The Damage of the Second Death, week 1, Friday, chapter 1

THE DAMAGE OF THE SECOND DEATH -

Reflections on the millennium

Chapter 1

DISCIPLINE AND REWARD

WEEK 1 - FRIDAY
Bible Reading: Mt 6:6; 16:27-28; Rev 11:15, 18

Read and pray: "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." (Mt 6:6)

THE REWARD IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVENS (2)

Matthew 16:27-28 says: "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done". God will reward or punish a saved person according to his works.

"Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom". There are three facts here.

First, man will be rewarded according to his works. The matter of reward is entirely based on works.

Second, at what time will the reward be given? It will be known when Christ comes in the glory of His Father with His angels. When Christ comes in the glory of His Father with His angels, that will be the time when He establishes His kingdom on earth. Therefore, only when the kingdom begins will the reward begin.

Third, here is a type that speaks about a fact. The Lord’s transfiguration on the mountain typifies His manifestation in glory in the coming kingdom. On that occasion some Christians will be rewarded.

The verses in Matthew 6 that we just read about giving, praying and fasting all involve reward. Some think that the reward of praying is God’s answer to our prayer. However, that is not the full meaning.

The Lord Jesus said that we must pray to the Father who is in secret, and our Father who sees in secret will reward us. It is possible to interpret this as the Father answering our prayer. Nevertheless, both in the first part where the Lord mentions giving alms and in the second part where He mentions fasting, He says: "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you".

This reward must refer to something in the future. Furthermore, the Lord said that we must pray to the Father who sees in secret. He does not say that the Father hears in secret, but that He sees in secret. When God gives the reward in the future, He will give it according to what He sees. God sees with His eyes. Therefore, the reward is in the future.

Revelation 11:15 says: "The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever’".

Verse 18 says: "The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great".

This verse clearly shows us that when the Lord becomes King and the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, it will be time to give the reward to the saints, both small and great. In other words, the time of the kingdom is the time of the reward. When the kingdom comes, the reward will also come. There is an additional point. The reward is the obtaining of the crown and the obtaining of the throne.

Once a Western missionary said to me: "If I cannot have the crown, at least I can have the kingdom". Can you ask King Edward of England if, when he loses his crown, he still has the kingdom? What is a crown? It is not simply a hat carved in gold and adorned with diamonds. That kind of crown can be obtained with a certain amount of money.

What is a crown? A crown represents a position in the kingdom. It also represents glory in the kingdom. If a crown were just an object, it would not mean much. If someone has money, he can make one of gold. If he does not have money, he can make one of bronze or iron. Even if someone is very poor, he could make a crown of cloth.

In the future, the matter will not be whether one crown is bigger than another in size, or one has more diamonds than another. A crown represents something. When someone loses the crown, he loses what the crown represents. We must see that the crown is the symbol of the kingdom.

What is the throne? The Bible shows us that the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones. The crown is a reward for the overcomers, and the throne is also a reward for the overcomers. Therefore, the throne is also a symbol of the kingdom. It represents position in the kingdom, authority in the kingdom, and glory in the kingdom.

There is no such thing as losing the crown but still having the kingdom. Likewise, no one can lose the throne and still have the kingdom. If someone loses the throne, he will also lose the kingdom. Likewise, if someone loses the crown, he will lose the kingdom.

The throne and the crown are not important in themselves; they exist only to represent the kingdom. In other words, the reward is the kingdom. The Bible clearly shows us that the reward is simply the kingdom.

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