The Great White Throne Judgment I

The Great White Throne Judgment I

Believe it or not, fear is a legitimate motive to which we may appeal to persuade people to understand the consequences of rejecting Christ as Savior.  While it may be classified among the lower motives, it is nevertheless true that it is the only motive that will effectively move some people to action. Paul feared God. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; …” (2 Cor. 5:11).

He lived in reverential awe of a just and holy God. He had a proper respect for his perfect nature and great power. Preachers tend to skip over fear as a motivation for fleeing to God’s grace and mercy. But many forget that fear is not necessarily bad—at least not always bad. The Bible says that those who do not fear God will inevitably be judged (Ps. 36; 55:19-23). For those who have persisted in sinful rebellious ways, remembering God should inspire dread. This is because their ways have been condemned by God, and their path leads to death (2 Cor. 2:14-16). One occasion of extraordinary dread is the grand final judgment of all humanity from all ages.

I.                  What Is the Great White Throne Judgment? (Rev. 20:11-13)

The Great White Throne judgment is the place of examination for those who have rejected God and Jesus Christ while on earth. In sharp contrast to the joyful judgment seat of Christ, an event to reward those who have accepted God, the Great White Throne Judgment is an event of dread and punishment for those who have refused God and failed to believe on Christ. Note what Hebrews 9:27, states, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment….” Death is a certain appointment on the calendar of all people. Believers caught up in the Rapture will escape death, but all others will experience it. What makes death more horrifying is the reality that judgment awaits everyone who dies without trusting Christ as Savior and Lord. This judgment is the same as the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in Revelation twenty.

Psalm 9:7–8, reads, “He hath prepared His throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness.… ” This prophetic passage demonstrates that the Lord habitually judges in righteousness and pure justice. While it is not referring directly to the Great White Throne judgment occasion, it does portray the just character of God's throne and judgment. The same keen sense of justice will dominate His session as the Judge of the unsaved dead. Now, the central Biblical passage on the Great White Throne is Revelation 20:11–12. From this and other passages we learn several key things about this terrifying event.

A.   An Occasion When Jesus Presides as The Supreme Judge (Rev. 20:11)

1.From the Revelation passage we learn that there is a judge, but it does not say explicitly who the judge is. We do know from Revelation chapters five and six, that the Lamb and Lion, The Lord Jesus, will break each of the seals and unleash three distinct series of judgments upon rebellious humanity in the earth. These horrific punishments continue until He returns to the earth to prove Himself supremely victorious over the armies of the nations at the Battle of Armageddon in Revelation 19. Since Christ will spearhead all of these punishments, it stands to reason that He will preside over this sentencing of guilty unrepentant sinners also. 

2.Furthermore, the other biblical writings of the Apostle John reveal that the judge is The Lord Jesus:

                                 i.            John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

                               ii.            John 5:26-27, For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; [27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

As the unique Son of Man, the Lord Jesus has been appointed and duly authorized by The Father to execute judgment upon the masses of unbelieving humanity. Christ's unique nature as the God-Man postures Him perfectly for this role. As God His judgment will be according to pure justice, and as a perfect Man He is entirely fit to judge human beings with complete understanding. There is no bribing this justice and their is no corruption in His verdicts. The presence of the One who sacrificed Himself as the solution for man's sin problem is not likely to be lenient with those who blatantly or casually refused His payment for all sin. 

3.The Apostles Peter, Matthew, and Paul support this idea of The Lord Jesus as this Judge:

                                 i.            Acts 10:42, And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he [Jesus Christ] which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [saved] and dead [unsaved].

                               ii.            Acts 17:31, Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus Christ] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. God has chosen the Lord Jesus to handle the 'department of justice' on behalf of the triune Godhead. 

                              iii.            2 Tim. 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; (While this passage is not a direct reference to the Great White Throne, it is another clear statement pointing to Jesus Christ as the supreme Judge over the saved and unsaved.)

                             iv.            In Matthew seven, the Lord Jesus makes mention of The Great White Throne Judgment where unbelievers are expelled from Him because they did not do God's will and they believed false teachers (Matt. 7:21-23). Clearly, Jesus is the judge at the Great White Throne judgment; it is Christ on the Throne. His presence at the Great White Throne judgment as righteous Judge is a source of terror.

                             a. As Judge He has personal authority because He is the Creator and Owner of all men.
                             b. As Judge He is completely identified with what is good and right, therefore He loves    justice, fair play, and insures that right triumphs over all wrongs.
                            c. As Judge He is a Person of wisdom and able to discern the whole truth. He can            thoroughly examine the heart and soul and pierce through the evasions of mere men.
                            d. As Judge He is the Person of Power Who will pronounce and execute the sentence. He will ensure that judgment is carried out!

B.   An Occasion When All Unbelievers are Placed on Trial (Rev. 20:12-13)

1.These people have rejected God throughout history, from Adam’s son Cain, who killed his brother, to every Christ rejecter today, to those who are killed at the Second Coming of Christ and to those who will rebell with Satan at the end of the Millennium.

2.In Revelation 20:12–13, we read, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.… The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them.”

                                 i.            From this and the previous passages, we see that all who reject God, from the first unbeliever to the last, will stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne.

                               ii.     “A test no one will pass. John saw the Judge of the universe seated behind his great white throne, sentencing all the unsaved to the lake of fire forever. Faith in Christ would have placed their names in the "Book of Life," and they would have been saved.”— Harold Willmington 

3.After the millennial age, the unsaved are ushered into a gigantic courtroom. Millions of people are there—waiting to see the judgment sessions. All wait in fantastic trepidation of soul.

                                 i.     Suddenly, off to the right, a huge movie screen lights up and begins to show the entire life works of the wicked. One by one they file through and all without a single exception will be condemned for all eternity. 

                               ii.     All of the thoughts, motives, and actions of which they are most ashamed will shine forth before the assembled crowd.... and a thrice-holy God!

4.This is generally the idea of the final Great White Throne Judgment. But the main question will not be, “What did you do in life?”

                                 i.     Rather they will answer for what they did with Jesus. Remember, Believers in Jesus share joyous hope that Christ will return to earth as King, but He will also sit as Judge on the eve of eternity future.

                               ii.     This judgment is the climax of all judgments, because all sinners of all the ages will finally be condemned forever. The scene presented by the Bible is monumentally disturbing and extremely certain!

                              iii.     Will you be judged and condemned on this occasion?