![]() ![]() ![]() Numerous Scripture verses reveal that each of our actions will be judged before the Lord. The very character of each Christian’s life and service will be utterly laid bare under the unerring and omniscient vision of Christ, whose eyes are “like a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14). The Christian’s judgment will focus on his or her personal stewardship of the gifts, talents, opportunities, and responsibilities given to him or her in this life. → Will Christians be held accountable for all their actions on earth? This judgment has to do with the reception or loss of rewards, depending upon whether the Christian has lived faithfully or unfaithfully during his or her earthly life (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Believers are eternally secure in their salvation (see John 10:28-30 Romans 8:29-39 Ephesians 1:13 4:30 Hebrews 7:25). Those who have placed faith in Christ are permanently saved, and nothing threatens that. → Can we lose our salvation at the judgment seat of Christ? At that time each believer’s life will be thoroughly examined by Christ, the divine Judge. Daniel 12:1–3 speaks about the judgment of Old Testament believers, and Revelation 20:4–6 references the judgment of Tribulation saints.All believers will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:8-10 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 9:24-27). Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints are judged at the return of Christ to establish His kingdom. Since the apostle addresses the responsibilities of those who have built on the Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11–12), something that can only refer to the saints of this dispensation, the judgment of 2 Corinthians 5:10 probably refers to this group. On the basis of these considerations we can conclude that only Church Age believers are judged at the Bema judgment. The revelation, the requirements revealed, and the judgment associated with a particular test are not the same in every dispensation. ![]() A dispensation may be defined as “a period of time during which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.” Old Testament believers had their specific requirements from their specific revelation from God, and we in the Church Age have ours. That there are several future judgments fits in quite well with the dispensational nature of the Bible. The fact that the sheep and the goats are still mingled and need to be separated suggests that no Rapture takes place at this judgment. Moreover, Matthew 25 deals with the living, not with those who have been translated. 31–32) not Heaven, as at the Bema judgment and no books are opened, as at the Great White Throne judgment. In the judgment of Matthew 25:41–46, for example, the scene is the earth (vss. All are similar in some respects, but also different in some respects. Scripture teaches that there are several future judgments. It would appear, then, that the Bema judgment must follow the Rapture, but be prior to the return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. Revelation 19 speaks of Christ returning with His Bride, and verse 8 indicates that the Bride has already been judged and rewarded: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Furthermore, several scriptures (1 Corinthians 4:5 2 Timothy 4:8 Revelation 22:12) associate the reward with the day that Christ comes for His saints. The Bema judgment occurs subsequent to the Rapture of the church. This is the judgment of believers-Paul included himself with the word “we”-and must be distinguished from the Great White Throne judgment for the unsaved dead (Revelation 20:11-15). Second Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Bema is a Greek word that was used to refer to the raised platform from which speeches were made and athletes were awarded their crowns. ![]()
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