Resurrection - Then What?

What happens after Jesus returns and raises me from the dead?

"...forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead...in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ...for all of us must be manifested in front of the dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Then what?

"...each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

Note the judging is for handing out rewards, not punishment. OK, so how should I live now knowing this?

"...I am entreating you, then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit with the tie of peace...be ambitious to be quiet, and to be engaged in your own affairs, and to be working with your hands, according as we charge you, that you may be walking respectably toward those outside and you may have need of nothing." (Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

All sane people understand the simple truth that if they live, they will also one day die. That is also biblical truth and is verified by experience so every sane person believes it whether they believe in God or not. But those who believe God also believe that after a man or woman dies there is another life “eternal in the heavens”. This helps us live righteously.

”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad…he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, 15)

Even though all mankind has this eternal house in the heavens guaranteed to them, there is also going to be a day of reckoning when we receive that new “house”. All will give an account to Christ for the things done in this life and be shown whether it is good or bad. 

If people were aware and believed that fact, then it would take care of our daily walk and relationships in this life. But most just do not believe they will have to give an account…even Christians have this insane idea that because they have made some “wise decision” to “accept” Christ they will be exempt from this examination.

“…all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Chris…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation…For he hath made him to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

The good news is that although ALL will give account, God was in Christ at the cross reconciling the whole world to himself and is not imputing the bad things we do against us in terms of punishment beyond death.  He wants us to tell people this...that is a believer’s "ministry". Christianity and all other religions fail miserably in this regard because they simply do not believe God. Sin will not prevent us from being "saved" and receiving our “house…eternal in the heavens”, but we may gain or lose “reward” based on our actions.

”Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

The good works mankind does will be rewarded. As for the bad works, they will not be rewarded and we will be "ashamed" of them, even though the person “shall be saved”.

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)