Season 5 Podcast 147 Book of Revelation “Opening of the Seven Seals, M, Chapter 14:12-20 C “Judged by our Works.”

We previously learned of the Fall of Babylon and of the terrible calamities that fall upon those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” In the following the Lord speaks directly to his faithful saints.

Revelation 14:12

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Rather than curses that have fallen upon the wicked, blessings fall upon the righteous.

Revelation 14:13

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

It doesn’t promise that the faithful will escape all the suffering, but it does promise that those who endure to the end or those who “die in the Lord” shall rest from their labors and furthermore shall be greatly blessed for all their good works. We should not assume that because we are saved by grace that our works on earth don’t matter. In Psalms, the Lord says:

Psalm 33:15

“He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”

John also revealed,

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

There is a difference between being saved by ‘grace and judged by works.’ Remember the words of the Savior,

John 14:2-3

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

The words above refer not just to his apostles but to all of his disciples. Paul expands the image of “many mansions” exponentially.

1 Corinthians 25:40-42

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:”

The many mansions are divided by Paul into three levels or degrees of glory, one compared to the glory of the sun, another compared to the glory of the moon, and still another compared to the glory of the stars. He also subdivides the glories when he says, “for one star differeth from another star in glory.” All who are saved in a kingdom of glory are by necessity saved by grace and not by works. That is fundamental doctrine of Christianity, but what are the conditions of glory? In other words what standards of judgment determine which kingdom of glory we inherit. James tells us.