Will Jesus Christ judge His people? Indeed He shall—more severely than the people of the world, because more has been given to us. Judgment always begins with the family of God.

Since in II Corinthians 5:10 we are dealing with a court in which people are repaid according to the good they have done or the evil they have done, we will examine only those verses that appear to apply:

"While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat (beema ), his wife sent him this message: ‘Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.'"

"When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat (beema ) in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha."

"While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court (beema )."

"So he had them ejected from the court (beema )."

"Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court (beema ). But Gallio showed no concern whatever."

"After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court (beema ) and ordered that Paul be brought before him."

"Paul answered: ‘I am now standing before Caesar's court (beema ), where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.'"

"When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court (beema ) the next day and ordered the man to be brought in."

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat (beema )."

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat (beema ) of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

In the examples above, it is clear the term beema is referring to a court of justice where someone accused of a crime is examined. The difference between the beema of Pilate, Caesar, and the others, and the Lord Jesus Christ, is that in their beema the most favorable verdict would be that of "innocent" whereas in the beema of Christ the most favorable verdict would be to receive marvelous rewards, depending on our conduct.

But in all cases, that of the secular tribunals and the Judgment Seat of Christ, a verdict of "guilty" can result in death or much suffering.

That a person who has "accepted Christ" could receive death or much suffering at the Judgment Seat of Christ will not be received by most Christian scholars, it appears. But they are doing the devil's business when they assure all Christian believers that they never will be severely punished at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Christian ministers are not teaching what the Scripture states. My impression is that the philosophy of Humanism has entered Christian thinking to such an extent that what is written clearly in the Bible is rendered of no effect. The words of the text cannot be perceived because of such blindness.

To be continued.