Mark Hitchcock - Heavenly Rewards: Living with Eternity in Sight

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked P HILLIPS are taken from J.B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition. J.B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Company.

Cover design by Brian Bobel Design

Cover photo tusumaru; tatianazaets / iStock

Published in association with William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, Oregon 97404.

Heavenly Rewards

Copyright 2019 by Mark Hitchcock

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7653-4 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7654-1 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hitchcock, Mark, 1959- author.

Title: Heavenly rewards / Mark Hitchcock.

Description: Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018054819 (print) | LCCN 2019009334 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736976541 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736976534 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Reward (Theology)

Classification: LCC BT940 (ebook) | LCC BT940 .H58 2019 (print) | DDC 234dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018054819

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Contents

A chapter on the judgment seat of Christ from Dr. John Walvoords book The Church in Prophecy

E ver since my son Christopher went to heaven in 2008, I have been much more heavenly minded. His unexpected early arrival there sent me searching deeper into the mysteries and wonders of heaven and our future with Christ. As a teacher, preacher, and evangelist, Im more committed than ever to helping point people to Jesus and eternity with Him in heaven.

When I had the opportunity to read Mark Hitchcocks new book Heavenly Rewards , I was excited to do so. Not only is Mark a friend and well-respected Bible teacher and writer, he has a particular gifting for addressing the topics of the end times and eternity. I had never come across a book dedicated solely to the subject of heavenly rewards, so I was eager to read it.

Mark has done a thorough, balanced, and biblically accurate job of tackling this overlooked and sometimes misunderstood subject. With his conversational style of writing, peppered with many helpful illustrations and insights, Mark has helped me to have a better understanding of what lies ahead for the believer in heaven. Reading this book will do the same for you.

The fact that God desires to bless us with rewardsbeyond the overwhelming gifts of His grace, mercy, and salvationboggles the mind. And yet, as Mark well describes, receiving rewards will be a sign of Gods pleasure and approval of our lives here on earth. It gives me great pleasure to recommend this book to you!

Greg Laurie , senior pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship; evangelist, Harvest Crusades and Harvest America

O ver the past couple decades, Ive had the privilege of speaking at many churches and prophecy conferences in the United States and around the world. Ive spoken on a variety of topics related to the book of Revelation, future events, and signs of the times that are setting the stage for the coming of Christ. Ive discovered that people everywhere are very interested in what lies ahead for themselves and for this world. One set of related topics Ive also addressed is heaven, hell, and the afterlife. These subjects have universal appeal.

Several few years ago, I began to teach on the judgment seat of Christ (also known as the bema judgment) and the rewards believers will receive in heaven.

I had studied these topics in-depth for many years and been personally challenged by what Scripture says, so I decided to prepare a message on the future evaluation of the lives of Gods people and their heavenly rewards. These quickly became my favorite topics to address at churches and conferences because they are so practical, focused, and hope-filled.

The response to this message continues to be overwhelming. The feedback has been some of the most positive Ive ever received. The topics have truly resonated with people. For quite some time Ive wanted to put this message into a book to give it a wider reach and impact. The folks at Harvest House have graciously partnered with me to bring this dream to fruition. For that I am truly grateful.

The book youre holding is the core of the message Ive delivered numerous times, along with a substantial amount of additional material having to do with the future and final rewards.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as Ive enjoyed writing it. And may all of us apply its message to our lives, living each day in light of that moment when we will stand before our Lord.

Dr. Mark Hitchcock

Only one life, twill soon be past ,

Only whats done for Christ will last.

C.T. Studd

At death we put the signature on our

lifes portrait. The paint dries.

The portraits done. Ready or not.

Randy Alcorn

T he famed Buffalo Bill Wild West Show performed throughout Europe during the final years of the nineteenth century and landed in Berlin, Germany, in 1899. The German people, like others in Europe, turned out by the thousands to see the Wild West Show. A smashing hit wherever it went, the show featured several entertainers with star power, but none was more compelling than Annie Oakley. Standing less than five feet tall, Oakley was known as Little Sure Shot, a name she was given by Sitting Bull. She beat any male sharpshooter who dared to challenge her. Oakley had many amazing sharpshooting tricks as part of her act. These included shooting through playing cards she had tossed up in the air. Another was to shoot a metal coin tossed into the air about twenty-seven yards away. Another Oakley staple act was to look into a mirror to shoot an apple placed behind her. She was among the earliest female superstars in show business.

One demonstration that was part of Annies routine was shooting the ashes off the tip of a large, lit cigar held in someones mouth. The act would start with Oakley asking for a volunteer from the audience. Typically, as you can imagine, no one would volunteer, so her husband, Frank Butler, who was planted in the audience, would step forward for the exhibition.