Secrets from Beyond The Grave

It is interesting that Paul mentions that this crown is given for those who "love His appearing." Once would think that all believers would love the appearing of the Lord. However, there are some who claim to be believers who actually scoff and mock the idea that Christ is returning (2 Pet. 3:3-4). Others will be "ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 John 2:28). For those who look for His appearing, there is a crown of righteousness. Only those in an active covenant with Christ, who are made the righteousness of God through Christ, will receive this particular crown. There are seven blessings promised for those who overcome, mentioned by John in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The blessings are: The overcomer will eat from the tree of life in the heavenly paradise of God (Rev. 2:7). The overcomer will not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 2:11). The overcomer will eat the hidden manna and will be given a new name, written on a white stone (Rev. 2:17). The overcomer will be given authority over the nations (Rev. 2:26). The overcomer will not have his or her name erased from the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). The overcomer will be a pillar in the temple and will receive a new name (Rev. 3:12). The overcomer will sit upon the throne of Christ (Rev. 3:21). All of the above are a part of the rewards believers will receive for serving God faithfully. Other rewards will include ruling on the earth with Christ during the millennial (one-thousand-year) reign. In Luke 19, Christ gives a parable concerning servants who were receiving rewards for their faithfulness. Based upon how these dedicated and loyal servants invested their time and income into the Lord's work, they were given rule over numerous cities. In the Apocalypse, all believers are called "kings and priests" and are promised to "reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10). During the Millennium, there will be thousands of cities in which leaders will be set to rule over entire regions. These rulers and kings will be the saints who are living on Earth during this time. Losing Your Reward There are some very soul-stirring things that are linked to the bema judgment. While a person must have a redemptive covenant to stand at this judgment, there will be people who will lose their eternal reward. This warning is found throughout the Scriptures. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. --Colossians 2:18-19

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. --Revelation 3:11

Christ said that by helping others, you will "by no means lose [your] reward" (Matt. 10:42). I have often wondered how believers who make it to heaven--or people who were dead and then raised with the "dead in Christ" --could have made it into the kingdom of heaven and yet lost their rewards or their crowns?