The Great White Throne Judgement
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Two different schools of thought about the Great White Throne Judgement
1.There are three different judgments to come.
- The first is the judgment of the sheep and the goats or a judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–36). This takes place after the tribulation period but prior to the millennium; its purpose is to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom.
All of those who accepted Christ provision for salvation during the millennial reign and those who rejected Him
- The second is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the “judgment seat [bema] of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10 ). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Bema seat is referring to a kind of Judgement. But for the believer its a mercy seat.
We all will be evaluated by God, Paul understood that he will be evaluated by his master.
Our desire should be Well done, good servant
Luke 19:17 (NKJV)
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
This Bema seat Judgement was a motivator for Paul to live for Christ.
It motivated Paul to be faithful in ministry
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
Paul mentions about this kind of Judgement in
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Paul believed he was competing for a crown that will not wither.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
He discipled his spiritual life like an athlete.
The focus the time the dedication. the value the diligence the earnestness.
the exertion, When Paul told Timothy to study to show thy self approved that meant study to exertion.
Our spiritual lives should cost of something.
The perishable crown is accolades its money. Its a trophy. Its bragging rights!
The imperishable is pleasing the Father, is the fruit that Gods produces, in Pauls case it was the people and the churches He planted knowing they are not walking with God because of His diligence.
All Christians will be evaluated at the judgement seat of Christ.
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
This Judgement will reveal the motivations and intents of the heart.
This that was done for God and not for God will be reveal in that time.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
This Judgement will not be one of condemnation doesn’t have to do with salvation because salvation is by grace through faith.
But this will have to do with our response to God in faith.
2. Other Christians believe that all three of these judgments speak of the same final judgment, not of three separate judgments. In other words, the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11–15 will be the time that believers and unbelievers alike are judged. Those whose names are found in the book of life will be judged for their deeds in order to determine the rewards they will receive or lose. Those whose names are not in the book of life will be judged according to their deeds to determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Those who hold this view believe that Matthew 25:31–46 is another description of what takes place at the great white throne judgment. They point to the fact that the result of this judgment is the same as what is seen after the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11–15. The sheep (believers) enter into eternal life, while the goats (unbelievers) are cast into “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46).
- The third is the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11–15 ). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
This earth and heaven Fled away.
were2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): it doesn say “the very heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll”; no, it shall come to nothing along with the earth itself, with which it was made in the beginning. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” he says.
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): God will bring back all things to nothing.
You have the idea that the universe, the world everything is material came from nothing according to an atheistic/ materialistic world view. But Jesus is saying that He will bring the heaven and the earth back to nothing. He reverses the order. He will making something turn into nothing.
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): “The first heaven and the first earth passed away,” “and there was found no place for them,” because, of course, that which comes to an end loses locality
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): This explains Paul’s words: “This world as we see it is passing away. I would have you free from care.”
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): By the words white throne he speaks of a throne that is bright and radiant.
Revelation 20:11 (ACCS Rev): “In the beginning, O Lord, you did lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; they shall perish, but you remain, and they all shall grow old as a garment, and as a vesture you shall fold them, and they shall be changed,”
The same power that God will use transform the heavens and earth is the same power He used to transform you. The same Jesus
Yes, my friend, you will be able to get a fair trial there. Your life is on tape, and Christ happens to have the tape
Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire
Revelation 20:14 (NKJV): 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Death is an enemy of God
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
V. The Great Throne (Rev 20:11-15).
* The fact of this throne (Dan 7:9-10 ; Heb 9:27 ).
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.
* The Judge on the throne is Christ himself (John 5:22,
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
John 5:27 ; Acts 10:40 , 42 ; 2 Tim 4:1 ).
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
C. The jury at this throne is five sets of books.
1. The book of conscience (Rom 2:15 ).
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
Where you able to meet the law that is written on your conscience? In the day of judgment that book will be the jury.
2. The book of words (Matt 12:36-37 ).
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
3. The book of secret works (Eccl 12:14 ; Rom 2:16 ).
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
4. The book of public works (Matt 16:27 ; 2 Cor 11:15 ).
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
5. The book of life (Exod 32:32-33 ; Ps 69:28 ; Dan 12:1;
Phil 4:3 ; Rev 3:5 ; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27 ; 22:19 ).
The book of life is rooted in the old testament and mentioned 7 times in the New.
God is seen as keeping account of his people’s faithfulness and disobedience—and possibly that of other nations as well.
Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
the Book of Life in Revelation refers to a heavenly record wut the names of persecuted Christians who remain faithful. Such as the letter written to the church to Sardis
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Where the risen Lord is identified as “The Lamb” Rev. 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If a persons name is written in the Book of Life his attendance is granted to the New Jerusalem
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
16-18 on the Judgment Seat of Christ, p. 750), only the dead will stand before this throne (Ps 9:17 ).
The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
E. The judgment at this throne—the eternal lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15; cf. Matt 25:41, 46).
Lake of fire~ LAKE OF FIRE (λίμνη του̂ πυρός, limnē tou pyros). A phrase used in Revelation to describe the final destination of the enemies of God, including the devil (Rev 20:10), the beast and false prophet (Rev 19:20), death and Hades (Rev 20:14), and anyone not found in the book of life (Rev 20:15). The lake of fire will be a “second death” (Rev 20:14; 21:8) consisting of eternal suffering and complete separation from God and/or a permanent and inescapable death. Possibly the same place Jesus calls Gehenna (Matt 10:28; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5).