Bema Seat
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But you—why do you judge your brother? Or you too—why do you treat your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the (Bema) judgment seat of Elohim.
-Romans 14:10
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What is the Bema Seat Judgement
The Bema Seat Judgement also called the Judgement Seat is not to be confused with the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the Kingdom Age/End of the Earth & Heavens. The Bema Seat Judgement comes after the collection of the saints. It is a reward and accounting of the fruits and actions in your life while alive. Being a saint in Messiah will grant life but it may be life as if you escaped a burning house, you are alive but with only your skin and nothing else. This is the role of the Bema Seat Judgement, to burn away hay and reveal gold.
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According to the grace of Elohim given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each consider carefully how he builds. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid—which is Yeshua the Messiah. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear—for the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire. And the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
-1 Corinthians 3:10-15
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The Bema Seat Crowns
There are five crowns that are mentioned in the New Testament as Bema seat rewards:
Crown of Life [James 1:12 |Rev 2:10] For enduring trials and martyrdom
Incorruptible Crown [1 Cor 9:25] For self-discipline and finishing the race
Crown of Rejoicing [1 Thess 2:19] For soul-winning and spiritual fruit
Crown of Glory [1 Peter 5:4] For faithful shepherds/leaders
Crown of Righteousness [2 Tim 4:8] For loving/desiring His appearing
There may be more but these are specifically mentioned.
Table of Contents
Paul’s Reference to Corinth
In [1 Corinthians 9:24-27] & [2 Corinthians 5:10] Paul draws heavily from the Isthmian Games, held near Corinth to make his point about the need to be rigorous and purposeful with our acts of faith so as to be effective and focused. The Bema of the Isthmian Games was where victorious athletes would receive wreaths and honors from Judge. The Bema was a literal raised platform from which officials awarded crowns (stephanoi).
Archaeological ruins of a bema platform still exist in ancient Corinth, near the agora (public square), where magistrates and officials awarded prizes.
When Paul says, “We must all appear before the Bēma of Messiah,” he is likely drawing not only on courtroom imagery but also on the ceremonial reward platform, where athletes received their due reward after the race.
Bema in the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls and multiple fragments allude in a few spots to the same events as the Bema seat reward process in glancing statements.
These are the counsels of the spirit to the sons of truth in
this world. And as for the visitation of all who walk in this spirit, it shall be healing, great peace in a long life, and fruitfulness, together with every everlasting blessing and eternal joy in life without end, a crown of glory and a garment of majesty in unending light.-1QS Community Rule 4:6b-8
This clearly references the Crown of Glory and the bright white linen of Revelation.
Aside from this the multiple short references mix with the final judgement of the unbelievers in a contrast between the sons of light and the sons of darkness. The Dead Sea Scrolls make no literal mention of the Bema seat itself.
Bema in 1 Enoch
Enoch alludes to the judgement of the saints in Heaven:
And the Lord of Spirits placed the Chosen One on the throne of glory, and he shall judge all the works of the holy above in heaven, and in the balance their deeds shall be weighed.
1 Enoch 61:8
This is much the same in function to Paul’s Bema Seat judgment without explicitly naming it. The idea of works being judged and deeds weighed once the Chosen One takes the throne. The Messianic throne as a seat of reward is a core feature of Enochic judgment theology.
Read "Drunkenness"
For more information see “Drunkeness”.
Read "Weeping & Gnashing of Teeth"
For more information see “Weaping & Gnashing of Teeth”.
Read "Desires of the Messiah"
For more information see “Desires of the Messiah”.