Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 8/28/2008

Question
Hi Greg

I'm a born again Christian for only a couple of years and would like to know;

When a Christian dies, does he/she go to heaven immediately and appear at the Beamer Seat ?

Or does that person have to wait till the Rapture ?

Thank You Greg
GOD BLESS YOU

Ray

Answer
Bro Ray,

Thank you for the opportunity to help.

The Bible teaches us that when a Believer dies in faith, their spirit is immediatly ushered into the very presence of the Lord.

2 Cor. 5
6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Though this is not the time of the bema seat judgment where all Christians recieve their rewards for serving Christ. This will happen at a later time. Not a judgment of eternal salvation or damination. But a judgment for the Believers rerwards.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2 Timothy 2:19-21
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, F4 having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work

You see Ray, a Christian is judged to be righteous when he or she accepts Christ as personal Savior and receives forgiveness for all previous sins. But there will be a future judgment that also awaits us. The judgment seat of Christ (bema seat) is for the Christians only. This will happen after the rapture of the Church. It is then that our rewards will be enjoyed throughout eternity. These rewards will be determined on the basis of our faithfulness and dedicated service. The heaven that awaits the faithful Christian is so wonderful it cannot be described for the human understanding. For we Christians who believe the inspired Word of God, the reality of heaven is as certain as the Bible we hold! The description of the New Jerusalem that comes down to earth at the end of the Millennium gives some vivid details about the heaven of eternity (Revelation 21,22).

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden