Dictionary of Biblical Words:
In Scripture this includes the judgment of the living (Matt. 25), of the dead (Rev. 20), and the manifestation of believers (Rom. 14:10). Among Christians, however, the phrase is nearly always restricted to the last of the three. In 2 Cor. 5:10. the connection is, however, as wide as language can make it; and as it embraces all men, it necessarily includes every occasion on which they appear before this divine tribunal. That the believer will never be judged is stated in John 5:24 (lit.), but that he, as well as others, will appear before the judgment seat of Christ is plainly shown. The purpose for which believers will be brought before this tribunal is that (their past works and service being fully reviewed) they may receive praise or suffer loss according to the character of their walk and testimony. Inasmuch as this determines all rewards and our place in the glory (see GLORY), and as at the public appearing of Christ saints are seen in possession of their rewards, (1 Thess. 2.19, &c.), it appears that this manifestation takes place after the rapture of the saints to heaven, and before their return in glory with the Lord.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
A place attached to the judgment-hall, where judgment was pronounced, speeches delivered, and so forth. It was on the βημα that Herod sat, when he made his oration (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13; Acts 12:21; Acts 18:12-17; Acts 25:6-17). The floor of this place was doubtless of tesselated stones, which accounts for its being called the PAVEMENT in John 19:13. In the Hebrew it was called GABBATHA, which signifies elevated or raised platform. In James 2:6 the word is κριτήριον. (For the judgment-seat of Christ, see JUDGMENT, No. 3.)
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
1 Samuel 1:9. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
In some parts of the East a seat is placed in the court-yard, where the master of the house may sit and give judgment on all domestic affairs. This seat is usually placed in some shady part of the court, against a wall or column. Thus in the text, Eli “sat upon a seat by a post.” So David sat upon a seat by the wall (1 Sam. 20:25). These seats probably had no backs, and were therefore placed near the post or wall for support. Thus we are told that Eli fell backward from his seat at the gate and died (1 Sam. 4:18). The Assyrian monuments have many representations of such backless seats.
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Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Duration:
1min