THE BEMA SEAT / GREAT THRONE JUDGMENT

In the Bible, the BEMA Seat is the title given the Judgement Seat of our Moshiach – 2 Corinthians 5:10 / Romans 14:10. The judgement of each believer is not a determination of who will enter heaven, because the Scripture says we are forgiven at the moment of salvation – Psalm 103:10-12. Those judged at the BEMA Seat are believers in our Adonai, but the Scripture says YHVH will reward believers based upon their actions done for Him – Psalm 62:12. The truth parallels what James says in his epistle – James 2:14-26, for faith without works is dead. We respond to our Adonai in faith because He imputed righteousness to us – Romans 1:17. We will receive rewards based upon what we did with our lives as ambassadors for our Moshiach – Matthew 16:27 / 1 Corinthians 3:10, 12, 13. Scholars are divided regarding the timetable for the BEMA Seat. While it is sure we will be judge in heaven, the timing could be A) immediately after one die, B) when one is resurrected, -- Hebrews 9:27, C) after the tribulation mentioned in Scripture – Matthew 24:29 / Mark 13:24 / Revelation 7:14. The Scripture speaks of a seven-year tribulation, where its second half corresponds to the time of Jacob’s trouble – Jeremiah 30:7. After that horrific time, believers will stand before our Moshiach at His BEMA (Judgement) Seat.

WHY IS IT CALLED THE BEMA SEAT?

Paul’s use of the sport metaphors is prevalent throughout his letters – Romans / 1 Corinthians / 2 Corinthians / Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / 1 Thessalonians / 2 Thessalonians / 1 Timothy / 2 Timothy / Titus and Philemon, and he used language and images with which his audience could relate. Just as Yeshua used many agricultural metaphors to help His audiences understand His greater truths – John 6:35 / John 15:1-5, so too did Paul – Galatians 5:22, 23, yet he added sports imagery for those who observed and perhaps even took part in the Greek Games, held in Olympia – 1 Corinthians 9:24 / 1 Timothy 6:12 / 2 Timothy 4:7. I would add Hebrews 12:1, even though we do not have a clear picture of who authorised the book. The term BEMA Seat is taken from the Greek word for judgement; “bēma”. We refer to it as the BEMA Seat because it is a fathomable picture of how Yeshua is set above us as He renders judgement to His Church. The apostle Paul wrote the two definitive passages referring to the BEMA Seat – 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10, 12, and he comprehended and illuminated Yeshua as Judge. Yeshua is the One Who is “standing at the finish line”, judging what every believer does. Yes, believers are saved from YHVH’s wrath – Romans 5:9, but we are still capable of evil while in this body of flesh. All of Colossians 3 admonishes believers to “seek the things that are above”. Even Paul wrestles with his sinful nature – Romans 7:19. The ancient Olympic victors received no medals. Instead, they received crowns made from olive leaves taken from what the Greeks considered the sacred tree at Olympia. The participant who finished in the first place received a crown, as he personified the Greek concept of arête (excellence). Coming second or third gained nothing for a contestant. With respect to all these things, we will – after death on earth or after the rapture – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; stand (if we are able to stand before our Holy Adonai) and receive rewards for how we lived as believers. In our Moshiach; as His; we are all victors – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, and throughout the world; wherever believers are found; we spread the fragrance of Yeshua!

ARE THERE TWO JUDGMENTS IN THE SCRIPTURES?

Yes! The two judgments in Scriptures are the BEMA Seat for believers (those who love and follow Yeshua as Adonai and Saviour), and the Great White Throne Judgment, for those who do not believe in or trust Yeshua our Moshiach.

THE BEMA SEAT

We, as believers, need not fear condemnation – Romans 8:1. Therefore, as we stand before Yeshua at the BEMA Seat, He will expose us to our core and all our works done for Him while we lived here on earth. We will be rewarded – 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 / Ephesians 6:8, according to His justice, for only He knows who we, in essence, are – 1 Samuel 16:7 / John 2:24, 25. Works done without pure motives will burn as wood, hay and straw – 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Our Moshiach will mete out His judgments with justice as only our Perfect Adonai can – Revelation 16:5-7. Yeshua judges the living and the dead – 2 Timothy 4:1, and YHVH gave Him the right to judge – John 5:27.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

It will be brilliant, dazzling! Our Adonai YHVH Almighty’s Glory will emanate from His Great Throne as He renders judgment on the whole of history’s unsaved people. A person’s works will speak of his heart’s standing before YHVH, and each will be judged at the Great White Throne – Romans 2:6-10, 13, 16. At both judgments, the very core of each person who stands before our Adonai YHVH will be exposed. Nothing will be hidden. Nothing can hide. On the day of YHVH’s and the Lamb’s wrath, people great and small will try to hide – Revelation 6:15-17, yet to no avail.

WHO WILL BE JUDGED AT THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT?

Revelation 20:12-13 says unbelievers from every age will stand before our Adonai YHVH at the White Throne Judgment. In Matthew 25:31-46, Yeshua sets parameters of the judgment. All nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate “one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” The righteous who will enter eternity as part of the Kingdom of Yeshua our Moshiach are to His right. Those on His left, Yeshua says: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” John 3:36 says: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of YHVH remains on him”. Romans 1:18 and Romans 2:5, 8 speak of the wrath to come for all who are unrighteous and who do not trust Yeshua as Adonai and Saviour. Those people are the goats – the ones who will receive condemnation due to them. The timing of the Great White Throne is, according to Scripture, after the 1000-year period when satan will be bound in the pit, so as not to deceive the nations – Revelation 20:2-3. When he is released and consequently battles our Adonai, he is thrown into the “lake of fire and sulphur… and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” – Revelation 20:9-10. After that the dead, “great and small,” will stand before the Throne, and according to what is written in the books, according to what they had done, “and if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” – Revelation 20:13. An Olympic judge tries not to show any favouritism. If he did, that would sully the prize. Sadly, it is impossible for a human being to remain unbiased. But YHVH shows no partiality – Romans 2:11 / Colossians 3:25, and we can trust His perfect righteousness. This is something everyone must realize when meditating upon His Word. The eternal matter is what we choose to do with Yeshua. If we accept Him as Adonai and Saviour, we are the sheep of His pasture and sealed by Ruach HaKodesh – Ephesians 1:13, and saved from YHVH’s wrath – John 3:16-17 / Romans 5:9 / 2 Thessalonians 2:10 / Titus 3:5.