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Hearts for His Coming

Today marks the start of a new series that will fill you with anticipation, hope, excitement, and a profound reverend fear for the second coming of Christ. 

In Acts, when Peter first preached the gospel at Pentecost, he cited a passage from Joel chapter 2, highlighting that the early church constantly expected the significant event when Christ would return to establish His literal kingdom on earth.

(Acts 2:17-21) “17 ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’.’

Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32.

Historically, that is a common theme of all church awakenings in revivals.

[ Image of the Timeline of the End] 

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

We live in a world where accountability is often avoided, but Scripture teaches that every believer will one day stand before Christ—not to be condemned but to give an account of how we lived. It is time to live purposefully, purely, and prepared, knowing that Jesus is returning.

To understand the second coming of Christ, we first must lay the foundational biblical teaching. Maybe because of pop culture and other urban myths, we got accustomed to thinking there is only one Final Judgment in the Bible. But that is not biblically accurate. There are three judgments in the Bible.

One of the most comforting truths in our faith is that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ. When we trust Him, we pass from death to life. This assurance lets us walk in peace, knowing our salvation is secure.

(Romans 5:1) “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

With this foundation, we need to understand the different judgments that will take place at the end of time.

The Three Judgments

1. The Judgment of Believers – This is for those who have been born again. It’s not about salvation but about being evaluated for reward or loss. The name of this Judgement is 

The Judgment Seat of Christ or “βῆμα" (bēma) of Christ.

[ Image of the Ancient Judgment Seat]

2. The Judgment of the Nations – This will happen when Jesus returns, at the end of the Great Tribulation, to determine which nations will enter His Millennial Kingdom.

This judgment involves Christ assessing nations (people groups) based on their actions toward Christ’s followers during the end times.

(Matthew 25:31-32) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

3. The Great White Throne Judgment – This is the final judgment for the unrighteous after Christ’s 1,000-year reign.

Revelation 20:11-12 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Those who rejected Him will be judged according to their deeds and face eternal separation from God.

These judgments mark a transition between different stages in God’s plan. Right now, we are living in the Dispensation of Grace, but that will come to an end with the Great Tribulation. After this, Jesus will return and establish His Millennial Kingdom, and these judgments will take place as He brings all things into order.

The Judgment of Believers

For those of us in Christ, the Judgment Seat of Christ is not about whether we are saved. Jesus has already settled that on the Cross. Instead, this is a judgment of our works—what we did with the life he gave us, with gifts he entrusted us, with His grace He bestow upon us..

(John 3:18) “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already.” Think of it like a job performance review. Imagine three workers:

Aim your graduation from the school of grace

Imagine a young boy living in extreme poverty. He saw no future, no hope, and no opportunities in life. Then one day, purely by sheer grace, a wealthy businessman offered him a full scholarship to the finest school for that miserable boy. the boy accepts the free offer. He did not deserve it; he did not prove himself better than anyone else. He simply accepts his condition of need and gratefully accepts the free offer. 

The boy is now registered in school. He receives all he needs to succeed in that school. He has all the books and study materials. He is fully equipped to succeed. However, in order to graduate the young boy has a responsibility with all that was entrusted to him. He must study and make purposeful use of all that he has received for free.

Graduation is not automatic because one is registered in school. 

Salvation is by grace. Being in school is by grace. Reward and commendation come from our good works empowered by grace. Graduation only happens through many studies enabled by the books and materials that are freely given.

Aim for commendation from your faithful work

Think of three employees in the same company. 

The first follows the company’s instructions carefully and produces excellent results. When the boss evaluates his work, he receives a reward.

The second is part of the company but does things his own way, producing poor results. He is not fired, but he receives no reward.

The third is not even a real employee—he has no business being there. When the boss finds out, security removes him.

This is how the Judgment of Believers works. Some will be rewarded for faithfulness, some will suffer loss, and those who never truly belonged to Christ will face separation from Him.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (AMP) 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth. 7 So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (AMP) 10 According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. 14 If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.

Our works will be tested like a fire refining gold. If what we have built in our lives is solid, we will be rewarded. If it is worthless, it will be burned away, though we will still be saved.

Jesus Himself said:

(Revelation 22:12)

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” 

Not every believer will receive the same reward. Some will be honored in the Kingdom, while others will be the least.

Matthew 5:19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments [the sermon of the mount commendments] and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Even Jesus’ disciples understood that there would be different positions in the Kingdom. When they asked who would be the greatest, He told them:

Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Aim to be a Faithful and active servant

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about three servants given different amounts of money. Two of them invest wisely and are rewarded, but one buries his talent out of fear and laziness. The master rebukes him and takes away even what he has.

Matthew 25:24-27 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

God expects us to use what He has given us purposefully. It’s not just about avoiding sin—it’s about actively living for Him.

All that judgment pertains to the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is for believers. It is that judgment that determines who the overcoming believer is. Those who are not found faithful will be disciplined. Some, while on earth, will be left behind from the first rapture and will face great tribulation along with the Jews. They will not be condemned ever again but will face trials like never before.

Then, at the end of the Great Tribulation, we have the second Judgment. This is with the actual coming of Christ at the end of great tribulation.

The Judgment of the Nations

When Jesus returns, He will gather the nations and separate them into two groups—sheep and goats. This judgment will determine which nations enter His Millennial Kingdom. During the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will persecute the left behind and Jews. Nations and peoples who would help them, even without realizing they are serving Christ, will benefit from entering the Millennium Kingdom.

The establishment of the Millenium kingdom ends the dispensation of grace and establishes the time of loyalty to the King. 

This judgment is not about faith but how they treated God’s people. With this Judgment, the Millenium Kingdom starts. 

After one thousand years, we have the final judgement.

The Great White Throne Judgment

This is the final judgment, taking place after Christ’s 1,000-year reign. This is not for believers but for all who rejected Christ.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it… And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life.” (Revelation 20:11-12)

At this judgment, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:15) “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” 

Revelation tells us that books will be opened, containing records of every person’s deeds. Every careless word and every action will be accounted for.

(Matthew 12:36) “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” 

Right now, Jesus is our Advocate—He stands before the Father on our behalf. But on that day, He will be the Judge.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 4:15-19 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

This final judgment is not something believers should fear. If we have put our faith in Christ, our names are already in the Book of Life. But for those who have not, there is no second chance after death.

 (2 Corinthians 6:2) “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The most important question is: Is your name written in the Book of Life? If not, today is the day to make things right with God. Place your trust in Jesus, and your eternity will be secure.

The Certainty of Future Accountability

This is a non-negotiable truth—every person will stand before Jesus. There’s no escaping it; this meeting is already scheduled in Heaven’s calendar.

It is personal Judgment. The Bible constantly says, “…each one…” It won’t be about your group, family, or church—it will be you and Jesus.

It is time. The same Jesus who died for us will lovingly but truthfully evaluate us. He sees beyond appearances—into motives, thoughts, and intentions.

Like in ancient athletic contests, rewards will be given for faithful performance.

1 Corinthians 3:14: “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.”

Our time on earth is our opportunity to invest in eternity. Faithfulness in prayer, love, service, sacrifice—it all matters. God sees the unseen acts of kindness, but also the hidden compromises. Nothing is wasted—and nothing is hidden. 

The judgments is meant to awaken us to live fully for Christ. We don’t serve for applause here—but for reward in Heaven.

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Hearts for His Coming

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds…” (Revelation 1:7)

The groom is coming. The King is returning. The Judge is on His way. Every eye will see Him. His return is glorious and imminent.