A little over thirty years ago, I heard Dr. Craig Blomberg present a paper at the national meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. It was called “Degrees of Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven?” The paper was later published in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
Dr. Blomberg argued that there won’t be degrees of reward in Jesus’ kingdom. He calls that a “depressing and damaging notion” (p. 172). Why? Because in his view, all believers are faithful. The unfaithful are “lost for all eternity” (p. 172). And while there are degrees of fruitfulness among true believers, “no believers ever so approach the standards of God’s holiness that it would make sensei to eternally reward them differently from their Christian peers” (p. 172).
One thing he said in his paper really jumped out at me. He said,
“The view that rewards differentiate us during the millennium but not thereafter does not trouble me, since it accomplishes the same purposes for which I am arguing. Even a thousand years is an undefinably small fraction of infinity and will pale into insignificance after it passes. But I find no textual warrant for this view” (p. 171, n. 50).
I will be speaking on that very issue at the October 25-26 GES Dallas Regional Conference. In this blog, I will just share five proofs that eschatological rewards last forever, not just 1,000 years.
First, Paul said that believers are striving for “an imperishable crown.” The same word is used in 1 Cor 15:52, “the [believing] dead will be raised incorruptible.” That doesn’t mean we will be mortal after the Millennium. It means we will be immortal forever after. Every NT use of that word refers to something that is permanent (cf. Rom 1:23; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Pet 1:4, 23; 3:4).
Second, the Lord Jesus said we are to set our hearts on imperishable treasure: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:20). He was speaking of that which is permanent and secure.
Third, Peter said faithful believers will have a rich entrance. “Therefore, brethren…if you do these things, you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:11). That rich entrance will be into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. The Millennium is the first thousand years of the everlasting kingdom. When it moves to the New Earth, it will still be the same everlasting kingdom (Revelation 21–22).
Fourth, as Blomberg said in his footnote, a thousand years in the scope of eternity is a very short time. Peter said that with the Lord, “a thousand years [is] as one day” (2 Pet 3:8). The Lord Jesus will rule forever. So will all who rule with Him (Rom 2:17; Heb 1:9; Rev 2:26; 22:12-14).
Fifth, all believers are not overcomers. See the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27) and the Parable of the Just and Unjust Servant (Matt 25:1-13). See also 1 Cor 9:27; 2 Tim 4:6-10; Revelation 2-3. So, not only will there be degrees of rulership among the overcomers (e.g., Luke 19:17, 19), but there will also be degrees of treasure for both overcomers and non-overcomers. Otherwise, Paul lied when he said, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal 6:7).
Focused Free Grace theology considers all of Scripture. While everlasting life is a gift received the moment one believes in Jesus for it, there is accountability now and in the eschaton. Eternal security is not a license to sin. It is an opportunity to gain eternal treasure and an imperishable crown.
Keep grace in focus.
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i Blomberg is speaking of what doesn’t make sense to him. If it made sense to the Lord Jesus and His apostles—and it did–then we need to have our minds renewed (Rom 12:2).
