THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT OF GOD
REVELATION 20:11-15
Introduction:
The final 5 verses of chapter 20 introduce the judgment at the end of human history and the beginning of eternity. The events here described clearly follow the thousand years of verses 1-6.
In this message we will see the basis that God will use to determine, not who will go to heaven for that is determined by the Lamb’s Book of Life, but rather what will be the degree of punishment these will receive in the Lake of Fire. Their appearance before this throne means that they are already destine for Hell.
I. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF GOD.
A. This throne differs from the other throne mentioned more than 30 times in the book of Revelation.
1. Its purpose is different in that it is a place of judgment.
2. Its location is different.
a. It doesn’t seem to be in heaven nor on earth, v. 11, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”
b. Some have theorized that it may be in space.
B. The Person on the Throne of heaven is not specified, but without doubt it is Jesus Christ, John 5:22-23, “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.”
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT IS TO JUDGE THE UNSAVED DEAD.
A. The Judgment Seat of Christ will deal with the judgment of BELIEVERS in order to receive rewards for service, 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
B. The persons to be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment are the lost dead, vs. 12-13, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13-And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
1. The dead, small and great, are judged.
a. The young and the old.
b. The poor and the rich.
c. None are so great as to avoid the jurisdiction of this court.
2. The grave shall surrender the bodies of men.
3. Hell shall surrender the souls of the wicked.
4. The sea shall surrender the many that seemed to have been lost in it.
III. THE BOOKS (RECORDS) ARE OPENED.
A. The books were opened – what books? Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
1. The Word of God, the Bible.
a. This is the book of the Law of God, Romans 2:12, “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.”
b. It is the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
c. It is the Statute Book of heaven, Psalms 119.
1) V. 5, “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
2) V. 8, “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”
3) V. 16, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
4) V. 80, “Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.”
d. It is the rule of life.
2. Perhaps another book is the book of the sinner’s conscience.
a. Heretofore, this book was secret, Romans 2:12, 15-16, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15-Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16-In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
b. However, before the great white throne judgment nothing will be hid when the books are opened, 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.”
B. The Book of Life.
1. The record of those who are saved, 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.”
2. This book determines who goes to heaven, Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
C. The other books are books of evidence, which contain the records of the works of men,
IV. THE FINAL JUDGMENT DEALS WITH WORKS.
A. The Judgment Seat of Christ is the judgment of Christians that they might receive reward for service rendered to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
B. The Great White Throne Judgment will determine the degree of punishment sinners will receive in the Lake of Fire.
1. The Lamb’s book of Life has already established who will good to heaven, v. 15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
2. Now at this throne Christ will determine by the works of men what degree their punishment will be, Matthew 11:20-24, “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21-Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22-But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23-And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24-But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
CONCLUSION
God will be perfectly just in this judgment. All who will be involved will be before the Great White Throne by their own choice. There will be no mistake. Jesus Christ died to keep man from before this throne, but men WILL NOT come to the Savior, not that they cannot, John 4:48, “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”