PART III
T i m e R u n n i n g O u t f o r A p o s t a s y
PARTS I AND II The third judgment is the Bema, or the Judgment Seat o f Christ, which will take place immediately after the rapture of the church. It deals mainly with the believer's service fo r Christ. “ F irst o f all, our works, as believers, from the day we believed on Christ to the moment of our resurrection at Christ’s return, will pass before the Lord in review . . . This judgment is to deter mine our place and position in the coming glory,” states Dr. Talbot. Quantity and quality o f our works are in volved and a five-fold crown is offered: the crown of life for victorious living; the crown of righteousness for those who look for the coming o f the Saviour, and live in the blessed hope; the crown of glory for humility and faithfulness; the soul-winner’s crown which can be lost through indifference to the souls o f men; and the mar tyr’s crown for those who pay for their testimony with their lives. T . Talbot Rev. 2 :14). Balaam represents every false minister who holds his position for personal profit, whether it be for money or influence or popularity. Such a false shepherd removes the curse of the cross from his message, that the purse-strings of the ungodly may be loosed. He stifles his own conscience, and
BACKGROUND FRi The Word o f God describes five judgments and five crowns. The first judgment was that which was poured upon the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, the sub stitutionary, propitiatory offering for the sins o f the whole world. The first crown was the cruel diadem of thorns placed upon His lovely brow. By this “new and living way” He made possible salvation for all who would believe and receive Him. The second judgment is a continuous one. It is God’s constant chastening of the believer in this present life that he may not be condemned with the world, and that he may be made conformable to the will o f God. “ As we walk in the light as God is in the light,” states Dr. Talbot, “ then, with the blood continually cleansing us from all sin, we have the crown of divine favour, the diadem o f unfailing blessing from One who is pleased with our life and witness." by Dr. Louis T he E rror of B alaam ”— A F alse M inistry , (Jude 11). Turn to chapters 22-25 o f the book of Numbers, and read the story o f Balaam, how he “ caused the children of Israel . . . to commit tres pass against the Lord to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Num. 31:16;
23
AUGUST, 1966
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs