Judgment Seat of Christ (The Bema)

By - Pastor Daniel Inghram, National Capital Bible Church

Adapted from: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Lesson 20 and Lesson 21, June 6 and 13, 2021

Several passages in the Bible identify a time of evaluation of believers in front of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important for us to understand what the Bible says about this evaluation.

1. The Definition: The location/place/event of the evaluation of Church Age (CA) believers by the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:10). The Greek word for judgment seat is bema. In the ancient world a bema was a raised platform where a judge or official would stand or sit in evaluation of those brought to it.

2. The Scripture: Rom 14:10, 12; 1 Cor 3:11-15; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 John 8; Rev 22:12.

3. The Time: Immediately after the Church is raptured (Rev 22:12).

4. The Place: In heaven (1 Thess 4:13-18).

5. The Judge: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:22).

6. The Subjects: All those in the Body of Christ (CA believers) (Rom 14:10).

7. The Uniform: The resurrection body (1 Cor 15:42-44, 50-53). Why is this significance? It is very significant! We will no longer have a fallen body, sin nature, or live in Satan’s world. We will have an immaterial body that is immune to all outside influences. We will have no physical, psychological, or sinful distraction for all eternity.

8. The Evaluation: The works of the believer since the time of salvation (2 Cor 5:10).

9. The Judgment: The granting of rewards or loss of rewards (1 Cor 3:11-15; 9:25; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 3:11).

10. The Potential Rewards:

    • The Incorruptible Crown (1 Cor 9:25).

    • The Crown of Life (Rev 2:10).

    • The Crown of Glory (1 Pet 5:2-4).

    • The Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim 4:8).

    • The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess 2:19-20).

    • The Position, Authority, and Responsibility to rule (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 2:1–3:22).

    • Eating from the Tree of Life (Rev 2:7).

    • Not hurt by the 2nd death (2:11).

    • Given a White Stone (2:17).

    • Hidden Manna (2:17).

    • New Name (2:17).

    • Morning Star (2:28).

    • Clothed in White Garments (3:5).

    • Name Confessed before My Father and His Angels (3:5).

    • Assigned a Pillar (3:12).

11. The Permanency: Rewards do not fade away (2 Tim 4:8).

12. The Mood: Ultimately, it will be a joyful time regardless of our evaluation (Matt 25:23; Titus 2:13). We will be with our Lord and Savior in our resurrection body, and we will all yearn to praise and serve our Savior.

13. The Praise: The rewards that believers receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be taken to the throne room of God the Father and given to Him (Rev 4:10). (The twenty-four elders are considered to represent the Church Age believers.)

14. The Shame: The Apostle John says that there is potential for shame at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 John 2:28). This shame is a result of the believer’s failure to serve and the subsequent loss of his rewards. After the Judgment Seat of Christ, we all appear before the Father to present to Him our rewards (Rev 4:10). If we have no rewards to give to Him, then we will be ashamed. Shame in the resurrection body is a difficult concept to comprehend, and we may not have complete understanding until we receive our resurrection bodies. This we do know—the Apostle John says that there is a potential for shame at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Conclusion: As believers, we will appear before the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the Church Age for an evaluation of our works during our Christian life. As with any evaluation in life, we should strive to do our best. Our desire should be to hear our Lord say, “Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt 25:23).

This post was written by Pastor Daniel Inghram of National Capital Bible Church. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!