"The Great White Throne Judgement"

November 12, 2023

FBC Baxley

am service

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Welcome radio and online guests…

*It’s ok if you’re broken, unfaithful, lost, we are too and we are here seeking God’s will and way and plan.

We are all prodigals here…

Some rescued….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: “The Great White Throne Judgement”

Scripture Passage: Revelation 20:11-15

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

PRAY

Three Points:

The Judge

The Judged

The Judgement

Introduction: After the conclusion of Satan's Final Rebellion and his ultimate doom, we are faced with a profound event described in Revelation 20:11-15 - the judgment of the wicked dead, which happens at the Great White Throne.

It's important to distinguish this judgment from the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is the place where believers will stand before God to be rewarded for their faithful service.

In contrast, the Great White Throne Judgment is where the unrighteous dead will be judged for their wicked deeds.

These two judgments are distinct and separated by time.

The Judgment Seat of Christ occurs after the Rapture of the Church, while the Great White Throne Judgment takes place after the millennium and Satan's doom, making it the final judgment.

To look deeper into this, let's look at some biblical references and consider the following key passages:

Daniel 12:2 - "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

John 5:28-29 - "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."

Revelation 20:4-6 - Describes the first resurrection, where those who remained faithful to Jesus during their earthly lives will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Dr. John MacArthur accurately describes Revelation 20:11-15 as "the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible."

So, what do we learn about the Great White Throne Judgment?

I. The Judge - Revelation 20:11

In verse 11, we read, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it." This is a vivid image of the judgment scene.

The term "white" in Scripture signifies purity, holiness, and righteousness. John emphasizes that only perfect justice emanates from this throne.

Further, "him who sat on it" is believed by many Bible scholars to be Christ Himself.

It's important to remember that God is one, comprising the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

So, when we see Christ sitting on the throne, it underscores the unity of the Godhead.

Notice here… the text highlights that the heavens and the earth fled from His presence.

This may symbolize the dissolving of the old heavens and earth, as prophesied in Matthew 24:35 and 2 Peter 3:10.

In this final judgment, there will be no distractions, no escape from God's presence. All will be front and center before the great white throne.

II. The Judged - Revelation 20:12-13

(The Dead standing before God)

Verse 12 describes the assembly of the dead, both small and great, standing before the throne.

This is a vivid portrayal of the wicked dead, who rejected God's grace throughout history, now standing before a righteous, fair, and impartial Judge.

At this judgment, social status and worldly success hold no significance; all are equal before God.

Books are opened, revealing that God meticulously records every word, thought, and action.

One author called these books – God’s Evidence.

Our God is a record-keeper…

There will be no errors, no omissions, and no secrets. This meticulous record-keeping is emphasized in passages like Ecclesiastes 12:14, Matthew 16:27, Luke 8:17, and Romans 2:16.

Also, the Book of Life is opened, a book of paramount importance, determining one's eternal destiny.

If a person's name is absent from this book, it signifies their rejection of God's grace and the person of Jesus Christ in their lifetime.

Illus. I knew a man who kept immaculate records….inventories (everything from clocks to lawn mowers…garden seeds to lawn sprinklers), prayer lists, etc. J.T. Strickland

If mankind keeps great records… how much more so the Lord God almighty!!

The judgment is executed based on their works, emphasizing God's perfect righteousness and the absence of errors.

Moreover, the sea gives up its dead, and both death (the grave) and hades (the waiting place for the souls of the wicked dead) deliver up the dead.

This reuniting of body and soul highlights the seriousness of the judgment.

III. The Judgment - Revelation 20:14-15

In verse 14, Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire, referred to as the "second death."

This symbolic expression suggests a final and irrevocable separation from God.

The term "lake of fire" underscores the eternal nature of this separation.

Those who rejected Christ in life will face a second death, which is spiritual and eternal.

This is captured in the saying: "Born once, die twice; born twice, die once."

Those who experience the second birth, a spiritual transformation, will not face the second death.

Verse 15 without a doubt states that anyone not found written in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire, symbolizing Hell, a place of eternal separation from God.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Hell (“the lake of fire”) is a witness to the righteous character of God.

God must judge sin!

Hell is also a witness to human responsibility, the fact that people are not robots or helpless victims but creatures able to make choices.

God does not send people to hell; they send themselves by rejecting the Savior (Matthew 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.” (The Wiersbe Study Bible).

The Horrors of Hell

· Mark 9:47-48 – their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

· Revelation 19:20 – lake of fire burning with brimstone.

· Matthew 18:8 – everlasting fire.

· Matthew 25:46 – everlasting punishment.

· Matthew 7:13 – destruction.

· 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – flaming fire.

In conclusion, understanding the end times should awaken an urgent sense of decision in our lives.

-Will you stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ – at the place where believers will receive rewards, or will you stand before God at the great white throne judgment – the place where you will be forever separated from God?

You are in the place of decision right now.

You need to decide while you are living, breathing, and have your being.

Decide now to follow Jesus Christ! Once you are dead your lack of decision will be sealed forever.

You see, after death, there is no decision.

This study has shown us:

The Judge (Jesus Christ) is perfectly righteous.

The Judged (wicked dead) will be resurrected to stand before the great white throne.

The Judgment (the second death) signifies eternal separation from God.

Understanding these realities should motivate us to live and share the love of Jesus Christ with a sense of urgency.

PRAY

Invitation

“Are you born again?”

Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?

“Have you surrendered/repented to Jesus?