God's plan for man is written in The Holy Bible, and this plan is drawing to its conclusion as proven by daily news reports.

PROPHECY E-NEWSLETTER NUMBER 4
www.prophecyfulfillment.com
The Bema Judgment
Trade Your Life's Works for Eternal Rewards


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INTRODUCTION: One of the most memorable television advertising campaigns promoted the American Express credit card, with Karl Malden imploring, "Don't leave home without it."

The Bible tells about an important future event, which could paraphrase Malden by saying, "Don't go home without it." In this context, "it" is a believer's body of works accomplished in his or her life, which will be given in appreciation and love of Jesus at the Bema Judgment; and, "home" is Heaven.

WHAT IS A BEMA? Paul, apparently a sports fan, wrote in sporting terms in several instances. He wrote of a bema of Christ in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, likely translated in your Bible version as "judgment seat of Christ." A bema (pronounced BEE-mah in English, or BAY-mah in the original Greek) was a raised platform upon which a judge sat at the finish line of a race. As racers crossed the finish line, the judge watched to see which runner finished first, second, third, and so forth in order that prizes could be awarded or not awarded. It was not this judge's responsibility to determine who was eligible to compete in the race; his responsibility was to determine the order of the contestants' finish (that is, what prize each contestant's effort had won or not won).

BEMA JUDGMENT SCRIPTURES: Two Scriptures describe this judgment:

WHAT WILL BE JUDGED? Our works in this life will be judged at the Bema Judgment.

Of several Scriptures that could be quoted, Jesus said we are known by our works— the fruits of our faithful labor (Matthew 7:16-17 | 20): "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ... [E]very good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. |...| Therefore by their fruits, you will know them."

WHAT FRUITS SHALL WE BEAR? Paul teaches us about bearing fruit, built upon the foundation laid by Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11-15): 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 manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed 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 will be saved, yet so as through fire.
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COMMENTS ON THIS PASSAGE:

  • All good works for a Christian start with Jesus' atoning sacrifice for sins. A Christian must build on this foundation— not a foundation laid by man.
  • A Christian's work may introduce different building materials (different types of work)— gold, silver, and precious stones for GOOD works; or, wood, hay, and straw for BAD works. "Good" and "bad" do not refer to sin, but to faithful, effective work.
  • "The Day" in which these works become manifest will be the day the Christian stands for his or her Bema Judgment. Jesus promised that on His return, a believer's reward would accompany Him (Revelation 22:12): "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to His work." When He returns, our Christ-honoring labor— and our opportunity for additional labor— stop.
  • What is the fire by which these works are judged? Although the Bible is silent on a definitive explanation of this statement, John recorded a strange description of Jesus' appearance at the end of the age (Revelation 19:12a): [Jesus'] eyes were like a flame of fire.... As Jesus looks at each person's lifetime of work, I believe His "eyes of fire" will melt— and purify— GOOD works. (Good works may be contaminated with impurities— pride, desire for accolades, and so forth— which will be removed at this judgment.) A goldsmith melts metal and skims off the impurities, the dross, leaving behind pure metal. On the other hand, BAD works will be consumed by the fire of judgment, leaving behind only a pitiful pile of ashes.
  • A crown can be made of precious metals and stones (good works), but not ashes (bad works, no works). Lack of rewards at this judgment does not disqualify a believer from entering Heaven, as Paul takes care to teach in verse 15. In the Greek races, a stumbling, slow straggler who finally crossed the finish line was credited with being a competitor, but was not awarded a prize. In the Bema Judgment, a believer with a handful of ashes to give the Lord will still be admitted to Heaven (salvation secures his or her entry), but he or she will experience regret and shame. The nearest earthly picture I know is seen on the late news. When a family's home is burned to the ground, the news reporter feels obliged to ask the family's reaction to loss of the home. Wet, covered with ashes, and huddled under a blanket, the common reply is: "We lost everything, but thank God we are all safe." I believe a person will feel ashamed that he or she has earned only a "crown" of ashes, while others have earned glorious crowns of gold. The Bible is silent on how long such feelings may last, but possibly not for eternity. We are told that persons admitted to New Jerusalem (Heaven) will have all tears wiped from their eyes, with no more sorrow, pain, or suffering (Revelation 7:17 and 21:4).

WHAT REWARDS MAY BE GIVEN? Several rewards may be given at the Bema Judgment:

Crowns: The Bible describes crowns that a believer may be awarded for faithful service and perserverance. Commonly mentioned crowns include:

  • The Crown of Rejoicing for Soul Winners (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20);
  • The Crown of Righteousness for Those Who Love His Return (2 Timothy 4:8);
  • The Incorruptible Crown for Victorious Lives of Purity (1 Corinthians 9:25, 27);
  • The Crown of Life for Christian Martyrs (Revelation 2:10);
  • The Crown of Glory for Faithful Servants (1 Peter 5:4); and
  • The Crown of Life to Endure Temptation for the Love of Jesus (James 1:12).

There are other crowns, which may have limited application, e.g., awarded to the twenty-four elders, including: Crown of Joy for Converts (Philippians 4:1); Crown for Faithful Perserverance (Revelation 3:11); and Elders' Crowns (Revelation 4:4 and 4:10).

The Bible implies that these crowns may be laid before the throne of God (Revelation 4:10). Why would we want to do this? When we get to New Jerusalem (Heaven) and see its perfection and beauty... when we sense the full impact of eternal peace, God's love, and Jesus' sacrifice for us... then, we will want to give something in return. We will have no earthly possessions or wealth. All we will have is the work we accomplished for others because of love and in Jesus' name. Faith and love for God and others is the only wealth we will carry to Heaven.

Preparation of our bridal gowns: After the Bema Judgment, we will be eternally wed to the Bridegroom Jesus. At the Marriage Supper, we will drink the fourth cup of wine Jesus deferred to drink at His last Passover Seder until He could drink (and seal the marriage) with us in His Father's Kingdom (Matthew 26:29; Luke 22:18). On Earth, a bride typically seeks a special, beautiful gown for her wedding. In our marriage to the Lamb (Jesus), we will also want a special gown. John tells us that we weave our gown by our works and the linen is made spotless by Jesus' blood sacrifice (Revelation 19:8): And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Opportunities for service in the Millennial Kingdom: After Jesus returns to Earth (the Second Coming), He will establish His thousand-year reign (Revelation, chapter 20). Heavenly saints— believers who are raptured or resurrected because of their faith in Jesus— will assist King Jesus. We will mentor the saved humans who survive the Tribulation (the "sheep" on Jesus' right hand in His teaching of the sheep and the goats, Matthew 25:31-46). Those saints who are good stewards and faithful, diligent servants in earthly life will have greater opportunities in the Millennial Kingdom, as Jesus teaches in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Jesus summarizes this parable in Matthew 25: 29a: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance;...." Jesus' teaching in the Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27) is even clearer. I do not have space in this newsletter to print the text, but please read this passage. Before the nobleman goes away to receive a kingdom and to return at a later date, he gives each of his servant a mina. (A mina is 50 shekels, or 1.5 pounds, of gold or silver.) Some servants invest their minas, while others hide (safeguard without investing) their minas. Upon the master's return, he requires an accounting. To the servant who has earned ten minas, the master says (verse 19:17), "... 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'" The servant who earned five minas is placed in charge of five cities. And so forth. But to the lazy, fearful servant who does nothing with his money and earns nothing for the master, his mina is taken away, leaving him with nothing. Jesus concludes this teaching (verse 19:26): "For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even more will be taken away from him."

WHEN WILL THE BEMA JUDGMENT OCCUR? The Bible gives a general, but not specific timetable for end-time events. Jesus will return in the clouds (the Rapture/ Revelation), as a "thief in the night" when no one knows. Then will occur the Tribulation for seven years (based on ancient calendar reckoning: 7 x 360 = 2,520 days). Then, Jesus will return to Earth with a host of angels and saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom.

The Tribulation has different activities, whether on Earth or with Jesus in Paradise. On Earth, the most horrendous time in history will occur. With Jesus, two things occur for believers during this seven-year period. There will first occur the Bema Judgment. At the mid-point of the Tribulation, then, there will be the marriage to the Lamb, followed by the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).

IS THIS THE ONLY JUDGMENT? We are assured that all persons will face judgment (Hebrews 9:27): And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

The Bible describes several judgments, but only one— the Bema Judgment— will be faced by believers. Approximately one-thousand years after the Bema Judgment, the Great White Throne Judgment will occur. This judgment will be exclusively for evil or unrepentant persons; the only verdict will be guilty, and the only sentence will be the second death, which is spending eternity away from God in the Lake of Everlasting Fire (Hell). Jesus tells us that Hell was originally intended for Satan and the fallen angels who followed him, but it was enlarged to accommodate sinful man (Matthew 25:4). The Great White Throne Judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15. All persons who are lost in their sins will be resurrected and stand for judgment. Books will be opened (verse 20:12) to show the reasons people have chosen Hell over Heaven. (By our life choices and especially acceptance/ rejection of God's grace at the urging of the Holy Spirit, we choose our eternal destination. God sentences no one to Hell, unless that person chooses such punishment during life.) The most important book will be the (Lamb's) Book of Life. Some will argue that they do not deserve eternal punishment, but if that person's name is not written in this book, he or she must spend eternity in Hell. Why are other books opened? One example may be, I believe, that Hell may have different levels (intensities) of punishment. Adolph Hitler surely will suffer greater punishment than many other lost persons.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Many Christians feel work for the Kingdom must be grandiose. In Jesus' teachings previously discussed, note that the master/ nobleman— who symbolizes Jesus— gives servants— who symbolize us— different amounts of money, just as God gives His children different talents and opportunities.

You and I will never fill athletic stadiums and preach to millions, as Billy Graham has. But, we are given smaller tasks and opportunities, in which we are expected to do our best.

God has known and loved you even while you were unborn and nestled safely in your mother's womb (Genesis 25:22-23a; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5a; Isaiah 49:1b, 5a; Matthew 1:18b, 22-23; Luke 1:36, 44; 2:21; Romans 9:11). He has called some persons to great tasks and others to small tasks, but all tasks are honorable and necessary in His eyes. Jesus taught about God's loving reception of small gifts, if given in the right manner, in His teaching on the widow's mites (Luke 21:1-4). In this teaching, rich men proudly, boastfully gave their rich gifts to the Temple treasury, but a poor widow quietly gave her two mites (two small coins). Jesus said (verses 21:3-4): "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had."

It seems that we are required to use our talents and spiritual gifts, even if considered small by man's standards, to serve God with simplicity of spirit and love for Him and each other; following Biblical principles; and performing service (work) to uphold Him before the world, without seeking man's acclaim. Jesus will evaluate the purity of motive and perserverance of our labors, rather than achievements in man's eyes.

WHEN SHOULD WE BE GREEDY? In several passages, Jesus warns against being greedy and pursuing money and possessions as life's great ambition. In one instance, though, Jesus told us to be "greedy" (Matthew 6:19-21): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

In this teaching, Jesus seems to tell us to be as "greedy" as possible, because we cannot buy eternal treasure, but we can lay up (store) such treasure by working in this life for other persons in His name. Every time you do good for others because of your love for them and Jesus and do it only as a service to the Lord and not publicity among men, you make a deposit in the "Bank of Heaven."

FAITH? WORKS? Christians have long debated the relative importance of faith and works. I am baffled that this issue would occupy anyone's time, because both are important.

  • By God's grace and his or her faith, a person is saved (Ephesians 2:8, and other Scriptures), whereupon his or her name is inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life.
  • But, works are almost equally important, because a saved person will strive to manifest good works. It would take another newsletter or two to explore teachings about works, but read the short epistle of James. James eloquently explains the relationship of faith and works. One of his passages concludes (James 2:24, 26): You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. |...| For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Earlier in this same chapter (James 2:14ff), James shows the absurdity of giving lip service to faith without concretely acting upon that faith, beginning this passage with pertinent questions (verse 2:14): What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

    If you are not working for the Kingdom, pray to God that He will show you the work He wants you to do. You probably will not see an angel or a burning bush, but opportunities for service to others and Him abound and are begging for workers. Be observant for God-honoring tasks that need to be done but are neglected by others. You may be the one God wants to do that work. If you contact your church or any number of God-honoring, not-for-profit organizations (which are usually short of money and volunteers) and offer to help, you probably will be put to work immediately. There is much work that needs to be done for the Kingdom— especially work that "headline seekers" and "pat-me-on-the-back" people avoid.

    Other prophecy projects of mine include:

    • Please read my Website, Fulfillment of Bible Prophecy in Today's News,, www.prophecyfulfillment.com, which is a correlation of end-time prophetic Scriptures and recent news stories.
    • Please hear my weekly, one-hour audio recordings, sent by Internet audio streaming at WPFR990. Schedule should be posted on this Website. (Eastern Standard Time, EST, is Greenwich Mean Time minus 5.0 hours.) Programs can be accessed at any time through WPFR990's Archives.
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    Maranatha!

    Raymond Finney
    Maryville, Tennessee U.S.A.

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