This is Part 2 of 6 parts answering a friend’s question regarding the Rapture and end times information. Parts 3-6 will be posted on succeeding days.

Now, what happens to the believers taken in the Rapture? They are prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb (The Lord Jesus) through purification of human good, and distribution of rewards in heaven at the Bema Seat. The Bema Seat is in contrast to the Great White Throne judgment. The Bema Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) will be conducted immediately after the Rapture and the Great White Throne will be held after the Millennium (Rev. 20:11-15). We should note three things.

First, the marriage supper of the Lamb occurs during the Tribulation on earth after the Church has been called to heaven (Rev. 4:1). John noted,

⁷ “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ⁹ Then he said to me, “Write: `Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev. 19:7-9 NKJ)

Secondly, all genuine believers will be face to face with the Lord for the Judgment Seat of Christ (also called the Bema Seat),

⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:8-10 NKJ)

And thirdly, the Judgment Seat of Christ is the time when genuine believers receive eternal blessings and rewards.

¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:11-15 NKJ)

Jesus Christ is the only One who can lay the Divine foundation and only work done by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit will last (gold, silver, precious stones). Those works that are characterized by wood, hay, and straw are works done in the human flesh or also called “human good.” They may look good to others, but because they were done without dependency on the Holy Spirit, that is independent of God, they will have no eternal rewards. That person will be saved however, but will experience the smoke from his works that are burned up.

What if you never made a genuine decision of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer is you will be left behind when the rest of the church is raptured. What will be the cry in the world after the Rapture? Interestingly, the world will cry, ”Peace and Safety.” The world will develop answers why millions of people will disappear and many will proclaim answers to the unending questions,

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thes. 5:1-3 NKJ)

While they are proclaiming the “peace and safety,” the Tribulation will come upon them in “sudden destruction.” So if you hear international reports of millions of people who vanish and a world leader who seeks to answer the disappearance with words conveying “peace and safety,” know that you have missed the Rapture and it would be wise to place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s salvation message. You may experience a horrible time, but at least at the end of the Tribulation, you know you will be delivered.

Part 3 will be posted tomorrow.