That there are several future judgments fits in quite well with the dispensational nature of the Bible. The fact that the sheep and the goats are still mingled and need to be separated suggests that no Rapture takes place at this judgment. Moreover, Matthew 25 deals with the living, not with those who have been translated. 31–32) not Heaven, as at the Bema judgment and no books are opened, as at the Great White Throne judgment. In the judgment of Matthew 25:41–46, for example, the scene is the earth (vss. All are similar in some respects, but also different in some respects. Scripture teaches that there are several future judgments. It would appear, then, that the Bema judgment must follow the Rapture, but be prior to the return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. Revelation 19 speaks of Christ returning with His Bride, and verse 8 indicates that the Bride has already been judged and rewarded: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Furthermore, several scriptures (1 Corinthians 4:5 2 Timothy 4:8 Revelation 22:12) associate the reward with the day that Christ comes for His saints. The Bema judgment occurs subsequent to the Rapture of the church. This is the judgment of believers-Paul included himself with the word “we”-and must be distinguished from the Great White Throne judgment for the unsaved dead (Revelation 20:11-15). Second Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Bema is a Greek word that was used to refer to the raised platform from which speeches were made and athletes were awarded their crowns.

Judgment seat of christ scripture