Any time you read the Bible you need to interpret the books in the context of the society, culture and time in which they were written, along with the intended audience. The New Testament is almost 2000 years old and the Old Testament is much older (1400 BC to 400 BC). The Bible uses parables, metaphors and analogies that were recognized and understood by the people living in the times the Scriptures were written. Let’s use the bema judgement seat of Christ as a good example. People living today don’t have a clue what that means but the people living in Palestine in the first century knew exactly what was meant by the term, “bema judgment seat.” That’s why the Apostle Paul used it in his analogy of Jesus judging all believers after they are in heaven.
Acts 12:21 – So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
Acts 18:12 – When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat.
In ancient times, the “bema” was a step or platform used in political and athletic arenas. Earthly bemas were raised platforms on which rulers or judges sat to make speeches or adjudicate legal cases. In sporting events the umpire or judge presided from a raised platform which was also called the bema seat. From there he watched the games and awarded prizes to the winners. When Pilate condemned Jesus to crucifixion he did it from the bema judgment seat. In the Roman coliseum Caesar sat on the bema judgment seat and gave a thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate whether the losing gladiator lived or died.
Jeremiah 17:10 – I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Matthew 5:16 – (Jesus speaking) – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
There were two characteristics of the bema judgment seat that people today don’t realize but everyone in Jesus’ day fully understood them. First, the person in the bema seat doing the judging had “authority” given to him by a higher authority or the ruler. Pilate’s authority, for instance, came directly from Caesar. Jesus’ authority came directly from God. Second, the decision of the judge sitting on the bema judgment seat was final. No appeal was possible. All the men who have ever lived will have to appear before Jesus Christ for judgment. Nobody will have to appear before Allah or any of the other false gods because they’re all fake. Jesus Christ is the one true righteous judge of mankind. God made us all. We belong to God. When Jesus died for our sins God committed all judgment of man to his Son based on Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for us. God did this because of his love, mercy and justice.
John 5:26-27 – (Jesus speaking) – For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Jeremiah 32:19 – You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jesus Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God who died and rose again. He who was judged has the right to judge all humanity because he is both the Sovereign and the Savior. The Bible says that Jesus is the “righteous judge,” and therefore all of his judgments will be fair and they will be final. Like the Father, Jesus will also judge, “without respect of persons.” The attributes of Jesus Christ as the Son of God guarantee that all the evidence will be gathered and carefully evaluated whether you’re the Pope or a poor beggar on the street. Everyone will get equal treatment and all will be treated fairly. Everyone will get exactly what they deserve for their works done in the body.
2 Corinthians 8:12 – For if there is first a willing mind, it is acceptable according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Some confusion about the judgment of all men by Jesus Christ stems from the fact there’s not one judgment but two judgments, at two different times for two different groups of people. Jesus will first judge all believers in heaven at the bema judgment seat of Christ to hand out rewards earned by good works on earth. The judgment of the righteous will result in more or less rewards in proportion to their faithfulness in obeying the commands of God.. The judgment of believers will occur after Jesus raptures the church and takes all believers to heaven and before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to judge the nations and set up his 1000 year millennial kingdom on the earth. The judgment of all nonbelievers will be at the end of this 1000 year reign of Christ in what is referred to as the Great White Throne judgment. This judgment of the wicked at the end of human history will result in suffering that is proportional to their wickedness.
Luke 19:17 – Well done good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.
2 Timothy 4:8 – Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10, the Apostle Paul is making reference to both of Jesus’ coming judgments of man; one for the believer and one for the nonbeliever. Paul says Jesus will judge the, “good things done in the body,” at the bema judgment seat for all believers and that Jesus will judge the, “bad things done in the body,” at the Great White Throne judgment reserved for all nonbelievers. All believers standing before the bema judgment seat will be rewarded while nonbelievers standing before the Great White Throne will be judged and condemned before being thrown into the lake of fire forever.
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:17 – And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.
Before God laid the foundation of the world he knew us and he knew who would accept his grace unto salvation so he prepared good works for believers to do while they’re here on earth. At the bema judgment seat we should fully expect that Jesus will examine our faithfulness in completing those good works that God prepared for us. It’s just common sense. Since all of our sin was judged at the cross we’ll only be judged at the bema judgment seat of Christ on our good works done after salvation. When you pray to God ask him to reveal the good works you are to do down here. One good work all believers are commanded to do is help the poor. The evaluation of the believer’s works will include the works themselves, the quality with which they have been done, and the motivation of the heart. The power to produce good works comes directly from God. Don’t do good works for the adulation of men but for the love of God. You can be sure that God keeps track of all that has been done for him.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Luke 14:13-14 – (Jesus speaking) – But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be paid at the resurrection of the just.
Malachi 3:16 – Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared the Lord and who meditate on His name.
2 Philippians 2:13 – For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure,