Believers will be judged for their works at the Bema seat of Christ.
According to Les Feldick, believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, known as the Bema seat, to have their works as believers examined for reward. This is not a judgment for sin—sins have already been judged at the cross. The Bema seat determines rewards based on what a believer has done for Christ since salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — This verse explicitly states that all believers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due for their deeds.
The Bible teaches that all believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul writes, "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." This is a judgment for the works of believers, not for their sins, because Christ already paid for sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 10:10-14). The judgment seat is distinct from the Great White Throne judgment, which is for the unsaved (Revelation 20:11-15). At the Bema seat, each believer's work will be tested by fire to determine its quality (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
Les Feldick emphasizes that the judgment seat of Christ, also called the Bema seat, is a place of reward and evaluation for believers, not a place of punishment or condemnation. He explains that the term "Bema" comes from the Greek and refers to the judge's seat in the Olympic Games, where winners were rewarded. According to Les, believers will appear before Christ to have their works examined — what they did with their lives as believers — and they will receive rewards accordingly. He clarifies that the Bema seat is not the Great White Throne judgment, which is for the lost, and it does not determine eternal destiny; salvation is already settled. Instead, it is about rewards for faithful service.
The Bema seat is a Greek term for the judgment seat, derived from the Olympic Games where judges sat at the finish line to determine the winners. Les explains that the Bema seat is not about eternal destiny but about determining rewards for believers. It is a place where believers stand before Christ to have their works reviewed, not their sins.
No. Les Feldick is emphatic that believers will never face their sins at the Bema seat. Sins have already been judged at the cross and are under the blood of Christ. The Bema seat is only for evaluating works for reward, not for dealing with sin.
The purpose is to determine rewards for believers. Les compares the Bema seat to the Olympic judges' seat where winners are recognized. Believers are rewarded for what they have done with their lives as believers, whether it be wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones.
What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Bema Seat as Rewards
Les explains that the Bema seat is the seat of rewards in the Olympic Games and that every believer will come before Christ to be examined for reward.
No Sin at Judgment Seat
Les assures believers they will never face sin at the judgment seat because sin was judged at the cross; the judgment seat is only for rewards.
Bema Defined
Les defines Bema as the Greek word for judgment seat, derived from the Olympics, and clarifies it is for reward, not heaven or hell.
Judgment Seat of Christ
Les reads 2 Corinthians 5:10 and explains that believers receive things done in the body, good or bad, for reward, not salvation.
Bema Seat at Finish Line
Les describes the Bema seat as a raised podium at the finish line where judges determine winners, and emphasizes it determines rewards, not destiny.
Will Your Works Burn? The Judgment Seat of Christ
It'll be a body that will have evidently many of the same appetites of this one, but without any hope of ever satisfying them. And so that's why the Scripture says, and let the drunkard be drunken still, and let the whoremonger continue on to those appetites, and they'll never be satisfied.
Works Tested by Fire
Les teaches that every believer's work will be tested by fire at the Bema seat, determining whether it is wood, hay, stubble or gold, silver, precious stones.
2 Corinthians 5:10: 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.
This is the primary verse that reveals believers will appear before the Bema seat for their works.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This passage explains the testing of believers' works at the judgment seat, leading to reward or loss.
No. Les Feldick teaches that sins have already been judged at the cross and are under the blood. Believers will appear before the Bema seat only to receive rewards for their works as believers, not to face their sins.
No. Les emphasizes that the Bema seat is for believers to determine rewards, while the Great White Throne judgment is for the lost of the ages. No believer will be present at that judgment.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?