THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT. Revelation 20:11-15 May 15, 2016

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1 THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT INTRODUCTION: One of the clever plays utilized by Satan is to convince man that an allloving God would never cast anyone into a lake of fire and thereby contradict His loving nature. To make such an assumption is to ignore the clear teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. Consistent with His Holy and just character, He will apply a full measure of judgement. On July 8, 1741, Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Edwards held the manuscript so close to his face that the congregation was unable to see his expression as he read every word. The people, so terrified by his words, gripped the backs of the pews, feeling that the ground below was about to open and swallow them into hell. One man rushed down the aisle crying, Mr. Edwards, have mercy! NOTE: It s called great white throne. 11 Great because of the rank and dignity of the Judge, the size and extent of the judgement, the vast number of people throughout world history who will be judged, and the fact that it will seal the eternal destiny of unbelievers. 1

2 White because it displays and emphasizes the infinite purity and righteousness of Christ, who is the Holy Judge. Throne because Jesus Christ sits in sovereign majesty, using His authority to consign the wicked to eternal damnation. Satan has been very effective to persuade mankind for centuries that there is no future punishment, no final accounting before God. That lie is now fully exposed. God is Holy and cannot compromise His standards. He is just and requires that sin must be dealt with. When will this happen? Christ will return for His church/bride. There will be the Judgement Seat of Christ for believers, The Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and then the end will come and the Final Judgement of unbelievers. I. THE PICTURE THAT IS DESCRIBED A. The Infinite 11 Him who sat on it 2

3 John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away no single person will elude this judgement. No unbeliever will avoid this courtroom scene or escape certain punishment. This passage is a reminder of the uncreation of the universe. 2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 3

4 Donald Barnhouse wrote: There is to be an end of the material heavens and earth which we know. It is not that they are to be purified and rehabilitated, but that the reverse of creation is to take place. They are to be uncreated. As they came from nothing at the word of God, they are to be sucked back into nothingness by this same word of God. B. The Insignificant 12 small the nobodies, humble life. All ranks and degrees of unsaved sinners will be there. C. The Important 12 great Presidents, etc. 1. None are so small as to be exempt. 2. None are so great to escape. Reprobate confirmed sinner. Self-Righteous- don t feel they need Christ. Procrastinators tomorrow. Church Members 50% don t attend worship of God opportunities. They know the pastors, not the Master Jesus. 4

5 D. The Indescribable 12 dead If its true that when a believer dies, he or she is more alive than they have ever been, then, when an unbeliever dies, he or she is more dead than they have ever been. This is the resurrection of judgement. John 5:28-30 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. A resurrection without a new body, not to life, but condemnation! 5

6 II. THE PRECISION THAT IS DETERMINED Accurate Records A. God s Record The Book of the Law. REQUIREMENTS John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. BIBLE TRUTH: John 3:18-19 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 6

7 Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, " Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. " 2. The Book of the LOST. RESPONSE dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Your biography works what we have done; records of the unbelievers works. Context of Matthew 7:

8 Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Jesus will acknowledge your works; major problem is that our works will not save us. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NO EXCUSE Romans 1:20 3. The Book of the Lamb. REDEMPTION 12 This list is made up of those who settled out of court. They all pleaded guilty to God s charges and were granted a pardon. 8

9 B. God s Retribution 13 death place of the body hades place of the soul and spirit Dead souls will be united with resurrected bodies of corruption. CONTRAST: Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. The souls of those who have died without Christ and gone to hell will be physically returned to stand trial. NOTE WHAT S ABSENT: 1. No blowing of the trumpet. 2. No voice of the arch angel. 3. No white robe. 4. No comforting of each other. 9

10 Hades - sheol in Hebrew; describes the realm of the dead. Sheol 76 times in Old Testament Hades- 10 times in the New Testament Always referenced the place of punishment (Luke 16:23). Luke 16:23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. The unsaved dead are kept here pending their sentencing to hell (lake of fire). III. THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS DECLARED A. The Second Death 14 Born once- die twice. Born twice-die once, maybe 10

11 B. The Sentencing 15 lake of fire gehenna; in Jesus day it was the site of Jerusalem s garbage dump. Only one way to avoid the terrifying reality of hell. Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:13 For " whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. " 11