The Great White Throne

Intro: We have taken a journey through this wonderful book of the Bible known as Revelation. Have you enjoyed it? As you see we are coming to an end and let me tell you, the best comes last. But before we get there, we have this scene which John describes for us, which is described as The Great White Throne Judgement.

A few weeks ago we covered what is known as the Bema Seat of Christ which is when Christ will judge believers and reward them for there service to Christ. This will be a time when I think we will all be standing before Jesus thinking “I could’ve done more for the Glory of Christ.” But it will also be a time of grace and mercy from God who will say “well done good and faithful servant enter into your eternal reward”. This judgement is for believers.

The Great White Throne Judgement is different, if the Bema seat of Christ is for believers, who do you think this one is for?

Let’s jump in and see what Revelation has to say about the great white throne. Last week we learned that Satan will be bound for a thousand years and then will be released to lead a final rebellion and the scriptures tel us...

Revelation 20:7–10 ESV

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

After this event John leads us to the great white throne judgement.

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

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. 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. 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. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I. One Who Sits On The Throne

A. A Comparison of Throne Room Events

Some of you were here when I preached Rev 4-5, which describes a throne room scene. In that throne room scene John described everything in relationship to the throne and if you remember everything was directed in honor, worship and glory to the one sitting on the throne and to Jesus who is worthy to take and open the scrolls. John describes for us all the vibrant colors and crystal seas. We see there is people from all nations tribe and tongue in worship of the one who sits on the throne and Jesus his son.

Now look at John’s description of The Great White Throne;

Revelation 20:11 ESV

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.

When John describes The Great White Throne judgement, we see a very different picture. On ominous, serious, fearful picture.

Have any of you ever went to court before a judge before. He seated high, you have to look up to him, the court room scene is a place of reverence, seriousness and fearful, especially if you are guilty of something. This is not the scene of the throne room of heaven in worship and praise of God.

As soon as John paints this picture you are aware of the seriousness of the event which is about to take place. A great white throne, standing ominous above all. Described white because of the purity and righteous judgements which will come from the throne.

Notice in Revelation 4-5 everything is described in relation to the throne and towards the throne in worship and adoration. In the great white throne judgement we see the opposite, “from his presence earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them” In Rev 4-5 there is room in heaven for more people to come and praise and worship God, but at the great white throne judgement, there is “no place for them” no more room, no more time, everyone and everything is in fear and their instinct is to flee from God’s presence. Why?

II. Judgement Is Here

A. Judgement Upon Those who do not Believe

Judged by what is written in the books

Daniel 7:10 ESV

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Revelation 20:12 ESV

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.

they will be thrown in the lake of fire

B. Judgement Upon the Enemies of God

I hate death, death is horrible, we have all experienced death one way or another. Did you know why we deal with the problem of death?

disobedience!

God told Adam and Eve, do not eat the fruit. What did Satan say to eve, did God really say...

God said you will die if you eat the fruit. Satan says “you will not surely die”

Adam and Eve eats the fruit and death and decay is introduced to this world.

Before we jump all over Adam and Eve, do you know we are faced with the decision to eat the fruit every day and far to often, just like Adam and Eve, we buy into the lie, we “follow our heart, we think the desires of our heart will lead to joy, fulfillment and happiness and we take a big fat bite of the fruit of sin, which eventually leaves us defeated, destroyed and disrupted.

You turn the page and Cain kills Abel and since then world is filled with death.

We also learn as a result of sin, there must death, spilled blood for the forgiveness of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

but it cant be the blood of the guilty. So we learn in Exodus the blood of a perfect spotless lamb becomes the temporary problem, the people would bring their sacrifice to the priest and the priest would have to sacrifice the animal. We see this picture of blood, death and a substitute, someone or something dying in our place for the forgiveness of sins. But this is a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

I hate death.

I hate Satan, he is cunning, deceitful, trickster, he paints a beautiful beginning but doesn’t tell you about the destructive end.

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I hate satan, i hate death, I hate sin. God deals with all his enemies and the enemies of his people at the Great White Throne Judgement.

Satan is defeated and thrown in the lake of fire, never to tempt one of God’s children again.

Death is defeated and thrown in the lake of fire, we will live with our God forevermore. Paul tells us and John confirms for us:

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

On that day the people of God, the people who trusted in Jesus and follow him will sing out with the choir of heaven;

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 ESV

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

III. How Should We Live In Light of This?

A. For the unbeliever - God loves you, out of love God offers a way of escape from the wrath of God. Trust and follow Jesus, Jesus suffered the wrath of God in your place on the cross, Jesus became the lamb of God, perfect, innocent, sinless spilling his blood as your substitute. Finally a permanent solution. We need to turn away from our sin and turn to Jesus, trust and follow him. When we do this God exchanges his wrath against you gives you Christ righteousness.

B. For the believer, two areas to work on

1. We all know people who do not know Jesus, this is there fate, the lake of fire for ever. If we really believe this, the should compel us to share the gospel with people. We need to be people who

Pray for the Lost

Love the lost

Share the Gospel with the lost

Repeat

2. Sin, Death Satan - they are the enemies of God. God will someday put an end to all of them.

Yet too often we treat the enemies of God as our frenemies.

Do you know what a frenemy is, an enemy we may consider a friend in some way.

Satan comes to tempt you, you begin flirting with sin, trying to convince yourself, “it’s not really that bad” you start to believe the lie “surly you will not die” this wont hurt me, i can control and manage my sin.

Then we get entangled in sin with our lives, emotions, our mind for a momentary thrill.

SIn isn’t your friend, sin leads to death the death of joy, death of peace, death of fellowship with God and other believers, death of freedom.

Do not sacrifice union/relationship with Jesus and believers for the enemies of God. God has given you victory over sin and satan now and one day he will put an end to them for good, oh how I long for that day.