Before we launch into a brief study of The Judgement Seat I should clear up some common misconceptions; First, this event is reserved for believers only. It will take place immediately following the "anastasis", or "exit resurrection", commonly called The Rapture of the Church. It is not a judgement in the sense that any person will be sent to hell. That isn't the purpose of the Judgement Seat. No believer can lose their salvation, for any reason. To better understand the Judgement Seat we will follow the Apostle Paul's lead and establish the analogy between this event and a Roman military tradition called the "bema". In fact, the Apostle calls it The Bema. When a Roman general was victorious in battle he was given a Triumphant Procession by the Senate and People of Rome. These celebrations were elaborate affairs with citizens lining the boulevard (what we would call "Main Street") to cheer and throw flower petals in the path of the general's chariot as he proceeded, his legions in smart formation behind him. Eventually he would approach the site selected for the reception, where Ceaser would be waiting. Sometimes it was the Temple of Mars, and other times another prominent location, but before he arrived there he would conduct a bema. This ceremony involved a large platform, built to a height that was high enough for all the people to see the activities. The general would mount the bema and perhaps make a short speech, then he would pro cede to hand out decorations to his worthy officers and men who had distinguished themselves in battle. We'll examine these honors shortly, for they were also used by Paul to illustrate the higher rewards that some believers will be given by our Lord. The bema was also used to draw attention to men who had failed in some way; either for running from the enemy, or botching a charge, any number of reasons, but usually related to cowardice. Those named would be taken into custody and escorted to a selected site for execution. At this point the analogy breaks down. No believer will suffer such a humiliating and painful fate. However, the Word makes it clear that believers who fail in the Christian life will suffer a brief period of shame. The scripture doesn't specify how long this will last, but we can safely assume it will be short lived. The Lord isn't in the business of retaliation, and since all of us will be in resurrection bodies, there will be no punishment as such. Believers being honored for noble service will be given one or more "crowns". Those who are shamed will have their human good and evil (in their souls), called "wood, hay and stubble", burned. Let me emphasize that this is also an illustration and not literal. There will be no pain for even the most wretched Christian who ever lived, but this will serve to purge, forever, the residue of sin and failure. Crowns The Roman system of battle honors was far superior to ours. Men who distinguished themselves in battle were given one of several "diadema" (in the Latin), also called "Coronae", and "stefonos" in the Greek, all translated "Crowns". These rewards, in themselves, were not particularly significant. They were made of gold which was fashioned in the shape of a headpiece. There were several kinds of crowns, each representing a particular act of valor. The Corona Civica was given to a soldier who saved another man's life in battle. The Corona Novalus was given only to the victorious naval commander for a successful battle at sea. The Corona Gramanaia was the highest honor, woven of thin strands of gold to resemble grass, from which is gets it's name. This crown was awarded to a man for conspicuous courage under fire; the first man over an enemy rampart or wall, the man leading a successful charge, and so forth. The triumphant commander was usually the one who received this reward. What made these rewards significant, and the reason why Paul employed them as an example of eternal rewards, was the many perks that came with them. The recipient of a corona was given a monetary reward amounting to $1,000,000.00 in our time. They were also exempted from income taxes for life. They were given a sizable parcel of land and the state built them a home to their specifications, free. The family was provided food for life, and not just paltry fare, but the finest delicacies. The children of the honoree were educated at public expense. The winner of a corona was also a respected member of the community for life, offered a prestigious job, recognized at social affairs. He was also an honored guest in the Senate, which he could attend at his whim. When he selected a home there was an additional ceremony. A hole was made in the wall around the nearest city and the honoree would walk through it, then it was sealed. This ritual represented the exalted status of the man, for the citizens allowed him to enter the city at any point along the wall he wished, and went to the great trouble to breach the rampart just for his convenience and then seal it so no other man could so use the opening. These considerable honors represent the higher blessings that the "winner" believer will receive in heaven. This highlights an important point....there is no equality in God's Kingdom, as such. Naturally, there will be absolute freedom, and all elect creatures will be recognized as free, but there will be what we would call "classes", or some manner of social structure. This subject involves some principles that are extremely advanced, for they require a knowledge of eternity, on much of which we are uninformed. We do know, however, that there will be no social and commercial aspects of life there which are even remotely similar to life on earth. There will be no need for wealth, such as we know it, and therefore no occupation. All creatures will live in luxury, without need of any kind. The material goods we treasure will no longer be a factor; We won't need to sustain our bodies with food, for they will be self-sustaining, with what we might call "nuclear power". We won't require transportation, for our bodies will be capable of travel through stellar space at spectacular speeds. In fact, it's my theory that we will travel at the speed of thought, instantaneously. We can simply think of being somewhere, and be there. The characteristics of eternity that support this theory are the absence of time and space as we know them. We will not be limited by time. There will be duration without progression. In other words, events won't occur in a sequence as they do here. Likewise, we will not be limited by space. So when we move from place to place it will be instantly and without literal physical movement. But I stray from the subject at hand. The Word describes several of the "perks" we will be given with our "corona", but keep in mind that these are parallel concepts to life on earth. There is no volcabulary that can explain what will actually be in the eternal state, for the environment and our circumstances will be unique, competely different from life here. Yet other ancient customs are used by Paul to describe our rewards; The names of great men were engraved on the columns in a tabernacle or palace, some stately building, with a brief account of their deeds. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Rev 3:12) This passage also mentions a distinctive "uniform" upon which the name of God is written. This garment will consist of translucent light, glory, and be adorned with a special insignia, such as a sign of rank. The "new name" is a reference to a knighthood, similar in practice to the English tradition of knighting certain worthy men for acts of bravery or civil service. The honoree will receive a knight's name which is different from our birth name, which we will carry with us into heaven, at least our first names. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Rev 2:17) The white stone was another tradition which was observed in the ancient world, in the election of a high official. This aspect of the rewards apparently speaks of an exalted office, a ruler, a king or prince, and the "hidden manna"....??? Since we will be in a body that does not require sustinance, this must be a reference to a form of soul nourishment, perhaps an expanded knowledge of creation. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Rev 2:7) "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev 22:14) "Winners" will be members of the most exclusive country club ever to exist! It is called in these verses "the paradise of God", and a "city" with gates. The significant point made here is that only a few individuals will have access to this "paradise", and the one feature which is emphasized, is a "tree of life". We don't know what this tree consists of, if it's an actual tree or not (probably not), nor what effect it has on one to eat of its fruit, which is likely just an analogy as well. We can assume that there is blessing involved, probably something pleasurable, exciting, stimulating. My own spin on this tree involves God. I think that "eating" of this fruit draws one nearer to God in some way, and the nearer we come to Him the more of His glory absorbs our being. This probably speaks of a level of ecstacy that will put a sexual orgasm to shame in its intensity and duration, like a million times more intense. Such a physical phenomenon would literally drive us insane in this body. There are angels, one unique "family" or type of angel, that spend every moment of their existence singing to God. Now, we can all agree that any activity that is drawn out over weeks or months becomes drudgery to us on this earth, and we can only speculate about these chosen angels. Apparently they experience this higher plateau. They dwell in a sphere which is closer to God, and the result is a joy that imparts a thrill we can't even begin to understand. [ HOME ]