Secrets from Beyond The Grave

The courts that exist on Earth are set up in a manner similar to the heavenly court. Every court must have a judge, and the heavenly judge is God Himself (Gen. 18:25). Every court must have a prosecutor and an attorney. Satan is identified as the "accuser of the brethren" who appears in the heavenly court attempting bring accusations against the believer (Rev. 12:10). Christ counters the assaults of the prosecutor against the saints, and Christ is called the advocate , or the lawyer, who defends and protects His clients (1 John 2:1). Every court must have a jury, and in most courts there are twelve selected jurors who hear the information in the case and assist in the verdict. In heaven we read of twenty-four elders who are sitting on smaller thrones around the throne of God. These appear to be the twelve sons of Jacob from the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of the Lamb from the New Testament. The apostles were told: So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." --Matthew 19:28 In every court there are also witnesses who sit in on the case and observe the events. They do not participate in the verdict but are often relatives or close friends of the individuals linked to the case. I believe these witnesses are identified in Hebrews 11 as the many saints who have gone before us, called "so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1). This concept may be somewhat of a stretch, but each court has police officers assigned to protect the judge, along with a bailiff who announces for the court to rise when the judge enters the room. Surrounding the throne are four living creatures that are continually drawing attention to the heavenly judge and His righteousness (Rev. 4:6). It will be this area of heaven where the judgments will unfold. Two Different Judgments Are Set in Heaven The Book of Revelation identifies two different judgments that will occur in heaven. The first is a judgment for believers, and the second is a judgment for unbelievers and for those who die during the millennial reign of Christ. The purpose of the first judgment is to reward those who have labored faithfully for the gospel cause, and the second is to show men (and women) why they are condemned to the second death and to judge the angels. "The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,

And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,

And those who fear Your name, small and great,

And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. --Revelation 11:18-19