Accountability and Grace (Revelation 20:11-15)

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Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

JOKE

A local priest and pastor stood by the side of the road holding up a sign that said, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!"

They planned to hold up the sign to each passing car.

"Leave us alone, you religious nuts!" yelled the first driver as he sped by.

From around the curve they heard a big splash.

"Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should just put up a sign that says 'bridge out' instead?"

Between Ch. 19 and 22 there are 7 Visions of the End

Each can stand separately, yet telling something important about the reality of the End

They each have a different angle/perspective and purpose

Remember, the Letter is NOT chronological

The End entails so much that in order for it to be fully understood it must be looked at from these 7 perspectives

Also, note, the significance of the number 7 throughout the letter as being a number of “completeness’ and “perfection”

Parousia (2nd Coming) 19:11-6

Last Battle (2 Beasts thrown into the Lake of Fire) 19:17-21

Satan Bound 20:1-3

The Millennium (1,000 year reign) 20:4-6

We must pause and consider the number

Elsewhere when John uses numbers he does so symbolically

A large number, yet one that has an end

John is borrowing from his literary genre and use of symbols. Often, rabbis would describe a reign of God’s faithful. The reign was listed as anywhere from 7 to 365,000 years.

John is using a couple of thought patterns here

1. Prophetic eschatology believed that this world would be the setting for the bliss of the End

2. Apocalyptic eschatology believed that this world is too corrupt for redemption to occur within it

The final Kingdom of God does not grow out of this world, but breaks into from outside - the Messiah is an otherworldly figure

It’s easy to see that Jesus, the God-Man, fits both ideas.

These ideas had started to be bridged in N.T. times

Present/Age of the Messiah/Age to Come

Defeat of Gog and Magog/Satan’s Last Stand 20:7-10

Ezekiel 38-39 in the background

“Gog of Magog” began to be lumped into 2 nations Gog and Magog and was used to describe those who oppose/would oppose God. The picture is useful to show how Satan convinces people to rebel against God.

The Last Judgment 20:11-15

The New Jerusalem 21:1-22:5

The Last Judgment

Why is there judgment?

Ezekiel 33:11 NLT

11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

God is grieved about judgment. He is so grieved that He sent His Only Son to live, die, be resurrected, and promise to come again so we can AVOID judgment.

Yet People would rather NOT repent...

John 3:16–19 NLT

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

Revelation 9:20–21 NLT

20 But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

But there is Judgment so the NEW can come

God is in the business, not of destroying creation, but in RENEWING creation...

Remember the flood? Creation was not destroyed, although it was DRASTICALLY CHANGED...

In order to RENEW creation, or bring about NEW CREATION, God must outs ALL that is evil that sought to destroy the old creation - the ousting is what we see as judgment.

In order to make way for the NEW WORLD to come, what caused issues with the OLD WORLD must be dealt with FULLY

The Throne is God’s throne. It is a symbol of the ULTIMATE authority and control. It is also a symbol of purity and holiness (being white)

Earth and Sky flee

Earth and the sky was the realm where the Dragon and Beasts did their dirty deeds. It was the realm where they seemed to be protected and could do their harm.

This is a symbol of the OLD ORDER fleeing from God’s presence.

This is ALSO a reminder that there will ALWAYS be those who oppose God, and who will seek to use God’s created world to usurp God’s authority. That is, until they are FINALLY judged...

Revelation 6:12–17 “12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. 15 Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?””

The Dead are Resurrected

The image is of the dead “standing”

Remember Ch. 5:6 - The Slaughtered Lamb is standing showing his RESURRECTED state

Revelation 5:6 NLT

6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.

These dead are standing, showing their resurrection

Also, Death, Hades and the Sea give up their dead

It is like they are surrendering their captives/hostages

The Sea was considered to be the resting place of those who died at sea who couldn’t be buried. They didn’t go to the place of the dead/hades. They were held captive by the Chaos of the Sea (Davey Jones’ Locker). The places marked by death give up their dead and are judged for their part to play in the Old Order of things

2 Scrolls are opened

1. The Book of Deeds

God is concerned with how we live our lives. There will be accountability. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t grace- that comes into play later..

Revelation 22:12 “12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”

James 2:14-26 highlights the necessity of those who are saved by grace to live their lives according to that grace. Just because there is grace, does not mean that there cannot nor should not be action!

James 2:17–19“17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

Ephesus was told (Rev. 2) to DO the things they 1st did

Revelation 2:4-5 (NLT) 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Our actions and deeds matter to God!

2. The Book of Life/Grace

We are told in Ch. 13 that this book was written before the foundations of the world were laid

Revelation 13:8 “8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.”

THAT IS A PICTURE OF GRACE. Names are written in that book by God’s actions!!

This 2nd book highlights the grace of God. It also highlights that although we will be held accountable for our actions, God’s SALVATION is solely by Grace alone!

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

It is also this 2nd book that has the FINAL SAY

Revelation 20:15 “15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Note The Lake of Fire is reserved for Satan and his cronies. This is highlighted in other visions John gives of the end.

Revelation 20:7–10 “7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

But, those who seek to follow Satan and, ultimately, live their lives like beasts will be judged accordingly. This doesn’t mean that grace isn’t extended to such people, it means that grace was REFUSED by such people.

To the Church in Smyrna, Jesus said…

Revelation 2:9–11 “9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”

Revelation 20:6 “6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.”

How do I know if my name is written in the book?

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THAT BOOK!

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Acts 16:31 NLT

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Romans 10:13 NLT

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 3:16–19 NLT

“John’s counsel can be summarized this way: Trust that the Lamb, who died to liberate people from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation’ for life with God (5:9-10), also died for you. Trust that God wants you to put this faith into practice - then leave matters concerning the final judgment in God’s hands.” (Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, 191).

Well, what do YOU think?

Have YOU accepted the gift of grace?

Have YOU accepted that Jesus is not only King of kings and Lord of lords, but he is YOUR KING AND YOUR LORD?

Is YOU life lived to follow him and please him?

Or, conversely, do you follow BEASTLY DESIRES and beastly ideas?

Grace requires mirrored action. If you have received grace, your actions MUST accompany it in appropriate ways.

Something to Ponder

God comes to us, and does for us, what we cannot, should not, and would not do for ourselves.

He saves us by His Grace

He gifts us the Spirit to faithfully follow him

And, as we follow Him faithfully,

He Rescues us and redeems us from the 2nd death

The Lamb who we follow faithfully (by the power of the Holy Spirit) will be the one who faithfully sees us through into the new kingdom!

BENEDICTION

Jude 24–25 NLT

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

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