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Question Title Posted By Question Date
The Bema Seat Tim B Friday, July 27, 2018

Question:

Some protestants say that 1Cor 3: 12--15 is not referring at all to Purgatory but to the Bema Seat for those already in heaven. It does not make any sense. If someone is already in heaven, why would there be any question about being saved?

And what is the "Bema Seat" any way?

Thanks for your reply and God Bless you



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Tim:

The Bema Seat is the same thing as the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Judgment Seat of Christ is not for those already in Heaven. It is the Particular Judgment and is administered immediately after death. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains:

The Catholic doctrine of the particular judgment is this: that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God. Although there has been no formal definition on this point, the dogma is clearly implied in the Union Decree of Eugene IV (1439), which declares that souls leaving their bodies in a state of grace, but in need of purification are cleansed in Purgatory, whereas souls that are perfectly pure are at once admitted to the beatific vision of the Godhead (ipsum Deum unum et trinum) and those who depart in actual mortal sin, or merely with original sin, are at once consigned to eternal punishment, the quality of which corresponds to their sin (paenis tamen disparibus). The doctrine is also in the profession of faith of Michael Palaeologus in 1274, in the Bull "Benedictus Deus" of Benedict XII, in 1336, and in the professions of faith of Gregory XIII and Benedict XIV.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Protestants are often wrong, since they have no authority to interpret Scripture and no Magisterium to teach them or to resolve disagreements.

It is often the case that Protestants will grasp at straws to re-interpret any Scripture that supports the teaching of 2000 years (i.e., the Catholic Church). They seem to think that they, who have been in existence less than 500 years, or less that 200 years, or even less than 100 years somehow know more than the 2000 year teachings handed down from the Apostles. 

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 states:

11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble— 13 each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This passages CLEARLY about Purgatory. In fact, it is as dictionary definition of Purgatory. Those being judged are already saved. It is not their salvation under scrutiny, but how they lived their lives as Christians. It is their works being judged. Bad or inadequate works are burned up (purged).

Nothing in heaven is burned up. Those bad works do not enter heaven. That is the point. We must take a shower before entering the throne room of God. This interpretation of the those Protestants who propose this theory referred to in your question, are quite plainly nuts, disingenuous, or very ignorant.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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