelation 20:6-7] 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

Apparently, if a Christian is hurt of the second death, the soul body is separated from the spirit body and the physical body. The soul body will not be allowed into the Kingdom of Heaven. For one thousand years the soul body will be chained under blackness of darkness in Gehenna, a place wherein it must reap what it sowed during this physical life.

If, however the second death has no power over a believer at the time of the out resurrection, their body changes from a redeemed body [or a body like Adam and Eve had before they fell to Satan which was animated by blood] into a spiritual body, like the body that Christ Jesus had after His resurrection which is animated by the Spirit of God.

His body contained no blood then and does not contain an blood now. How do we know this?

Because the Holy Scripture says that the blood of Christ was the price paid for the sins of all who believe. [Romans 5:8-10]

Therefore, since the blood of Christ has been poured upon the heavenly alter to wash away the sins of men then Christ's blood cannot be a part of His resurrected body.

So, Paul gives us this warning:

[1Corinthians 6:9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

And Christ gives us this warning:

[Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

In the case of the souls of those believers whom appear before Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven {just after the rapture, but, just before the Judgment Seat of Christ} not clothed with the appropriate wedding garment, their souls will not enter into the Kingdom, however they will enter into the New Heaven and New Earth after their judgment at the Great White Throne Judgment because their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. [Revelation 20:12]

Their judgment will come just before the judgment of the damned. [Revelation 20:13-15]

What their status in the everlasting heavenlies will be is dependant on God's determinations at that time and His alone.

[1 Corinthians 3:15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

[Revelation 20:11] 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.

The resurrection and judgment of all saved, but, unfaithful Christians who were held by the second death for 1000 years, and all of the saved during the Millennial age of Christ's reign, is the first event at the judgment of the Great White Throne.

20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand {are resurrected} 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.

After the judgment of these saved individuals is finished, the judgment of the everlastingly damned begins.

20:13 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.

20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The Scripture, in verse 14, is not saying that the lake of fire it's-self is the second death. Rather the Scripture is alluding to the everlasting separation from God that the lake of fire represents.

{Please see [1 Corinthians 15:52-55]

20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The names of all of those believers who stand (are resurrected) in verse 12 will be found in the book of life being referred to here. Please see The Books of Life for a more in-depth study of this subject matter.

One might ask, at this point, what exactly is the experience of one who will suffer the second death? Well, let's review the Scriptural references.

At the time of the second death the spirit goes back to God for it has been reborn and has been sealed by the Holy Spirit; therefore. The spirit belongs to God and must remain in the possession of God.

The physical body [although it has been redeemed by the time of the experience of the second death and is just like the body that Adam and Eve had before their fall into sin] (bodies that could have lived for ever)] will house the soul of those who will endure 1000 years of kingdom exclusion as their just recompense of reward.

These will be located in either the [outer darkness], {Matthew 8:12 , Matthew 22:13, Matthew 25:30} [blackness of darkness], [Jude 1:13] or, experience the lake of fire. [Revelation 20:14], and [Revelation 21:8].

But, as for those who have overcome [and are included in the out-resurrection (the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus), Paul teaches us that these overcomers will be separated from the non-overcomers and be called out from the general assembly of the saints (at the out-resurrection from the dead). The second death will not hurt them [Revelation 2:11] [Revelation 20:6] and cannot hold them.

[Revelation 2:11] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

[Revelation 20:6-7] 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.

Their bodies will be changed from redeemed bodies [bodies like Adam's before he fell into sin and animated by blood] to glorified bodies animated by Spirit [Spiritual bodies] like Christ had when He was resurrected [Acts 1:9-11].

Paul describes a resurrection like that of Christ's resurrection in the following verses.

[Philippians 3:11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

What "resurrection of the dead" is Paul talking about here? He is saved therefore he is guaranteed or [already possesses] the promise of a resurrection at the time of the rapture, so he has to be talking about some other resurrection in the future beyond the generally known rapture of the saints out of the Earth. Paul goes on to explain.

3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In verses 11, 12 and 13 Paul states that this resurrection is something that he has not already attained or apprehended. This is a resurrection that is dependent upon his own works [meaning his yielding himself to the Holy Spirit in obedience to Christ's commandments] and not referring to the works of the flesh or the work of Christ on the cross.

Therefore, we see that the general rapture of the saints is dependent upon the work of Christ {a gift of God} but the "resurrection of the dead" out of the general assembly of all of the raptured Christians, whom have experienced the second death just before the Judgment Seat of Christ, is determined by who is worthy, or to say it another way, is dependent upon obedient, faithful and fruitful works by the Holy Spirit working through the saint. [2 Corinthians 5:9-11] [1 Corinthians 3:11-17]

In [verse 14] Paul calls this resurrection "the prize of the high calling". A prize is something gained by one's own work {death to self} so that works, in the Spirit, may be manifested and not the work of someone else [in this case the work of Christ on the cross].

So, to put this picture into a correct perspective then, we see first, the rapture of the saints, then secondly, we see a further separation of the saints [the faithful, obedient, overcomers separated and called out from the unfaithful, non-overcomers] in what Paul calls the "the prize of the high calling" or "called out from the resurrection of the dead" [Philippians 3:11] , then thirdly, we see the Judgment Seat of Christ and the faithful being rewarded their part in ruling and reigning with Christ during the millennial reign and then throughout the everlasting ages beyond.

For all intents and purposes then, this event could also be described as the out calling [of the bride] from those called out of the world [the body of Christ] just before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The bride will be ushered into the bridal chambers [the kingdom] or to say it another way, the firstborn sons will be given their double portion of the inheritance and enter into the ruler-ship of the Kingdom with Christ as Priest\Kings.

These scriptures and others are explicit in their meaning and can be taken for their face value. The Apostle Paul is making it plain that [the fruits of a Christian's labor], must be accepted of him [Christ] just before the Judgment Seat of Christ in order for a saint to even have the privilege of being judged and given a reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

These things are spoken of in the sense that if our fleshly works become habits or un-Godly lifestyles they will become those things which will keep us from fellowship with Christ and being accepted or worthy to be out-resurrected from the second dead and therefore will keep us from our inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is not to say that the Christian can somehow, by their own works, forfeit everlasting life. That is a gift of God to the Christian. They have done no works to obtain everlasting life and they can do no works to forfeit everlasting life. Everlasting life is being born again of the Spirit of God. How can a mere mortal undo what God himself has wrought. Salvation of the spirit body cannot be forfeited.

These examples in [Galatians 5] describing the works of the flesh are not speaking of the occasional or isolated sins that pop up because we have yet to be delivered from these bodies of flesh, death and corruption, but rather, this is talking about rebellious, deliberate and habitual sin by someone who absolutely knows better but continues to live in a lifestyle of habitual sin and dies in that state of un-confessed sin.

The Holy Scriptures describe another aspect of our over-all salvation. It is called soul salvation and soul salvation {unlike spirit salvation} can be forfeited and will be forfeited if a Christian continues to live in deliberate rebellion to Christ's precepts.

So, we must continually confess all sin to Christ {I John 1:9} and trust in Christ to help us in our efforts to overcome all temptation to sin.

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

[Galatians 6]

6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We shall reap our inheritance in the Kingdom, [if we faint not.]

6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Now, the question might be asked: Why would Jesus die for us to give us everlasting life and yet, before we get to that place of eternal rest, exclude us from His kingdom for 1000 years? The answer is that Christ is not the one who excludes any of His children from any of His promises. It is rather, His children who exclude themselves from His promises. But they absolutely cannot exclude themselves from His gift of everlasting life. That is a gift not a reward.

Everlasting life is a gift of God through Jesus Christ and we can never lose our eternal salvation through Christ.

Kingdom Life and the rewards of the Kingdom are our inheritance as God's children if our works are found to be worthy and acceptable to Christ and we are resurrected out from among the second dead before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

However, if we forfeit our inheritance by trading it for the satisfaction of the flesh for a season as Esau did [a type of carnal Christian living] or if we die with un-confessed sin and die with unbelief and disobedience on our account we will get our just recompense of reward {second death for 1000 years}.

Our Lord is holy and just, above all other things, and cannot favor any of His children over any other. If He did that He would cease to be God and we know that is not going to happen. {Let God's Word be true and all men be made liars}.

Moses did not go into the Promised Land because of unbelief and where there is unbelief there is disobedience and yet Moses has already appeared unto us from the third Heaven so we know that his disobedience did not forfeit his everlasting salvation.

His disobedience affected his reward of entering into the promise land, but, not his everlasting salvation.

Finally, let's close with this promise from our Lord and our God.

[Revelation 21:7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that each and every one of us will strive to be a part of the bride of Christ, and go in to the Kingdom of Heaven which is our promised inheritance with Christ, the firstborn son If we faint not, If we slip not, If we overcome.