There will be no judgment of us after we have attained the first resurrection from among the dead. We now shall be forever with the Lord as an integral, eternally indivisible part of His Person.

The order of events for all other human beings is as follows:

The resurrection of their bodies from the grave.

The judgment of their works, of what they have practiced while alive on the earth.

Their entrance into eternal life, or into eternal fire, according to Christ's evaluation of their works.

It is possible that the judgment of the Lord's servants as to their use of their "talents," and the judgment of the peoples of the nations of the earth concerning their kindness (or lack of it) toward the Lord's "brothers" (as described in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew), are referring to the judgment of unprepared believers, and of the peoples of the nations of the earth, who are alive on the earth when the Lord Jesus comes in His Kingdom.

Or, the two judgments (the talents and the cup of cold water) may be a description of what takes place in front of the "white throne," mentioned in Revelation, Chapter 20.

Neither the judgment of the talents nor the judgment of the cup of cold water is referring to the judgment of the victorious saints.

How could it be possible for a saint to be glorified in Christ's Presence, to "ever be with the Lord," and after that be judged for his use of Kingdom money or for his willingness to assist Christ's "brothers," and then be sent away into outer darkness or everlasting fire?

The first resurrection, in which we will be revealed in the splendor of Christ's majesty and caught up to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever, is a special resurrection of spiritual kings and priests.

The first resurrection is an integral part of Christ's own resurrection. It is not a part of the general resurrection of the dead of mankind. It is not the resurrection of the dead people but the resurrection out from among the dead of mankind: not of the dead but from the dead. The first resurrection from among the dead was Paul's stated goal—that which Paul was striving to attain (Philippians 3:7-21).

It is not possible we can be raised in glory, being like Christ and appearing with Christ, and after that stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The next coming of the Lord is the appearing that will destroy Antichrist. Some are teaching that the next coming of the Lord will remove the saints from the earth, and after that Antichrist will reign on the earth while the believers are in Heaven standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is contrary to the express teaching of the Scripture.

Notice carefully the first chapter of the Book of II Thessalonians. The saints of Thessalonica were suffering "persecutions and tribulations" (verse four).

Paul tells the saints that Christ at His coming will bring them rest from their troubles and sufferings (verse seven).

To be continued.