It was W. W. Wiersbe who said,
In one sense,
the millennial kingdom will sum up" all that God has said about the heart
of man during the various periods of history. It will be a reign of law, and
yet law will not change man's sinful heart. Man will still revolt against God.
The Millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when
disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; and yet in the end the
subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect
environment cannot produce a perfect heart.God is now about
to "wrap up" human history One great event remains.”
All Sinners are
Condemned After the Millennial Age (Rev. 20:11-15).
The time of grace and patience on the behalf of God is over; the time of eternal reckoning has come. God offered salvation, forgiveness, a relationship with Himself, and Heaven to whoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for centuries. Too many people simply rejected God's offer and in the final event of human history God will respect their decisions. Every unsaved individual will be examined by God Himself and all will be thoroughly recompensed for their rejection of
Jesus Christ and life-long career of sin. Note the words of Dr. H. Willmington,
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
— 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 trepidation.
Suddenly, off to the right, a huge movie screen lights up and begins to show
the entire life works of the wicked. All of the thoughts, motives, and actions
of which they are most ashamed shine forth before the assembled crowd.... and a
holy God! This is the idea that many have of the final Great White Throne
Judgment. But the main question will not be, "What did you do in
life?" Rather they will answer for what they did with Jesus. As we have
stated in past studies, believers in Jesus share the conviction and joyous hope
that Christ will return to earth not only as King, but as Judge, also. This
judgment is the climax of them all for all the sinners of all the ages. (MacDonald, W)
— The final five
verses of Revelation 20 introduce the judgment at the end of human history and
the beginning of the eternal state.
A. THE MAJESTIC JUDGE (REV. 20:11).
The sinner, Christ rejecters will have to face the Lord
Jesus Christ as Judge and Prosecutor in the Supreme Court of the Universe!
1. His Court. "A great white throne"
A. Not Like Modern Courts.
1. The
White Throne Judgment will be nothing like our modem court cases.
2. At
the White Throne, there will be a Judge but no jury, a prosecution but no
defense, a sentence but no appeal.
3. No
one will be able to defend himself or accuse God of unrighteousness. What an
awesome scene it will be!
B. It Is a Great Court.
Great because of the issues involved and the sentences
issued.
C. It Is a White Court.
1. White
because of the perfection and purity of the decisions handed down.
2. This
is a judgment throne, elevated, pure, and holy.
D. It Is a Throne Court.
1. Nearly
50 times in Revelation there is the mention of a throne. It is not the sight of
the previous thrones in heaven nor in the earth.
2. This
court throne is in space beyond the old heaven and the old earth. Like the
Judgment Seat of Christ which took place in heaven before the Millennial age,
this judgment will also be in a scene other then the earth.
3. Tills
court convenes in space during an indescribable void between the end of the
present universe (Rev 20:11) and the creation of the new heaven and earth (Rev
21:1).
2. His Christ, “an him that sat on it”
A. The Judge is Jesus Christ.
The Father has committed all judgment to Him (Matt 19:28;
Rom. 2:16).
John 5:22-30, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath
committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] That all men should honour the Son,
even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the
Father which hath sent him. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life [25]
Verily, verily, 1 say unto you. The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead
shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. [26] 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. [28] 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 thev that
have done evil. unto the resurrection of damnation. [30] I can of mine own self
do nothing: as I hear, I Judge and my judgment is just: because 1 seek not mine
own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Acts 10:42, 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.
Acts 17:30-31, And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent [31 ] Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness bv that
man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in
that he hath raised him from the dead.
While Christ is now seated on the throne in heaven and will
be seated on the Davidic throne on earth in the Millennium (Matt. 25:31), this
white throne judgment is a special situation.
B. These Lost Sinners Rejected Christ in
Life.
Now they must be judged by Him and face eternal death.
Matthew 7:21-23, Not every one that saith unto me. Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but lie that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name0 and in thy name have cast out devils9 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.
3. His Countenance, "from whose face the earth and heaven fled away"
We all must admire the grandeur of this image; no one can
think on it without being awed by the majesty and glory of the Christ, Great
Judge.
A. John Saw the Contaminated Universe
Vanish out of Existence.
1.
Peter described this
moment when the universe is "uncreated," going into non-existence.
2 Peter 3:10-13. 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, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according
to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness.
2.
The Lord Jesus Also Stated This Very tiling. Matthew
24:35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (See
also Mk. 13:3 1; Lk21:33).
3.
Like the stars, during the rising of the sun, seem to
flee to more remote regions, and vanish from view, so also when the Son of God
shall appear in his glory to judge lost humanity, the earth and all other
worlds shall indeed vanish. "The earth and the heaven fled away" An
un-creation shall ensue as the natural world shrinks back with awe at the
presence of God the Son! (Compare Ps 18:7-15; 77:16-19; 114:3-5; Hab. 3:6, 10-11).
The image expresses, in the most emphatic manner, the idea that they entirely
disappeared, and no language could more sublimely represent the majesty of the
Judge.
B. Will the Heavens and Earth be Cleansed or Destroyed?
The question has been raised as to whether the earth and the starry heavens as
they are today will be destroyed at this point in the future or will be simply
restored to a new state of purity.
1.
Many Bible passage suggest that the earth and the
heavens, as now known, will be destroyed (Matt 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17;
21:33; 2 Peter 3:10-13).
2.
This is confirmed by the opening statement of
Revelation 21, "the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away."
3.
QUOTE: "The
present universe was created like a gigantic clock which is running down, and
if left to itself, would ultimately come to a state of complete inactivity.
Inasmuch as God created the universe and set it in motion for the purpose of
enacting the drama of sin and redemption, it would seem proper to begin anew
with a new heaven and a new earth suitable for His eternal purpose and built on
a different principle. The new heaven and new earth described in chapter 21 has
no similarity to the present earth and heaven." —John Walvoord
4.
His Cause. "And there was
no place found for them"
A. This Is Preparation for the Eternal Kingdom of God.
There is no place for a contaminated earth, heaven, nor people.
B. The Physical World Is Thus Judged and Eliminated Because
They Are Utterly Unfit for a Perfect Universe.
B.
THE MASSIVE MULTITUDES JUDGED (REV. 20:12A-13)
1. The Final Judgment of All “the dead”—Unbelievers
of All Ages (Matt 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36,41,42; Luke
10:14; John 12:48; Acts 17:31; 24:25; Rom. 2:5,l6; Heb. 9:27:2 Pet. 2:9;
3:7; Jude 6).
A. The Purpose of Establishing the Great White
Throne Is to Judge the Dead.
1. John tells us that the dead, great and small,
stood before the throne. Hebrews 9:27, And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
2. From other Scriptures it seems that all the righteous
dead have been raised, including Old Testament saints, the dead of the Great
Tribulation, and the church saints, the body of Christ (Rev 20:4-5).
B. Thus it May Be Assumed That Verses Rev. 20:11-15 Refer to the Judgment of the Wicked
Dead, who according to verse 5 would not be
resurrected until after the thousand years and will have no part in what is
called "the first resurrection. "
C. Those People Who Are Judged at the Great White
Throne Judgment Have Rejected God Throughout History, from Adam's son Cain,
who killed his brother, to those who rebelled during the end of the Millennium
and are killed at the second coming of Christ. In Revelation
20:12-13 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.
2. Christ Referred to this Event as the
"Resurrection of Damnation" (John 5 29)
A. From Where Do These "Dead" Come? (Rev 20:13)
1. Death will give up the bodies, and
2. Hell-hades (the realm of the spirits of the dead)
will give up the spirits.
3. The Seas— There will even be a resurrection of
bodies from the sea.
4. No sinner will escape.
B. There Shall Be a Second Resurrection!
1. Do not confuse this judgment at the White Throne with
the Judgment Seat of Christ where believers will have their works judged and
rewarded.
2. At this judgment, there will be only unbelievers;
and there will be no rewards.
3. John described here an awesome scene. Heaven and earth
will flee away and no place will be left for sinners to hide! All must face the
Judge!
3. They Stand Condemned Before God. “stand before God”
A. The unsaved will be
raised and will stand before God's judgment. In a judicial sense as guilty
condemned prisoners before the bar of divine justice.
B. There are no living sinners left in the destroyed
universe since all sinners were killed and all believers glorified.
C.
THE MANNER OF THEIR JUDGMENT (REV. 20:12B-13).
1. They
Will Be Judged By Records. Jesus Christ will judge these unsaved people
on the basis of what is written "in the books." What books?
A. The Books of Record. Daniel 7:10, A fiery stream issued and came forth from before
him: thousand thousands ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened
1. These books record every thought, word, and deed of
sinful men—all recorded by divine omniscience (see Dan. 7:10, the verse that is
the source of this text).
2. They will provide the evidence for eternal
condemnation Rev 18:6,7
3. QUOTE: "The
fact that these dead have not been raised before is evidence in itself that
they do not have eternal life and that their judgment is a judgment of their
works. All final judgments deal with works, whether the works of Christians
rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ or the works of the unsaved which are
in view here. The question of who is saved is determined not in heaven but in
life on earth. What is revealed here is the confirmation of one's destiny by means
of God's written records." — John Walvoord
B. "The Book of Life" Will Be There.
1. It will be present containing the names of God's
redeemed people (Dan. 12:1; Rev 21:27; note also 13:8; 17:8). Philip. 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.
2. No unsaved person will have his or her name in the
Lamb's Book of Life; only true believers are recorded there. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the
spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven.
3. Perhaps the Lord Jesus will check this record as a
last and final act of mercy.
2. They
Will Be Judged By the Word. John 12:48, He that
rejecteth me. and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word
that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. God's Word
will be there. The Word that Christ has spoken, will judge sinners in the last
day. Every sinner will be held accountable for the truth he or she has heard h
this life.
3. They
Will Be Judge By Their Works, "judged everyman according to their
works. "
John 3:17-20, For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned^ already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hatetli the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
A.
Their thoughts (Luke 8:17, Rom. 2:16), words (Matt.
12:37), and actions (Matt. 16 27) will be compared to God's perfect, holy
standard (Matt 5:48, 1 Pet 1 15, 16) and will be found wanting (Rom 3:23).
B.
This Also Implies That There Are Degrees of
Punishment in Hell (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:29). Matthew 10:14-15, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor
hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust
of your feet. Verily I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
C.
Matthew 11:22, But I say
unto you. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment,
than for you.
D. THE MISERY OF JUDGMENT (REV. 20:14-15).
When the judgment is finished, all of the lost will be cast
into hell, the lake of fire, the second death. Many people reject the biblical
doctrine of hell as being "unchristian," and yet Jesus clearly taught
its reality (Matt 18:8; 23:15, 33; 25:46; Mark 9:46). A sentimental kind of
humanistic religion will not face the reality of judgment, but they teach a God
who loves everyone into heaven and sends no one to hell. This is really one of the biggest lies the devil has ever introduced! Sadly, too many people have believed it.
Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God. He
must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to man's responsibility, the fact that
he is not a robot or a helpless victim, but a creature able to make choices.
God does not merely "send people to hell"; they send themselves by rejecting
the Savior God provided (Matt 25:41; John 3:16-21). Hell is also a witness to the awfulness
of sin. If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such
as hell exists.
In light of Calvary, no lost sinner can condemn God for
casting him into hell. God has provided a way of escape, and He has patiently waiting for
sinners to repent while believing the Gospel. He will not lower His standards or alter His requirements as they are entirely just.
He has ordained that faith in His Son is the only way of salvation. Wisdom is demonstrated when we admit our sinfulness and trust the Savior, Jesus Christ
Conclusion:
Before God can usher in His new heavens and earth, He must
finally deal with sin; and this He will do at the Great White Throne. Anyone,...you can escape this terrible judgment by trusting Jesus
Christ as your personal Savior. By so doing, you never will be a part of the
second resurrection or experience the terrors of the second death, the lake of
fire.
"He that heareth My Word," said Jesus, "and
believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation [judgment], but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
Have you trusted Him in order to pass from death unto life?
