End Times Prophecy Passport: The Judgment Seat of Christ

 

Excerpt from:

End Times Prophecy Passport

By Chuck Swindoll

The Judgment Seat of Christ

In athletic arenas throughout the Roman Empire, builders constructed raised platforms as places for government officials or umpires to have a clear view of the action. From this prime location, called the bema seat in Greek, the officials addressed the people in speeches and rewarded the contestants with prizes.

Paul employed the same word—bema—when speaking about the coming judgment for Christians. The apostle envisioned believers appearing before the bema, or judgment, seat of Christ so that each one will receive what is due, “according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment will occur in heaven, immediately after the rapture.

The context of 2 Corinthians 5 makes clear that only believers will be present at the bema seat. Since only the dead in Christ and those Christians still living will rise at the rapture, this is a judgment that specifically covers Christians who have followed Jesus from the day of Pentecost to the rapture.

The origins and history of the word bema help clarify its purpose: reward. This judgment is not one that will access salvation. (All the people present for the judgment will already be Christians.) Rather, Jesus Christ, at His judgment seat, will access each believer’s life lived on earth. Those works done in accordance with the will of God will pass through the fires of judgment unscathed, while those works that land outside His purposes will burn up in the fire (1 Corinthians 3:13).

Then the newly purified believers will receive rewards based on their deeds (3:14). The more good they did on earth, the greater will be their capacity to bring glory to God. So while believers will receive the reward, only God will receive the glory.

YEAH, BUT…

If Christians will be judged for deeds both good and bad (2 Corinthians 5:10), does that mean we will be punished for our sins? No, the judgment that will take place at the bema seat will not be about punishment because believers’ sins are forgiven in Christ—a credit given to us at our salvation. This judgment will focus on rewards, which are spoken of as crowns in Scripture. We see five different types of crowns in the Bible:

1.       An imperishable crown for those who lead a disciplined life (1 Corinthians 9:25)

2.      A crown of rejoicing for those who evangelize and disciple others (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

3.       A crown of righteousness for those who long for the Lord’s appearing (2 Timothy 4:8)

4.      A crown of life for those who endure trials and persecution (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)

5.      A crown of glory for those who shepherd God’s people faithfully (1 Peter 5:1-4)

As the actions of the elders in Revelation 4:10 indicate, Christians will magnify Christ by casting their crowns before His throne.

So What?

Will Christians face judgment after death?

The judgment seat of Christ is significant for believers because it reminds us of where we are headed. The corresponding judgment of nonbelievers at the Great White Throne will end in fire and eternal torment. But bema seat judgment will end in reward and eternal life. The judgment seat of Christ, while sounding negative, is actually a positive place of reward promised to believers. Who among us would not want to bring great glory to Christ for all of eternity? Thought of in this way, the judgment seat of Christ is one more motivation to live well in this life.