Bema Seat

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This page is about the Christian concept. For other meanings see Bema (disambiguation).

The Bema Seat (from the Greek word bema, "step"), according to the teaching of some Evangelical Christians—particularly among those Protestant groups who adhere to a millennialist eschatology—describes the awarding of Christians for their deeds during their life, and is one of two judgments that is to occur during the Last Judgment. This is different from the Great White Throne judgment, which is the judgement of the lost to eternal damnation.

Although scripture makes no specific mention of a "Bema Seat Judgement", the concept is based upon an interpretation of 1 Corinthians which seems to imply that believing Christians will not be condemned for their sins:

“

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
—1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (ESV)

”

Other Christian denominations do not interpret the Bible as implying two judgements, but see only one final judgement for all mankind (including Christians), at which Jesus will separate the saved from the damned (Matthew 25:31-33 ff). According to this more traditional interpretation, even Christians may be condemened for those sins committed after baptism, if they do not repent (Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 10:12, etc).