Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 31:60 (Spring 2018)
Article: When Is The Judgment Seat Of Christ?
Author: John Claeys

JOTGES 31:60 (Spring 2018) p. 35

When Is The Judgment Seat Of Christ?

John Claeys

I. Introduction

Most JOTGES subscribers immediately recognize the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema) as an eschatological event—a significant, future event foretold by Bible prophecy. It is the public examination, by Jesus Himself, of the past faithfulness of every believer in Christ (OT saints included). Thus, it is a valuation of the works1 of all believers who have lived prior to this dramatic assessment. Since this great, eschatological event will determine each believer’s eternal experience,2 it should be viewed as an enormously important event. We should seek to understand all that we can discover about the Bema, including its timing: when will the Judgment Seat of Christ occur?

II. Major View: The Judgment Seat Of Christ Will Occur During The Tribulation

Many Evangelicals believe the Judgment Seat of Christ will transpire in heaven, between the occurrences of the Rapture of the Church and the return of Christ to the earth. J. Dwight Pentecost represents this view by asserting that this appraisal of believers “takes place immediately following the translation of the church out of this

JOTGES 31:60 (Spring 2018) p. 36

earth’s sphere.”3 This appears to be the generally accepted viewpoint among pre-tribulational, premillennial Bible teachers.4

A. Evidence For The Bema Occurring During The Tribulation

Some who hold this view make the case that the pronouncement of Rev 5:10 demonstrates that “the Bema Seat has already occurred” prior to the Tribulation judgments being poured out upon the earth.5 Revelation 5:10 declares that the twenty-four elders “will reign on the earth” (emphasis added). The argument declares, by implication, these elders have already received their reward to rule at the Judgment Seat. And since the events of Revelation 5 allegedly occur after the Rapture of the Church and prior to the outpouring of judgments during the Tribulation period, the Bema must, therefore, occur in a timeframe between the Rapture and the Tribulation.

This position rests on two pieces of evidence. The first is the declaration of Rev 5:10 that the twenty-four elders “will reign upon the earth,” and the ...