Is There Really A God?

Is There Really A God?

No doubt many unbelievers question our sanity as Christians, when we confess that we "believe in God, the Bible, miracles, and supernatural phenomena." Some folks, who are strictly of a scientific persuasion, are especially given to bashing our beliefs because we cannot prove God exists in scientific terms or from a scientific perspective. What they fail to realize is that they are attempting to measure the weight of a baseball with a yardstick! Just because one cannot actually do this does not mean the baseball has no weight! In other words, science has no known strategies for speaking in an authoritative manner about religions, faith, Christianity, metaphysics, and the supernatural. Science has no means, apparatuses, constructs, or analytics for handling such realities. It is not that the realities do not exist, but that science is too small inept and inadequate to handle them!

So what these atheists are actually challenging us to do is the equivalent of forcing a square peg into a round hole. The two (faith and science) do not fit together in many regards. Therefore those individuals who think solely in terms of one guiding discipline, science, really are ill-equipped to handle subjects like the Bible and authentic biblical Christianity. I am absolutely amazed as to how such individuals attempt to speak so authoritatively against faith in God and Jesus Christ! If I used a microscope to measure electricity in an attempt to finally prove electricity does not exist, I have only demonstrated my ineptitude at choosing measuring instruments. That is all! I have not proven or disproven anything with regards to the actual existence of electricity. However, if I take a multi-meter or oscilloscope to measure electricity, I will soon discover it does exist and that it is powerful. The same can be stated for biblical faith in God (Heb. 11). When we approach the subject of God with a Bible and a heart of faith, we began to see, and realize that what the Bible teaches is accurate; what God promises we can actually experience; what God warns against we can take to heart, or live with the consequences He foresaw (Rom. 10:8-17). Science says seeing is believing, but God says believing is seeing! Christians do not believe in a vacuum, nor is our faith ‘blind.’ Actually there is a tremendous foundation upon which our faith rest. Though good science, philosophy, archeology, and history have corroborated biblical claims, events, places, concepts, and personalities repeatedly, our faith actually rests on the Word of God itself. We have two principle assumptions: 1) The True and Living God is a vital Reality, 2) The Bible is absolute truth. The Scriptures are food for our faith and crucial to faithful interaction with the True and Living God. We accept and believe deeply what the Bible says regarding God and seek to interact with Him according to it prescriptions. The truth of the Word coupled with our experiences with God are real and life shaping...even transforming. We do not accept the notion that the study of theology is a waste of life either. Noted Bible scholar Harold L. Willmington said,

The greatest and most profound idea the human mind can ever conceivably entertain concerns the possibility of the existence of a personal God. The sheer importance of man’s response to this idea cannot be exaggerated, for it will not only govern his life down here but also determine his ultimate destiny. Unless one satisfactorily answers the who question, he cannot possibly solve the how, why, when and where problems of his own existence.  

Let us take a few minutes and explore the idea of the existence of God from philosophical and theological perspectives. It may surprise some to know that there are solid rational premises for believing in God and the supernatural. Clearly, the Scriptures, our own conscience, and all creation itself force us to intelligently acknowledge that there really is a God.

I.   The Existence of God—Is there a God? Why believe in God?

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. –Abraham Lincoln

A.     The Existence of God is taken for Granted in the Bible.

1.The Bible clearly assumes God is a reality.

                                                                     i.            The Bible begins with an awe-inspiring announcement of the fact that God exists (Gen. 1:1). “In the beginning God created…”

                                                                   ii.            Everywhere and at all times it is a fact taken for granted. “A God capable of proof would be no God at all” (Jacobi). He is the self—existent One (Exod. 3:14) and the Source of all life (John 5:26). –Evans, William

2.The Bible writers never attempt to prove God exists.

                                                                     i.            There is no portrayal of the concept of God arising in the minds of men.

                                                                   ii.            Actually man inherently knows God exists and has some ideas about what He is (Rom. 1:18-21).

3.The Bible presents a concept or a definition of God (Ex. 34:4-9, 14; Deut. 6:4; Psalm 95:1-11).

                                                                     i.            God is an infinite, eternal spirit, creator of the universe and sovereign over it.

                                                                   ii.            The God we are talking about is the creator of the universe, the original being, the sovereign ruler of all that is, the sole judge of all that is true and false, right and wrong, good and bad. He is the One who communicated to humankind generally in nature and specifically through the words of the Bible. –Max Anders [adapted]

                                                                  iii.            “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” –The Westminster Shorter Catechism 

4. We must know God if we are to trust Him (Heb. 11:6). We must trust Him if we are to obey Him. We must obey Him if we are to have meaningful life on earth and eternal life in heaven. And we can only obey Him if we know who He is; that is, what His characteristics are, what He is like.

B.     There is Reasonable Support for God’s Existence. Can you justify your belief in God without the Bible? 

These are naturalistic and rational arguments that explain to some degree the existence of God. As believers, we are convinced there is a God and we have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. However, the following arguments are useful when attempting to convince a skeptic or Bible–rejecter about the existence of God. While these are not absolute proofs of God’s existence, these together provide quite a strong argument for the reality of the True and Living God. They demonstrate the rationality behind believing in God! Remember, a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Eccl. 4:12).

1.Reasoning from Universal Belief (Rom. 1:18-21; Ps. 19:1-6).

                                                                     i.            All mankind has some idea of a Supreme Being. While the concept of God found among many cultures and civilizations differ greatly on the number, name, and nature of this Supreme Being, nevertheless the idea remains. Our knowledge of God is “intuitive” that is we simply know this without being told. It is not derived at through observation, reading, or reflecting.

                                                                   ii.            A classic example is the amazing story of Helen Keller (1880-1968). From the age of two, Miss Keller was blind, deaf, and without the sense of smell. After months of agonizing and fruitless attempts on the part of her teacher to communicate with the young girl, a miracle occurred. One day Helen suddenly understood the concept and meaning of running water! From this humble foundation Miss Keller built a lofty tower of thought, including the ability to use her voice in speaking. She became an educated and articulate human being. Sometime after she had progressed to the point that she could engage in conversation, she was told of God and His love in sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins on the cross. She is said to have responded with joy, “I always knew he was there, but I didn’t know his name!”

2.Reasoning from Cause (Heb. 3:4).

                                                                     i.            Every effect must have an adequate cause. “Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all thing is God” (Heb. 3:4). The world in which we live was built by a designing mind of infinite power and wisdom.

                                                                   ii.            Man is an effect; he has not always existed. Geology proves this conclusively. The fact that the first Cause must have been an intelligent Being is demonstrated by the fact that we are beings of relative intelligence ourselves.

                                                                  iii.            Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was a great British scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. He had a miniature model of our solar system made. A large golden ball represented the sun and the planets—smaller spheres—were situated in orbits around the sun. Through a system of belts and cogwheels the planets could mechanically revolve around the sun. One day while studying this design and model a friend who rejected the Bible’s creation account stopped by. This is how the conversation reportedly went:

Friend: ‘My, Newton, what an exquisite thing! Who made it for you?’

Newton: ‘Nobody’

Friend: ‘Nobody?’

Newton: ‘That’s right! I said nobody! All of these balls and cogs and belts and gears just happen to come together, and wonder of wonders, by chance they begin revolving in their set orbits with perfect timing!’

Of course the visiting friend understood the unexpressed argument: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” –The Living God

3.Reasoning from Design (Ps. 19:1; 139:14).

                                                                     i.            The universe has remarkable order, suggesting intelligence and design behind it. God explains the order and apparent design and purpose in the universe.

                                                                   ii.            A watch proves not only a watchmaker, a craftsman, but also a designer; a watch is made for a purpose.

                                                                  iii.            Not only is the universe “here,” and therefore to be accounted for, but its order, design, and purpose must also be accounted for. It is the difference between all the parts of a watch lying in a jumbled heap on a table and having it up and running on your wrist. It is one thing to explain where the jumble of parts came from. It is quite another thing to explain how they all got put together in such a way as to tell time. Not only is the universe “here” but it also runs like a precision watch. If you are going to believe that a Mayan civilization exists on the jungle floor because you see four suspicious hills from 25,000 feet above, how much more should you be convinced of God because of the design and apparent purpose.(Anders)

                                                                 iv.            The genetic code in a simple DNA molecule is so complex that we have not yet figured out what it is. The atom is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons (and many other subatomic particles discovered in the last fifty years). There is a trillion times more space than matter in the atom. So in my hand, there is a trillion times more space than matter. And there is a trillion times more space than matter in this book. Why doesn't my hand pass through the book? (Max Anders)

                                                                   v.            If that isn't enough, what we used to call matter is beginning to look more and more as if it is not merely matter but little compressed balls of energy. If this is true, then the universe is held together by an amazing power indeed!

                                                                 vi.            Or, how about this one. If you slowed the rotation of the earth even a small amount, you would turn it into a desert on one side, and a frozen wasteland on the other. So if square hills in a jungle suggest a Mayan civilization, the universe shouts of God. Many evolutionists want to believe in the big bang and evolution, not because the evidence is overwhelming, but because, in their minds, beginning with a bias against God, there is no other acceptable alternative. (Anders)

4.Reasoning from Morality (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 2:14-16).

                                                                     i.            Man has an intelligent and moral nature; therefore, his Creator must be an intelligent and moral Being, a Judge, and Lawgiver. Man has an emotional nature; only a Being of goodness, power, love, wisdom and holiness could satisfy such a nature, and these things denote the existence of a personal God. 

                                                                   ii.            The conscience and moral nature of man demands a self-conscience and moral Maker. This built in barometer supplies no information, and the information on which it passes judgment may be incorrect. But never the less conscience tells us we ought to do what is right regarding the information we have. Our sense of duty may be weak, but it is never absent. The only satisfactory explanation for this is that the Creator planted that sense in us all.

5.Reasoning from Scripture.

                                                                     i.            The Bible concurs with our observations about life and the universe, and describes the God who made it.

                                                                   ii.            We have not begun by looking at the Bible to answer our wondering about the existence of God. If we had, you might have objected that appealing first to the Bible is like asking someone on trial to be his own character witness. On the other hand, you would expect the Bible to concur with reality. (Anders)

                                                                  iii.            The Bible affirms our looking at the universe for initial evidence for the existence of God (Psalm 19:1; 8:1, 3, 4, 9).

                                                                 iv.            God intended the intricacy and design of the universe to point to Him. Concerning that intention, read Romans 1:18–20.

                                                                   v.            Concerning the uniqueness of humanity, the Bible says in Genesis 1:26 and 27 that God made man in His image and likeness, male and female.

                                                                 vi.            Who has not sat on a moonless night, when the stars seemed so bright they might fall from the sky, and had the thought well up, “There must be a God”? Who has not looked at the beauty of the Grand Canyon, or Yosemite Valley, or the Pacific Ocean, and thought, “There must be a God”? (Max Anders)

                                                                vii.            Such human experiences of the glory of creation often prompt just the response that the Bible everywhere presupposes and exclaims, “There must be a God!” The Bible's consistent witness that God exists and the naturalistic arguments we have considered together amply justify believing in God.

C.     The Reality Of God And His Nature Is More Than An Intellectual Debate! (Deut. 6:4; 10:17) What does knowing the truth about God’s existence mean to you?

If all this were merely a matter of intellectual curiosity, we could debate it until we ran out of energy, ended in a stalemate, shrugged our shoulders and said, “Well, that was interesting, but I guess there's no way to know for sure.” Then we could go home and think about something else.

But it is certainly more than an intellectual debate to me. I want to know there is a God. I want to know if it is safe to die, I want to know if there is something I can do to make everything okay for me when they lay me six feet under and throw a shovel full of dirt in my face. (Anders)

In addition, I also want to know if it is safe to live. I want to know if there is purpose and meaning in life now. I want to know if I am going through life on my own, at the mercy of random blows of fate, or if there is a God who loves me and will guide me and look out for me. I want to know if there is someone I can pray to, or if I am alone. I want to know if there is such a thing as truth and error, right and wrong. When I lose my job, when my family falls apart, when my health fails, when the wrong person is elected, when my home is devastated by a tornado, or my town is ravaged by a flood, is there a God? Will He see me through the trials of life? Is it safe to live? (Anders)

I'm not content to dismiss all this as an interesting intellectual debate. I'm not content to leave this as a stalemate. I want to press through the stalemate. If we cannot scientifically prove or disprove God, I want to know the likelihood of His existence, and then go with that likelihood and seek knowledge of Him in an appropriate way. (Anders)

Using science to justify a disbelief in God is as incongruent as humans using ants as a mode of transportation. You say that is ridiculous! I would say the same. Using science to reject faith is the epitome of ill-informed baseless and unintelligible decision making. Yet, such atheists use their half-baked propaganda to criticize Christians’ faith in Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory. Such actions are patently reprehensible; they are as coherent as using a Chinese dictionary to interpret an Argentine idiom! Such individuals should not pretend to be authorities on subjects they obviously and demonstratively have no viable platform to address. Again if all they have is a scientific point of view then they are extremely ill prepared to address ANYTHING at all that deals with the spiritual, biblical, theological, or metaphysical. While science has been a blessing to humanity in many ways, it remains far too limited and inept to handle these weighty and eternal matters! Atheists should stay with what they actually know. They should stop parading themselves as elite and well informed; their blinding ignorance about ‘spiritual matters’ is extremely glaring to those of us who know the truth!  

Cultivating A Thankful Heart

Cultivating a Thankful Heart….

Psalm 92, is a song of unmistakable praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord God (Ps. 113). It wonderfully celebrates the Person and work of God in a most energetic fashion. In verses one through four, it encourages our spirits to respond to God in praise and worship. As a result, we are challenged to: 1) Cultivate a persistent outlook of thankfulness; 2) Celebrate the wisdom of Jehovah God in worship enlivened with exuberant thanks; 3) Reflect often on the awe inspiring achievements of God in order to sustain a spirit of gratitude. As such, this Psalm can greatly advance our efforts to develop a thankful character.

Psalm 92, is timely counsel because it seems we are naturally inclined to solicit, expect, require, and even demand the good we feel we are entitled to or deserve. People routinely speak in terms of "getting what they deserve." Our culture has been inundated with an entitlement mentality. Everyone has a rights to this, that, and the other; however, precious few understand responsibility. Self-reliance is a dirty word and genuine appreciation has been lost along the way! With privilege comes responsibility, and the more we are privileged, the more gratitude is required of us.

We are also prone to take the numerous blessings we enjoy for granted. One trip to an under developed country will do wonders for our arrogant materialistic ingratitude. Every time I am afforded the opportunity to walk on the foreign soils of a "second" or "third" world country I am struck anew with the reality that God has been extremely good to the USA. Even after serving in several locations in Europe gratitude wells up in my soul because I have been reminded of how God has blessed our country.

In fact, often we do not even think about how privileged we truly are until we lose those benefits and opportunities! I am ashamed to admit that my sense of gratitude deepened only after I saw someone without the common gifts I tend to take for granted.  While living in Germany, I saw an article in the Stars and Stripes newspaper with a picture of a brave Marine and his good wife. This young man was being discharged after a period of special care and therapy. You see he owns a Purple Heart medal because of injuries he sustained while serving the interests of our country in Afghanistan. He is a triple amputee. The photo portrayed him in his wheelchair with his wife carrying both of his prosthetic legs. The photo was taken as they exited the main entrance/exit doors while leaving the hospital. My first glance at the image on the page stunned and gripped me. Emotions welled up inside me, that I still have difficulty explaining. Unbelief, shock, anger, frustration, surprise, sorrow, and yes pulsating shame. All of these emotions flooded my mind at once and literally overwhelmed me. I was moved; I also immediately felt shame for my complaining, grumbling, and other 'natural' expressions of annoyance at the least discomfort or irritation. "Dear God," I squirmed, "please forgive my hardened and ungrateful heart of pride—my gross overestimation of my value and worth!" Then the Lord, in His graciousness, later whispered to me, “Look at all the goodness I afford you Wayne...and you habitually take them for granted as if you actually deserve them.” "You even get angry and cross with Me because I do not do for you what you think I should," The Almighty continued. I was embarrassed before God about my attitude and insensitivity. I did not even realize how I was violently mistreating Him! In those sobering moments, I realized that being appreciative was a real grave need in my heart. "Something must be done...it is sin to continue like this..." I thought. Thankfulness and gratitude... I must cultivate an attitude of gratitude that marks me every day of life. The question for me was how. How do I become a person marked by godly gratitude?

While God initially used Psalm 92, I was soon reminded that gratitude is one evidence of a Spirit-filled Believer. This was a little embarrassing to recognize because I thought I knew this already (Eph. 5:18-21). However, knowing the truth and living the truth are poles apart! Make no mistake about it; an attitude of gratitude desperately needed to be cultivated in my heart. This would transpire primarily through reflecting on the natural goodness of Jehovah God. You see, we must sow seeds of truth in our minds in order to grow a garden of gratitude. We can intentionally plant truths related to God's goodness, mercy, grace, faithfulness, wisdom, power, and love. We first thank Him for these realities about His glorious Person, and we can recount specific instances where these qualities appeared in Scripture. His wisdom, power, and grace can be seen in Genesis chapters one and two—the creation account. His goodness, love, and mercy are evidenced in Genesis chapter three—the record of The Fall of Man. We sow these seeds in our minds by reflecting on the character and nature of God Himself as revealed in the Word. When we think about and 'define' Him, it is with these truths revealed in the Word. We discard wrong concepts of God and continue to construct correct concepts of Him from the Word. Even when life hurts most, we consciously chose to believe the Word's portrayal of God instead of our interpretations of Him through our pains and struggles. Because He is always good, we have cause to be thankful and to express thanks unto Him. Yes, rain helps a garden of gratitude to grow most beautifully!

Closely related to celebrating God's natural goodness is the need to recount His kind generosities towards us and our love ones. This involves counting our blessings and benefits of salvation, service, sanctification, strength, supply, and even struggles (2 Thess. 2:13, 14). Sometimes God teaches us thankfulness through reverses, setbacks, loses, pain, and trials. If it were not for some of these painful experiences, we would go right on taking His grand goodness toward us for granted. Taking God’s goodness for granted while demanding more of His bounty is that awful form of gross ingratitude that characterizes too many of us. To develop such a prideful attitude requires no work at all, but genuine thankfulness must be learned. We must sow the seeds of truth in the soil of our soul in order to bring forth the fruits of gratitude. Yes, I am convinced the focus of our thankful reflections should be upon God and His goodness. A good long look at the thankfulness of the Lord Jesus is a grand encouragement as well (Matt. 11:25, 26; John 11:41). Who else could inspire greater gratitude in the human heart than the Lord? This is the God who “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

When we begin to see His goodness in all aspects of our lives, we will begin to recognize with appreciation the goodnesses of others in our lives as well. Why...we might even find ourselves saying "thank you" far more often (Phil. 4:10-19). Those around us and closest to us will begin to see that we know something about the goodness and gracious character of Almighty God, and that we have rightly assessed His graciousness in our personal experiences. So, begin today to cultivate a heart and spirit of gratitude. Sow some seeds of truth about God's goodness and His goodness towards you. Allow these to grow into genuine expressions of appreciation. Cultivate these by the grace of God when the rains of life come. Nurture the growth of thanksgiving deep within and it will bloom into wonderful and exuberant bursts of appreciation in a life distinctly marked  with gratitude. Kill the weeds of complaining and fuming about every little thing! By the grace of the Spirit of God bear the fruit of thanks toward God and your fellow man. Indeed, “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD” (Ps. 92:1).

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?