Nowhere to Hide

A Biblical View Of The End Times #8

Revelation 20:11-15

NOWHERE TO HIDE

Intro: Some time ago there was a young foreign student who flunked out at the University of Michigan. In shame he decided to disappear. For the next four years he hid in the unused attic of an Ann Arbor church. Taking great pains to conceal himself, he quietly prowled around only at night, living off food and water from the kitchen. He never left the building or spoke to a soul. No one ever suspected he was there. Then one day a slight mistake gave him away. Accidentally the young recluse made some noise, the police were called, and he was finally discovered.

How foolish this young man was to try and hide from his failure. Yet, he is not as foolish as the person who seeks to hide from God! The world is filled with people who live as though they have no sin. They live as though God did not exist. They live as though they will never face God is judgment.

Unfortunately, what they hope will happen will never come to pass. You see, these verses, which we have read this morning, tell us about a time when every lost sinner will face the Lord in judgment. There will be nowhere to hide on that day. No one will hide behind excuses, ignorance, false professions, etc. Every one will face Jesus Christ as Lord and Judge and they will all receive a just sentence for their sins.

This morning, I want to examine the facts concerning an event that is known as The Great White Throne Judgment. Before I begin, I want you to know that there will not be one single born again individual that will stand in judgment here. This is a judgment seat for the lost. Let's notice the facts surrounding this judgment as I preach on the thought Nowhere To Hide.

I. V. 11 THERE WILL BE NO HIDING FROM THE JUDGE ON THE THRONE

A. The Picture of This Throne

- There are two adjectives used to describe this throne.

1. It is called Great - This word refers to its power. This is the highest court in the universe! When judgment is rendered from this throne, there is no appeal to a higher court, for there is no higher court! This is the place of highest authority and final judgment.

(Ill. The closest we can come to understanding this court is our Supreme Court. There is no higher court in the land and judgments rendered there are final. This is this as the Supreme Court of the Universe.)

2. It is called White - This speaks of the purity of this court. All human courts are stained by sin, prejudice and fallibility. This court, on the other hand, is absolutely perfect and the judgment rendered here is always fair and righteous. The Judge who occupies this bench is infallible. He is no tainted by sin or prejudice, but He renders judgment in perfect righteousness and fairness.

(Ill. Not a single person judged here will cry "unfair". Every sinner judged and sentenced will know that they have received perfect and fair judgment.)

B. The Person On This Throne

- The Bible tells us that this throne is occupied by a person. However, His identity is not revealed here. However, the Bible does tell us in other places just Who is on this throne.

1. His Name - The man on this throne is none other that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, John 5:22-23

John 5:22–23 KJV 1900

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 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.

John 5:27 KJV 1900

And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 5:30 KJV 1900

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Acts 10:40–42 KJV 1900

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 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.

2 Timothy 4:1 KJV 1900

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;

The Savior will be the Sentencer in that day!

2. His Nature - This is no lowly Nazerene who occupies this throne. This isn't a poor, humble carpenter. This is a resurrected conqueror. This is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His appearance is described for us by the prophet Daniel, Dan. 7:9-10

Daniel 7:9–10 KJV 1900

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 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.

(Ill. His presence is so terrible and powerful that even the heavens and the earth flee from before Him. Nature has the good sense to bow before this judge! Why is it that sinners have such a difficult time doing the same?)

(Ill. I just want to remind you that we still live in the day of grace. During this time in history, a sinner can come before God and cry out for forgiveness and the Lord will receive them and save them by His grace. Today is the day of grace. Today is the day of forgiveness. Today is the day of repentance. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of mercy.

There will be none of those things dispensed in that day! Only judgment, swift and sure will issue from this great white throne and from the Lord Jesus Christ!)

C. The Perception Of This Throne

- The Bible tells us here that there was found no place for the heavens and the earth to hide from the gaze of the One on the throne. It needs to be remembered this morning that this righteous Judge sees all and He knows all. There is no sin hidden from Him and no thought has ever been concealed. There will be no pretending and no pretense on that great judgment day, but only a sure recounting of every sinful deed and every sinful thought. Nothing will be hidden!

(Ill. Some think they are getting away with things now, but the truth is, God knows all about you and what you have been doing and thinking. He knows everything there is to know about you!

Ill. Psa. 33:13-15; Psa. 44:21; Pro. 5:21; Pro. 15:3; Pro. 21:2; Heb. 4:13. Friend, you haven't hidden a thing from God! And, you can be sure, one day, those sins will come back to haunt you - Num. 32:23; Gal. 6:9.)

Friend, you will not hide from this righteous Judge! He will know all there is to know about you before you appear in His presence. He knows you intimately!)

I. No Hiding From The Judge On The Throne

II. V. 12-13 THERE WILL BE NO HIDING FROM THE JUSTICE AT THE THRONE

A. The Defendants Appearing At The Throne

- Here we are told that those appearing before the throne are the "dead". This tells us, without question, that there will not be a single born again believer in the group. Why? The Bible tells us that we who have trusted Jesus as our Saviour have "passed from death unto life", John 5:24.

We have been given eternal, abundant life through the blood of the Lamb and can never lose that or be dead for ever.

This can only mean on thing: this mass of humanity will be made up completely of those who are spiritually dead, Eph. 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 KJV 1900

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Note also that this group includes all the spiritually dead! None is left out! The king, the pauper, the general, the foot soldier, the master, the slave, the borrower and the lender will all stand before God. None will escape and none will hide, but all will face the Righteous Judge in judgment that day!

Preachers, deacons, church members, popes, priests, nuns, choir members, drunks, whores, drug addicts, pimps, pushers, grandmothers, grandfathers, teenagers, moms and dads, will all stand together before the throne to face their judgment!

There will be no escape and there will be no exceptions. Every person who died without Jesus Christ will face Him in this Judgment one day! Notice verse 13. It reminds us that all who died, regardless of where they died will appear. Even those who are in Hell will be brought out for this judgment. Every lost sinner from Cain to the last one will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ!

(Will you be in that number?)

B. The Documents Used At The Throne

- the Bible tells us here that the "books" will be opened. Only one of these books is named and it is called the "book of life." I don't know all the books that will be used that day, but I am sure of a few that will be opened. Allow me to share them with you for a moment.

1. The Bible - Jesus Himself reminded us that we would be judged out of His Word - John 12:48

John 12:48 KJV 1900

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.

That's right! This Bible that sinners mock and refuse to heed will be used to render judgment upon their lives that day. Better to believe it now and go to Heaven than reject it and then face it in judgment and go to Hell!

2. The Book Of Deeds - In Heaven, there is record being kept of the deeds of all men. One day, every lost men will stand before the Lord and here the record of his life read from the throne. Every deed, both good and evil will be mentioned. Every sin will be read aloud!

Sins of commission, sins of omission, flagrant sins, secret sins, sins of the heart and sins of the mind. All will be brought out into the open on that day. Verse 12 makes it clear that the lost will be judged according to their works.

(Ill. A man can either choose to stand on his own record and face God in his sins, or he can come to Jesus and have his record expunged. Faith in Christ wipes our record clean. It replaces the record of our sins with the record of His righteousness.

When our book is opened all it says is "See Calvary and an empty tomb - This man's record is clear!)

3. The Book Of Life - I am of the opinion that there is a book of life, or a book of the living. Every name of every person who would ever be born was in this book, Rev. 3:5

Revelation 3:5 KJV 1900

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

However, when a sinner dies without trusting Christ as his Saviour, their name is removed from this book. While your name remains, there is hope for you, but when you die, you are numbered with the eternally dead and there is no more opportunity for you to be saved.

4. The Lamb's Book Of Life

- This book contains the names of those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. When a sinner repents, their name is written in this book. This is the reason Jesus told His disciples to rejoice, Luke 10:20

Luke 10:20 KJV 1900

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

This book records who has and who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior. When the Great White Throne Judgment comes about, both this book and the book of life will match perfectly!

(Ill. The horror of standing there that day and hearing your sins recounted. Imagine being forced to admit you sins and the fundamental fact that you are a sinner. Then imagine Jesus opening the book of life and showing you where your name was removed. Then imagine Him opening the Lamb's book of life and showing you that every slot in that book is filled and that your name does not appear! Fantasy? I don't think so! But, it is a time of such horror that nothing in life can compare with it! You need to be sure you are saved this morning! You need to be sure that your name is written in the Lamb's book of Life. If I were you, I wouldn't wait for the invitation. If there was a doubt, I would get in this altar and get it settled right now!)

(Ill. There may be other books that are used, but you can be sure that these will be opened. What a terrible day that will be for the sinner!)

C. The Decision Made At The Throne

- The last phrase in verse 13 tells it all. When these books are opened, judgment is rendered based on the evidence found in the books. You can be sure that the evidence is accurate, and that the record is complete.

(Ill. It is worthy of noting that every person will stand on his own! Regardless of the excuse you use to justify your not coming to Jesus today, in that day you will stand under judgment by yourself! It won't matter who hurt you, who stood in your way, or whatever. It will come down to you and Jesus. Better that it come to that in this day when there is still hope for salvation, than in that day when there is hope for nothing but judgment! Be saved! Be sure!)

I. No Hiding From The Judge On The Throne

II. No Hiding From The Justice At The Throne

III. V. 14-15 THERE WILL BE NO HIDING FROM THE JUDGMENT FROM THE THRONE

A. A Fearful Judgment

- the sentence rendered from this bench is "Death!". Not just physical death, but the second death which is eternal separation from God in the fires of the Lake of Fire, 2 Thes. 1:9-10

2 Thessalonians 1:9–10 KJV 1900

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

This will be a death where there is no dying! What I mean is that there will be no end to the torment, to the hell, to the awful nature of what the sinner will face. It will be an eternal state of dying apart from the presence of God or anything good! It will be Hell!

(Ill. Imagine the horror of hearing Jesus utter the words that will send you away forever into eternal torment!

Imagine hearing Him say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:", Matt. 25:41

Matthew 25:41 KJV 1900

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Imagine living your life the way you wanted, without regard for God or His will and then having to here the Lord Who loved you enough to die in your place speak those awful words. There could be nothing so terrible!

Perhaps the only thing that equals that would be for you to be a religious person, a church member, a regular attender of the Lord's worship services, and have to stand before Him and here Him pass judgment on your life.

This very scene is spoken of in Matt. 7:21-23.

My friend, don't let this happen to you! Come to Jesus while there is time. Come to Jesus while there is grace. Come to Jesus while there is hope! Come to Jesus!)

B. A Final Judgment

- There will be no appeals, but all judgments rendered from this bench will be final and they will be binding. This will be the last day any of these sinners ever see. This will be the end of the road for them, for they are forever consigned to the Lake of Fire to suffer torment for eternity!

(Ill. Many don't believe this is true. They deny the reality of Hell and claim that it is old fashioned and out of date. Well, the Bible tells us that Hell is real and that lost sinners do indeed go there to spend eternity.Psa. 9:17

Psalm 9:17 KJV 1900

The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.

Luke 16:19–31 KJV 1900

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

C. A Foolish Judgment

- It is a foolish judgment that is rendered only because it does not have to happen! Any sinner who is willing turn to Jesus alone, by faith, can be eternally saved.

The Blood Jesus shed on Calvary is sufficient to the saving of any sinner who calls upon Him, Rom. 10:13

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The grace of God is sufficient for every sinner who will come, regardless of the depths of their sins, Rom. 5:20

Romans 5:20 KJV 1900

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

The love of God for the Lord is sufficient to receive all who will come by faith, John 6:37

John 6:37 KJV 1900

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Please don't do a foolish thing and die without Jesus! Come to Him while the door is open!

Conclusion

I think that this is the most horrible scene mentioned in the Bible. I think the concept of people perishing forever is terrible beyond description. However, as horrible as it is, it is true nonetheless!

Therefore, if you have never been saved, you need to come to Jesus. You need to be saved today! If you will just trust Jesus by faith, He will save you and spare you from this terrible time of judgment that is coming upon all the lost. Won't you come?

To those of us who are saved, this passage reminds us of the terrible need of the world around us.

If nothing else, it ought to move us to come before the Lord and cry out for the souls of our friends, neighbors and loved ones who need Jesus.

It ought to stir our hearts so that we will not rest until we have tried to tell every lost person we know that salvation is available to them if they will come to Jesus!

Surely we've not become so hardened that the thought of Hell no longer moves us. Won't you come?