THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

CHURCH IN PROPHECY

CHRIST WILL JUDGE THE CHURCH

Following that event, every individual in the raptured church must “appear before the judgement seat of christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” ( 2 Corinthians 5:10; See also Romans 14:10 ). Christ’s parable of the pounds or minas ( Luke 19:12-27 ) and the parable of the talents ( Matthew 25:14-30 ) will also be fulfilled. Paul refers to these judgements of the believer’s works in 1 Corinthians 3:13, where he says, “Each One’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”

THE CHURCH WILL JUDGE ANGELS

The Church will judge angels according to paul in 1 Corinthians 6:3. This can not be judging the unfallen angels, For they are sinless. Paul must therefore be referring to satan’s host of fallen angels, the demons. And because of Paul’s words, “Thus we shall always be with the Lord” ( 1 Thessalonian 4:17 ), “We Know that the church will also witness the judgements of others, such as occurs at the Great White Throne, when all the unsaved dead will be resurrected and stand before God for a final sentencing before being cast into the lake of Fire ( Revelation 20:11-15 ).

THE CHURCH WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST

Another result of the believer’s union with Christ is that the glorified Church will rule and reign with Christ. The church shares Christ’s throne. Even Daniel 7 portrays the son of Man, Christ, as giving His Kingdom to his saints. “Then the Kingdom and Dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the Saints of the most High” ( Daniel 7:27 ). This shared rule with Christ initially takes place during the Millennial reign of Christ ( Revelation 20:4-5 ), but it will extend indefinitely. As long as Christ reigns, so does the church. —- JAMES A. BORLAND

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Borland, James A.”The Meaning and identification of God’s Eschatological Trumpets.” in looking into the Future: Evangelical studies in Eschatology, ed. David W. Baker. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001.

MacArthur, John, Jr. The Church: The Body of Christ Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973.

Radmacher, Earl D. What the Church is All About. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.

Saucy, Robert L. The Church in God’s Program. Chicago: Moody, Press, 1972.

Walvoord, John F. The Church in Prophecy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1964.

Wood, Leon J.The Bible & Future Events. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973.