For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body…
2 Corinthians 5:10a
The final salvation of a believer is never in question, due to the finished work of Christ upon the Cross (John 19:30) and the security of God’s promises (Rom. 8:31-39). Believers will not appear at the fearful Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium—a Judgment exclusively reserved for the damned (Rev. 20:11-15).
The believer WILL, however, appear at the Bema Seat Judgment following the pre-Tribulational Rapture (note: the Elders of Rev. 4:4, 10—representing the Church—are already wearing their reward-crowns in Heaven, at Tribulation’s outset), where the issue is not salvation (1 Cor. 3:15), but rather, reward (or its deprivation!), based upon the believer’s expression of faithfulness during his earthly pilgrimage. That this is a believer’s judgment is emphasized by the fact that those who appear in this forum indeed possess a Foundation, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). The open question is: “What was built upon that foundation” (1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:10)?
Our Rewards are variously spoken of as “crowns:” (2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10).
The subject of rewards is also addressed in Paul’s discourse on running the race in 1 Cor. 9:24-27. John, likewise, addresses the issue of potential forfeiture of rewards, and the accompanying genuine sense of loss and shame that attends such forfeiture in 2 John 1:8 and 1 John 2:28.
A balance should regulate our discussion concerning this topic: the issue cannot be allowed to transform the indescribable joys of Heaven (Rev. 21:4) into the fires of Hell! And yet, let us be sober and mindful that our earthly discipleship truly matters, and the depravation discussed above must be regarded as both real and significant.
Terry L. Reese