You're fine Brother, I know your intent is always for encouragement and thanks for prefacing your reply as such.
I'm familiar with the concept of "the Bema Seat" but cannot yet find Scriptural reference to this title, but what it teaches is true. As stated in my post, the rewards are given at the resurrections, which are different rewards to different peoples at different times. The saints first because "judgment begins at the house of God (1 Pet 4:17); not of punishment but chastisement, until the rewards within eternal life are given at the first resurrection (Rev 20:4). Then the rewards within eternal death for the unsaved are given at the second resurrection (20:11-15). To me, both make up the judgement seat of Christ because Christ judges both and it answers to "all must appear".
The reason for my post is to show that the judgement of the saints is eternal life; and the judgement of the unsaved is eternal death.
Well, the wonderful thing about this is that it is NOT a basic of Christianity. We have Christian liberty to understand as the Holy Spirit teaches us.
Prophecy is and always has been rather debatable.
May I say to you Net that it is always a joy to speak with a learned man of God who shows that Christ lives in him.
Let me see if I can explain to you where my thinking is on this. I hope it does not come out to long because I tend to get carried away at times, so if I do please forgive me.
While both the saved and the lost must each face a judgment seat, in the divine purpose there is IMO a vital differance between the type of judgment which each group will experience. The believer has already been cleansed from his sin by the blood of the Lord Jesus and so will not come under any condemnation for his sin. His sin has already been judged and paid for by Christ.
1). JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (Bema Seat)......For the BELIEVER.
A. This will take place AFTER the Rapture.
B. All believers will appear at it.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body".
C. There will be personal confession.
Romans 14:11
"Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess".
D. Each believer shall give an account of himself.
Romans 14:12
"So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God".
E. The basis of this judgment will be----a steward accounting and will concern:
(1) Privileges enjoyed
(2) Faithfulness displayed:
Since "it is required of a steward that he be faithful"......(1 Corth. 4:2)
This judgment seat will reveal the extent of each believer's steadfastness.
Luke 12:48
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.
F. The Rewards
(1) Classification
1 Corth. 3:11-12 tells us there will be a test by fire to distinguish between the durable and the perishable, the
precious and the worthless.
(2) Durability
The works symbolized by gold, silver and precious stones will be rewarded worthily and the reward will be
"according as his work shall be (Rev. 22:12) .
(3) Eternal Loss
1 Corth. 3:15
"If any man's works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss".
G. Eternal Distinctions
1 Corth. 15:41
"There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for one star
differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the (saved) dead".
Wood, hay, and stuble do not shine. But gold, silver and precious stones do. Gold as the richest symbol would
shine as the sun, and would signify the ultomate in Heavenly rewards.
Daniel 12:3
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever".
2. The GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT-------For the LOST.
A. It will take place after the Millennium.......(Revelation 20:5-15).
B. All of the lost of all the ages will appear.
Revelation 20:12-13
"And I saw the (lost) dead, small and great, stand before God, and the sea gave up the dead which were in it,
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them".
DEATH refers to what happens to the body when it dies, "Hell" (Hades/Sheol) refers to the place where the
soul and spirit of unbelievers go at deat.
Hell is the place where the unbelieving lost dead go and experience torment until the time that they are
resurrected to stand before the GREAT WHITE THRONE in Rev. 20 which is AFTER the Mellennium.
C. Unbelievers body, soul and spirit will be reunited.
D. The awesome face of God will cause terrible fear
Revelation 20:11
"And I saw a GREAT WHITE THRONE and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heave fled
away, and there was found no place for them".
E. Basis for this Judgment
This judgment is not to determine wheter this group is saved or lost. ALL those at this judment are lost.......
BECAUSE THE SAVED HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLACED IN HEAVEN.
This is rather a judgment on the evil works of the unsaved and since works canot save......all of these are
condemned.
F. The Result of this judgment
Revelation 20:15
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the fire".
Eternal seperation from God is the destiny of the unsaved.
Well, as usual I have made this much to long. I do however hope that all we see the Biblical case for TWO resurrections seperated by 1000 years. 1st one for the saved, the 2nd for the lost.
IMHO it has to be that way because we must consider that there is one final rebellion in Rev. 20 and those will be the lost who do not come to Christ during the 1000 year rule of Christ. God will wait untill that rebellion is over THEN will the 2nd resurrection take place of the ALL the unsaved which must include those in the Gog and Magog rebellion of Rev. 20.
God bless and happy new year.