"The judge standeth before the door."

The "judge," and the only Judge of men, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

One aspect of the coming of the Lord Jesus to judge His people is described in the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation. The text in no manner suggests that God ignores the works of the believer, that they are saved and rewarded by grace apart from righteous conduct. Quite the opposite concept is presented.

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:22,23)

The above passage is addressed to one of the seven "lampstands," to a Christian church. There is no suggestion here that Christians will have eternal fellowship with God on the basis of imputed (ascribed) righteousness.

The second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation point out that Christ is interested in the fruit of His redemptive work in us, not in our dwelling in a legal state of "grace" that is not characterized by a transformed life, by godly, righteous, holy, faith-filled behavior.

Adam and Eve were thrust from the Garden of Eden so they could not eat of the tree of life and thus gain immortality while sin had dominion over them. If they had acquired immortality while in their state of rebellion against the Lord God they would have been cast down to the deepest abyss with the fallen angels (II Peter 2:4).

Likewise, if God were to raise us from the dead and glorify us while we still are bound by sin and self-will He would be producing immortal sinners, immortal rebels. We no longer would be eligible for redemption. God, in that case, would have immortalized our flesh while sin remains in it.

We must be purified first. We must, through the Lord Jesus, overcome sin and rebellion. Only then will we be permitted to eat of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7).

The last enemy that will be destroyed is physical death. All other enemies must be destroyed before we are ready for the last enemy to be destroyed. We must be judged before we receive our immortal bodies.

Christ has come to the churches in our day to prepare us for the coming of the Kingdom of God and the resurrection from the dead.

When Christ returns in the clouds there will exist a Bride without spot or wrinkle, an unblemished complement of the Lord Jesus. By that time the Bride, having been guided by the Spirit of God, will have made herself ready. She will have washed her robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

To be continued.