Page 80 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord
P. 80

The Rapture Question: Revised and Enlarged Edition
                “If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it
                is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but
                only as one escaping through the flames.” The distinguishing
                of good and bad works in 2 Corinthians 5 is for the purpose of
                 determining reward.
                   The character of this judgment seems to set it apart from
                judgments occurring at the Second Advent. The rewards an­
                 ticipated in this judgment are described as imminent in sev­
                 eral Scriptures. In 1 Peter 5:4 it is revealed, “And when
                 the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of
                 glory that will never fade away.” Again in Revelation 22:12
                 Christ declares. “Behold. I am coming soon! My reward is
                 with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he
                 has done.”
                   While the time of the judgment is not explicit in any of
                 the passages, certain other evidences seem to require this
                judgment as preceding and prerequisite to the Second Coming
                 itself. If the twenty-four elders of Revelation 4:4 are inter­
                 preted as referring to the church—a disputed point—it would
                 tend to confirm that judgment of the church has already taken
                 place, as they are already crowned.2 Another evidence is
                 found in Revelation 19:6-8 where the “bride” of the Lamb is
                 declared to be arrayed in “fine linen, bright and clean,” with
                 the explanation, “Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of
                 the saints” (Rev. 19:8). The implication is evident that those
                 in heaven who compose the “bride” are already translated or
                resurrected and their righteous acts determined and re­
                warded. The marriage supper announced indicates that the
                marriage itself has already taken place. If the church is to be
                judged, rewarded, and joined to Christ in the symbol of mar­
                riage before the Second Advent, an interval of time is re­
                quired.
                   George E. Ladd has objected to the argument that the
                interval of approximately seven years is required for these
                events on the ground that it is too short. He stated: “Secondly,
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