The Judgment Seat of Christ

All Aspects

The Bema Starts Now

Summary: Every follower of Jesus Christ faces a life review when he or she dies, or at the Rapture of the church. The Bema, or Judgment Seat of Christ, takes place en route. The Last Judgment, reserved for non believers will be an entirely different event. For those Christians who have walked closely with Jesus since they first believed, the transition into heaven will be an easy one. But the majority of Christians down through history have lived compromised lives. For them, the life-style changes on the way into heaven will be great. The Bema is not about sin. Think of it as a Performance Review. See also, Compromised Christians. For two thousand years Jesus has been calling out a people for His name. See The Glorious Church. The Rapture is not optional--ready or not! it will happen on a fixed date on God's calendar, a date unknown to us, It will be a breeze for those ready and waiting. But it will mean sudden changes for the ill-prepared. After all, Jesus can't marry any old whore, nor allow anyone to contaminate His pristine garden paradise. The Judgment Seat of Christ will not be about sin! Our sin was dealt with once and for all by Jesus on the Cross. The Bema will be a performance review conducted one-on-one with Jesus. It's a performance review of our entire life. God can not allow us to bring our baggage and unconfessed sin into New Jerusalem which is a holy city.

Time Line

The First Advent of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost
World Wide Evangelism
The Rapture of the true Church
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Third Jewish Temple Rebuilt
The Rise of Antichrist
World Wide Evangelism by the 144,000
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
The Second Advent: Jesus plus Bride

After this I will return
And build the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
(Acts 15:16-17)

The Judgment Seat of Christ is not about sin. 
Our sin has all been dealt with once and for all by Jesus on the Cross. 
The Bema is a Performance Review conducted one-on-one with Jesus.
The Examining Judge is Jesus, the plaintiffs are those persons who have been born again and serve Jesus.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is mentioned in two contexts in Acts and in the Epistles. One use of the word bema was to describe the reviewing stand where competing athletes in a race were evaluated and rewarded by a panel of judges:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

The second use of the word “bema” in the New Testament is in connection with Roman rule over conquered peoples. The Roman overlords interfered as little as possible in domestic affairs, considering themselves morally superior to the "pagans" under them. They appointed governors with on-site jurisdiction, and in major cities they erected outdoor law courts where a visiting Procurator could visit periodically to mediate and enforce Rome’s absolutes. Several interesting situations confirming the civic center bema are recorded in the New Testament. 

The most notable example is in Acts 18: 

When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,  saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.  But if it is a  question of words and names and your own law, look to  it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.”  And he drove them from the judgment seat.  Then all the Greeks took  Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

The significance of teaching about the Bema in the life of young disciples of Jesus is often tragic because the usual, common teaching these days is about running life’s race (i.e., competing selfishly for status or power), and “keeping on keeping on” (in the flesh, by trying harder)—as if God needs our help. But following Jesus does ask us for long obedience and self-discipline (as exemplified in athlete games). 

Jesus has been running the universe since He created it. He does not need us to add in our feeble efforts. Our feeble efforts often get in the way and slow God’s work in the world. Paul the Apostle ran the race and finished well -- by obeying Jesus one day at a time, not by living a secular lifestyle emulating the ways of the world.

The most notable example is in Acts 18: 

When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,  saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.  But if it is a  question of words and names and your own law, look to  it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.”  And he drove them from the judgment seat.  Then all the Greeks took  Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

The significance of teaching about the Bema in the life of young disciples of Jesus is often tragic because the usual, common teaching these days is about running life’s race (i.e., competing selfishly for status or power), and “keeping on keeping on” (in the flesh, by trying harder)—as if God needs our help. But following Jesus does ask us for long obedience and self-discipline (as exemplified in athlete games). 

Jesus has been running the universe since He created it. He does not need us to add in our feeble efforts. Our feeble efforts often get in the way and slow God’s work in the world. Paul the Apostle ran the race and finished well -- by obeying Jesus one day at a time, not by living a secular lifestyle emulating the ways of the world.

“...the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:26-29)

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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 Timothy 4:6-8)

The third use of the word bema in the New Testament has to do with the evaluation of each follower of Jesus at the Rapture. The Judgment Seat of Christ for followers of Jesus is not specifically about sin, but is primarily an evaluation event outside of our time domain affecting all Christians. This event will be administrated when we leave time and enter eternity. That is, we experience the bema either at the time we die or at the Rapture. These happenings are spread out in earth time, but synced in eternity. This cosmic event, the Bema, involves all followers of Christ “simultaneously.” Seeing our Lord face to face, seeing things as they really were all along, might be for some a cause for shame. There will certainly be loss at the bema as we are all cleansed from “dead works.”

Ray Stedman once said, “God saves everything that can possibly be saved. And He destroys everything that can not be saved.”

Billions of followers of Jesus since the beginning of history will enter “heaven” (New Jerusalem) through this Bema portal. There is a disparity, small or great, between our present perception of reality along with our resultant life styles now versus the major adjustment we will make when we see Jesus as He is now in glory. The Bema is mostly about the good that Jesus managed to do through us from the cradle to the grave. The evil we did is not brought up, nor our checkered past. But there will be an open full disclosure by Jesus of His assessment of how we lived our lives. God takes seriously our having been justified by faith alone.

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (parousia). If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” (1 John 2:28-29)

To add weight to our tendency to downplay the certainty of our appointment at the Judgment Seat of Christ,

“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:

‘As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.’

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:7-15)

Employers usually evaluate their employees from time to time. How else can the non-productive be weeded out, pay raises distributed and promotions awarded? Every good coach must know his players well. Consider the finished product of life which is being worked out every day in every person. Life may not be fair in the short term, but everything will be set straight when we enter the eternal dimension of the universe.

“But in a great house (the universe) there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

After the bema we will all know one another for who we have become. Since we each tend to view ourselves too little or two highly, the bema will make clear where we each stand in a group of several billion fellow believers. Jesus Himself will do the reviewing!

C.S. Lewis wrote,

"It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.

"All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors." (from The Weight of Glory)

“I beg you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1,2)

The Lord Jesus leads the rapture event having descended from heaven to meet us in the air. The next event we ALL experience will be the Bema. Every Christian who ever lived will experience a complete file up-date, a clearing of the air, and purging of any unresolved conflicts, burning up of dead works. Every obvious follower of Jesus Christ will pass the Bema, suffering some loss, while other secret followers who know Jesus will be vindicated. The Bema will therefore be very personal. It is also the event where all that Jesus did through us will be made known.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)

The Rapture is scheduled to happen at a certain fixed point in time on the earth-time calendar. But it is a cosmic event in eternity, when the “the dead in Christ” are raised first. We who are alive when the rapture occurs will be caught up together them immediately while the dead are behind raised with their new bodies “The dead in Christ” who are being raised, have Jesus in them. They have also been justified and sanctified and now glorified as we “who are alive and remain” have. We will know many of these who have gone before. Family, friends, and fellow pilgrims. 

Every one we have ever known or heard of, and millions more, who died "in Christ" from the First Century till now will be with us in person in their new bodies.

We will be reconciled with many of these persons but not all. What about all those we cheated, misled, stole from, lied to, had illicit sex with, drove away from Jesus, or even killed? Motives matter, and we do not always know ourselves well in this life. Yes, there will be a momentary sense of loss, then full cleansing, but remember 1 Corinthians 15:50-58:

...flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:50-56)

Believers already live in New Jerusalem now. We just aren’t wearing our new bodies yet.

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:18-29)

Ray Stedman has helpful insights into the Bema Seat which should bring closure for anyone who feels the return of Jesus will bring condemnation and shame. From his commentary series on 2 Corinthians:

Our default mode when thinking about of time is "linear" or "calendar" time---metered out to by seconds, minutes, hours days, years---by clocks and calenders. The problem with this view is that many predicted events in the Bible are best thought of as eternal events not strictly future. We are presently trapped in a four-dimensional space-time bubble embedded in a universe of perhaps ten or twenty higher dimensions. When events happen in these higher realms, do they effect us down here in our small bubble? Surely! Wait long enough and these events will intrude into the time domain of life on earth where we earth dwellers live. The problem is, if you have been born again--regenerated-- you are no longer an "earth dweller" but a "heaven dweller."

True, your present body--not yet redeemed--has you and I trapped down on the planet. You might live to be a hundred, but you might die today--God knows, you don't. 

Every global use of “earth dwellers” in the Old Testament appears in a judgment context and probably all phrases also will take place in the future, during the day of the Lord or tribulation period. It is of special significance that both “earth dwellers” and “world dwellers” are used multiple times in Isaiah 24-27, often called “Isaiah’s Apocalypse.” Chapter 24 tells us that God’s worldwide judgment will come upon all mankind because of specific sins of “the inhabitants of the earth” (24:5, 6, 17). Isaiah 26:9b says, “For when the earth experiences Thy judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” The final two verses of chapter 26 speak of the tribulation period. Verse 20 says that Israel will be hidden away and protected “until indignation runs its course.” Since the remnant of Israel will be protected during the tribulation, then what will be God’s purpose for the judgment of this period? Verse 21 answers that question as follows: “For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed, and will no longer cover her slain.” Thus, we see that a purpose for the tribulation will be to “punish” the earth dwellers. This is very similar to the statement in Revelation 3:10 that says the Lord will “test those who dwell upon the earth.” It seems clear that Isaiah 24-27, and especially 26:21 provides the backdrop for understanding what is meant in Revelation 3:10, as well as John’s used of “earth dwellers” throughout Revelation. (Thomas Ice)

Without our new bodies we can’t look out the window at the splendor or smell the roses if we are living in New Jerusalem. But we can believe what God declares is true and walk by faith—as we have been instructed to do. Soon our new bodies will arrive in a cosmic time warp. We’ll be clothed upon by our new bodies and see that we are living in company with the redeemed of all ages. We do not need to wait around in linear time for the future. In reading the New Testament, pay attention to the verb tenses. Live here and now with Jesus and wait for your new body to be handed to you. Most everyone I know is trapped in time by their mortal bodies. But this present “earth suit” is not who I am, it’s merely my temporary home away from home. The real “you” is invisible. You are wearing a body that is unclean in every sense of the world. Jesus has prepared a place for us but we can't go there without thorough decontamination. At the Gate into New Jerusalem we must pass through the Bema Three gate. 

Ray Stedman makes frequent mention of the difference between dwelling now in heaven versus being trapped in time on earth:

“It is important to see exactly the location where these 144,000 and the Lamb are seen. The opening sentence tells us they were "standing on Mount Zion" -- the temple mount in Jerusalem. This means that they were on earth, in Jerusalem, not in heaven. And they are seen together, the Lamb (Jesus). They are 144,000 male Jews chosen out of Israel -- "Christ's Commandos," as we called them earlier.

I want to try and put some loose ends together here. According to the promise of Jesus given to the seven churches in the opening chapters of this book, he told them in several places that he would take the church (i.e., the true believers of this present age), to be with him before this last seven-year period would begin upon the earth. This was accomplished, as Paul describes it in First Thessalonians 4, in what is called the "rapture" (or departure) of the church to be with Christ. The last word of that Thessalonians passage is, "so shall we ever be with the Lord," (1 Thessalonians 4:17b KJV).

The problem that people get into at that point is they think that being "with the Lord" in heaven means to be taken far off into space somewhere. We all have difficulty thinking of heaven as being right here on earth as well as off in space. In other words, heaven is another dimension of existence just beyond our present senses. You can be in heaven and still be on earth at the same time. As I read these prophetic passages I am more and more convinced that this will be the case -- the church is with the Lord, but the Lord is on earth during the whole last seven years. The church is with him, but invisible to the rest of the world, and ministering to this select group of 144,000 Jews as Jesus appears to them from time to time. If this is true, Jesus will be in exactly the same condition with them as he was with the eleven disciples after his resurrection, when for a period of 40 days he appeared from time to time to them. At different times and in different places he was with them, and yet he would not be with them; he would step back into the realm of invisibility after appearing in their midst. This seems to be the situation here. These are not only 12 disciples -- they are 12 times 12 times 1,000 -- all men of Israel chosen for a special work on earth during these last days. If you can put that scene into your imagination you will get a much clearer picture of what is going on in these scenes. Now let us look at the characteristics of these 144,000…” The Time of Harvest.

To keep things simple, think of The Rapture of the Church, The Judgment Seat of Christ, and The Last Judgment as events in Eternity that transcend our 4D earth-time. As the time for an event in eternity to break in upon our present four-dimensional space-time envelope, we expect disturbances in nature and in the fabric of culture. The Star Wars SciFi fantasies talked about a disturbance in "the Force" but its more realistic to think Biblically. The Bible says that "in God we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28).

I do not believe true Christians will endure the tribulation period as such, but compromised believers will be have to make radical changes in their life styles en route to the Rapture. The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a relative breeze for those who are eager to be with Jesus. But think of the Bema Seat as a space-time bubble designed to bring the compromised into line with a our holy Bridegroom and His impending wedding. Much more "tribulating" is, I think, in store for the ill-prepared! Heaven is not an easy way out life for the irresponsible who have taken God for granted all their lives.

Some have wanted to speed up the coming Day of the Lord. For example, Isaiah: 

"O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
   so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 
as when fire kindles brushwood
   and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
   so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
   you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 
From ages past no one has heard,
   no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
   who works for those who wait for him. 
You meet those who gladly do right,
   those who remember you in your ways." (Isaiah 64:1-5)

 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:25-29)

 The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake, such as had not occurred since people were upon the earth, so violent was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered great Babylon and gave her the wine-cup of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found;  band huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, dropped from heaven on people, until they cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague. (Revelation 16:17-21)

As long as you are living on earth is your old body (in relative safety you suppose) you needed worry about what happens when you die? Wrong. You are not your body. It's only your temp residence. you are a created spirit, already immortal. My friend Chuck Missler often called attention to us people as mostly software and not hardware.

Joints in Time

The Greek of the New Testament has several words to describe the flow of time in the social order. The word aion, often translated as "age," refers to an indefinite period of time marked by certain moral or spiritual characteristics. The "age" we live in now is the time period between the First and Second Advents of the Lord Jesus Christ. The general character of this current age was outlined by Jesus for us in the Olivet Discourse (1). The age "which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21, Matthew 12:32 Mark 10:30, Luke 18:30, Hebrews 6:5) will be the Millennium--the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth from the throne of His father David in Jerusalem. Between this age and the next there will be a violent seven-year transition known as "the tribulation period." 

The New Testament also refers to time as measured in chronos and kairos--times and seasons. Chronos means quantity of time, space of time, duration, succession of moments, length of time, or a bounded period of time. To understand this word, it is helpful to read the passages of the New Testament where chronos is used. These include Matthew 2:7, Luke 4:5; 8:27; 20:9, Acts 20:18, Romans 16:25, and Mark 2:19. Kairos refers to the quality of time or season, the epoch characterized by certain events, the decisive quality of happening, an opportune time, or a fortuitous moment. Kairos is used in such passages as Romans 5:6, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 13:34, 26:18, Revelation 12:12, I Peter 1:11, and Luke 4:13. In the New Testament we have expressions like "times of refreshing" (Acts 3:19), "times of ignorance" (Acts 17:30), and "the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24). 

Before leaving earth after His resurrection from the dead Jesus reminded them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority." (Acts 1:7). What this means is that we can not set dates for the return of Jesus, nor can we unravel the past history of our planet with clarity. One reason we can not extrapolate the time scales of histories (either forward or backward in time) has to do with the internal "joints" in history which are determined by God alone:

"The 'seasons' are the critical epoch-making periods foreordained of God, when all that has been slowly, and often without observation, ripening through long ages is mature and comes to birth in grand decisive events, which constitute at once the close of one period and the commencement of another. Such, for example, was the passing away of the old Jewish dispensation; such, again, the recognition of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire; such the conversion of those outside; such the great revival which went along with the first institution of the Mendicant Orders; such, by still better right, the Reformation; such, above all others, the second coming of the Lord in glory." (Archbishop Trench)

God has never lost control over individuals and nations for even a nanosecond. Though He has not told us when, He will ultimately judge all of us against the standard of His Son. God is moving history inexorably towards the consummation He has chosen for us in advance. For history to be jolted and disturbed from time to time is what we ought to expect. 

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for `In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:24-31) 

America's horrendous national tragedy on September 11, 2001 (911) seems to have been one of these mysterious "joints in time" when history turned and headed in a different direction. Many individual, national, and global values and priorities changed drastically in a matter of hours on September 11th. What is likely is that some major reconfigurations in the angelic realm (behind the scenes) took place on that particular day. Angels have more to do with events in the world than most of us imagine. Warfare between fallen and unfallen angels is ongoing, and angels have a lot to do with social behavior, the nature of cultural values and our quality of life. 

Israel is the key factor in understanding the age we live in now. A little over a hundred years ago God began to allow Jewish immigrants to return to their homeland after two millennia of Diaspora. National identity was restored to Israel in 1958 and the Jewish State has grown in numbers and in economic and military strength ever since. All this is consistent with the predictions of Israel's ancient prophets. In other words, the stage is being set in the Middle East for the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Israel is as yet an unbelieving nation and their glorious future as head of the nations will only come after the "time of Jacob's trouble" when many millions of Jews will perish as World War III rages in their very midst. (Zechariah 12-14 has a number of details about these approaching events). 

Only Israel has a covenant relationship with God among all the nations (3). We are Christians first and Americans second, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

For two thousand years Jesus has been building His church. When the calling out of this special group is completed, Israel will again be center stage in world history. The church is multinational, multicultural, and made up of peoples from all the world. Anyone who is willing to allow Jesus to rule as Lord in his or heart is immediately a member of this universal family--the people of God. There is, however, no other way to come to God --Jesus said so Himself, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me." (John 14:6)

There are a lot of things happening in our world which tell the discerning that the end of the age is near. Once slumbering background desert kingdoms in the Middle East surrounding Israel have sprung back to wealth and power and became major players on the world stage. Reconfiguration of the nations of Europe clearly speaks of a coalescing federation towards the ten nation "revived Roman Empire" spoken of in Bible prophecy. A clear movement towards one world government can be seen from the daily news. A world-religion is coalescing and drawing together all religious peoples who do not name the name of Jesus as Lord. As the age draws to a close we see more and more violence and evil coming to the surface as God releases restraints on the evil in the human heart. 

Meantime there is much confusion about the role of the United States in all this. Some seem to thing that the U.S. is a nation which receives special favor from God, though the Bible gives no support for this view. Actually only 5-10 of the Christians in the world are Americans these days, and the number of true Christians within our country is a small fraction of our total population. American is one of the "gentile world powers" described in Daniel. We are, by and large, a fully pagan nation. And, what is worse, the church in America is presently weak and severely compromised by serious sins one of which is surely "worldliness."

But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

The BEMA Podcast

Recently my friend Kelly Helmuth messaged me about a Podcast she liked.  The BEMA Podcast originates in the Palouse district of Idaho and Washington and is largely an effort to bring Jewish tradition into Bible interpretation to balance our western cultural bias in approaching the Bible. Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are doing a great job in this Podcast, in my opinion.  

Wikipedia: The Bema in the Synagogue  A bema (or bima) was an elevated platform used as an orator's podium in ancient Athens. The term can refer to the raised area in a sanctuary. In Jewish synagogues the term used is Jemimah (or bema); it is for Torah reading during services. Prior to Reform Judaism, all synagogues had their Jemimah in the middle. The ceremonial use of a bema carried over from Judaism into early Christian church architecture. It was originally a raised platform with a lectern and seats for the clergy, from which lessons from the Scriptures were read and the sermon was delivered. In Western Christianity the bema developed over time into the chancel (or presbytery) and the pulpit. There is no standard synagogue architecture. A typical synagogue contains an ark (where the scrolls of the Law are kept), an “ eternal light” burning before the ark, two candelabra, pews, and a raised platform (Jemimah), from which scriptural passages are read and from which, often, services are conducted. The segregation of men and women, a practice that is still observed in Orthodox synagogues, has been abandoned by Conservative congregations. A ritual bath (Hatikvah) is sometimes located on the premises.

Bema 1: The reviewing stand where judges sat to evaluate the performance of athletes in the Greek Games.

Bema 2: In Provinces ruled by Rome, a city-center meeting place was located when a Proconsul from Rome could visit periodically to settle local disputes according to Roman Law.

Bema 3: A performance review all followers of Jesus experience upon entry into the next life. 

The last on the list is the most important.

“For we are God’s fellow workers (synergy); you are God’s field, you are God’s building (oikodome) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear (Phanerozoic); for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed (apocalyptic)by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:9-23)

The Judgment Seat of Christ will not be about sin! Jesus has paid in full for all our sins. The Bema will, however, be a full performance review. It will be thorough, going to motive. Hebrews 4:12 says,  “...the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Jesus will be our personal examiner.

Most of us remember our past mistakes and accomplishments. God has the actual facts, He has a complete data base, and His searching eyes will reveal all our hearts. Mostly He will heal and restore. But the heat will be turned up! Obviously we can't be allowed into heaven (New Jerusalem) if we are contaminated with evil at all levels of our lives, conscious or unconscious. Right motives matter as well, but God knows us far better than one and his evaluation is what matters. We are house guests in His universe in the first place and many will will be left out of His coming kingdom. 

"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant  into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and  gnashing of teeth.’ When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and  He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the  sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father,  inherit the kingdom  prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;  I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was  naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me;  I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,  inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand,  ‘Depart from Me, you cursed,  into the everlasting fire prepared for  the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,  inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And  these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:29-46)

Many people have only heard of “The Last Judgment” at the end of history. Many people expect to get into heaven without any serious hitch, not understanding that The Great White Throne is not a minor event at all.  The God with Whom we have to deal is not only all-powerful, He’s also all-just and all-holy — not to be taken for granted.  

When any follower of Jesus (who knows Jesus personally) dies (or “died”), he or she leaves earth’s constrained 4D space-time domain and time travels (I believe) to a great event in the heavenly places called the Bema (the Judgment Seat of Christ). 

We will all be together for that event but it will be a highly personal disclosure of everything we ever were, thought said, did. It will be a kind of cosmic evaluation time, a performance review, with Jesus in charge. The purpose is not condemnation (that can’t happen)—but commendation. All of our sin has been dealt with by Jesus once for all, and can't be charged against us again. 

How long will this evaluation take? In earth time down below, it will have happened in “a moment, the twinkling of an eye.” Subjectively: Jesus has “all the time in the world” to show us who we are and what He accomplished in and through us down below.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

In heavenly, subjective time, God’s great reality-check will require whatever time each of us, one-on-one, requires.

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” (2 Corinthians 3:16 - 4:14)

The Bema will go to motive, as good courtroom judges know. Our Judge will be the God of Israel and true Jewish Messiah (Jesus), Yeshua.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)

"Enemy-occupied territory - that is what the world is.  Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed in disguise,  and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage."  (C.S. Lewis)

Bema Now

I woke with a start recently on a Sunday morning about 5 AM with a verse of Scripture in my mind,

“...we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses (tsĕdaqah) are like filthy (menstrual) rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, (‘avon) like the wind,
Have taken us away.” 

It’s from Isaiah 64 I found out after consulting BlueLetterBible. I did not at first realize that the closing chapters of Isaiah were addressed to Israel. I thought about the Judgment Seat of Christ which all followers of Jesus Christ will experience when they die or else depart at the Rapture of the true Church.

When any follower of Jesus (who knows Jesus personally) dies (or “died”) he or she leaves earth’s constrained 4D space-time domain and time travels (I believe) to a great event in the heavenly places called the Bema (the Judgment Seat of Christ). 

We will all be together for that event but it will be a highly personal disclosure of everything we ever were, thought said, did. It will be a kind of cosmic evaluation time with Jesus in charge. The purpose is not condemnation (that can’t happen)—but commendation.

How long will this evaluation take? In earth time down below, it will have happened in “a moment, the twinkling of an eye.” Subjectively: Jesus has “all the time in the world” to show us who we are and what He accomplished in and through us down below.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

In heavenly, subjective time, God’s great reality-check will require whatever time each of us, one-on-one, requires.

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” (2 Corinthians 3:16 - 4:14)

The Bema will go to motive, as good courtroom judges know. Our Judge will be the God of Israel and true Jewish Messiah (Jesus), Yeshua.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)

Therefore! Keep very short accounts with God! We are too easily deceived and very soon defiled by the fallen world we are embedded in! The flesh, the world, and the devil press in on us 24/7! 

The Exchanged Life, turns out is key. You or I are not able to live a “victorious Christian life.” But Jesus has, is, and will pour forth His endless life through anyone who will allow Him His rights. Jesus is quite able to give His time and full attention to teach everyone of us. He has “all the time in the world” for you and for me. At the same time He is now “seated at the right hand of the majesty on high.”

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again:
“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?

But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.”
But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1)

Following is Isaiah Chapter 64, and Ray Stedman’s commentary to expand our understanding a bit beyond ourselves. We are not the only group God is saving. Isaiah Chapter 58 applies to everyone, Jew, Christian or outsider. The God of Israel created the entire universe, bought it back from slavery, and has handed the title deed over to Yeshua who will soon fix everything. We are all accountable! Jesus, Judge of All.

Isaiah 64

Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!
That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!

When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.
For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.

But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses (tsĕdaqah) are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.

And there is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;
For You have hidden Your face from us,
And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
Do not be furious, O Lord,
Nor remember iniquity forever;
Indeed, please look—we all are Your people!
Your holy cities are a wilderness,
Zion is a wilderness,
Jerusalem a desolation.

Our holy and beautiful temple,
Where our fathers praised You,
Is burned up with fire;
And all our pleasant things are laid waste.

Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O Lord?
Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely?

I wish Ray had lived long enough to teach all of Isaiah. His thirteen messages are worth their weight in platinum. After he was called to be the first pastor at Peninsula Bible Fellowship in 1950, Ray, a new graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary, spent a summer driving Harry Ironside around on various speaking engagements. Ironside died before completing a great commentary on Isaiah. Ray took his mentor’s notes and finished it, so we have this magnificent work with us today. After Ray Stedman completed his short series on Isaiah at PBC Cupertino, I asked him facetiously when he planned to teach the other 90% of Isaiah (it was his favorite book). Circumstances led him to present us instead with a magnificent series of 12 sermons on Colossians, (1987). May I recommend Ray’s vast library? Most messages are available also in audio and listening to Ray is highly recommended.

To Jew and Gentile

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, 

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:6-19)

References

Jesus, Judge of All
On the Judgments of God in History by Ray Stedman
The Major Judgments of God in History
The Great White Throne (Last) Judgment 

Jesus, Judge of All

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, 
to an innumerable company of angels, 
to God the Judge of all, 
to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, 
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, 
and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
(Hebrews 12:22-24)

In a previous discussion of the Bema, the Judgment Seat of Christ, The Bema Part 1, and The Bema Part II one important passage was not included. The emphasis in these earlier articles was (a) on the picture of competing athletes in a Greek Marathon passing a judges reviewing stand to receive laurel wreaths and the applause of the spectators. And (b) the bema about a central gathering place in a city under Roman occupation where a skilled lawyer from Rome would visit periodically to resolve local disputes and enforce the Pax Romana. 

When anyone dies, and we all will, we each have an appointment with God. Our race is divided into two groups: those who know God and those who do not. A performance review awaits us all. 

Those who do not know God, and never wanted to know the real God, go through Door One leading to the Great White Throne  -- a court room outside of our present space-time domain, where Jesus Christ is the Judge and no lawyers are standing by to bail us out. 

Door Two leads to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Here is further information on the Bema:

“For we are God’s fellow workers (synergos); you are God’s field, you are God’s building (oikodomē) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear (phaneros); for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed (apokalyptō) by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
(1 Corinthians 3:9-23)

Jesus Christ will be our Personal Examiner

"Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? 
For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written,

‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
   and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ 

So then, each of us will be accountable to God." (Romans 14:10-12)

The Judgment Seat of Christ will not be about sin! Jesus has paid in full for all our sins. The Bema will, however, be a full performance review. It will be thorough, going to motive. 

Hebrews 4:12 says,  “...the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Most of us remember our past mistakes and accomplishments. God has the actual facts, He has a complete data base, and His searching eyes will reveal all our hearts. Mostly He will heal and restore. But the heat will be turned up! Obviously we can't be allowed into heaven (New Jerusalem) if we are contaminated with evil at all levels of our lives, conscious or unconscious. Right motives matter as well, but God knows us far better than one and his evaluation is what matters. We are house guests in His universe in the first place and many will will be left out of His coming kingdom. 

"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant  into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and  gnashing of teeth."

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and  He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the  sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father,  inherit the kingdom  prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;  I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was  naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me;  I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,  inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand,  ‘Depart from Me, you cursed,  into the everlasting fire prepared for  the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,  inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And  these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:29-46) (Reference: The Unconscious Test, by Ray Stedman)

Psalm 51

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
            According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.      
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
            And cleanse me from my sin.      
For I know my transgressions,
            And my sin is ever before me.     
 Against You, You only, I have sinned
            And done what is evil in Your sight,
            So that You are justified when You speak
            And blameless when You judge.  
 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
            And in sin my mother conceived me.      
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
            And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.       
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
            Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.    
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
            Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.     
Hide Your face from my sins
            And blot out all my iniquities.     
 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
            And renew a steadfast spirit within me.    
Do not cast me away from Your presence
            And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.    
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
            And sustain me with a willing spirit.     
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
            And sinners will be converted to You.     
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
            Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.     
O Lord, open my lips,
            That my mouth may declare Your praise.    
 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
            You are not pleased with burnt offering.      
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
            A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.     
By Your favor do good to Zion;
            Build the walls of Jerusalem.      
Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
            In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Our God is a Refining Fire

The best imagery familiar to most of us is the refiner’s fire.  

When minerals deep in the earth are mined and brought to the surface pure gold, pure silver, copper, tin, lead zinc and so on usually mixed with less valuable minerals —- and plenty of waste rock. Extracting the gold or other valuable material must be profitable or the mine shuts down. Market prices drive investors and mine operators.  Background Information on gold and Gold Mining. Notes about Gold for the ordinary person.

Desired minerals mixed with waste rock are sorted and mechanically processed often elaborately before final crushing and refining in a furnace. The profit margin for the mine owner is always the controlling factor in the industry.

Notice how the words of Peter in his first letter allude to our cleansing, refining, purifying:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and  unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by  fire—may be found to result in  praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that  they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you  by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,  things into which angels long to look.

Therefore,  preparing your minds for action, and  being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children,  do not be conformed to the passions  of your former ignorance, but  as he who called you is holy, you also be holy  in all your conduct, since it is written,  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you  call on him as Father who  judges  impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves  with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you  were ransomed from  the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but  with the precious blood of Christ, like that of  a lamb  without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but  was made manifest  in the last times for the sake of you  who through him are believers in God,  who raised him from the dead and  gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for  a sincere brotherly love,  love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again,  not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through  the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word  is the good news that was preached to you.

We have a beautiful picture of the fireproof nature of those who are “in Christ” in the book of Daniel Chapter 3.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded,  O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall  be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans  came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar,  “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have  not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in  rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made,  good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar,  we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our  God whom we serve is able to  deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we  worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose,  walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like  the Son of God.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the  Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men  on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His  Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the  God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be  cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap;  because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

A vivid image of faith -- tried and tested -- is given to us in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. 

Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

“But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.

“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the Lord,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.
And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and  widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

For I am the Lord,  I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’

The Day of the Lord

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,  and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be  in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will  be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for  new heavens and a  new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

You therefore, beloved,  since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3) 

Jesus Christ is a living person like us. He has fully identified with all of us. He does not ask us to go where He has not already gone. This is what it means when the New Testament says we followers of Jesus are "in Christ."

The Last Judgment
--for those who reject Jesus Christ

Hell: "The Backside of Love."
--God is love

The Excluded Ones

"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty... Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:7-20)

Who is in Charge of your Life? 

Jesus or King Ego?

When Joshua was by Jericho he lifted up his eyes and looked 
and behold a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. 
And Joshua to him and said to him, 
Are you for us or for our adversaries. 
But he said, No but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come. 
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, 
What does my lord say to his servant? 
And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, 
Take off your sandals from your feet for the place where you are standing is holy. 
And Joshua did. 

(Joshua 5:13) 

Watch!

"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,
for if you do these things you will never stumble; 
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
(2 Peter 1:10-11)

Notes by Lambert Dolphin 

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October 25, 2021, November 6, 2021. March 17, 2023.