The Judgment Seat of Christ is the scene of final examination for all believers, living or dead, when Christ returns (Romans 14:10b; 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18). This final examination of the believer’s character, stewardship, and work, will determine his reward or loss of reward (Revelation 22:12). Christ himself will do the examining.  

 The Greek word for Judgment Seat is bema (bay- ma), which means “a step, an elevated place; tribunal or throne.” Greek and Roman magistrates sat on a platform or tribunal to administer justice. The umpire of the Grecian games viewed the contests from a raised platform and then distributed prizes from this seat. By taking both uses of the word, we find that the Bible is talking about a judgment that is characterized by integrity and results in reward.