A Systematic Expository Study of the Word of God
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
Revelation 20:11-15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it ... and the dead were judged. This gives the account of the final judgment and what a solemn, sobering, serious passage it is! The first time the Apostle John saw a throne and the One who sat on it was in Revelation chapter four. The contrasts between that throne and this great white throne are striking and instructive. In chapter 4, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne ... and there was a rainbow round about the throne ... and out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices ... and (they) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne ... and worship him. In chapter 4 there was the rainbow, a sign of the faithfulness of the merciful, covenant-keeping God. In chapter 20 there is no rainbow around the judgment throne. There is nothing but justice and retribution. What an awesome hour it will be! In chapter 4, there were lightnings and thunderings of warning. In chapter 20, there are no warnings since the day of grace is passed forever! In chapter 4, there was worship and there was singing around the throne. In chapter 20, no singing, only the awful silence of the damned and the doomed. The final reckoning day of judgment has come! What a day that will be!
THE FAITHFUL AND FIERCE JUDGE
Revelation 20:11; Psalms 9:7,8,16,17; 97:2-7; Daniel 7:9,10; Acts 17:30,31; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; 2 Peter 3:7,10-12; Hebrews 12:25-29; 10:27-31; Romans 1:28-32.
And I saw a great white throne. This is a throne of judgment - the final judgment. All people from all nations and all generations who refused to come before the throne of grace to receive mercy and salvation will come before the throne of judgment. It is a great throne - the throne of the great God, the Most High, the great Judge from whom no one can escape. A great, exalted, high throne of the final judgment of the last day! And it is a white, bright, shining, dazzling throne from where spotless, flawless, faultless, irreversible justice will come forth. And him that sat on it. Who sits on this awe-inspiring throne? The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son. It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. The Son of man shall come in his glory, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations (John 5:22; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; Matthew 25:31,32). It will be a fearful, frightening sight as the earth and the heaven, that is, the earthly elements and heavenly firmament will flee away. What fright as sinners stand alone before the great Judge!
THE FINAL AND FAIR JUDGMENT
Revelation 20:12,13; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; Ecclesiastes 11:9; John 3:18-20;Psalm 28:4,5; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:9,10; 32:19; Romans 2:5-11; Revelation 2:20-23.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. All the dead who have not taken part in the resurrection at the time of the rapture and also at the beginning of Christs Millennial Reign will now rise from the dead to stand before the great Judge (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Revelation 20:4-6). The dead, small and great, young and old, who have not taken part in the resurrection of the just will now be raised from the dead to stand before the Judge on the throne for the final judgment. And the books were opened ... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. The books are the books of records, containing the records of all human deeds. The records will constitute the basis of the final judgment on the last day. The all-seeing God takes note of all the deeds, actions, motives and lives of all individuals on earth. The final judgment will not be arbitrary and will not be determined by mans rank, position, status or profession. It will be based on the record of mens secret acts and total influence of character. What a day that will be when God will evaluate each mans deeds and determine his eternal destiny!
THE FATHOMLESS AND FRIGHTFUL JUSTICE
Revelation 20:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; Revelation 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:10; 21:8; Matthew 13:40-42,49,50; 25:41,46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:23-26.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Death, considered as the separation of soul and body will exist no more. The reign of death would come to an end. The righteous will live for ever with God in heaven and the unrighteous will live forever in the lake of fire, forever separated from God. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The single condition that would save anyone from being cast into the lake of fire is to be found written in the book of life. All others, princes, kings, nobles, philosophers, statesmen, conquerors; rich men and poor men; the young and the aged; the humble and the proud, the sober and the vain; the religious and the irreligious - whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
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