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THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
REVELATION 20:11-15
(August 11, 2019 – SUN a.m.- MBC baesa)
There is nothing most serious, sobering and tragic passage in the entire bible than the final judgment of the lost soul being sentenced by God on His throne. Exclusively unbelievers will be judged in the last courtroom known as the Great White Throne judgment. This is the last trial in God’s program and He will never act again as a judge.
I- THE SCENE OF THE COURT (vv. 11-12a)
Revelation 20:11-12 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
A. The Described Place of Judgment (v. 11“a great white throne”)
1. The High number of Crowd - “great”
– the vast number of people throughout world history who will be judged
– the fact that it will seal the eternal destiny of unbelievers (Hebrews 2:3)
Hebrews 2:13 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”
2. The Holiness of Christ - “white”
– symbolizes the purity, holiness , and justice of God
3. The Highness of Christ - “throne”
– Jesus Christ sits in absolute sovereign majesty
B. The Divine Person of the Judge (v. 11)
1. The Judge is Sat on the throne. (v. 11a) (Revelation 4:8-11; John 5:22; Acts 10:40-42; II Timothy 4:1)
Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
Revelation 4:8-11 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
a. Because the Judge is the Son committed by the Father
John 5:22 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
b. Because the Judge is the Risen the Savior ordained by God.
Acts 10:40-42 “Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
2 Timothy 4:1 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”
2. The Judge Throne is standing alone and everything disappeared. (v. 11b) (2 Peter 3:10)
Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ”
• Let us Live a holy and godly life because all things shall be dissolved.
C. The Distinctions of Participants to be Judged (v. 12a)
1. Dead Spiritually - “the dead” (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:4b-5)
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Daniel 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
Revelation 20:4-5 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
2. Diversities of standing “small and great” (Revelation 20:11)
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
II- THE SUMMONS OF THE CANDIDATES (v. 13a)
Revelation 20:13 “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
A. The Dead people who are in Sea
• Possibly they are unsaved people drowned, victims of calamities, war of navigation, killed and cast into the sea.
B. The Physically Dead who are Unsaved
• It means there is man’s eternal life after physical death. Doctrine of annihilation is false and lies.
• People who enjoy their luxurious living without personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.—Luke 12:16-21
• What shall a man profit if he gain the whole world (fun, fame, fortune) and lose his own soul—Mark 8:36-37
C. The Dead who are suffering in hell (Luke 16:19-31)
Luke 16:19-31 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
• When Jesus share a parable He did not caught names. Evidently these is not a parable because Jesus mentioned
personal name of Lazarus (not the one who is dead and called by Jesus to come forth in John 11), also Jesus here mentioned the patriarch names of Abraham and Moses. If this is not a parable therefore hell is real.
• Hell is not the final destiny of the lost people, but it is the lake of fire final destiny of the unsaved.
III- THE STANDARD OF CONTENTS (vv. 12b, 13b)
A. The Books of the Lost (vv. 12b, 13b)
Revelation 20: 12b, 13b “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
1. Judged by their consciences - Romans 2:15-16
Romans 2:15-16 “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
2. Judged by their words - Matthew 12:36-37
Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
3. Judged by their works - vv. 12b, 13b; Ecclesiastes 12:14
Revelation 20: 12b, 13b “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
B. The Book of Life (v. 12b) Luke 10:17-20; Philippians 4:3; Matthew 7:22-23
Revelation 20: 12b “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Luke 10:17-20 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
Philippians 4:3 “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
• Is your name written down in heaven?
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• What we should do to the name of the Lord”--Call
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• How can you call upon the name the Lord?--Believe
Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
• What we should believe?—the gospel (Christ died for our sins, and he was buried, and was risen from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
IV- THE SENTENCE OF THE CASE (vv. 14-15)
A. The Extreme Place of Suffering – v. 14-15
Revelation 20:14-15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
B. The Everlasting Place of Suffering (Matthew 25:41)
Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
C. The Evildoers on the Place of Suffering (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10)
Revelation 19:20 “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 20:10 “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
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