No 9
(The Judgment Seat of Christ)
Let’s back up a bit in our studies in
eschatology. We saw the rapture of the
Church, the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ and a glimpse of the
Millennium period. I suggest we now look
at what occurs to the Church right after the rapture; there are two events –
“the judgment seat of Christ” and “the marriage supper of the Lamb”. We will
look at the judgment seat of Christ first; it is described in 2 Corinthians
5:10 “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.” There
are two words in the Greek to describe “judgment seat”; they are “criterion”
and “bema”. Criterion means the “rule by which
one judges” and bema means “a
platform, a tribune, resembling a throne”.
Therefore, the bema of Christ is associated with authority, prominence,
dignity and honour rather than justice and judgment. There is no doubt who
is being judged at this time – it is all believers. If a person is here, it is because he or she
has been saved; salvation here is not the issue. What is being judged here however are the
works of the believers – “the things done in his body”. There is a further explanation of this 1
Corinthians 3: 9-15 where the Bible says – “Every man’s work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (v13). In other words, Christ will judge our works
as born-again Christians while we were on the earth and when we were given
opportunities “which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them(the works)” (Eph 2 :10b). You know, when you’re in the metro and you
strike up a conversation with a total stranger about heaven and hell; or how
about when you know of a desperate financial need of someone; or just listening
to someone who is discouraged. There is a two-fold result of this judgment or
examination – reward received or reward lost –1 Corinthians 3:14, 15 “If any
man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” So let out works be for something worthwile “for
the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor