BEMA Seat: What is this?
In the ancient world of the apostle Paul’s time the BEMA Seat was the seat of a judge. The word BEMA is a word that means altar or raised part. It speaks of a judge seated on a raised part. In the Bible it is used for the Judgment Seat of Christ where He will evaluate the works of every member of what the apostle Paul spoke of as the church which is the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [Emphasis added]
This “Body” consists of believers who live between the time of the salvation of Saul of Tarsus [Acts 9] [later known as Paul] to what is called the Rapture. For more information about the Rapture please see my articles about it. Here are links to two of them—
Rapture: What is the meaning of this term?
Rapture: How is this different from The Second Coming?
These people are all saved by what is often spoken of as his gospel. Paul even spoke of this message as “my gospel.” Here are two of his comments about that.
Romans 2:16
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. [Emphasis added]
2 Timothy 2:8
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: [Emphasis added]
For more information about this gospel, please see my articles about it—
Gospel: Where did Paul get the one he preached?
Gospels: Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?
This judgment should never be feared but eagerly anticipated by all who’ve accepted Jesus Christ as the sole basis for their salvation. It is then and there that we’ll all be rewarded for our faithfulness to serve God our Savior.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 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. [Emphasis added]
This occasion will be a time of celebration. It is when Christ comes for us to judge and reward us for our faithfulness to Him. This is certainly something we should all eagerly anticipate. This is why it is called a blessed hope, meaning it is something that should make us all confident about what awaits us in eternity.
Titus 2:13
13 Looking for [PROSDECHOMAI = eagerly expecting or anticipating] that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Emphasis added]
If you’re not a part of this judgment, it will only be because you failed to accept God’s provision for your salvation. And that then means you’ll be at another judgment called The Great White Throne Judgment or The Last Judgment—
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
As believers who’ve accepted God’s provision for our salvation, we can never rightly say we don’t have something wonderful to look forward to enjoying forever. All this serves as extra motivation for serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ despite all the opposition we typically face for striving to do that. The fact that He saved us from the torment of Hell and the Lake of Fire by grace through faith alone should be enough to motivate us to want to serve Him forever, but the revelation that He’s going to reward us in accordance with our faithfulness to be obedient to Him provides us with even more reason to serve Him faithfully. This is why the last part of Paul’s epistles speak of things we should all be doing to qualify for special rewards for our service to Him. We’re reminded of this in passages like this—
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [because of the many grace blessings cited in Romans 1-8], that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
This is telling us that serving our Lord faithfully is really the only reasonable or rational thing for us to be doing in whatever time we have left on this Earth.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Emphasis added]
It is because of the importance of this coming judgment and what will follow that I’ve written so many articles about it.
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
Investments: Have you made some for your eternity?
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 Wherefore we [believers] labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him [EUARESTOS = well pleasing to him].
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ [the BEMA Seat]; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [Emphasis added]
Are you ready for this evaluation? It is certainly the most important one you’ll ever experience. It all centers around your knowledge and obedience to His stated will for your life particularly as what is laid out in the Apostle Paul’s thirteen epistles. But as I often say—you can’t know the will of God without knowing the Word of God. These two, His will and His word, are inseparable. This is why He’s commanded us to be diligent to demonstrate our worthiness in this.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
Do most of the churchgoers you know even know what it means to rightly divide the things they read in their Bible, let alone all the other principles, commands, and prohibitions they find stated there? Probably not! Why not be a good example for them? Why not work toward informing them of these things? Also, why not work at being obedient to the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 and other commands of Scripture that are pertinent to us? It is this that is the one and only means to our spiritual growth and development.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
If you were to have to face Jesus Christ today, how would you stand? Those who’ve refused to accept Him as their Savior will end up spending eternity in a terrible place called the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Empasis added]
Those who at some point in their lifetime accepted Christ as their Savior have a lot to look forward to enjoying forever. Even minimal rewards will be far better than what those going to the Lake of Fire will experience. The exact nature or the details of what we’ll receive and enjoy is quite vague in Scripture. But there’s nothing vague about how the unbeliever will spend eternity.
Matthew 13:41-42
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [Emphasis added]
Matthew 13:49-51
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. [Emphasis added]
I’m sure you want no part of ending up in such a place. Who would? But bear in mind that most of the people you’ve met or known in your lifetime are going to all be a part of it. They could have easily escaped it, but because of their own foolishness in never turning to God and accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as the sole basis for their salvation, that’s where they’re all headed. There’s a lot in the Bible that’s been written to warn us all about this place. The story of a rich man and a man named Lazarus tells us everything we need to know about it. I devote a whole article to the study of these two men. I hope you’ll take some time to read it and study it. Here’s the link to it—
Hell: Will the suffering last forever?
That’s why I’ve written so many articles about it. Just click on any of these links and you’ll see an article with the detailed information about it that’s been provided here for you.
Heaven & Hell: Are they both FOREVER?
Hell: Are there degrees of punishment?
Hell: Are there people there for whom Christ died?
Hell: Did Jesus Christ go there?
Hell: How can a loving God send people there?
Hell: What does the apostle Paul teach about it?
No, you’ll never be able to claim you weren’t warned. All of us will be held fully accountable for this. Again, where will you stand? I hope to see you at the Judgment Seat of Christ where you’ll be rewarded for a whole lot of faithfulness. You have that opportunity. I just hope you’ll fully take advantage of it.
